8. Samoa Bans Milk Because Gay Culture Is Against Their Way Of Life
The biopic of the life of gay rights activist Harvey Milk was a huge hit with critics and audiences. It went on to be nominated for eight Oscars and win two, Best Actor for Sean Penn and Best Screenplay. All that success didn't stop it from being banned in Samoa, the island that gave us Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson and The Fa'afafine which are men that are raised as females to create a third gender. But Milk was banned and no reason was initially given. The ban only raised the film's profile in Samoa and many Samoans demanded that they be allowed to rent it or for the only cinema on the island to show it. But the pleas fell on deaf ears and eventually they got the reason why. Principal Censor Leiataua Niuapu said that Milk was;
"inappropriate and contradictory to Christian beliefs and Samoan culture. In the movie itself it is trying to promote the human rights of gays. Some of the scenes are very inappropriate in regard to some of the sex in the film itself, it's very contrary to the way of life here in Samoa."
So it is the age old problem with gays. Hardly surprising because homosexuality is still illegal on the island.