by Evelyn Bailey
On Oct. 9, before the 7 p.m. showing of “The Celluloid Closet” at the
Dryden Theatre, the preview/trailer to the 90-minute documentary on the
history of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community of Rochester
was shown.
As moviegoers came in to the theatre, they were handed the Just Give
$3 envelopes for a donation to Shoulders. At 7 p.m. Michael Gamilla came
to the podium and announced the Documentary Preview/Trailer.
Members of the Rochester gay community saw themselves on the big
screen recounting snippets of struggle, success, pride, conflict, AIDS
epidemic, and more. You could sense the swell of pride, heartfelt
response, and an overwhelming realization that this is OUR story!
The completed 90-minute Documentary on the History of the Rochester LGBT Community will be the culmination of the 40th Anniversary of the Gay Alliance at next year’s ImageOut 2013. The 40th Anniversary year of the Gay Alliance will provide our Rochester LGBT community with a year of celebration and pride.
This preview would not have been possible without the energy, time
and talent of Kevin Indovino, the Director/Producer of the documentary, a
true artist in his craft. I also need to recognize our major donors
Anthony Mascioli, Tim Tompkins, John Dash, Bill DeStevens, Marilyn
Tedeschi and Vickie Fumia, Paul Scheib, Bob Bramlet, and many more.
“Hollywood, that great maker of myths, taught straight people what to
think about gays and gay people what to think about themselves.”
The Documentary on the History of Rochester LGBT Community will
hopefully do for Rochester what “The Celluloid Closet” and Hollywood did
— teach the greater Rochester community what to think about the
lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender community of Rochester, and the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community of Rochester what to
think about itself!
Thank you ImageOut and thank you to our friends and allies for all
your support. Watch for information on our year celebrating the 40th
Anniversary of the Gay Alliance, culminating at the showing of the 90
minute documentary on the History of the Rochester LGBT Community at
ImageOut 2013.
Another historical moment! In gratitude to those who have come before
us and those who stand in our midst, Shoulders To Stand On is proud of
our community and proud of our history. Thank you ImageOut for helping
us to see and embrace who we are!