On July 27th 66-year-old Ed Buck a prominent Democrat donor was finally convicted of a nine-count indictment that included charges that he supplied the methamphetamine that killed two men during “party and play” encounters at his apartment.   It is hopefully the final chapter of two harrowing tales that started back in 2017 and had been such a source of anger for both the local queer and black communities.

Now their story has been told by local filmmaker Michiel Thomas as a means to honor the lives of Gemmel “Juelz” Moore and Timothy “Tim” Dean and finally tell their real stories by the people who knew and loved them well.

There was a major outcry back in 2017 when the body of Gemmel was found in Ed Buck’s apartment.  His death from a meth overdose was too hastily ruled as accidental and despite the concerted efforts of Gemmel’s family and friends, Buck was never charged with anything.  Two years later when Tim Dean’s body was found in very similar circumstances instead of the authorities seriously investigating this second death, they sat back and let the media run wild with very biased judgments 

They painted these outrageous images of who they accused Gemmel and Tim of being rather than focus on who the two men really were which gave them tabloid headlines with lurid tales of sex and drugs.  This full-on media coverage that seemed to go unchecked, was full of rampant homophobia and unfettered racism.

Full credit to Thomas who also served as the film’s cinematographer and co-editor for the calm and measured way he told the men’s stories.  The subject was not just very harrowing,  but also highly emotional as the men’s supporters and families had to overcome so many major obstacles to seek any sort of justice. 

Seeing it all detailed and laid out is beyond shocking especially to those who barely knew the bones of the story before.  As a community, we may still be used to less than full support from some metropolitan Police forces, but is completely shocking when elected officials in a supposedly liberal city seem to not want to pursue an allegedly powerful man like Buck.

The men’s relatives and friends were never allowed to grief …… up to, now at least …. but they at least they channeled their energies in both getting justice for both Gemmel and Tim but also letting the world know (well, at least the part that was listening ) about who they really were.  Buck had robbed them of their lives, their reputations, and their very existence.

It’s easy to hate Buck not just for what he did to these, and other men he had forced into shooting up drugs, but also for the fact that he may just be the tip of an iceberg.  We will never know how many other predators there are like him out, but maybe if we take the lesson from this film seriously, we can stop some of them in their tracks. 

It has its World Premiere at Outfest Film Festival in LA on 8/15 (and also available online 8/16 – 8/18 only).  Produced by Michael Franklin, Niq Lewis, and The Film Collaborative 

PS You may also like to check out : 

https:// queerguru.com/michiel-thomas-talks-about-filming-the-harrowing-stories-of-gemmel-and-tim/