Contact: Jamie Kravitz
323-876-1275
jamie@digivitz.com
http://www.digivitz.com/intothestreets

IS ACTIVISM DEAD?

West Hollywood, CA. - Ten years ago ACT UP and Queer Nation were mad as hell and loudly vowed they weren’t going to take it anymore! Their angry, colorful, street-theater tactics forced the negligent, complacent healthcare and political establishments to take notice of the rampant discrimination against GLBT people and people with AIDS. The seemingly unrestrained protesters enabled more moderate GLBT voices to make some measured progress.

But there was always an uncomfortable political barrier between the activists and the “assimilationists” - until Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed California’s “gay rights” bill, AB 101, in late September 1991. Having believed Wilson’s promise to sign the bill, gays and lesbians throughout the state felt deeply betrayed. In West Hollywood, activists and “suits” alike converged on “Queer Village,” a campsite where Queer National and PWA Rob Roberts was fasting to draw attention to the bill. What started out as a night of mourning turned into demonstrations that lasted two weeks and galvanized a whole community. Everyone from the bar boys and gym bunnies to elected officials participated in what was proudly dubbed “Stonewall 2.”

“Into the Streets,” a documentary produced, written and edited by Jamie Kravitz and commissioned by the City of West Hollywood, is the story of that extraordinary, historic event.

Using archival video and photos and in-depth personal interviews, the documentary recreates the political climate out of which the protests erupted and relives the intensity and scope of the marches. “Into the Streets” also looks at the subsequent personal transformations, court-ordered reforms of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the mobilization of the GLBT community behind then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton.

"Into the Streets" will have its film festival world premiere in San Francisco on Sunday, June 23, at the Herbst Theater as part of the 26th San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Following the premiere, the documentary heads south for three screenings at Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, on Sunday, July 14, Thursday, July 18 and Saturday, July 20.

For complete information about the documentary, including screening dates and times, photos from the AB 101 demonstrations, production stills and streaming video clips, visit: www.digivitz.com/intothestreets.

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