A revealing look at the vibrant lives lived by queer people in the '50s amidst a steep rise in governmental regulations against the LGBTQ+ community; Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who ushered in an era of government-sanctioned persecution, led the charge.
Even before Stonewall, Pride took root in the 1960s; lesser-known heroes played an integral role in the advancement of the movement; through activism and protest, the LGBTQ+ community struggled for rights, acceptance and equality.
Archival footage; personal testimonies and interviews show how the 1970s helped forge a national movement; from the first Gay Pride march, to the rise of artists like filmmaker Barbara Hammer and poet Audre Lorde; opposition from the religious right.
New York in the 1980s, reinvigorated by the prior era's sexual revolution and the ascendance of the Gay Liberation Front, sees an influx of queer people to downtown Manhattan as the AIDS epidemic devastates the gay community.
The 1990s were expected to herald a new era for the LGBTQ+ community, but the Culture Wars were in full swing, devastating communities but galvanizing LGBTQ+ people to create policies and organizations that continue the fight.
The 2000s ushered in a new age of queer visibility; gays and lesbians were gaining acceptance in the mainstream media; cisgender members of the LGBTQ+ community found a place in society; the struggle for trans rights continued.
Alex Stapleton
Producer
Christine Vachon
Danny Gabai
Kama Kaina
Stacy Scripter