On Monday, April 26, an excited and interested crowd of almost 100 filled the Black Box at the Prince Music Theater to see the terrific short film Gay Pioneers and discuss the film with heroes Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny and filmmaker Glenn Holsten. The film elegantly tells the story of the pre-Stonewall era of the gay civil rights movement through archival photos, film and interviews. From 1965 to 1969 the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis jointly organized annual protests at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. That all changed at the Stonewall Bar on June 28, 1969 when a group of angry drag queens fought back against NYC police harassment, and the modern era of the gay civil rights movement began. Mr. Holsten's film records some of the essential oral and visual history of the pre-Stonewall era by telling the story simply and with style.

After the film, Equality Forum's guests graciously answered questions and discussed their roles in this historic battle. Mr. Kameny, who is just about to celebrate his 79th birthday, made the audience laugh several times with his humorous takes on his own past. His inspiring words should be a watchword for activists everywhere, "For myself, I've always done my own thing." Mr. Kameny recalled that their goal was always to create a grass-roots movement, and that has finally been accomplished with "4,000 gay couples lining up at City Hall (in SF) to marry." Ms. Gittings, with more reserve, brought her own wit to the proceedings. She urged the audience: "Do something personal to you. There are so many ways gay people can open a line of communication...We need to really encourage people to do what hits them." Hopefully these words of personal empowerment will encourage a new generation of activists to bring their own individual strengths to the GLBT civil rights movement.

After the discussion ended many people stayed behind to chat with Mr. Gittings, Mr. Kameny and Mr. Holsten. Producer Malcolm Lazin revealed that footage shot at the "question and answer" session will be added to Gay Pioneers to update this important film into the gay marriage era.