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‘Stonewall’ (2015)
Roadside Attractions
I was surprised to find out that “Independence Day” and “Godzilla” director Roland Emmerich was the man behind this film. But then it kind of made sense once I actually saw the movie.
It tries to cater to mainstream audiences so much that it completely rewrites and whitewashes history. The people predominantly involved in the Stonewall Riots were trans women, drag queens, sex workers, and people of color, including Marsha P. Johnson.
Instead, this diverse collection of people are relegated to supporting roles, and the movie instead presents Jeremy Irvine’s good-looking, white, twink as the hero of Stonewall.
Emmerich responded to the controversy at the time, telling BuzzFeed News: “I didn’t make this movie only for gay people, I made it also for straight people… As a director, you have to put yourself in your movies, and I’m white and gay.”
Emmerich clearly didn’t concern himself too much with acknowledging the part that people of color, trans women, drag queens, and sex workers played in the Stonewall Riots, and it shows on screen.
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