Years ago, my best friend at the time came out as gay. I was the first person she confided in, and I was honored that she saw our friendship as a safe place to launch her new beginning. And though nothing in our friendship changed—as far as I was concerned, Lisa was the same person she had always been—a few people felt differently. Sadly, some friends and family members distanced themselves from her, but for the most part, and with time, Lisa was accepted by our small-town community, where she continues to live and thrive today.
For many LGBTQ+ folks, the journey is much more difficult—even now. But there is hope for growing acceptance. In 1996 (the same year my friend came out), just 27% of Americans found gay marriage acceptable; as of 2023, that figure is 71%. This change in attitude is thanks to the sacrifices of those who have fought for LGBTQ+ rights over the decades, many of whom are featured in programming highlighted in today’s edition of “Handpicked by Heather.” Read on to join me in celebrating Pride Month with your WTIU PBS Passport member benefit!
Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution
Fourth-grade me LOVED the disco band Village People. My friends and I choreographed our own dance moves to such hits as “Macho Man,” “In the Navy,” and of course, the tune that is ubiquitous even now at sports stadiums and wedding receptions everywhere, “YMCA.” While we knew the band’s music was infectious, we were completely clueless as to the deeper meaning of their lyrics and elaborate costumes. Looking back at the phenomenon that was Village People, it’s clear that the band’s members were pioneers in a movement that helped introduce gay culture to mainstream America. Find out how the disco music born in basement clubs of 1970s New York rose to revolutionize and literally give voice to the gay community when you watch Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution. All WTIU viewers can stream Episode One, while Episode Two and Episode Three are available only with the PBS Passport benefit.
Fanny: The Right to Rock
While disco was taking off in New York, another musical revolution was brewing in Los Angeles. Co-founded by Filipina American and queer teenagers in the late 60s, Fanny was the first all-women band to release an album with a major record label when the group signed with Warner/Reprise in 1970. Fanny was praised for their rejection of typical girl group styles and expectations of women in the rock industry and are credited for laying the foundation for later groups such as the Go-Go’s, The Bangles, and the Runaways. Despite releasing five critically acclaimed albums over five years, touring with famed bands like Chicago and Slade, and amassing a dedicated fan base of music legends including David Bowie, Fanny’s groundbreaking impact in music was written out of history…until now. Meet the defiant women of Fanny—who are still making music—with your WTIU PBS Passport member benefit!
True Colors: LGBTQ+Our Stories, Our Songs
Continuing our celebration of Pride Month through the lens of music, True Colors: LGBTQ+ Our Stories, Our Songs presents a unique look at the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, featuring real-life stories of hope, resilience, and triumph from people across the country, artistically represented through thematically relevant music. These heartfelt narratives connect with the history of the LGBTQ+ movement through performances by the Indigo Girls, Billy Gilman, Morgxn, Peppermint, Jujubee, Alexis Michelle, Trey Pearson, Breanna Sinclairé, André de Shields, and more. Jeopardy champion Amy Schneider, the most successful woman and most successful transgender contestant ever to compete on the game show, hosts this remarkable presentation.
Stonewall Uprising
Five years ago, while strolling Lower Manhattan between meetings during a work trip to New York, I happened upon the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village and, unaware of its significance in history, was struck by the numerous rainbow flags, signs, and bunting adorning the façade. The plaque mounted on the brick edifice revealed the story—it was in that very spot, fifty years earlier on June 28, 1969, that police raided the bar. Patrons resisted and soon they and other members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies were leading a full-blown uprising. In the words of that plaque, this uprising “catalyzed the LGBTQ civil rights movement, resulting in increased visibility for the community that continues to resonate in the struggle for equality.” One year after the riots, the first Pride marches were held in several U.S. cities. Today, we continue to commemorate the Pride movement during the month of June—the same month that the Stonewall Inn erupted in protests 55 years ago. All WTIU viewers can see first-hand accounts from both police and rioters, along with original film footage, of that fateful day in 1969 when you stream the Stonewall Uprising episode of American Experience.
Casa Susanna
Well before the revolutions in disco and rock music began bringing diversity and inclusivity into the mainstream, an underground network of transgender women and cross-dressing men found refuge at a modest house in the Catskills in the 1950s and 60s. Known as Casa Susanna, the house provided a safe place to express their true selves and live as they had always dreamed—dressed as and living as women without fear of being incarcerated or institutionalized. Told through the memories of those who visited the house, the film provides a moving look at a secret world where the persecuted found freedom, acceptance and, often, the courage to live out of the shadows. Tune in to this revealing episode of American Experience with your WTIU PBS Passport benefit.
Fan Favorite Dramas on PBS
In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres publicly came out as gay on her popular sitcom, Ellen, making her character, Ellen Morgan, the first gay leading character on a network TV show. As People magazine reported, “it was a pivotal moment that instantly changed the landscape of American television.” The backlash at the time was strong, resulting in some ABC affiliates and advertisers dropping the show. But in the end, that TV character (and the real woman who played her) did more to influence Americans’ attitudes about gay rights than any other public figure, according to a 2015 study. Thanks to Ellen’s groundbreaking courage, many TV series today feature gay characters who bring depth and enrichment to the story lines. With your Passport member benefit, you can meet some of PBS’s most endearing characters, who also happen to be members of the LGBTQ+ community. Look no further than Miss Scarlet & the Duke’s mild-mannered Rupert Parker, whose domineering mother can’t understand why he and Eliza aren’t engaged, or nurse Matty of The Royal Flying Doctors Service, whose side hustle is performing as drag queen Miss Miley High. And then there is the strongwilled Luna of the German detective “dramedy” Luna and Sophie, who is bisexual, despite her friendship with Sophie being strictly platonic.