“Stonewall” film trailer released, backlash ensues

By John Mack Freeman

The trailer for Roland Emmerich’s film Stonewall about the eponymous riots was released this week:

However, the film almost immediately came under fire for apparently whitewashing the event. There have been calls from numerous people in the LGBT community to boycott the film. A petition for those calling for a boycott of the film has received over 22,000 signatures and says in part:

It is time that black and brown transwomyn and drag queens are recognized for their efforts in the riots throughout the nation. From the preview alone, we know that will not be happening . Majority of characters casted are white actors, cis men play the role of transwomyn, and folks who began the riots do not seem to be credited with such revolutionary acts.

 

Director Roland Emmerich has responded with a statement that said in part:

I understand that following the release of our trailer there have been initial concerns about how this character’s involvement is portrayed, but when this film – which is truly a labor of love for me – finally comes to theaters, audiences will see that it deeply honors the real-life activists who were there — including Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Ray Castro — and all the brave people who sparked the civil rights movement which continues to this day. We are all the same in our struggle for acceptance.

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