Benjamin Morgan

Ah, go blow it outta your giggy! I scream at my beau, Rudolph, ending a heated argument. I’m so tired of the drama. Other people’s baggage—sheesh—who needs it? Who said we’re on this earth to go two by two?! Like everything in life, one thing doesn’t fit all. Give me the single life, boy. Why just ask Morgan….

In 2000, Benjamin Morgan (he goes by Morgan), then twenty-seven, wrote and directed the delightful documentary short, Meet Joe Gay, in which he explores his own life through dating and relationships. The film was his thesis for the USC School of Cinematic Arts, yet turned out to win rave reviews at film festivals and is presently featured on the DVD compilation, First Out. Several years ago, he was asked to be a part of The AMC Project: Gay Hollywood and he is summer director of the New York Film Academy where, among others, he’s taught Spielberg’s son. He participated in the AIDS marathon in Honolulu one year, and volunteers for the “HIV Stops With Me” campaign and also for Camp Laurel. Morgan’s parents, who both recently died, are the subject of his current project, a book titled, Dear Mom and Dad. “It’s been very therapeutic,” he remarks, glad he was also able to document them in his film, Meet Joe Gay.

We join up at the Pasadena Playhouse to see the premiere of the musical, Sister Act. Afterward, we buy some tea and sit on the colonnade steps on this chilly evening.

Ruby Comer: Nearly seven years have passed since you explored the love arena. Did Prince Charming ever arrive at your doorstep?
Benjamin Morgan: No! [He answers in a lighthearted tone.] Since I made the film, the biggest difference is that I am less desperate now and less naive. I also learned that I was in love with the idea of having a boyfriend. With age comes more knowledge of who you are and what you want. I get slightly embarrassed when I look at the movie now.

No need to be. You were most charming and sincere. How has AIDS affected you?
I went to Stanford and was in San Francisco in the early nineties, so I felt it firsthand. I had a couple dozen friends who were HIV-positive and many of those died of AIDS. The experience inspired me. In my junior year, I dropped out for a quarter and did an internship at the Names Project. It was amazing and I became interested in studying health policy. So in my senior year I did an honors thesis on AIDS public communication campaigns, evaluating them for effectiveness and making recommendations on how to make them better. I got a grant from Stanford to interview the different AIDS organizations around the country like APLA, GMHC, and STOP AIDS Project.

Very impressive and interesting, Morgan. What is going on with you now in the
AIDS community?
Well, I just recently signed up for an AIDS ride for June. Friends have told me that it is a life-changing experience.

I’ve heard that also. I must sign up, but gee, how do I pedal with these red pumps?!
Come along and I’ll help out! I must tell you—a good friend of mine, Tim Speece, died of AIDS in 1997. He used to love and laugh out loud [watching] Judge Judy. About a year later, Marci, another friend of mine from kindergarten, who was also Tim’s friend, and I were watching Judge Judy. We looked at each other and being friends for so long we knew what each other was thinking: we need to go on Judge Judy as a tribute to Tim! So we made up a case and got on. All through the journey, we felt Tim was shepherding us. He would have thought it was a hoot!

Incredible. I thought all cases were real. How little I know. I should know better coming from Hollywood! Do you practice what you preach and use protection?
I do the majority of the time. I would be lying if I didn’t say I slip up sometimes. And I just made a recommitment to myself to not do that anymore.

Thanks for your honesty, Morgan.
AIDS is one of the few causes that I’ve just been personally touched by, especially coming from Northern California. But it seems to be such a taboo topic here in L.A. When I moved here in the late nineties, some friends and I were waiting on line at Starbucks in West Hollywood. We were talking about a friend of ours who was sick. People around us—I swear to God—were so physically uncomfortable. It was like, you just don’t talk about that, and that has been the case ever since I’ve lived here. It seems to be part of the L.A. culture, everything looks good and everything is fine. Now, what they will talk about is being a meth addict in recovery. They totally talk about that! But they won’t talk about HIV and AIDS….

Ruby Comer is an independent journalist from the Midwest who is happy to call Hollywood her home away from home. Reach her by e-mail at MsRubyComer@aol.com.

February 2007