Marlon Riggs

Marlon Riggs was a documentary filmmaker who used his films as tools to confront racism and homophobia. Riggs' Tongues Untied was the first open discussion of the black gay experience on television. The documentary was awarded "Best Documentary" at the Berlin Film Festival. Senator Jesse Helms responded by using Tongues Untied as a reason why arts and culture should not receive public funding.

In 1998, Riggs addressed a Committee of the United States Senate about creating a more diverse and inclusive media. Riggs' campaign helped create the Independent Television Service (ITVS), which presents independent voices on public television.