Events

Great Documentary Screening in Barcelona

The LGBTQ+ Caucus in Spain recently screened the documentary Cured! This important film is about the momentous and fraught decision of the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its manual of mental illness, and is a milestone in the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality.   

Before this momentous 1973 decision, the medical establishment viewed every gay and lesbian person as diseased and in need of a cure. Business and government used the mental-illness classification to justify discrimination and bigotry. As long as lesbians and gay men were “sick,” progress toward equality was nearly impossible. 

Using previously unseen materials, the film chronicles the strategy and tactics that led to a crucial turning point in the movement for LGBTQ rights, a moment that is second only to Stonewall, and it represents the first major step on the path to first-class citizenship for LGBTQ Americans. CURED sheds new light on this victory — which was far from inevitable — while situating the APA story within the larger context of the modern movement for LGBTQ equality.

The event was so well-attended that we will reprise it during Pride Month. 

It's hard to believe that we're already three full months into 2024!   Planning for Pride Month activities is under way.  While we are still in the planning stages, lots of great ideas are percolating.   Here's what you can expect:

Meet the Candidates Events, held in partnership with DA's State Teams and other caucuses.   We've reached out to Will Rollins in California, Julie Johnson in Texas, Sarah McBride in Delaware--three LGBTQ+  candidates for US Congress who can help us win back control of the House.   And course, we've invited Senator Tammy Baldwin to join us again on Pride Day.

• Film Screenings.  The screening of Cured in Barcelona was such a popular event, and the documentary examines a milestone event in the struggle for equality.  Everyone should see this film, so we're going to bring it--and a few others--to you during Pride Month.

• The State of Play.   An expert political analyst will join us to examine how LGBTQ+ candidates are faring around the country, and how issues affecting our community are being (mis)represented.  The general view right now is that attempts to reignite the culture war with LGBTQ+ issues as a flashpoint is backfiring, but how will in be as we get closer to the election?

• Local Activities.   Pride events take place around the world, and wherever Democrats Abroad is, if there's a Pride event, we're there.   Join us in London, Toronto, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Berlin, Cologne, Geneva, Vienna, and many other places.   Watch for news from your local committee ... and if you don't yet have an LGBTQ+ Caucus, contact us and we'll help get you going. All it takes in one person to make a difference.

• Bling, Merch and Glitter.   We are currently preparing designs for t-shits, buttons, banners and more.   Watch for a separate email from the Caucus for details.

This year, our global theme for Pride is stONEwALL, to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the riots that birthed a movement (is it time for us to join the AARP?) and to underline that we are all in this together.   It promises to be a great month !

WATCH FOR AN UPDATE AROUND MAY 20!