Watch Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution

Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution is a documentary film released in 2017, directed by Yony Leyser. It takes viewers on a journey through the history of Queercore, a subculture that emerged in North America in the 1980s as a reaction to the mainstream LGBT culture. The film features interviews with key figures in the movement, including John Waters, Beth Ditto, Kim Gordon, and others, as well as archival footage and live performances.

The movie examines the attitude of the queer punk movement in the late 70s and early 80s that said that the gay rights movement was too mainstream and not inclusive of all identities. Queercore, for them, was the rejection of assimilation in favor of a radical expression. Many of the bands were explicitly political in their lyrics and the songs became anthems for the disenfranchised.

The film begins by providing a brief background on the punk movement and how it gave way to Queercore. It highlights the role played by band members, including Bruce LaBruce, G.B. Jones, and Tom Jennings. The documentary details how the subculture evolved into an artistic movement with a DIY ethos, which encouraged individuals to express their marginalized identities to create a space for everyone.

Moreover, the film further delves into the queer punk music scene that evolved from this subculture, highlighting its distinct features, such as its explicitly political lyrics, DIY aesthetic, intentionally confrontational attitude, and the embrace of the raunchy.

Throughout the film, the directors explore the community created by Queercore, and how it rejected the rigid norms of traditional punk culture that rooted in white supremacy, misogyny, and the masculine. The film takes viewers through the movement's peak in the '90s, with interviews from bands like Gossip, Limp Wrist, and Fifth Column, who helped bring Queercore to a wider audience.

The duration of the film is spent following former band members, the magazine publishers, and the zine makers, discussing how the movement changed their lives, gave them a sense of belonging, and led them to a new artistic expression. The film cleverly moves through various topics, showing how the medium of punk rock allowed for a free expression of gender identity and sexuality.

John Waters, who is one of the most famous faces on the documentary, speaks candidly about his involvement with the movement and how it influenced him as an artist. Beth Ditto talks about her journey from a small town girl to a queer icon, and how the acceptance of the queer community allowed her to be herself. Meanwhile, Kim Gordon, the bassist of Sonic Youth, discusses the role played by Queercore in shaping the alternative music scene for the past few decades.

Throughout the documentary, the passion and the willingness to push boundaries of the queer punk fans are palpable. The music is often angry and can be provocative, but it is always with an underlying message of political criticism. The fans - either gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender - are united around this ideology of empowerment through their expression of non-normative sexuality.

Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution is a powerful testament to the ability of punk rock music to provide a platform for marginalized communities to express themselves creatively. The documentary highlights the role that queer punk music played in helping people come to terms with their sexuality or gender identity, encouraging acceptance of themselves and the community. The documentary may not be interesting to people not familar with the queer punk culture music scene, but for those who may be interested, it is an enlightening and well-produced introduction.

Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.