“’Stonewall’ is the emblematic event in modern lesbian and gay history.  The site of a series of riots in late June-early July 1969 that resulted from a police raid on a Greenwich Village gay bar, ‘Stonewall’ has become synonymous over the years with gay resistance to oppression.  Today, the word resonates with images of insurgency and self-realization and occupies a central place in the iconography of lesbian and gay awareness.  The 1969 riots are now generally taken to mark the birth of the modern gay and lesbian political movement – that moment in time when gays and lesbians recognized all at once their mistreatment and their solidarity.  As such ‘Stonewall’ has become an empowering symbol of global proportions.” ( Martin Duberman, Stonewall,  Plume, 1994 preface). 

            The Ministry of Would Jesus Discriminate? recognizes the importance of this event as well as the importance of the life of Harvey Milk.  So in the spirit of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, our ministry will host the 1st annual Gay and Lesbian film festival celebrating our heritage and history. 

            All the events will be held at St. John the Apostle, MCC, located at 3049 McGregor Blvd in Fort Myers.  The telephone number is 344-0012.  

            The first night of the film festival will be June 19.  We will begin at 7 PM.  The films for that evening will be The Times of Harvey Milk and Out of the Past: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Rights in America.  The Times of Harvey Milk is a winner of the Academy award for Best Documentary Feature.  This film is the inspirational story of San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk’s life and tragic death which made him a martyr for Gays and Lesbians.  Out of the Past is a documentary about the history of gay rights movements in America.  Told through the eyes of Kelli Peterson, a 17-year-old high school student in Salt Lake City, Utah, the film explores Kelli´s history-making experience of forming a Gay Straight Alliance in her public school.  It also profiles past movements and their activists, providing a comprehensive account of the gay and lesbian struggles throughout America’s history. 

            The second night of the film festival will be June 20.  We will begin at 1 PM.  The films for that afternoon will be Before Stonewall, Stonewall, and After Stonewall as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of this very important event.  Before Stonewall is the story of the gay community and how they have strived to be accepted focusing on the events that led to the fevered 1969 riots at a New York City gay bar (Stonewall Inn), and many other milestones in the brave gay movement for acceptance.  Stonewall is set in the legendary New York City gay bar during the tumultuous late ‘60s.  Stonewall examines the political coming-of-age of the gay community.  The film follows the intellectual awakening of a gay country boy who moves to the Big Apple in hopes of finding the freedom to express his sexuality fully.  But he discovers that the New York –and its police force- aren’t as open to difference as he expected.  Meanwhile, he has decided who to ally himself with: the drag queens who refuse to pander to straights or the bland gays who try to curry favor with straights.  After Stonewall is the sequel to Before Stonewall that documents the history of gay and lesbian’s life from the riots at Stonewall in 1969 to the present.  Narrated by Melissa Etheridge, the film explains the work, struggles, victories, and defeats the gay community has weathered to become a vibrant and integral part of American Society. 

            The cost to attend?  Absolutely nothing.  However, if you are moved to support our ministry and the film festival, donations will be accepted.  During intermission, we will be selling refreshments and other items to help support our important work.  We hope that you will attend,   We also want you to be our publicists and spread the news.  See you at the movies.