Stonewall Review
RYAN: Having heard and read about the Stonewall riots and how they’re credited with kickstarting the gay civil rights movement – I was excited to see it depicted on screen.
CAROLINE: And we’ve been to the historic Stonewall bar in Greenwich Village.
RYAN: Indeed – and attended the Pride Parades here in NYC and in other cities when we cohosted our gay-themed talk radio show – Pride Radio with Ryan & Caroline.
CAROLINE: Those were the days! And to think none of that would have been possible if not for what happened that night at Stonewall. So how as the movie?
RYAN: I was really affected by it. It struck many chords with me emotionally and I hope it may help others to understand what gay people went through or feel, even now, as they struggle with acceptance. There’s such a history of society and government shaming and condemning gays – so recently – that it’s tough to watch. This movie is alternately painful and inspiring.
CAROLINE: That’s a lot. How’s the cast?
RYAN: Very good and I’m happy to report it’s diverse. You see how LGBT people span all class, race, religion lines and that may be why it was so hard to mobilize them. I love Jeremy Irvine since Spielberg’s War Horse. And Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ron Perlman and Joey King are all good. I love Joey King. She was China Girl in Oz the Great and Powerful.
CAROLINE: Of course you do. How was the period. It happened the night of Judy Garland’s funeral, right?
RYAN: Yes. And I’m glad they didn’t glaze over that but they really glaze over her accomplishments and exploit the drama instead. That part annoyed me in the script.
CAROLINE: Typical.
RYAN: It makes me so happy to be here today, as a gay man, instead of back then – when you could be beaten – gay bars were illegal – police raided them – women couldn’t wear mens clothes and vice versa and there was much brutality and sexual harassment. It’s scary and sickening. Finally the community stood up for themselves and it got the ball rolling for all the organized activism to turn the tide toward acceptance, normalcy.
CAROLINE: Right. Didn’t they categorize homosexuality as a mental illness?
RYAN: Yes and people were institutionalized and given shock therapy and it’s horrifying.
CAROLINE: That is tragic. Thank God it’s not like that anymore.
RYAN: It’s still a crime in 77 countries and 40% of homeless youth are LGBT. That’s a staggering amount. Families need to love unconditionally.
CAROLINE: That really is heartbreaking and messed up.
RYAN: It’s crazy to think that just about 45 years ago, gay bars were illegal. Gays couldn’t congregate and drink. They were not safe. They were bastardized and shamed by society and government. They’d be arrested, names printed in the paper, etc.. Bullying was legal! I wish all the kids who bullied me growing up would be forced to see this. It really makes you understand what gay people have had to deal with and what we feel.
CAROLINE: So wrong. Makes you understand how deep-seeded homophobia is.
RYAN: I’m glad this movie came along and it’s very well done. I was nervous about the original characters woven in by they add another level of humanity and emotion to the historical side of what went on. It’s a great film.
