San Diego's Gay Bar History
Sunday, June 10th – 1:15pm – SAN DIEGO SPOTLIGHT
Sponsored By: GAY SAN DIEGO
Co-Presented By: KPBS
SAN DIEGO’S GAY BAR HISTORY, 2018, 56 minutes, Dir: Paul Detwiler, USA, World Premiere.
Since WWII, no less than 135 gay bars have operated in San Diego and provided sanctuary for LGBTQ+ people to discover themselves and form community.
These institutions have played an integral role in creating spaces for building friendships and fostering activism, as well as serving as spaces for both grieving and celebration. San Diego’s Gay Bar History examines the roles bars have played across three major time periods: after WWII until the birth of the modern gay rights movement in 1969; during the 1970’s and until the onset of HIV in 1981; during the AIDS epidemic (1981–1995), and beyond. Through archival photographs, historic footage, and interviews with bar owners, bartenders and prominent community members, the documentary provides a glimpse into the rich history of San Diego’s gay history and culture.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/q1fr42VIfHw
With: Deviant, 2017, 10 minutes, Dir: Benjamin Howard, USA. *Local San Diego Filmmaker*
In the early sixties, a sexually conflicted teenager finds faith and acceptance after escaping the tortures of electrotherapeutic conversion therapy.
With: Saltwater Baptism, 2017, 16.43 minutes, Dir: Russell Sheaffer & Jared Callahan, USA. *Local San Diego Filmmaker*
Santiago is one week away from becoming the first college graduate in his family. For Santi, graduation is both an achievement and a relief; his conservative university has lifestyle bylaws, meaning that he has to hide his sexuality for fear of expulsion. (This documentary is a New York Times Op-Doc and ran in September 2017).