Mass. inmates can see murder and drugs but not gay love

When it comes to the films that Massachusetts prison inmates are allowed to see, movies with violent killings and illicit drug use make the cut, but those depicting gay love are completely off-limits.

A Massachusetts department of corrections officer learned that last week when he screened Brokeback Mountain for inmates--he is now facing disciplinary action. Prison officials said Brokeback violates their policy against showing sexual and violent content, but the Boston Herald revealed Wednesday that prisoners have been treated to screenings of blood-soaked, drug-infused films like A History of Violence and Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Get Rich caused riots at movie theaters when it was released and was pulled from a Pennsylvania movie theater after a patron was shot dead in the lobby.

"Clearly this needs a top-to-bottom review," department of corrections spokeswoman Diane Wifflin told the Herald when confronted about the department's approved list of films. (The Advocate)