For me, an out, urban, 43 year-old gay man in a 19-year relationship, it has has affected me in powerful, surprising and sometimes paradoxical, ways. To start with, I've very rarely felt so close to any character in a film or story as I do to these two guys. They just won't get out of my head. This is the "haunting" quality that so many people have referred to. After watching the film the first time, I felt completely spent, weak and numb. The second time I watched it, I was even more of a mess, just unable to hold anything in for the last half of the film. I read the story after that, and at the end of it had a good, cathartic cry.
In the subsequent hours and days, I began to evaluate things in my life vis a vis Ennis and Jack and what they went through. On the one hand, their story makes me feel so lucky--it has shown me that things have been so easy for me, and that I should I really appreciate everything I have. On the other hand, it makes me feel like such a coward for not being bolder about living my life more fully, as who I really am. Since it has all been so easy for me, why didn't I do more, try harder, have higher expectations, rise to challenges rather than just settling or making easy choices in my life? Other people have said it, and it's so true--Brokeback has made me realize the triviality of so many things in my life, and has made me want to distill my life down to what is important and essential.
For adamblast and BillN--I send strength and love to you guys.