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In early February of 2006, myself and two ladies, were able to see the movie Brokeback Mountain for the first time at the theatre. The theatre was packed and we thought we were going to have to stand through the movie until we found three separate seats in the midst of all the people. I personally liked the movie so much that I went to see it again a week later and it was still playing to a full house. When the movie ended and I was on my way out, I walked past an older couple who seemed to be in their 50's, and as I went by them, I heard the wife comment to her husband that "It's too bad that Vermont doesn't have a Brokeback Mountain of its own." I thought to myself "That would be cool, wouldn't it?" I forgot about that comment the lady made as I grappled in my mind with the story (movie) I had just witnessed. Brokeback Mountain was so overwhelming to me that it stuck in the back of my mind for many days, haunting me, taunting me, beckoning me to come back, like no other movie ever had.
One day about a week later as I was driving south to Central Vermont, I pulled over at one of our roadside rest stops to stretch my legs a bit. As I walked around the parking spot, I turned and gazed out at the mountain range nearby, and that lady's comment at the theatre came back to me...." It's too bad that Vermont doesn't have a Brokeback Mountain of its own ". At that second it occurred to me....Vermont CAN have it's own Brokeback Mountain. It really is possible. As I stood along that roadside here in Vermont on that beautiful sunny afternoon, the idea for Vermonts own Brokeback Mountain was born. As I left that parking spot and continued my drive through the Green Mountains, I felt a firestorm raging in my mind and heart and that firestorm is called Brokeback Mountain Vermont.
WHO WE ARE
"We, at this point, are a few dedicated fans of the movie who live here in Vermont. However, the more people that hear about us, the larger our following is becoming.
WHY WE WANT TO NAME ONE OF OUR MOUNTAINS AFTER THE MOVIE
This is hard to explain sufficiently enough to make people understand, especially those who have not seen the movie. If you haven't seen the movie, you probably won't understand at all. If you have seen it, you'll know what I am talking about. We've all seen movies we liked or even "really" liked over the years. The majority of those movies we forgot as soon as we walked out the door of the theatre and got back to our lives. For me, this one time, it was different....very different.
Brokeback Mountain was not just a another movie. It was something very special. The scenery, the story, the actors, everything. This story showed me that two people can love each other deeply and forever, regardless of their sex. Brokeback was not a "gay" story by any means. There were no "gay cowboys" as I have so often heard people say, especially people who have never seen the movie for themselves. It was about love, real love, powerful love, in every sense of the word. I had been so overwhelmed and emotionally moved by Brokeback Mountain, that it was in every thought through the days and weeks that followed. Although time has somewhat lessened the impact, I have not forgotten Brokeback Mountain. I never will.
I brought my idea to the other two that had first seen the movie with me. After intense and emotional conversations, and a few disagreements, over the span of several days, it was decided that we would, in fact, pursue the possibility of naming one of our state mountains after Brokeback.
Why name our mountain after a movie? Our naming of a Mountain is Vermonts "ultimate dedication" to the movie, its actors, and its Author Annie Proulx (who lived and went to College here in Burlington, Vermont). It is a permanent monument to the concept of love between people, regardless of their physical sex. More than that, our own real Brokeback Mountain will become a place of tranquility, refuge, peace and familiarity for thousands of people who will walk our Mountain and to those who understand and accept the concept of true love regardless of gender. To be able to walk upon our Mountain, knowing how it has been dedicated, is our heart-felt tribute and our peace. In short, we want our own Mountain, in our own state of Vermont, that we can be close to and visit when our hearts feel the need. There is no doubt that "Brokeback got us good!".
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
We know there will be some resistance to our idea from those with simple minds. We understand that not everyone has the capacity to accept the fact that love does often exist, to varying degrees, between people of the same sex. For those close-minded people who cannot understand that or who refuse to accept it, we are truly sorry.
We are already gearing up for the interesting journey that we anticipate when we have finally chosen a mountain and make application to the state.
If you agree with our naming of a Vermont Mountain, please send us an email and volunteer to help us out. We would be empowered to have you along side of us during this battle to name a mountain.