Although Pride month will be over in just a few days, our endless fight to as LGBTQ individuals will never stop as long as our stories and lives continue to be told and documented. And with award-winning filmmaker Arthur Dong and his piercing four-film LGBTQ Stories set, our voices will always be important.
Buy Arthur Dong’s LGBTQ Stories Blu-rayWith his keen and at times unflinching approach to truth, Dong’s four powerful films are just that.
Coming Out Under Fire (1994) is a revealing profile of gay and lesbian World War II service members having to come to terms with the egregious anti-gay policies in the military. It’s a hardening look at the stupid punishments that they LGBTQs faced during their stint, including loss of veterans’ benefits and immediate expulsion.
Out Rage ’69 (1995) is a fascinating and essential time capsule with firsthand testimonials from the gay and lesbians people who were there during the Stonewall Rebellion. Watching this made me really appreciate those who came before us during a time where you just couldn’t be yourself nor live your truth.
Licensed to Kill (1997) is a disturbing and graphic series of interviews with convicted murderers of gay men. Beware because some of the things that the prisoners say, and the crime scenes are guaranteed to make your skin crawl.
Family Fundamentals (2002) is a sobering look at the conflicts between conservative Christians and their gay and lesbian children/grandchildren. I found this the saddest one because it suggests religion will always be made to condemn people for just being who they are.
Each of these films represent a timely facet of the struggles that many in our community still face to this day. They can be difficult to watch, but they are honest in exposing the usual contradictions of the so-called “respectable society” and how they still look at us.
With these and other necessary documents of LGBTQ life, our lives and humanity should always be apart of history, whether people like it or not.
