Gore Vidal Upset by Depiction in Gay Play

Gore Vidal says that Edmund White's new play, involving homoerotic attraction between a writer and a killer similar to Timothy McVeigh, is based partially, and untruthfully, on himself.

According a story published Monday by 365Gay.com, Vidal told The Observer, "Edmund White will yet be feeling the wrath of my lawyers."

Added Vidal, "It's unethical and vicious to make it very clear that this old faggot writer is based on me, and that I'm madly in love with Timothy McVeigh, who I never met."

The play, titled Terre Haute, features a prison visit between the writer, James, and the killer Harrison, in which James fantasizes about unzipping Harrison's orange coveralls--only for Harrison to unzip them himself, as if in invitation.

Vidal did correspond with McVeigh, though the two never met. McVeigh was executed on June 11, 2001 for his part in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The bombing, which took place on April 19, 1995, resulted in 168 deaths.

Vidal is the author of several gay-themed novels, and has had relationships with other men, but, as the 365Gay.com article points out, holds the opinion that while there are gay sexual acts, there are no gay people.

The play was recently presented on the BBC as a radio drama, starring openly gay actor Ian McKellan as James, and also has had a British run as a theatrical production.

According to the article on 365Gay.com, White, who is a novelist as well as a playwright, told the New York Post that "the BBC insisted I get Mr. Vidal to sign off on it, which I did" for the play's radio broadcast.

Continued White, "I still have the fax saying it was OK by him. Maybe he forgot it, since he went into surgery the very next day."

Added White, "The character of James ended up being closer to my experience and politics than Mr. Vidal's."