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Amos Lassen wrote on 02/05/2010:

“Gay USA”

The Documentary

Amos Lassen

“Gay USA” is the documentary you want to see as it shows fascinating aspects of gay and lesbian life in America in the 1970’s. Made in 1978 it was made by Arthur Bressan who commissioned filmmakers all over the country to record the 1977 pride parades. Then he edited the footage and added interviews with men and women on the street. Bressan, himself, was an adult filmmaker but as a reaction to Anita Bryant’s anti-gay activities of the time, he decided to document who we are.
Bressan had a political conscience unlike what we may think of when we think of porn directors. What he gives us is a historic look at an important moment in gay history—pre-AIDS and right before the period of gay activism and much of what we see is still important today.
“Gay USA” is a thumbnail history. The first pride parades were political and aimed at liberation. They expanded and became celebratory events but most of them came about because of activism and the marchers connected their struggle with the march. Watching the film lets us see just how far we have come. We even see the acceptance of drag queens as part of the activist struggle and there is little division in the ranks.
One cannot help notice the extravagant and florid costumes, the great repartee between people and the sense of good humor and we see wit and intelligence. We are so lucky to have this.