Before Stonewall

25 years ago this film felt like a revelation of a hidden gay history. Conventional wisdom had defined the modern movement for gay liberation from the riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York, however, this film shows just how much activism and creativity haad been going on before 1969. A dazzling line-up of interviewees includes poets, writers, political organizers, dancers, actors who bear witness to a life before Stonewall, including Allen Ginsberg, Audre Lorde, Barbara Gittings, Harry Hay, Ann Bannon and many more.

The courage and bravery of those who dared to challenge the world has helped create the modern gay community. This is also a work of extraordinary archival research, finding footage which showed the undeniable existence of gay men and lesbians throughout the 20th century. Essential viewing for anyone who wants to get a sense of our history.

Following this screening we will be presenting Greta Schiller's short film Tiny and Ruby: Hell Divin' Women (US 1988. 30min).  This will be followed by a panel discussion with film directors Greta Schiller, Monika Treut and Richard Kwietniowski plus Ken Livingstone who introduced Before Stonewall at the premiere 25 years ago.