It’s been interesting watching the changing attitudes towards LGBT rights in recent years. We’ve had many successes, and then been disappointed with half measures and violent attacks. The Boy Scouts of America lifted their ban on gay youth, but failed to do the same with their employment practices that still explicitly exclude “avowed homosexuals.” The blood donation ban on gay men in Canada was lifted, but only to those who have been celibate for five years. No such stipulation applies to straight donors. And in Moscow our friends Nikolai and Yury staged another brave and important Pride event, that resulted in assaults and detainments. By the looks of it, I think things are more difficult for them now, than when we participated in Pride 2008. Yury’s powerful video of this years events can be seen in the video below.
But to offset all the disappointing moments of the struggle for a more equal society, are all the exciting ways we are able to help make positive change in the world. It’s rewarding to know that Beyond Gay continues to provide inspiration to Pride organizers and film festival programmers and they in turn make the effort to share the film and its message with their communities.
This June we are thrilled to be participating in some great festivals near and far. The Canadian Embassy in Romania is sponsoring our screening at Gayfest in Bucharest. I have to say I am honoured, and a little amazed it came together, to be honest. The organizers of this festival have put together a really amazing program of events, and I love their artwork! The screening of Beyond Gay is on June 6th.
Ireland’s National Lesbian and Gay Federation and Rainbow Europe are presenting the film for Dublin Pride at the Irish Film Institute on June 28th. Dublin is celebrating 30 years of Pride this year, so Beyond Gay sure to hit home with audiences there. Closer to home, the our friends at the Victoria Film Festival, has teamed up with Victoria Pride and Out In Schools to launch the first ever Reel Queer Film Festival on Vancouver Island. As in Dublin the screening of Beyond Gay is set to kick off Pride in Victoria. Thanks to all these great organizations for supporting the film. See you at the movies!