Watch After Stonewall

After Stonewall is a documentary film that explores the events that occurred within the LGBTQ+ rights movement following the 1969 Stonewall riots. The film was directed by John Scagliotti and released in 1999, 30 years after the riots took place. The documentary delves into the historical significance of the riots that marked a monumental turning point in the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

The film begins with a brief portrait of the LGBT community prior to Stonewall. It depicts the discrimination and persecution that gay men and women faced in the late 1960s. The documentary then highlights the events that occurred on June 27, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, where police began raiding the establishment. The patrons of the bar fought back, resulting in a prolonged riot that lasted several days. The film explains that this event set off a chain reaction that brought LGBT people out of the shadows and into the streets, ultimately leading to a national movement for gay and lesbian equality.

After Stonewall tells the story of the decades following the riots by delving into the lives of key figures who were integral to the advancement of LGBT rights, such as Craig Rodwell and Harvey Milk. Craig Rodwell, the founder of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, was an influential activist who played a key role in the post-Stonewall push for LGBT rights. The film provides a portrait of Rodwell, outlining how he pushed for the acceptance of LGBT people in New York by staging public demonstrations and lobbying politicians.

The documentary also explores the political landscape of the LGBTQ+ community, portraying its sudden reawakening after Stonewall. The film highlights the role of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. Milk's activism had a profound effect on the LGBT community, energizing the movement and leading to unprecedented progress in the fight for equality.

The documentary illustrates how the AIDS crisis of the 1980s had a profound impact on the LGBT community. After Stonewall examines the government's slow response to the epidemic and the subsequent backlash against the gay community. The film includes interviews with survivors and activists who fought for equal treatment for those affected by the disease. It also describes how the crisis ultimately led to the creation of significant political and scientific changes that are still influencing the community today.

After Stonewall provides a view of the LGBT community's advances across the decades following Stonewall. The documentary covers the issues that the gay and lesbian movement has been fighting for throughout the years, including marriage equality and transgender rights. The film systematically depicts all the political, social, and cultural aspects that the movement has influenced and the changes that impacted the community. It also candidly shows the alliances with other groups and the involvement of people with diverse backgrounds in the fight for equality.

The documentary of After Stonewall is made with the help of interviews from pivotal figures in the LGBTQ+ movement, like Melissa Etheridge, Allen Ginsberg, and Andrea Weiss. Additional interviews with major cultural and historical figures, including Gayle Rubin, Armistead Maupin, Barbara Gittings, and Barney Frank, provide valuable insights into the inner workings of the movement.

In conclusion, After Stonewall is a fascinating and provocative documentary that details the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community in the decades following the Stonewall riots. It skillfully presents a history of the movement with insights from pivotal figures and other key voices, providing a comprehensive view of how the movement came to be and what it has achieved over the years. The film is an excellent resource for anyone seeking insight into the complex history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

After Stonewall is a 1999 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.