One Hit Wonders film at the Loft Cinema on September 8, 7:30 p.m.will be the 2010 documentary “Stonewall Uprising”. From the Loft website:

“On June 28, 1969, everything changed.”

“It was the Rosa Parks moment,” says one man. June 28, 1969: NYC police raid a Greenwich Village Mafia-run gay bar, The Stonewall Inn. For the first time, patrons refuse to be led into paddy wagons, setting off a 3-day riot that launches the Gay Rights Movement. Told by Stonewall patrons, Village Voice reporters and the cop who led the raid, STONEWALL UPRISING compellingly recalls the bad old days when psychoanalysts equated homosexuality with mental illness and advised aversion therapy, and even lobotomies; public service announcements warned youngsters against predatory homosexuals; and police entrapment was rampant. A treasure-trove of archival footage gives life to this all-too-recent reality, a time when Mike Wallace announced on a 1966 CBS Reports: “The average homosexual, if there be such, is promiscuous. He is not interested in, nor capable of, a lasting relationship like that of a heterosexual marriage.” At the height of this oppression, the cops raid Stonewall, triggering nights of pandemonium with tear gas, billy clubs and a small army of tactical police. The rest is history. ”

movie poster

The late activist Dr. Maurice Grossman passionately spoke of this event at his October, 2008 talk at the Democrats of Greater Tucson. Maurice was a leader in the local Tucson Stonewall Democrats club. And here’s the link to the Arizona Stonewall Democrats (click here).

A portion of the proceeds from Wednesday’s showing will benefit Tucson Pride. Here’s their mission statement:

* Our Purpose is to produce and promote Pride events for Tucson, Arizona, throughout the year.
* Our Intent is to create forums through which Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Heterosexual people can express their creativity, visibility, unity, and diversity with dignity.
* Our Aim is to nurture cultural and artistic expression throughout the community.
* Our Goal is to educate, commemorate, and celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender history, uniqueness, and diversity in all the facets of our community.

We have come a long way since 1969, with gay marriage now being performed in five states (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont),and the District of Columbia.
And I just heard of a lesbian couple who crossed the border into Canada (where it is also legal) to get married.

The Loft Theater is at 3233 E. Speedway, east of Country Club.