GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

SEPTEMBER 13, 1996

Evenings Out

thefaueans fought back

Action version of the Stonewall riots is

ppealing film

Matty Dean (Fredrick Weller, center) yells at police during the Stonewall riots.

Stonewall

Directed by Nigel Finch Cedar Lee Theater, Cleveland Opens September 27

Reviewed by Dawn Leach

The film Stonewall is a fictionalized version of historian Martin Duberman's book by the same name, which tells the stories of some of the people involved in the 1969 Stonewall riots. Many consider the riots, touched off when the patrons of a New York drag bar rebelled against police harassment, to be the birth of the gay and lesbian rights movement. Lesbian and gay Pride events around the world each June grew out of an annual commemoration of the riots.

Don't come expecting a documentary, or a recreation of Duberman's book. The characters are only loosely based on the people Duberman featured. Personally, I was disappointed that the film did not contain a single major character that was female. I was particularly looking forward to seeing characters based on Duberman's descriptions of Yvonne Flowers and Karla Jay, two strong women who helped shape the consciousness of the gay rights movement. The film somewhat downplays the brutality of police persecution of gay, lesbian and transgender people during that time, as well as the violence of the riots themselves.

However, the film shows careful attempts

to give a sense of the political atmosphere of the time, and to accurately recreate the Stonewall riots and other historic events. Among these are the East Coast Homophile Organizations' picket of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and political activities of two early gay groups, the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis.

Stonewall portrays a world in which gays and lesbians had no recourse against police who harassed and intimidated them, raiding their bars to arrest the patrons, subjecting them to violence and printing their names and addresses in local newspapers. Even gay rights activists at that time were unsure that homosexuality was not a disease.

The story centers on Matty Dean (played by Frederick Weller), an idealistic gay man in his twenties who comes from an upper class family. He arrives in New York City with fresh enthusiasm to work for gay rights as a member of the Mattachine Society. He has hardly arrived when he finds himself in jail when he stands up for LaMiranda (Guillermo Diaz), a Puerto Rican drag queen being harassed by police during a routine raid of the Stonewall Inn.

The two quickly become attracted to each other, despite class and cultural differences, and LaMiranda begins gently educating Matty Dean about some of his unwitting assumptions about drag queens. When LaMiranda receives a draft notice, a sweet and funny scene ensues as the two go together to the

military induction center, LaMiranda in full drag, throwing plenty of attitude and oneliners, and Matty Dean resolutely backing her up.

Unfortunately, the romance hits a wall when Matty Dean tries to minimize their relationship in front of Ethan, one of his arrogant upper-class Mattachine friends who has no respect for drag queens. In the argument that ensues, Matty Dean tells LaMiranda: "It's not my fault I wasn't born with a prominent sissy gene," to which LaMiranda replies, "Well, whose fault is it you're such a prick?"

Duane Boutte gave an excellent performance as Bostonia, an experienced and dignified drag queen who watches out for the younger queens, who she calls her kids. Bruce MacVittie plays her closeted lover, Skinny Vinnie, a ruthless and somewhat gutless mobster who runs the Stonewall Inn.

Skinny Vinnie is a product of his world: manipulative, paranoid, and prone to violent outbursts, but underneath his macho exterior, he secretly dreams of living a "normal" life, married to the one he loves. Unfortu-

nately, the only way he can imagine having that happiness is for Bostonia to have a sex change and move away with him someplace where no one knows them.

Bostonia's response is decisive and to the point: "I'm a chick with a dick who ain't done with her dick yet," she replies. "And let's face it, neither are you."

While never shying away from its gay subject, this film is a quality production that easily matches the caliber of mainstream movies coming out of the major studios. Musical numbers performed by the drag queens flow in and out of the action, making a perfect backdrop for this film. The story is appealing, and touches on issues such as divisiveness and prejudices within the gay community, the differences between two generations of gay rights activists, class differences, and philosophical differences between those who want to take drastic action to demand rights and those who prefer not to rock the boat.

Director Nigel Finch, who died of AIDS shortly after shooting the film, said that he made the movie to give the gay community a sense of courage and history.

"It's a reminder that you have to fight for your rights they are not given voluntarily!" Finch said. "Young gay men and lesbians need to know that we had to fight for our rights the whole way. And we are still fighting."

The 7:30 pm opening night showing, Sept. 27 at the Cedar-Lee Theater in Cleveland Heights, will be a benefit for Stonewall Akron. Members and friends can purchase tickets in Akron at Every Blooming Thing Florist, or Cheryl's Daily Grind, in the Valley; in Peninsula at Among Friends Gallery, or from any Stonewall Akron board member.