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A chronicled re-telling of the gay rights movement in the United States, beginning with the Stonewall riots in 1969.

Primary Title
  • When We Rise
Date Broadcast
  • Saturday 7 October 2017
Start Time
  • 22 : 45
Finish Time
  • 23 : 40
Duration
  • 55:00
Episode
  • 3
Channel
  • TVNZ 1
Broadcaster
  • Television New Zealand
Programme Description
  • A chronicled re-telling of the gay rights movement in the United States, beginning with the Stonewall riots in 1969.
Classification
  • PGR
Owning Collection
  • Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
  • Television
Languages
  • English
Captioning Languages
  • English
Captions
Live Broadcast
  • No
Rights Statement
  • Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
  • Television mini-series--United States
  • Gay rights--United States
Genres
  • Drama
Can I take your picture? Are you sure that's all you want? We're having a rally to stop violence against women. I need you to bring all the boys like you. You got a big mouth. We could use a few more. ALL CHANT: Stop the violence! Stop the violence! The one thing that can make you strong, you're burying it. You love women. We will not be silent any longer! All of you combined are stronger than you know. Fight to make this the place we're looking for. Our candidate's Harvey Milk. Can we help you? Roma? Do you know her? That's Diane. Copyright Able 2017. REPORTER: And every few minutes, a demonstrator will charge out of the crowd and through the police line, shattering police-car windows, setting many of the squad cars ablaze. (SIREN WAILS) The last thing I wanted was violence. Hard to believe that only a year ago, everything had seemed so hopeful. We thought we'd found a place to make our own, to be safe, in the middle of the middle of a dream, creating the first-ever women's building, a stronghold for women, by women, while the rest of America was under attack by failed beauty pageant queen Anita Bryant. If homosexuals are allowed their civil rights, then so would prostitutes or thieves or anyone else. REPORTER: 200,000 Miamians told their elected officials they wanted no part of a law which protects homosexuals. Voters of Wichita, Kansas, have overwhelmingly repealed a city law protecting homosexuals. Homosexuality is a question facing the voters of Eugene, Oregon. Tomorrow ` a referendum to repeal gay-rights protections. But where'd ya pee? I stayed at motels, and I peed whenever and wherever I` We don't need all the details. WHISPERS: In the bushes. It scares me to think of you riding across the country all by yourself. It's fund-raising. If at least half my sponsors pay up, our building's mortgage is paid through March. So zero men. I mean, don't these women appreciate men at all? There are women there with men in their lives, yes, but the building itself is man-free. Thanks. You're welcome. They're just like the Knights of Columbus. Women aren't allowed at your meetings, are they, Dad? Oh, you're a secret society. No, we provide psychological and healthcare; legal support; a credit union; childcare, so women can work; and some have suffered violence from men. It's a place they can go away from male oppression. No men; no future women. My work is my focus to the exclusion of all other things. For the good of others. Right, Dad? You still have this thing. (CHUCKLES) Of course. You were happy, right, as a child? Of course. Why? I knew. Way before your father suspected. All I have ever wanted was for my girls to be happier than me. And I just... I don't... I don't know if that is... possible with this... um, this life. (BLOWS WHISTLE) (BLOWS WHISTLE) Help! (BLOWS WHISTLE) Blow harder, faggot! Help! (WHISTLES BLOWING) Leave now, and don't come back. It's you queers that gotta get out. Go! Don't let them move it! (CAR ENGINE STARTS) Blow their tyres! Vote for Harvey! (SIREN WAILS) Mr Jones! I want you to all go home and let them go. If they're leaving, we'd like to see them take a ride in the back of your car, just like you do to us, but this time for good reason. Stop! Run! That's right! Run away, and tell your friends this is our area now! Yeah! (TYPING) What are you doing after work? Going home. (SNORES) Oh, fascinating (!) Come with me to something a bit more... expansive. Like? There's a planning meeting for the Freedom Day party. Freedom Day is a deceptively named excuse for racist Castro bar owners to sell beer to horny white boys from Toledo. My God. You're exquisite when you're angry. We call it a diversity committee, but it's a coup. Imagine a slew of radical angels seizing control. Get some colour in there. Hmm? Gotta finish this, Gilbert. (SIGHS) Come fan the flames with me. Gilbert, I'd rather burn Gay Freedom Day to the ground. Absolutely exquisite. (STEPPENWOLF'S 'SOOKIE SOOKIE') Mr Richard, come play! All right. Here we go! Need a push, Mr Richards? Yeah, yeah. Well, you know me. (CAR ENGINE SPUTTERS) (CAR ENGINE STARTS) (ROCK MUSIC CONTINUES) # You better watch your step, girl. # Ah, don't step on that banana peel... Good evening, dear. Good evening. You remember Roger. Hey, Roger. (DOORBELL RINGS) # Or you'll go up to the ceiling... Good evening. Is there a problem? Seems your neighbours don't care for your taste in music. What's the trouble, honey? My wife, gentlemen. Sweetheart, these officers are requesting we either tone down the revelry or reclassify the evening as the Third World War. It was my fault. I'm sorry. Do you wanna come in? Come in, please. You two enjoy your night. Will do. More quietly this time. OK, yes. Sorry! Bravo. Straight as a safety pin. # Let it hang out, baby. # (ROCK MUSIC ENDS) (SIGHS) (SIGHS) We just lay low... and wait for the world to catch up to us. Nothing can touch us here. Home is many things ` where we find shelter from the world, where we belong, where our safety lives. (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) (LAUGHS) (DOOR OPENS) Morning meeting! Everybody downstairs. Come on. The most pressing issue is Sophie and Cara moved to Willowbrook, and Luanne moved in with Heather and Pat. We have an empty room. We could bring in a new sister or I'm thinking we could make that room` How about a nursery? Have you heard of turkey-baster babies? I'd like to have one. But raising a child is expensive, even if the sperm is donated. But we can help. I can. Thank you, Linda. And you're right ` I'll need all of the help I can get. Dear Scott, anything feels possible here now. Anita Bryant might be putting Florida down the drain, but not San Francisco. Come back. We'll get an apartment. We can make this home. I thought the whole point was for us to make a new way to walk in the world. I can't think of anything more mould-breaking than a lesbian having a baby without male interference. But why? Why all of a sudden? Just because I'm talking about it now doesn't make it all of a sudden, Roma. Well, I don't wanna be a mom. CAROLE KING: # It's too late, baby. Well, that's fine. Jean doesn't either, right? Hey, this is a women's space only. No, no, it's OK. I'm a feminist too. Hey, Roma. Hi, Cleve. What are you doing here? I get it ` it's a women's space. If you could just hand these fliers out, that'd be wonderful. He wants to put us to work getting a gay white man elected. If we're gonna support a candidate, it'll be Rita George. Come on, Roma. She has no money, and she has no base. How about I show you right now what a woman can do with no money? (LAUGHS) Seems like the women here aren't interested in being a part of your patriarchal electoral sham! So is that a yes or a no? That's a no, Cleve! Milk for leader of the galaxy! (LAUGHS) The problem with a home is, no matter how strong its walls, it can lend a false sense of security, leave you unprepared, vulnerable. Ever since Anita Bryant's campaign for homosexual rights, there has been trouble over that issue. Now in California, there is Proposition 6, a proposal to let school boards fire teachers who support homosexual rights. It would call for firing any teachers in California who practice or advocate homosexuality. The man who sponsored the initiative, State Senator John Briggs, is waging a one-man campaign. The law would empower school boards to fire anyone for advocating, soliciting, imposing, encouraging or promoting private or public homosexual activity directed at or likely to come to the attention of schoolchildren and/or other employees. I've dedicated my life to helping kids. If this passes, it'll create witch-hunts. And I care about the family, and I really believe that homosexuality is a real threat to the survival of this country. I'll probably drop Libby home after dance. I'll be home a little bit after 10, not too late. Yeah, all good, love. # Na, na, na, na. PHONE CHIMES Hey, the others wanna hang out. Um... GIRLS LAUGH ALL SING: # It's time to cut and run. This time I'm really done. # GIRL SQUEALS Oh my God! SHOUTS: Yeah! TECHNO MUSIC PLAYS, GIRLS CHATTER HORN BLARES, GIRLS SHRIEK, LAUGH (SIGHS) 1 I handle adults and children at the ER, and everybody knows I'm gay, and don't nobody bother me about it. But if Briggs passes, they'll come after my job next. It's not just lesbians ` this thing, it says straight people who support gay-friendly places, like this building, they get fired too. I'm working on my teaching credential, Roma. I don't think I can risk running the daycare here any more. Any association with a place like this is risky, but I lost a major donor today. We lose daycare, we all lose all the volunteers who depend on it. Attendance is already down by half. Yeah, I get it! Enough! Listen. I'm sorry ` you're forgetting, there is another danger here. When I came out, they tried to take my kids. If they decide that we are a danger to children, what happens to lesbian adoptions or lesbians who want to have children on their own? This is not gonna go away. No, of course, but the question is, where do we go? How do we start? I know it's a numbers game, OK? It's more than a numbers game. (POIGNANT MUSIC) It's your damn right. I'll support you. We'll fight for your right to be a mother. You OK? No. We could lose every volunteer and donor, and none of us knows how to fight a thing like this. So the least we can do is find a gay man who'll shoot in a cup for us. To hell with Briggs. She loves a good cause. (DISCO MUSIC PLAYS) # You made me feel... # mighty real. # You made me feel... # mighty real... I wanna live here! Gay beach under our window. We could afford it if we took on one more job each. With Scott, maybe. He's resourceful. Sounds like you two have a whole lot in common. Stop it. If anything, I would be the third wheel. He wants to do hair, not politics. Oh! Cleve? Scott! Cleve? Ah! Scott! Scott! Oh my God! (BOTH LAUGH) I missed you! Oh my God! Oh, my God, what happened here? This was an old Catholic mess when I left. You have to meet Harvey. He organised it all. I'm on his campaign for city supervisor. I'm sorry. This is Marvin. Hi. He thinks that Liza Minnelli is the second coming of Moses. And this is Scott. Well, hello, Marvin. (CHUCKLES) What? What, is it my hair? No, no, no, no, no! No, your hair has potential, OK? This whole place does. I mean, it's not Amsterdam. I mean, that's where we really should be. But I could dig this for a few months. But let's go dance, my lovely new dancer boy. What? Yes, go! Go, go, go! Cleve, you coming? # You made me feel mighty real. # You made me feel... # mighty real. # You make me feel. # (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS) Hey, he's with me. Back off. You came. Thank you. Can I get you a beer? Joint? Mescaline? Acid? Loosen you up? You seem tense. Don't wanna be loose tonight. Without objection, I submit that we spend the $200 on additional stands for used records and books. Fine. The matter is passed. I have an objection. Back here. You have the largest stage there is outside of New York. Why not use it for more than just selling used records and beer? Cos this year, our lives are at stake. I nominate Ken Jones to the new diversity board. Freedom Day's a community party, not a political protest. And this isn't your community, Tenderloin. Don't get me wrong ` I like a good party. But Briggs says you have to be fired if you even walk into a place like this. When the music stops, there might not be any of your bars left. I'm here because my partner could lose his job if this bill passes. you could focus our anger. You could unite us ` you've got that power. Use it. I second that this young man join us on this board. If he's on, then I go. # So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye. # (CROWD MURMURING) (SCATTERED APPLAUSE) This isn't what I wanted. Then why are you here? I'm pissed off ` that's all. Mm-hm. Lead with that. (INTENSE MUSIC) (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS) Hey. Come in. Come in. Sit down. Our little attempt at electing the first openly gay man to major office. You really think gay men and women lesbians could win at the ballot box? Together, maybe. You have to meet Harvey's new campaign manager. Anne. Annie? Do you know Roma? Hi. Hi. I came to the women's building for your Save the Whales night. Yeah! How's it going? Well, we failed three times, but now we have Annie. And this time we have to win, because if we don't, it sends the wrong message. To Briggs. Exactly. And Briggs targets us women more than anybody else. But if we can beat Briggs, imagine the message that sends. We'd be the first state to ever beat back an anti-gay measure. Which would mean taking our cooperative model here to a whole new level. We would need more than just Annie for that. Our women's building is already gay and straight. We have the space, resources and contact lists you don't have for a state-wide fight. And what about the separatists? The women who are against men will have a choice to make. It may rip some of our community apart, but I don't see any other way forward now. ARCHIVE: It looks like New Year's Eve on Market St. The first gay supervisor elected in San Francisco, his name is Harvey Milk. The new San Francisco Board of Supervisors was diverse ` women, racial minorities and a progressive mayor who painted all the cop's cars powder blue. But Dan White had been a cop. His election to that same board told us there were plenty who'd vote for Prop 6 and against our lives. And keeping my word, we let men into our home. But some of our separatist sisters didn't see the wisdom in the collaboration and left, when what we need was unity. We have a large network of contacts, librarians, nurses across the state. We need to go door-to-door. We send out a fundraising letter to your list. Take that money to Fresno and Bakersfield. Find the three gay people there, any clergy or local officials who will support us, and say` ...this is how you make a flier. This is how you canvass. Right, but they're too afraid to canvass alone. I agree with Roma ` we need to go door-to-door alongside them. Hey, he was in our bathroom! Well, there's not a frickin' men's room. So make new signs. Oh, he's cute, but dumb. Really? Yeah. That one went to Princeton. Which one? He's a total narcissist. Look at him. You think that's hereditary? That's true. Probably. What about that guy? The one in the back? You can't just pick him out of a lineup. Anonymity is key. We know. We need a go-between. Yeah. Where's Shoshanna? She's the only dyke I know who can keep a secret. A chain of secret-keepers. Look, I'll ask a friend to ask a friend until we find a donor. That way, I won't even know who the jerk is. Good. Thank you, Shoshanna. Thank you, Roma. Refocusing Freedom Day to a political protest means groups from Redding to Fresno want to march. That's thousands more. So we need a flag to unite us. And we already have a pink triangle. Excuse me? The pink triangle was designed by Nazis for a holocaust. You know what's wrong with the pink triangle? Hitler. He has a point. I know I do. We need something from nature, provocative, political,... eight colours, because eight is a natural number! Gilbert, how much? Well, um, at least $1000, I'd guess. (CROWD MURMURS) Gilbert, we do need someone to decorate the main stage. How about we nominate Gilbert to lead that committee? What about school, son? Harvey asked me to be an intern for him. That'll earn me eight credits in San Francisco State's political science department. I see. And I got an apartment ` an application for an apartment. It's in a good old Irish Catholic neighbourhood. It's hard for me to believe that you found something of that sort in San Francisco, son. We just don't have any credit. But the landlord said that if I got my dad to co-sign, then we'd be good. I just... It'd be nice to have a home again. Come back to your real home, get treatment. Then I'll support you. (CAR DOOR OPENS) Hey, welcome home, Harvey! (PHONE LINE CLICKS) (POIGNANT MUSIC) My new clothes look fabulous. I don't know who the name is. I just found it. And it looks good on me. That's all that matters. He's still talking to him. No, he's not. Oh! So, Harvey's talked to the landlord for us. He's a part of Harvey's business association. And he gave us a lease! A lease sounds like a commitment. It's six months, honey. It's not wedding bells. Cleve! Cleve! Cleve? Hey! This is pretty. How are you? I'm good. I know who that is. You know who that is. That one? That one, with the pink. Scott! Someone wants to meet you! Hi. Oh God. please don't tell me you have a crush on Scott. Listen, two bottoms don't make an outfit, but three make a sisterhood. Sylvester will forget about Scott quick enough. We're family now. OK? BRANDI CARLILE: # Get your party down. Get your pigtail down. Get your heart beating, baby. # I got my timing right. I got my act all tight. You know it's gotta be tonight, my little babe. # Your mama says you don't. Your daddy says you won't... The perfect trick. Leaves right away and turns into a pizza. (LAUGHS) ('TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN' CONTINUES) # Tie your mother down. Tie your mother down. Lock your daddy out of doors. # I don't need him nosing around... First day at work, and I look just like my father. (LAUGHTER) # Give me all your love tonight. # As citizens, the police ought to support our effort to parade up Market, which can safely accommodate our growing numbers, and on that day, provide us with the protection that they promise, but far too rarely deliver to our community. It's not enough that we don't throw them in jail, but now we have to protect them. And whose budget does that come out of? I mean, it's gotta make your blood boil down at CPS. Homos over kids. Listen, my top priority right now is the children's portion of the mental health centre in your district. Well, I did campaign on the promise of getting that out of my district, and I do have the votes. And I admire you're a man of your word, but let's put a plan in place for where these kids might go so that no one suffers. We can work on this together, Dan, right? Yeah. Hey, you got time for lunch, buddy? Yeah. Yeah, lunch sounds great. How could you even talk to that son of a bitch? Talking to that son of a bitch is part of my job. It's what pays for this house. Not that any of that seemed to matter to you today. If anyone even suspects that we have a relationship of any kind` Why would they, Richard? Thanks to you, nobody anywhere knows we mean a damn thing to each other. Is that what you want, Ken ` you want everyone to find out about us? Richard and I stayed married for a reason. It's afforded us this home, our stability. We need more discretion now, Ken, not less. This is not just about us any more. If you could hear the phone calls coming in to the committee from all over, from people putting their fears in my hands, counting on California for their last hope. Prop 6 is the enemy here. Dan White, not me. OK, it's some basic questions. There's height, weight, medical history, family background. This person has red hair. My family has red hair. And do looks matter? Not over intellect or personality. I don't support that. It's your kid, not your dentist. Sense of humour's important. Hey, got a bus for Fresno canvassing. It seats 75. Can I count you all in? Roma, you know I get carsick on buses. Do you remember the buses in Toko, Roma? Do you remember the goat? (LAUGHS) Crapped at every bump in the road. So disgusting. (LAUGHS) Italian. Hair type oily. Skin type dark white. His goal is to be a stand-up comic, and he has a degree. If you want smart and funny over looks, that might be your guy. He has nice handwriting. Harvey asked me to bring up an idea. If everyone marching writes their name and hometown on a poster board and carries it for the news cameras, then it'll be the largest coming-out event in history. It's one thing to come out to friends in the city; another to national-news cameras. And when gay America stops hiding, then straight America's gonna see how many of us they already know and love. Cleve, you work for a gay politician ` you're free to lead the charge if you so please. But if I'm too out, my partner loses his job. (SIREN CHIRPS) (TENSE MUSIC) What are they doing in our neighbourhood? They think they're winning again. Ken, this is an all-in strategy. If everyone comes out, then we might win. If not, if straight America doesn't know that they already know at least one of us, then they're going to vote against us. We loaded into buses, gays and lesbians together, and knocked on doors in cities and small towns. Some slammed doors,... but many others listened. I was afraid of knocking on strangers' doors. But really, the truth is I think they're even more afraid of us than we are of them. That's what Tembe used to say about the snakes in Africa. (LAUGHS) I miss it there. What else do you miss about Africa? (GENTLE MUSIC) (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) (MUSIC CONTINUES) SYLVESTER: # We skipped the light fandango... (KEYS CLATTER) Huh. I got breakfast! # I was feeling kind of seasick... Oh. Looks like we have a top in the house after all. # But the crowd called out for more. (BOTH LAUGH) Morning! Great news. Mr Curly Oily Sperm Donor said yes. LAUGHING: I'm making waffles! Well, wheatgerm promotes ovulation. I'm not hungry. I'm gonna... I'm gonna go out. (FOOTSTEPS RETREAT) You've had him here three nights this week. Is he paying rent? This isn't about rent. We agreed the perfect boyfriend is one who turns into a pizza. Pizzas don't spend the night every night. Pizzas don't smoke all of my weed. I missed watching the season finale of Dallas with him, so he's a little bit pissy. I waited all week for that! Marvin, we don't own our sisters. But Scott, it's 1978. We don't have to couple up like our parents did. The fact is, it's 1978, and we are not our parents. It's unrealistic and probably a good bit selfish to want one person all to oneself. Jean` Let me finish! I love you, Roma. I guess what I need to know now is,... Roma, do you still love me? You know I do. So maybe it is possible. You mean the three of us? Truth is, we're young and we live in the Castro. Harvey told me each of us are gonna fall in love a thousand times here, have our hearts broken a thousand times. Now, what we can't do is let a man get between our sisterhood or whatever you are now, Scott. We have to make this home our priority, because I might seem like I've got it all together, but it's you two that really give me strength. Hiding, suicide, prison, drugs, alcohol ` those were the old solutions for who we were. Now, every single thing we did to try to build a home, it was all landing on the Moon, every bit of it brave, untested, brand new. This spermy nightmare has a 60-minute shelf life. You got 20 left. You` You want me to get you anyone? No. Just some privacy. 1 (DAVID BOWIE'S 'CHANGES') Coming out isn't something you do once ` it's often in stages that grow in risk to your friends and your community, your family, an ever-expanding, never-ending act of bravery. face the strange. Ch-Ch-Changes... The rainbow. A promise. # Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes. A thing of nature. Just like all of us. # Where's your shame? You've left us up to our necks in it... And if we ever wanna be free,... we have to stop hiding. No matter the repercussions. # Strange fascination... # fascinating me. # Ah, changes are taking... # the pace I'm going through. face the strange. Ch-Ch-Changes. Ooh, look out, you rock 'n' rollers. # Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes. Ch-Ch-Changes. Pretty soon now you're gonna get older. # Time may change me,... # but I can't trace time... # By November, there should not be one citizen, conservative or liberal, radical or reactionary,... who has not met face-to-face with a gay person! (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) There are enough of us to do it! But the real question is... Sally's organised women in this city for decades, right? Yes! She should debate Briggs with Harvey on television. Would she? We could dress them up like Mom and Pop USA. We are not talking about` So, you're saying that the percentage of population is equal to the percentage of child molestation. There's no difference. No, I'm not saying that at all. Well, that's what you just said. No, no, I was saying that we cannot prevent child molestation, so let cut our odds down and take out the homosexual group and keep in the heterosexuals. Why take out the homosexual group if it's more than, you know, overwhelmingly it is true that it's the heterosexual men, I might add, who are the child molesters. I believe that's a myth. I've never seen` Oh, Senator. The FBI, the National Council on Family Relations, the Santa Clara County Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Center. We put our safety on the line and came out in every city. But come election night, we had few clues if we'd be safe in California come morning. Santa Clara's latest ` 48% yes,... 48% no, 68% reported. (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS) Roma, I did it myself, and it took. I'm gonna have a baby, Roma. And I wanna raise it with you. What about Jean? And all the others? I don't want that ` I want you. And Fresno reminded me of what I want, why I came here. We got LA. LA! Prop 6 is dead! (CHEERING) (HOPEFUL MUSIC) Jean and I,... we still have a lot of work to do. How can you not see it? Allow yourself this work, Roma, but recognise the value of love too. (SNIFFLES) It's OK. I can do it. What I can't do is be with you and Jean. Not after Fresno. So congratulations, Roma. You did it. Briggs is done. (POIGNANT MUSIC) (DONNA SUMMER'S 'BAD GIRLS' PLAYS) (CONFETTI CANNON POPS) It may be time for you to shave your beard. # Yeah. Bad girls. # Bad girls. # Talking bout the sad girls. # Sad girls. # Yeah. # Sad girls. # Sad girls. # Talking bout bad, bad, girls, yeah. # Friday night, and the strip is hot. # Hot # Sun's gone down, and they're out to trot. # Out trottin'. # Spirit's high and legs look hot. (CONFETTI CANNON BOOMS) # Do you wanna get down? (SIGHS) So, this is what winning looks like. Diane's leaving us. I just can't see myself ever being a mother. (SNIFFLES) Or having a family. (SIGHS) Maybe we're here for something bigger than ourselves. Maybe we were put here to fight. (CHUCKLES) Aw, come here. (CONFETTI CANNON POPS) And for 20 days, we almost believed it that we'd won, that we were equal. But they snatched it back faster and with more brutality than any of us could have imagined. (GUNSHOTS) (SCREAMING) (POLICE RADIO CHATTER) (INTENSE MUSIC) As president of the Board of Supervisors, it's my duty to make this announcement. Both Mayor Mascone and Supervisor Harvey Milk... have been shot and killed. (SCREAMING) The... The suspect... is Supervisor Dan White. We defeated Briggs, but it only took days before a city supervisor, a former cop, turned his gun on us, as if to show us loud and clear we had no power. And when Dan White's defence argued it was a diet of Twinkies that had fuelled the murders, his all-white, straight jury nodded along. Mr Jones, do you have a comment on this verdict? (VOMITS) Mr Jones? (COUGHS) They let him off with manslaughter. They let him get away with murder. Take Harvey's bullhorn. Do what he taught you to do. REPORTER: When news of the verdict was announced, the city's gays began to march. ALL CHANT: Remember Harvey Milk! They started marching just two hours after the verdicts came in in the Dan White trial, from Castro St, marching east on Market towards San Francisco City Hall. ALL CHANT: Dan White was a cop! Out for blood and in the streets! Steer them up Hope St, so they don't burn City Hall down. We remember Harvey! We remember Harvey! We remember Harvey! We remember Harvey! (CROWD YELLS) No violence! No violence! No violence! No violence! Fight back! Fight back! ALL CHANT: Fight back! Fight back! Fight back! Fight back! Get out! Slow down! Don't run! Slow down! Don't run! The cops are in the Castro. They're tearing it apart. I'm not sure this is the way to build it, Cleve. We won at the ballot box, when they said we couldn't, and they resorted to murder. So we turn to their courts for justice, and they told us it's OK to kill fags! Now they want us to retreat to our ghetto! I won't! We fight them here, tonight, until they realise this is our home and we're fighting for it with our ALL CHANT: Fight back! Slow down, turn around, fight back! Slow down, turn around, fight back! Slow down, turn around, fight back! (CLAMOURING) (CLAMOURING CONTINUES) You should go now! (BIKE ENGINES REV) No more! So, Mom, I'm writing you this letter to try and answer the question I couldn't last year. The truth is, I don't know if I can be happy... with this. Not yet. Not until we have a place to call home, where we're safe. And that fight is far from over. Captions by Faith Hamblyn. www.able.co.nz Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2017.
Subjects
  • Television mini-series--United States
  • Gay rights--United States