The Rainbow Minute celebrates this weekend’s Reel Pride Richmond with a series highlighting the history of LGBT film festivals.

In the history of mainstream film, LGBT people were almost always portrayed in a negative light. But things started to change in the late 1960’s, as the modern gay rights movement took off.

In Richmond during the 1980’s and 90’s, gay films were often screened as part of the city’s Gay Pride celebrations. The Richmond Lesbian and Gay Pride Coalition was incorporated in 1986 and a year later included a Friday Film Fest in their lineup of events, with “After Stonewall” being shown in the VCU Business Auditorium.

The lesbian film “Home Movie” by Jan Oxenberg was screened in the early 70’s, and the Richmond Lesbian Feminists invited lesbian film artist Barbara Hammer to Richmond to show and talk about her early films, including, “Dyketactics.”

More about Barbara Hammer tomorrow.

“The Rainbow Minute,” a radio show on WRIR, Richmond Independent Radio, is produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns and airs on 97.3 FM every Weekday at 9:03am, 12:30pm and 4:30pm.  Listen to the WRIR’s audio stream here.

The Rainbow Minute is produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns and airs on 97.3 FM, WRIR Richmond Independent Radio, every Weekday at 8:59am, 12:30pm and 4:30pm. Listen to the WRIR’s audio stream here.