Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival presents Queens of the Revolution.
Directed by Rebecca Heidenberg
Socialism, yes! Homophobia, no! Those are the chants of drag queens proudly strutting down the streets in a country that once imprisoned them for being gay. Following the Cuban revolution, the LGBTQ+ community was violently persecuted, with many people forcibly sent to “re-education camps” before homosexuality was decriminalized in 1979. But instead of fleeing, many chose to stay and fight for change in the country they love. QUEENS OF THE REVOLUTION introduces us to members of one such community, centering on Mejunje, a vibrant cultural center in Santa Clara that paved the road for LGBTQ+ rights in Cuba. Meandering through the streets of Santa Clara, into the homes of drag performers and on to the stage, through a chorus of voices, among them older drag queens recounting their lives in the darkest of times, what emerges is a story of survival, resilience, and joy from people who are just as passionate about being Cuban as they are about being queer.
Available to stream in the U.S. only.
ChicagoPride.com Sponsored