Stonewall documentary screening highlights personal pride stories

June 28 marks the 50th anniversary of the riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village, which are often credited for launching the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement in the US. In celebration of the anniversary, the Center for Contemporary Arts is set to host a Pride movie night on Wednesday June 19 at The Screen with a showing of the 1984 documentary Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community.

Before Stonewall provides a look at what life was like for queer and transgender people before the riots, including the mistreatment and legal obstacles faced by members of the community, and highlights notable events from the years leading up to the riots. The film has been called "enlightening and entertaining" by critics, but Pride volunteer for the CCA and The Screen, Patrick Murphy, says the screening is meant to serve a deeper purpose beyond mere entertainment.

"A lot of people know Stonewall and what's happened since, but many have forgotten what things were like before," Murphy tells SFR, noting that even many LGBTQIA+ people have forgotten or are unaware of what life was like pre-1969. "A lot of people don't understand how people were treated or what made them riot."

The reminder is particularly timely, given current counter-reactions to Pride: Recent weeks have seen some straight people question the necessity for the celebrations, and there is a movement planning a "straight pride" parade in Boston.

For the CCA's interim Chairman of the Board Sterling Zinsmeyer, who was outed before the riots and remembers well the discrimination he faced, the screening is a chance to share his own personal story of life before Stonewall. Zinsmeyer joins LGBTQIA+ activists Israel Chavez and Jude Wallace in a pre-screening talk moderated by Murphy. In Santa Fe, Zinsmeyer says, LGBTQIA+ folks have assimilated to the point they have become nearly invisible, and while he doesn't necessarily think that assimilation is all bad, he thinks it's important to step into the light occasionally.

"There are times when you need to make yourself visible," he says.

Still, that doesn't mean event-goers won't have fun. Zinsmeyer promises that the film is indeed as entertaining as it is enlightening, and says he hopes it helps people to understand the strides that the movement has made.

"It's going to be a great Pride weekend," Zinsmeyer says, "but we don't want to lose touch with why this is all happening."

Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community

6 pm Wednesday June 19. $15. The Screen, 1600 St. Michael's Drive, 428-0209; tickets here.