The Smoking Gun: Goode Directly Promoted Gay Film

By: KFP
Published On: 10/29/2008 11:22:44 PM

Cross-listed on Daily Kos

Virgil Goode and Jerry Meadors Virgil Goode's Congressional Office in Danville, Eden's Curve is listed as a contact number for the 2003 Toronto Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.  This comes after Monday's announcement that his long-time Press Secretary Linwood Duncan (who is featured in the film and a long-time friend of Jerry Meadors) is leaving his Danville post with just days before the election.  

According to financial records of the North Theatre - we know that Linwood Duncan was not listed as a member of the Board of Directors when the $150,000 earmark to the North Theatre was secured.  We also know that Duncan had a part in the movie Eden's Curve and Jerry Meadors (Artistic Director of North Theatre and Producer/Writer of Eden's Curve) was actively promoting the movie at several international gay and lesbian film festivals where the contact number listed for Eden's Curve is an exact match to that of Virgil Goode's Congressional Ofice in Danville.

Simply put: Goode is attempting to cover up abuse of congressional office by firing his long-time press secretary involved in Eden's Curve.

According to the 2003 Toronto Gay and Lesbian Film Festival where the film was featured, Eden's Curve was listed along with Jerry Meadors (pictured above with Virgil Goode) name. What is most striking is that the contact number for the film is for Virgil Goode's Danville office!

Here is the contact information listed in the 2003 Toronto Gay & Lesbian Film Festival:
Eden's Curve Contact Info

The fax number listed above is the same fax number for Goode's Danville Congressional office:
Goode Danville Office

Full page view of 2003 Toronto Gay & Lesbian Film Festival with Eden's Curve listed with Goode's Danville Congressional Office:
Brochure of Festival
Over the past two weeks or so, Virgil Goode has come under fire for his alleged involvement in the gay male erotica film Eden's Curve.  

Goode has denied any involvement suggesting that he never had any role in the film

"I never did anything with the film. I never saw it, and I have no intention of seeing it," Goode said.

But his Press Secretary Linwood Duncan has a role in the film itself?  (Just this week, Duncan announced he was leaving the Goode campaign with 8 days before election day - - hmmm.)

Several allegations that were laid out charging Goode's involvement through an earmark to Danville's North Theatre.  Questions about his wife and Linwood Duncan's role on the Board of Directors were raised, and then a special thanks to Virgil, his wife, and Linwood were featured at the end of the film.  But Goode denied any involvement.

So let's recap what we know, shall we?

- Virgil Goode's Congressional Office in Danville is listed as a contact number for the 2003 Toronto Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
- In 2003, the unrated film Eden's Curve premiered
- The movie is replete with scenes depicting drug use and bi- and homosexual sex
- Eden's Curve was written and produced by Jerry Meadors
- Jerry Meadors is also the artistic and managing director of the North Theater in Danville, VA
- Linwood Duncan, Virgil Goode's (former) press secretary, has a speaking role in the film.
- Linwood Duncan also sits on the Board of the North Theater (update - his name has been removed from the North Theater website)
- Also in 2003, Virgil Goode inserted a $150,000 earmark for the North Theater into the 2004 appropriations bill for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs
- Virgil Goode, his wife Lucy, and Linwood Duncan were all thanked in the film's credits
- Goode had secured the earmark for the North Theater in 2003
- Both Lucy Goode and Linwood Duncan were on the board at this time
- Both of their names were omitted from the organizations Form 990s for two consecutive years.
- Roy Gignac was and still is a major funder of Goode and may have deliberately omitted their names to protect the special interests of all involved.

Comments



The DCCC senses victory in the 5th? (Lowell - 10/30/2008 6:24:24 AM)
See Democratic Central for more on the Democrats' late money surge for Tom Perriello.  They must be sensing serious potential here, or why would they be spending their money?


Goode Gone Wild (hereinva - 10/30/2008 9:07:25 AM)
Citizens in VA's 5th looked behind the "curtain' and found 'Goode Gone Wild". In 2003 Repubs were feeling invincible following the 2002 mid-terms..pehaps it was hubris. Goode's supporters gotta be scratching their heads.

Go Perriello.  



How again is this not gay baiting? (tx2vadem - 10/30/2008 9:23:45 AM)
If this is how you win the "real" Virginia, then by all means I guess.

As to Lowell's use of hypocritical, how exactly is Goode hypocritical on his views/positions on homosexuality and gay rights?  Are you saying that these views/positions are inauthentic?  What evidence is there of that?  



Let's recap :) (Lowell - 10/30/2008 9:34:38 AM)
In response to what I wrote on October 16:

Two main issues.  (4.00 / 1) [delete comment]

1. Hypocrisy - the guy's a total gay basher.
2. The questionable earmarks.

I'm glad someone called Goode out on all this, now we'll see what 5th CD voters think.

You wrote:

Absolutely agree on the anti-gay point.  And he inadvertently was associated with this film.  I doubt that was intentional or that he somehow is not really anti-gay and this is all an act on his part.  So, it's not hypocrisy.  It is, however, quite ironic.


So you agree, it is not hypocrisy (tx2vadem - 10/30/2008 11:57:25 AM)
To my first point, that is to the poster of this diary.  The point of both this diary and the previous is not that Goode did something wrong, but that he was associated with a film that portrays homosexuality.  That is gay baiting.  If someone were making a stink about his associations with a film that portrays interracial relationships.  That would be race baiting.  

I'm not defending Goode.  The problem I have is with this tactic.  Though now that this is out, it has given us greater insight into the character of Rep. Goode.  It is very telling that he would throw his press secretary under the bus over this.  



Not, it very much IS hypocrisy (Lowell - 10/30/2008 12:15:32 PM)
as stated many times previously.


Let's also recap from this diary (Lowell - 10/30/2008 12:23:01 PM)
- Virgil Goode's Congressional Office in Danville is listed as a contact number for the 2003 Toronto Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
- In 2003, the unrated film Eden's Curve premiered
- The movie is replete with scenes depicting drug use and bi- and homosexual sex
- Eden's Curve was written and produced by Jerry Meadors
- Jerry Meadors is also the artistic and managing director of the North Theater in Danville, VA
- Linwood Duncan, Virgil Goode's (former) press secretary, has a speaking role in the film.
- Linwood Duncan also sits on the Board of the North Theater (update - his name has been removed from the North Theater website)
- Also in 2003, Virgil Goode inserted a $150,000 earmark for the North Theater into the 2004 appropriations bill for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs
- Virgil Goode, his wife Lucy, and Linwood Duncan were all thanked in the film's credits
- Goode had secured the earmark for the North Theater in 2003
- Both Lucy Goode and Linwood Duncan were on the board at this time
- Both of their names were omitted from the organizations Form 990s for two consecutive years.
- Roy Gignac was and still is a major funder of Goode and may have deliberately omitted their names to protect the special interests of all involved.


So from this and your recap (tx2vadem - 10/30/2008 1:37:47 PM)
You believe that Virgil Goode is not anti-gay or a homophobe, but just plays the part to fool his electorate.  You believe that this connection to a gay film was all intentional on Goode's part as he is, in reality, a big supporter of the gay community.  That, I would agree, would be hypocrisy.

However, I don't think this was intentional at all or that he doesn't truly believe the hateful/ignorant things he says.  I think Rep. Goode would have to be a much better actor to accomplish hypocrisy here.  Having seen him in action, this does not appear, to me, to be a skill he possesses.  

I think this entire episode is just silly.  It's unfortunate that someone had to lose their job over it.  This little connect the dots game though is just hilarious.  It's made out to be something truly nefarious, and it is just trivial.  Voters of the 5th should fire Virgil Goode for sure.  But over this, I don't think so.



Oh no, I definitely believe Virgil is a bigot... (Lowell - 10/30/2008 1:44:45 PM)
...towards minorities of all kinds - Latinos, Muslims, gays, etc.  Just look at his statements and, more importantly, his voting record (anti-immigrant, anti-gay, etc.).  Also, why is it that Goode would dismiss a long-time staffer over a "silly" incident if he weren't freaking out about it? Why is he going to such great lengths to prevent the full story from coming out here? Something certainly doesn't smell right here. Also, why are you so intent on defending a guy who's corrupt and a bigot?  I find it a bit odd that this is what you're choosing to spend your time doing, instead of helping to elect Tom Perriello for instance.


I'm not defending Goode (tx2vadem - 10/30/2008 9:54:40 PM)
I am deploring this tactic.  And also trying to explain as I did on the October 16th reply how this is not hypocrisy.

It doesn't take a lot of time to post a comment here.  So, it's not like I'm spending a ton of time.  As far as helping Perriello, well if he gets money from the state party or the DCCC then he gets help from me.  

If you want to take Goode down over his associations with a film that portrays homosexuality, that is your prerogative.  I would just hope that you would call a spade a spade though.  And then when you use these types of tactics, it is then disingenuous to bemoan Republicans when they scrape the bottom of the barrel.



What kind of "tactics?" (Lowell - 10/30/2008 10:00:03 PM)
Goode is a raging homophobe and corrupt as well, now he's been caught in a blatant act of hypocrisy and possibly worse (using his congressional office in the promotion of a private enterprise) and is trying to cover it up.  The media should be all over this, to put it mildly.

P.S. Obviously, we are never going to agree on this subject - I think this is investigative journalism, you think it's some kind of "tactics" which you apparently deplore.  And never the twain shall meet...



Really? This kind of tactic? (tx2vadem - 10/30/2008 10:31:05 PM)
You and KFP are obviously playing up the gay association.  This is what it is all about: "Virgil Goode connected to gay film!"  It's like race-baiting except with gay people.  This is what I see.  Virgil Goode is connected to a gay film.  Great!  The people of the 5th district dislike (if not fear or loathe) the supposed "gay agenda."  Therefore, playing up this connection will play on their fear/dislike/hate.  They will associate Goode with gay people and then not vote for him.  That's this entire tactic as I see it.

And again this is not hypocrisy.  Goode is not secretly pro-gay.  So, his inadvertent association with this film does not make him a hypocrite.  The definition courtesy Merriam-Webster:

a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

As far as earmarks go, this is again nothing.  How about a $2.4 million earmark he supported for Northrop Gumman in Charlottesville?  If you are outraged about earmarks, you should be hitting the high dollars that go to big defense contractors and not this small fry stuff.  But again this is all about the gay angle and not the earmark at all.



Back Off (tvhost - 10/30/2008 1:45:55 PM)
I know for a fact, Virgil did not get rid of Mr. Duncan. Mr. Duncan RESIGNED!!!!!

ALL The mud slinging should just stop.

I was very disturbed by this news that Mr. Duncan had left Virgil's office. He was a vital part of the staff and had helped many over the years with issues regarding veterans benefits and more.

He also helped many when he was the assistant to former Senator Charles Hawkins.. You will find no better person than Mr. Duncan...

Try walking in his shoes and I am sure you will stumble.



"Back off?" (Lowell - 10/30/2008 1:57:40 PM)
Is that a threat?  


Regardless, a lot of people have been (Lowell - 10/30/2008 2:12:08 PM)
looking into this situation, and lots of information is leaking out all over the place.  One of the things I've heard is that Duncan was fired.  If you have other information, simply present it without the "back off" nonsense. Why are you so defensive about ol' Virgil anyway?  Seems like the only times you come on here to comment are when Goode's in the cross hairs.  Fascinating.


Coming on here. (tvhost - 10/30/2008 2:25:21 PM)
Well i defend when i see needs defending.. I am also a Mark Warner Supporter but I do not support Governor Kaine. Does that make me a bad person? I don't know. But I do speak my mind. Isn't that what this forum is all about.

I did not mean the back off as as being a threat to anyone, it is just like any thing... This whole story is old.

It comes out just before an election.
It drags people thru the mud.
Did you ever think how you would feel if the shoe was on the other foot?

Again, I ask you to contact Congressman Goode for the FACTS on Mr. Duncan's leaving his office. He was not fired.

And On Tuesday I will be Voting for Warner for Senator.



Did Goode's office promote elsewhere? (KFP - 10/30/2008 10:06:10 PM)
The extent of Goode's congressional office being used for promoting Jerry Meador's Film Eden's Curve (featuring Linwood Duncan) may have extended beyond the 2003 Toronto Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.  The same year, the film was featured around the world at these festivals:

2003 Toronto Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

2003 Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

2003 London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

2003 North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

16th Annual Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival

Chicago International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

If Goode's office was used in promoting the film in Toronto, was it used in 2003 in Miami, London, North Carolina, Austin, and Chicago?

How can we have these questions answered if Goode is deliberately hiding the truth and preventing the media from doing their jobs?