‎Gay USA (1977) directed by Arthur J. Brsan, Jr. • Reviews, film + st • Letterboxd

film gay usa

Shot on one day by 25 different meramen across the USA unr the -ordatn of Arthur J. Brsan Jr. this film documents Gay Pri paras across the Uned Stat the late 70s.

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GAY USA

* film gay usa *

Betifully rtored by the UCLA Film & Televisn Archive llaboratn wh Framele and Outft, Gay USA is the first Amerin feature-length documentary by and about LGBTQ+ people.

'GAY USA,' THE HISTORIC 1977 FILM, IS NOW ON VIMEO

(bt known for his 1985 gay drama Buddi) mobilized mera crews across the untry to document the natnal Gay Freedom Day march June of 1977. Gay USA nveys the passn, anger, and fiant optimism of a muny unr attack ( that month of June 1977 alone: California's anti-gay Briggs Iniative had jt been announced, Ana Bryant's vic homophobia had helped repeal Miami's gay rights ordance, and a gay man named Robert Hillsborough had only days earlier been the victim of a fatal gay-bashg San Francis).

GAY USA

Brsan weav d of some of those homophobic voic and giv an overview of historil homophobia, cludg an acunt of gays and the Holot - and then illtrat the triumphant power of love and pri.

In addn to the magnificent cross-sectn of footage om the march San Francis, New York, Los Angel, Chigo, San Diego, and Philalphia, Gay USA also giv a fantastic look at rare footage shot by Lilli Vcenz of the very first gay pri para New York Cy 1970 (which was then known as Christopher Street Liberatn Day) as well as showg Brsan's own prevly shot footage om San Francis's first major gay pri celebratn 1972.

As an timated 250, 000 celebrants enjoy the 1977 ftivi San Francis (more than double the attendance of the prev year), Brsan's mera crews terview dozens of atten who share their stori - the lbian uple who fled the homophobia of Wicha; the self-proclaimed androgyno hermaphrode who scrib feelg "like a whole person stead of jt half a person;" the olr straight woman ally who explas that, "Whenever anyone group our society is attacked, we all mt e to their aid;" and the irristible guy standg the middle of Market Street who proclaims: "Today I'm more than gay, I'm jubilant.

GAY USA

Gay USA's natnwi release, after s Augt 1977 San Francis premiere, brought imag of out and proud LGBTQ+ people to ci across the untry. Jt a few months later, Harvey Milk was sworn as a San Francis Supervisor, beg one of the first openly gay people elected to public office and liverg a triumphant ncln to that harrowg year.

Gay USA offers a vibrant and betiful snapshot of an credible year LGBTQ+ history and nveys a powerful msage of hope to ntemporary viewers. Set post World-War II Germany, this Atrian drama follows Hans Hoffmann (Franz Rogowski) who's imprisoned several tim for beg gay and durg his time prison shar an timate relatnship wh his cellmate, Hans Hoffmann (Franz Rogowski), who is servg a life sentence for murr. Directed by wife team Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, this film follows two bt iends, One and Lucy, as they face two major life chang: one is movg abroad and other out as gay.

Based on a wild but te story, Potato Dreams of Ameri follows openly gay wrer-director W Hurley's move om Rsia to Ameri when his mother be a mail orr bri and marri a much olr and eccentric man.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* FILM GAY USA

'Gay USA,' the historic 1977 film, is now on Vimeo :: Bay Area Reporter .

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