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MAY 20, 2011
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mushroomed into major marches. For those o f
the description.
Sunday’s program includes a youth show
us who were dispirited after the 2008 vote,
case (2 p.m.), from which only Put This on the
A b o v e : A still from P assionate P olitics: The
Life a n d W ork o f C harlotte B unch
L e ft: G enesis P -O rridge in The B allad o f
G enesis a n d Lady Jaye
this film offers a welcome tonic.
Map (U SA ) was screened. The longest o f the
Wrapping up the fest is Becoming Chaz (7
featured shorts at 32 minutes, this doc has the
p.m., U SA , 88 min.), directed by the noted
glitzy look o f a public service announcement,
queer filmmaking team o f Fenton Bailey and
but the sentiments expressed are far from the
Randy Barbato, who gave us The Eyes o f Tammy
slickness or superficiality that implies. Twen
Faye. Profiling an “associational celeb” like
ty-six interviewees give a sharp group portrait
Chaz Bono, offspring o f Sonny and Cher,
o f where young queer people are today in
would seem to pose challenges. How to avoid
terms o f gender issues, and it’s a fascinating
turning it into just another superficial reality
study. W hile some o f the stories echo the dif
T V show? Fortunately, Bailey and Barbato
ficulties o f gay youth in past decades— bullying
delve deeply enough into the personalities o f
peers, unsupportive parents— it’s encouraging
Chaz and his girlfriend, Jenny, to keep the
to see how articulate and unafraid many o f
viewer engaged. The film follows Chaz, born
these kids are in deciding who they want to
Chastity, through the process o f gender reas
be, how they want to live and even what they
signment, recording all the twists and turns.
want to be called: “Very gay,”“an ally,”“dating
One o f the most interesting twists is some
an F T M ,” “not straight, gay, bi, anything.”
thing rarely discussed in these stories: the ef
Even looser labels don’t always capture it; one
fect on the partner o f the loss o f the person
teen calls him self “slightly gender queer,” but
she was originally attracted to.
another says, “I ’m gender queer, but that in
Chaz, says Jenny, was sweeter when she was
Roosevelt Award for Human Rights from
itself is limiting.” Androgynous Nick both
a woman, which shows dramatically in scenes
President Clinton. But there’s much more to
sums up his personal situation and presents a
where it’s clear the testosterone has ratcheted
her, as this fine documentary shows. Bunch’s
template worth reaching for: “Gender doesn’t
up the less savory sides o f Chaz’s new male
story parallels the emergence o f progressive
matter. You look at the person.’’This is a must-
personality. During some tense dinner prepa
politics with the civil rights movement, the
see for anyone interested in how contempo
ration, Chaz hurls sexist insults at Jenny,
Vietnam War protests, and women’s and gay
rary youth are thinking.
something hard to reconcile with Chaz’s pre
liberation. The doc shows her evolution, start
Continuing with the fest’s political action
vious incarnation. But the film doesn’t shy
ing life as the daughter o f left-wing parents,
thread, Charlie G age’s Inspired: Voices Against
away from such moments, and gains from this
getting married, protesting racism in the
Prop 8 (4:30 p.m., U SA , 92 min.) looks at the
honesty. As with the other subjects in the fest,
South, then awakening to her own lesbian
silver lining in the 2008 Prop 8 vote, in which
Chaz emerges an unlikely but ultimately cred
identity when she met famed author Rita Mae
big bucks from the Catholic and Mormon
ible hero as he transitions in more than one
Brown. Bunch’s driving need to do the “good
churches combined with the gay community’s
way: becoming a man and a trans advocate at
works” she learned about in childhood takes
complacency to allow California voters to take
the same time. Making the personal political
his way through his history as a thorn in the
her to the far corners o f the globe, from a
away queer marriage rights. Moving briskly
is one o f the themes o f this effective docu
side o f convention. A number o f commenta
Lima, Peru safe house for abused women to
through these problems, the documentary ex
mentary, and could serve as a fitting mantra
tors flesh out this portrait, including Gus Van
South Africa to fight for a family whose les
amines how the event galvanized individuals,
for another excellent edition o f Q D oc.
Sant and John Waters. M ost amusing is film
bian daughter was stoned to death to the
some of whom had never been activists, to
maker Harmony Korine, who captures some
United Nations to persuade them to incorpo
create coalitions and mount protests across
QDoc runs Ju n e 2 -5 at Clinton Street Theater,
thing of La Bruce when he says, “His movies
rate women’s rights as human rights. Bunch’s
the state. Some o f the dicier issues are explored
2522 SE Clinton St. Festival passes are $75 and
look and feel a lot like his personality. There's
charming personality and clear thinking on
in depth, including the problem o f the “east-
include admission to all screenings an d the opening
a lot o f penises in them, and they’re very kind
how to translate theory into action appears to
west” divide that has historically kept white,
night party. General admission tickets are $9, $7
o f grungy.”
reach everyone she touches, including women
monied gay interests from joining forces with
f o r seniors 62+ and students with I.D. Admission
Sunday opens on a more sober note with
o f color who are initially skeptical, asking,
the less affluent, non-white queer communi
to the Opening Night Film and Party is $25 ($20
Passionate Politics: The Life and Work o f Char
“W h o is this white woman?” She laughs when
lotte Bunch, produced and directed by Tami
told she seems “tireless” in her advocacy ef
ties in East and South Los Angeles. M ost f o r party only, pending availability). Free seats
heartening are the personal stories o f individ are available to youth ages 23 an d under by em ail
Gold (noon, June 5, USA, 57 min.) Bunch is
forts, but the energy she pours into getting
uals who watched in awe as their phone calls
perhaps best known for receiving the Eleanor
results does indeed seem to have earned her
asking a few friends to gather to protest f o r a complete schedule an d more information.
ing qdocyouth@gmail.com. Visit queerdocfest.org
V
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