Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride is a 2009 documentary directed by Bob Christie, where he examines relevance of LGBT pride celebrations internationally, against the backdrop of opposition to such events in a number of countries.[1] The documentary tries to portray pride as more than just a parade, but rather an important step on the road to equality and fight against homophobia and discrimination.[2] It was produced with Transmission in association with Border2Border Entertainment and Nomadic Pictures.
Over the course of a year, the film follows Vancouver Pride Society president Ken Coolen to various international Pride events, including Poland, Hungary, Russia, Sri Lanka and others where there is great opposition to pride parades.[3] In North America, Pride is complicated by commercialization and a sense that the festivals are turning away from their political roots toward tourism, party promotion and entertainment. Christie documents the ways larger, more mainstream Pride events have supported the global Pride movement and how human rights components are being added to more established events. In the New York sequence, leaders organize an alternative Pride parade, the Drag March, set up to protest the corporatization of New York Pride. A parade in São Paulo, the world's largest Pride festival, itself includes a completely empty float, meant to symbolize all those lost to HIV and to anti-gay violence.[4]
Appearances
A number of personalities appear in interviews for the documentary including:<
Ken Coolen – Parade Director, Vancouver Pride Society
The documentary shows footage of a number of parades including:
InterPride 2007 (Zurich Switzerland) where Ken Coolen and parade co-director, Dean Nelson, attend an international conference of Pride organizations. Many human rights activists are interviewed, including American artist and activist Gilbert Baker, creator of the first rainbow flag.[5]
São Paulo Pride Parade (Brazil) where 4 million participants in a government-sponsored Pride[5] with the theme of the year Homophobia Kills!
Moscow Pride (Russia) with archiving clandestine preparations for this event and a violent counter protest[5]
Pride Colombo (Sri Lanka) where Pride events are only advertised after they take place, in order to protect the identities of those who attend. Meeting Sahran Abeysundra, who later travels to Canada to be a Grand Marshal in Vancouver Parade.[5]
Vancouver Pride (Canada) for the anniversary entitled Celebrating 30 Years of the Rainbow
Awards
Morris Chapdelaine, Oliver-Barret Lindsay, Charlie David and Bob Christie
2009: Won Jury Award for Best Documentary at Image+Nation Festival in Montreal, Canada
2009: Won the Audience Award for "Documentary" category at Out on Film; Atlanta LGBT Film Festival.
2009: Won the Audience Award for "Favorite Documentary" at Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
2010: Won the HBO Best Documentary Film Award at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
2010: Won the "Best of the Festival" award at Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival
Others
2010: Michael Wiskar Nominated for "Best Musical Score in a Documentary Program or Series" at Leo Awards
2010: Steve Schmidt Nominated for "Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series" at Leo Awards
References
↑Natasha Barsotti, "Where do we go from here?" Xtra West, July 29, 2010.
↑Randy Shore, "Around the world with Pride; Film explores the politics of Pride, and why the fight for global human rights remains as urgent as ever". Vancouver Sun, August 1, 2009.
↑Susan Dunne, "The Struggle for Acceptance". Hartford Courant, May 27, 2010.
↑Rob Salerno, "Documentary examines Pride, from protest movement to business concern". Xtra!, May 16, 2010.
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