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a14 people & arts
Thursday 1 OcTOber 2020
New Steinem biopic shines light on a sisterhood of activists

By JOCELYN NOVECK Gloria Steinem was known
Among the pithy quips at- as a “quiet warrior,” in Tay-
tributed to Gloria Steinem mor’s words, with a natural
over the years is this reply to Midwestern reserve, long
why she wasn’t interested streaked hair and those
in getting married: “I can’t iconic aviator glasses. But
mate in captivity.” their friendship ran deep.
She did eventually marry, “She was my teacher and
to her own surprise, at age my friend,” Steinem said
66. But that scene takes up in the interview. “She was
barely a minute in Julie Tay- enormously funny. Abso-
mor’s 139-minute long new lutely New York, you know.
biopic about Steinem, “The And I used to say things
Glorias,” not just because it like, ‘Oh, you’re the person
came late in a long (and still I should have had as my
actively ongoing) life, but mother.’ And she would
because there are so many say, ‘I’m not old enough to
other important relation- be your mother.’” (Steinem
ships to focus on, namely This image released by LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions shows Julianne Moore as told the same anecdote,
the key women who part- Gloria Steinem, left, and Bette Midler as Bella Abzug in a scene from "The Glorias." through tears, at Abzug’s
nered with Steinem — in Associated Press 1998 funeral.)
friendship, and in activism Moore says she was unfa-
— on her long journey to nizable colleague. deserved.” graph, firsts raised. And miliar, before making the
becoming America’s most Lorraine Toussaint, who History, added Toussaint, with Mankiller (Kimberly film, of Steinem’s close re-
visible feminist. gives a memorably vivid has not heard much about Guerrero), another close lationship with Abzug.
Women like Bella Abzug, turn as Kennedy, the promi- Black women in either the Steinem friend and activist “We had so much research
Florynce Kennedy, Dorothy nent Black activist and suffrage movement or in who became the first fe- available to us, and one of
Pitman Hughes and Wilma founding member of the second-wave feminism. male Principal Chief of the the things I drew on was
Mankiller, all of whom (and National Women’s Political “But Gloria tried to give Cherokee Nation. just how much Gloria loved
more) are portrayed in the Caucus, said Steinem her- these women credit,” Tous- Then there was Abzug, Bella,” the actor said in an
film, giving moviegoers a self helped guide her per- saint said. “The press wasn’t played by Bette Midler in interview. “You could see
quick but valuable edu- formance. particularly interested in the film opposite Julianne it in the research, the way
cation in the history of the “We realized we had a giving them credit, but Glo- Moore’s Steinem. (Moore is she looked at her. And so
women’s movement. champion, and that was ria certainly spoke out as one of four actors playing Bette and I hadn’t met
“One of the great things Gloria herself,” Toussaint often as she could.” her at different stages of before and I fell in love
about this movie,” Steinem, said in an interview. “She In the film, based on the her life.) Outwardly, the two with her right away, and I
86, said in a recent inter- was very, very helpful for memoir “My Life on the women could not have ap- thought it was wonderful to
view, “is that it will lead me in terms of her memo- Road,” there are poignant peared more different. The have our relationship and
viewers into knowing more ries with Flo Kennedy and scenes with Steinem and New York congresswoman, base it on Gloria’s love for
about these women.” her appreciation of Flo. longtime speaking partner nicknamed “Battling Bella,” Bella at the same time.”
Women who, perhaps ex- She speaks so candidly Pitman Hughes (Janelle was unapologetically brash Midler, too, was struck by
cepting Abzug, were not and openly of figures like Monáe), the Black activist and exuberant, recogniz- the relationship between
nearly as familiar to the Flo who did not get the with whom she appeared able immediately by the the two women.
public as their very recog- credit she believed they in a famous 1971 photo- large hats she always wore. “There was so much re-
spect there, so much re-
Gabrielle Union, NBC settle dispute over racism allegations spect and so much fun,”
she said. “I think they had a
great time together. I think
the set. “We’ve reached son, until she and fellow they howled. And I wanted
an amicable resolution,” first-year judge Julianne to make sure people knew
Union and the network Hough weren’t asked to that it wasn’t the kind of
said in a joint statement. return. adversarial relationship
“NBC Entertainment ap- Variety reported soon af- that lots of people seem
preciates the important ter that Union, who is Black, to have with Betty Friedan,
concerns raised by Ga- believed she was fired be- although I worship Betty
brielle Union and remains cause she had asked NBC Friedan ... but that wasn’t
committed to ensuring and the show’s producers the case with Gloria and
an inclusive and support- to respond to an environ- Bella. That was real love.”q
ive working environment ment that tolerated racist
where people of all back- jokes and remarks from Solution Sudoku
grounds are treated with judges and producers.
Gabrielle Union arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in
Beverly Hills, Calif. on Feb. 9, 2020. Union and NBC say they respect.” Union gave detailed ac-
have settled their differences in their dispute over her firing Both sides declined further counts of the issues in a
from “America’s Got Talent.” comment, and would not complaint to the Califor-
Associated Press give further details. nia Department of Fair
By ANDREW DALTON their dispute over her firing Union, known for her roles Employment and Housing
AP Entertainment Writer as a judge on “America’s in the films “Bring It On” that she filed in June, say-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ga- Got Talent,” which she and “Bad Boys II,” ap- ing she received criticism
brielle Union and NBC said said was retaliation for peared on the talent of her hair from producers
Tuesday that they have her complaints that the showcase created by that were rooted in rac-
settled their differences in show tolerated racism on Simon Cowell for a sea- ism. q
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