Victory Fund believes that when LGBTQ elected leaders and public officials are in the halls of power, it humanizes our lives, changes the legislative debates and advances equality. Last month, XFINITY Community Recommendations invited Victory Fund to share its top 12 LGBTQ-themed movies available on its platform, and we have the list for you now.
Our XFINITY Community Recommendation list tells the stories of the candidates, elected leaders, government officials and advocates who have chosen public service as their method for advancing equality. These stories demonstrate that LGBTQ elected and appointed leaders are the antidote to efforts to rollback equality-and that we need more of them.
Below are our recommendations XFINITY has available, and you can learn more about how to see them on the XFINITY Television blog.
Milk
The first openly LGBTQ person to be elected in California, Harvey Milk was a true believer in the importance of representation. In just the 11 months he served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, he led passage of a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the city, affirming his belief that LGBTQ people in elected office are key to advancing equality.
Political Animals
Four LGBTQ women elected to the California state legislature in the 1990s and 2000s led the fight for equality in the state, achieving historic gains in partner recognition and discrimination protections. These legislators proved the importance of representation to advancing equality, and their work in California would inevitably lead to other states passing LGBTQ-inclusive laws.
Compared to What? The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank
Congressman Barney Frank — one of the most powerful and visible members of Congress in recent decades – became a fierce and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ equality after his coming out. His story demonstrates that representation is power, and his presence in Congress helped transform the debate on LGBTQ equality amongst his colleagues.
The Imitation Game
Genius mathematician Alan Turing plays a key role in decrypting German intelligence codes for the British government during World War II, yet he remains deeply closeted at a time when government officials were fired for being gay or lesbian. The film awakens viewers to the contributions LGBTQ public servants made throughout history, and how they continue to influence government policies on all issues, including LGBTQ equality.
The Out List
LGBTQ leaders talk about being out in America, including Victory Fund endorsed candidates Christine Quinn and Lupe Valdez. Quinn served as the first openly LGBTQ speaker of the New York City Council and Valdez as the first openly LGBTQ sheriff in Dallas County, Texas.
The Trans List
Trans leaders talk about their experiences being out in America – including making change through political involvement. Among the leaders is Kylar Broadus, one of thirteen openly trans delegates to the Democratic National Convention in 2012, and the first openly transgender person to testify before the U.S. Senate.
When We Rise
The documentary tells the story of the modern LGBTQ rights movement – including a look at activists like Harvey Milk, who chose to make change through elected office, and others who decided to influence politics and policy through organizing.
Larry Kramer in Love and Anger
Legendary LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS activist Larry Kramer helped propel the government and country into recognizing the devastation of HIV/AIDS in the late 1980s – and to force it to take action. His role in founding the organization ACT UP helped awaken government bureaucrats and politicians to the AIDS crisis – allowing LGBTQ government employees and activists to begin influencing the government response.
We Were Here
The dramatic look at the AIDS crisis in San Francisco in the 1980s is told through interviews with five people, including political activist Paul Boneberg. As executive director of Mobilization Against AIDS, Boneberg led a campaign to defeat an effort to quarantine people with HIV/AIDS, and fought right-wing political attacks against the community.
Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement
The 40-year engagement of Edie Windsor to her wife Thea Spyer exemplifies the power of ordinary citizens’ ability to influence equality through government, politics and the courts. Windsor went on to become the plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case on marriage equality, United States v. Windsor, transforming the way all levels of government took on the issue of rights for same-sex couples.
Pride
LGBTQ activists in Britain recognize the similarities between the government’s treatment of the LGBTQ community and the way striking coal miners are treated. The two groups eventually form a partnership, demonstrating the power of political alliances in influencing political parties and government policy.
The Case Against 8
After California voters pass a discriminatory ban on marriage equality, two former rivals partner to take the case all the way to the Supreme Court. The journey demonstrates the continued importance of having LGBTQ voices in the halls of power – and their visibility’s influence on the nation’s top lawyers, politicians and even Supreme Court Justices.
