REVIEW
Inspiring, ambitious and educational, Out of the Past explores gay/lesbian activism and history on two fronts: the present-day struggles of a lesbian teenager thrust into the national limelight by entrenched homophobia, and the reenactment of pivotal moments in the 300-year struggle for gay/lesbian acceptance. Kelli Peterson was a Salt Lake City teen whose after-school club, the Gay-Straight Alliance, was banned by authorities and made illegal by the state legislature. Through interviews with the determined Kelli, her family and supporters, the film recounts her and fellow students fighting and -- through a court challenge -- overturning the ban. Interspersed with Kelli's story are scenes featuring several important but historically forgotten characters in American Queer history. Also highlighted are the pioneering efforts Barbara Gittings, whose gay rights work begun in the 1950s laid the groundwork for the modern-day gay rights movement.

DuaneSimolke wrote on 05/16/2001: