FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 5, 2004

Equality Forum 2004 opens on Monday, April 26 with a screening of the documentary film Gay Pioneers at 8:30 p.m. at the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street. Produced by Equality Forum and WHYY, and directed by PBS award-winning filmmaker Glenn Holsten, Gay Pioneers tells the story of a group of brave men and women who organized the first homosexual civil rights demonstrations in the United States from 1965 to 1969, prior to the Stonewall uprising in New York.

The story is told through archival footage from the annual demonstrations in Philadelphia, New York and Washington, D.C., and includes interviews with pioneers Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny, Lilli Vicenz, Randy Wicker, Reverend Robert Woods, Nancy Tucket and Jack Nichols, all of whom demonstrated in the picket lines of the "Annual Reminders." The film includes FBI files and surveillance obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The documentary will be updated this year with recent interviews and footage from Equality Forum 2004.

Gay Pioneers is free of charge and will be followed by a question and answer session moderated by Equality Forum Executive Director Malcolm Lazin, with panelists Glenn Holsten, Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny.

"Equality Forum decided that there was no better way to start Equality Forum than by screening Gay Pioneers, which documents the birth of the GLBT civil rights movement and the start of the march to equality." Mr. Lazin said.

Equality Forum 2004 is April 26 to May 2 in Philadelphia. For more information call
215-732-3378 or visit www.equalityforum.com.

Equality Forum is the largest regional, national and international Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) civil rights forum, working to create understanding about homophobia and its multifaceted impact on individuals, families and society. Each year, in addition to promoting and discussing GLBT organizations and issues, Equality Forum highlights a Featured Nation and explores that country's GLBT culture, social issues and advancements in civil rights. Equality Forum embraces a number of projects throughout the year, including the production of the documentary films Gay Pioneers and JIM IN BOLD.

Equality Forum is a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Philadelphia, the site of some of the earliest gay civil rights protests.

Gay Pioneers
April 26, 8:30 to 9 p.m.
Q&A: 9 to 9:30 p.m.
Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street
Open to the public, free of charge.

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