Director Paul Schrader recently told the Washington Post that hix next movie is a "sort-of a sequel to his 1980 movie, American Gigolo". The film stars Woody Harrelson as an older gay man who pays his way by working as an escort for mature women in the Nation's Capitol.

The Jeff Gannon controversy showed a lot about how male sex workers are viewed. John Aravosis was of course right to bring attention to the hypocrisy of a closeted gay man (Gannon has since come out as gay) serving as a lackey for the President's Press Secretary.

Gannon's outing however, opened the doorway to a host of snide comments, cheap shots, and derrogatory references to the world's oldest profession. Over at Pam's House Blend, Pam continues to refer to Jeff as "Jeff 'Rent Boy' Gannon", suggesting that his past is something people will not ever let him forget.

247gay.com recently reprinted an article I wrote a while back about Male Escorts and a study published in the Journal of AIDS Care. The study dispels a lot of stereotypes about male escorts, and shows that often, they play a role in connecting closeted clients and the larger gay community, relaying important information about safer sex and coming out. I encourage you to check it out.

It's too early to know if Woody will do for escorts what Jake and Heath did for gay cowboys. I hope however, that this movie will bring us closer to treating every person with some measure of dignity and respect, regardless of their politics or profession. Even Jeff Gannon.