Hey all! Is this technically my 11th post and, thus, unnecessary? Yes, 100%. You do not have to read or comment on it if you don’t want to. However, I had this written out ahead of time and would feel bad about not posting it, so here we are!

This is my last passion post (I know, tragic), so what better note to finish it on than Rocky Horror?

When watching and analyzing older movies with queer themes, it is important to understand their historical importance. Language, definitions, and depictions change over time, and just because something is no longer “politically correct” does not mean its cultural contributions should be discounted. For many LGBTQ+ people growing up in the 1980s and 90s, this film provided safe places to meet other queer people and find communities that celebrated diverse sexuality and gender nonconformity. It was, for quite a few people who didn’t have the words to explain how they felt, a glimpse into a different way of living beyond heteronormative existence.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Chances are, you’ve heard of this musical. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is now an internationally recognized cult classic musical, both as a stage show and film. It was inspired by B-movies and science fiction, and was first performed in June 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre in London during the height of the sexual revolution. In 1975, a movie version of the musical was released. Despite the poor critical reception, this musical found a cult following from counterculture fans, who regularly organized and attended screenings, often in costume. The film’s interactive nature and subversive, explicit portrayal of gender and sexuality has helped it maintain its popularity for over 50 years, with a “reboot” released in 2016 (watch the original version instead, the only good part of the remake is Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-n-Furter). 

It’s very hard to actually describe this movie, and I don’t think the IMDB page does it justice. Their summary is “A newly-engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must seek shelter at the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-n-Furter.” It’s an admirable effort to summarize what is admittedly a bizarre film, but it also omits the most important parts of the show.

So here’s what I think is a better summary:

Anyways, there is no point in me “reviewing” the representation in this movie; that is not the point of the movie itself. Identity is so fluid, and gender and sexuality divisions are blurred and played with in a really fun way. Rocky Horror is a celebration of camp, joy, community, and queer weirdos of all kinds. The songs are phenomenal and so catchy. The costuming and set design is theatrical and elaborate. The dialogue is witty, irreverent, and incredibly iconic. Every actor is having a great time in their role, and it shows. 

A lot of people consider the first viewing of this musical a queer right of passage, mostly because it’s a significant piece of LGBTQ+ culture and history. Watching this show is a step into a long tradition of queer subcultures and nonconformity. This movie is best seen with other people, so I highly recommend going to a screening (or a live performance, if you’re so lucky!) Even if you can’t, try to watch it with people you care about so that you can share the wonderful experience that is this film! 

Anyways, we are coming to the end of this blog. I hope you all enjoyed these posts and found some interesting recommendations! It’s been really fun to write about these movies which I hold so near to my heart. Thank you for reading!!

Recommendations

Instead of including a second film, here are some LGBTQ+ movies and documentaries that I highly recommend but couldn’t fit into actual posts:

Movies

Rustin (2023) – Centers on the life and work of activist Bayard Rustin as he worked to organize the March on Washington 

Nimona (2023) – An animated movie for younger audiences based off the graphic novel by N.D. Stevenson (the guy who directed the She-Ra reboot!). Very heartwarming, chaotic, and gay.

Pride (2014) – A group of gay and lesbian activists come together to support striking coal miners in Wales in 1984. Based on a true story!

Mutt (2023) – Trans-directed movie about a Latino trans man navigating complicated relationships with his younger sister, estranged father, and ex-boyfriend while trying to figure out his life. Warning: bittersweet ending, will make you sad.

Documentaries

Paris Is Burning (1990) – Documentary on Ballroom culture and the Black and Latinx people, especially transgender women, who found community in it

Disclosure (2020) – Trans actors, directors, and writers come together to discuss the way Hollywood has historically portrayed trans people. I learned a lot about my community from this.

How To Survive A Plague (2012) – A detailed exploration of the AIDS crisis with interviews from key figures.

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017) – An investigation into the life of activist and mother of the LGBTQ+ movement in the US, Marsha P. Johnson, and the cold case of her death.

I have a few ideas for the Issue Brief and want to ensure that the issues are manageable enough to discuss and have enough associated sources.

Idea 1: Public Library Underfunding

Public libraries serve as an important community resource across the United States. They promote literacy at all ages and opportunities to improve technological skills, provide a safe, free space with reliable Internet access, and may even host community events and discussions with local leadership. These programs are typically funded by the US government, and are included in the yearly budget resolution (ALA). This funding is supposed to be equitable across public libraries to minimize the amount of external fundraising they need to do. However, library budgets are often underfunded. In recent years, there have been additional attacks on public library funds from far-right organizations that disagree with the materials contained in libraries. As part of their censorship efforts, they campaign for defunding libraries that carry any “inappropriate” materials (Cineas). I will explore the various functions of public libraries and why government funding should continue, as well as how federal and local governments can bolster support for public libraries.

Idea 2: Affirmative Action

When affirmative action was overturned in 2023 by the Supreme Court, it reversed decades’ worth of progress in increasing the accessibility of higher education for racial minority groups. Race-conscious government policies like affirmative action acknowledge historical inequities like the legacy of slavery, colonization and forced relocation, and redlining practices that have prevented Black, Latinx, and Native American people from having equal access to higher education and accumulating generational wealth (Center for American Progress). While affirmative action on its own will not remedy the larger systemic issues at play, it still provides upward mobility for groups that have historically been underrepresented in universities, and ultimately, in the workforce. I will identify the main reasons that affirmative action was implemented and the inequities that make it continually necessary. I will argue for the reinstatement of some form of affirmative action and cover other options to make higher education more accessible for people in racial minority groups.

Idea 3: Data Collection About LGBTQ+ Communities

There has been a historical lack of data on the prevalence and needs of LGBTQ+ communities in the US due to high stigma and discriminatory policies. However, asking census questions that allow national organizations to collect data about the challenges facing sexual and gender diverse communities is crucial in policymaking, health care, and in advocating for LGBTQ+ equality. The inclusion of questions about gender and sexuality on the US census is a step in the right direction, and this is a policy that can be strengthened and developed in the future (File & Lee). According to the Center for American Progress, there is a need to include questions on sexual and gender diversity in general population surveys and surveys specific to the LGBTQ+ community. It is also important that LGBTQ+ individuals be involved in the creation of these surveys.

As seen from the previous posts, there is an extremely prevalent issue of educational censorship at local, state, and national levels. At this point, it is difficult to argue that educational censorship is not a political issue because of the number of “gag order” policies that have been proposed in recent years (ACLU). However, there is still the question of why this onslaught of bills has been proposed. This post aims to explore what political goals are being pushed forward through censorship.

The Anti-Public Education Movement

When books and curriculum are challenged, someone has to perform the task of revising or removing them. This often falls to teachers and staff, which becomes problematic when there is already a teacher shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strains on the workforce. As the Center for American Progress explains, “These actions are part of anti-public-school policies and agendas, which have adverse impacts on the experiences of students who attend these schools. More recently, states such as Arizona and Tennessee have also resurrected former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ privatization schemes and proposals to expand tax incentives that benefit private-school parents by passing voucher laws allowing parents to move their children into private school or other alternative schooling options with no accountability in accordance with Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) law” (Alleyne). Certain politicians use issues like race and LGBTQ+ topics to create division and prevent school communities from organizing to demand that every student get a quality education, and not just those with the wealth to attend private schools. DeVos is known for wanting to cut funding for public education, and wasting the already limited resources on curriculum censorship accomplishes this task by lowering the quality of education.

Right-Wing Election Politics

Issues of diversity make people angry. This is something that conservatives are well aware of, and the GOP is pushing these issues to the forefront in the 2024 election in order to rally support behind their candidates. Consider Ron DeSantis’ campaign speech to “stop woke” in Florida, or Christopher Rufo’s manufactured frenzy around critical race theory, calling it “the most successful counterattack against B[lack] L[ives] M[atter] as a political movement’” (ACLU). Many right-wing politicians have built their platforms off of opposing the rights of marginalized people, and this is a continuation of that. 

This has a historical precedent. In 1994, the Republican Party adopted the “Contract With America” as a legislative agenda to flip Congress in their favor during the next congressional election. This movement had strong ties to the Christian Coalition’s “Contract With The American Family”, as both of them made parental rights central to their political campaigns. During this era, politicians across the country ran on a premise of restoring parental rights and choice. This came to a head with Pat Buchanan’s 1996 presidential bid, where he promised that he would, “…shut down the U.S. Department of Education, and parental right will prevail in our public schools again” (Caruso). The same rhetoric was repeated in 2021, when Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia congressional seat on the premise of educational censorship by way of parents. As educational reporter Jennifer Berkshire commented, “In Youngkin’s upset win, the GOP saw its path to forever rule. And it was lined with angry parents” (Berkshire). In the following months, many states followed suit in creating educational gag orders. Educational censorship and parental rights in education are a means to political domination. 

Fascism

One of the most common signs of fascism is censorship, especially educational censorship. In Russia, Joseph Stalin was known for “revising” literature and altering photographs as part of the totalitarian regime. Mussolini’s Italy also created a centralized, state-controlled school system with a propaganda-based curriculum. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, intellectuals were targeted under Maoist policies. In 1970s Cambodia, Pol Pot systematically eliminated the educated. And, perhaps most infamously, Hitler’s Nazi party instituted a new curriculum, systematically removed Jewish teachers and students, and burned any books that did not align with their belief system – notably the research of the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft (Medium). 

If censorship is not recognized for the reality of what it is, the consequences are grave. That is why it is so important to combat. Organizations like the ACLU and Human Rights Campaign are fighting to legally ensure that First Amendment rights are protected. Educators and advocates are speaking out about their experiences with censorship and combatting injustices in local districts. On an individual level, many libraries, schools, and other organizations that serve students have started “Banned Books Libraries” or book clubs, and promote learning about a variety of diverse perspectives. While it may be bleak to expect a fascist dystopia heralded by educational censorship, it’s important to know that there are still ways to prevent things from escalating by making our voices and perspectives heard despite those who would silence us.