Description: James Broughton (1913-1999) lived by the maxim "Follow Your Own Weird" each and every day. A pre-Beat-era poet, underground filmmaker, lover, gay man and artist who dared to live boldly and experiment wildly, Broughton is the subject of the documentary film, Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton. Whether as an out poet during the oppressive and anti-gay McCarthy era or as the bard of the modern gay rights movement, James' expansive life inspired thousands towards "Big Joy".