May 23, 2017 / Modified jun 13, 2017 10:05 a.m.

AZPM Celebrates LGBT Pride Month this June

Special programming all month long

LGBT space holder hero

Arizona Public Media celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) by featuring a lineup of special programming on PBS 6 and READY/WORLD. Explore a special collection of films, series and personal stories that explore the LGBT experience in the United States and around the world.

And from PBS LearningMedia, a toolkit for educators. The LGBTQ+ Identity: A Toolkit for Educators Collection offers a series of digital media resources to help administrators, guidance counselors, and educators understand and effectively address the complex and difficult issues faced by LGBTQ students.

Television highlights include:

LGBT Programs
June 2017

RED denotes “new” program.
Full schedules are available online.
List includes first air only. See schedule for repeats tv.azpm.org.


Day It Snowed in Miami
(READY/WORLD: Friday, June 4th at 2pm)
THE DAY IT SNOWED IN MIAMI traces the political activism behind an equal-rights statute in Miami and how it galvanized the gay rights movement in Florida and beyond. Thirty- five years ago, as snowflakes prepared to dust palm trees in a city known for its warmth, Miami-Dade County lawmakers unknowingly debated an issue that would ignite a political maelstrom. The seemingly benign ordinance - essentially an addendum to the county's existing anti-discrimination legislation - sought to prohibit discrimination in housing, public accommodations or employment based on the basis of "affectional or sexual preference." The 90-minute documentary also chronicles the tragic effects of the AIDS pandemic in South Florida, and the ironic, compassionate turn in public opinion towards the gay community.

The Committee
(READY/WORLD: Sunday, June 4th at 3:30pm)
The Committee is a documentary film about the little-known Florida Legislative Investigative Committee of the State Legislature from 1956-1965. Florida Senator Charley Johns chaired the committee, and its aim was to root out communist and homosexual teachers and students from state universities. It was successful in either firing or expelling more than 200 suspected gay and lesbian citizens. The film features two North Florida survivors (Rev. Ruth Jensen-Forbell and Chuck Woods) and one interrogator (John Tileston) who have never before spoken publicly about their experiences without anonymity. It culminates in a 50-year reunion between survivor and interrogator.

America Reframed: Broken Heart Land
(READY/WORLD: Tuesday, June 6th at 6pm)
On an early autumn afternoon, in his parent's ranch in Norman, Oklahoma, gay teen Zack Harrington killed himself with a gunshot to the head. One week earlier, Zack attended a local city council meeting in support of a proposal for LGBTQ History Month in his bible-belt town. When the floor was opened up for public comment, some community members made highly controversial statements equating being gay with the spread of diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Against the backdrop of a town bitterly divided on the issue of homosexuality, Zack's grief-stricken parents, both conservative Republicans and military veterans are forced to reconcile their own social and political beliefs with their son's death. Determined to understand Zack, they discover a private diary, which paints a gripping portrait of a boy in crisis. Ultimately, they discover a chilling secret that Zack kept hidden for almost two years, which leads them to some painful conclusions about their son's life and death. When an outspoken conservative citizen runs for City Council, the Harrington decide to join a politically active group called "MOMS: Mothers of Many" (mainly comprised of local mothers of LGBTQ youth). Over the course of the local election season, we witness Zack's family, once private and politically conservative, come out of their own closet, moving from private denial to a climactic and very public acceptance of their son's legacy.

Independent Lens: The New Black
(READY/WORLD: Thursday, June 7th at 6pm)
See how the African-American community is grappling with gay rights in light of the gay marriage movement. The film documents activists, families and clergy on both sides of gay marriage legalization and examines homophobia in the black church.

Campaign
(READY/WORLD: Wednesday, June 7th at 7pm)
Heartbreaking and inspiring, The Campaign is a human drama that follows ordinary people compelled by a passionate belief in equality to go far beyond their everyday selves. They are caught in the political firestorm of one of the largest social issue campaign the U.S. has ever seen: the campaign to defeat California's Proposition 8 and to defend same-sex marriage. With exclusive access to the statewide headquarters of "No on 8," the story tracks Holli, Claudia, Richard, Anne, and Alison through emotional battles to protect their families, their rights, and their dignity. They learn that growing social acceptance does not always translate into votes, but that participating in the political process transforms them - win or lose. The passage of Prop 8 was a great shock to many, not only in California but across the nation and around the world. Growing social acceptance and isolated legal gains have produced a sense that increased LGBT legal protection is imminent. Yet at the time of the 2008 election, 31 states had voted against gay marriage at the ballot box. The story is much more complicated than a "Yes" or "No" vote. By reaching beyond the issues to follow strong characters, the film holds universal themes and appeal; the mixed emotions of family relationships, self-empowerment through activism, and the struggle in deciding how much of oneself to sacrifice for the cause. Characters drive the story of The Campaign, from their initial confidence that Prop 8 will be defeated, through their frustrating experiences of unfavorable polling numbers, to their heartbreaking 52-to-48-percent defeat on election night, and the turmoil beyond. We see the lives of real people in the balance, not polished representatives.

Independent Lens: Limited Partnership
(READY/WORLD: Sunday, June 11th at 2pm)
Decades before The Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, one gay couple, a Filipino American and an Australian, fell in love and over the course of 40 years took on the U.S. government to fight for marriage and immigration equality.

POV: Out in the Night
(READY/WORLD: Sunday, June 11th at 9pm)
Examine the uphill battle of a group of African-American lesbians charged with attempted murder when they fought back after being threatened. The case reveals the role that race, gender identity and sexuality play in the criminal justice system.

Reel South: Deep Run
(READY/WORLD: Sunday, June 11th at 11pm)
By Hillevi Loven. Exiled by family and rejected by an ex, 17-year-old Jasmine finds new love and the courage to become Cole, a strong-willed transgender man, in this powerful verite portrait of transgender life in rural North Carolina. Cole's candid humor and steadfast Christian beliefs counter the bigotry he experiences daily. Executive produced by Susan Sarandon.

Denial: The Dad That Wanted to Save the World
(READY/WORLD: Monday, June 12th at 6pm)
Denial falls squarely into a long tradition of documentaries that start by examining one subject before an unexpected twist complicates and enriches the initial investigation. Starting out as an important exploration of energy use and abuse, the film soon takes a sharp turn into the politics of gender identity. The energy debate and transgender issues, two thorny topics that at first glance seem miles apart are ultimately united by the struggles of one man trying to confront issues that most people would prefer to ignore.

Vicious
(PBS 6: Overnight, starts June 13th at 12am)
This comedic series tells the story of aging partners Freddie (Ian McKellen) and Stuart (Derek Jacobi), two men who have lived together in their Covent Garden flat for nearly 50 years. Freddie was a budding actor and Stuart worked in a bar when they first met, but their careers are pretty much over and their lives now consist of entertaining their frequent guests, making sure that their aged dog Balthazar is still breathing, and hurling caustic insults at each other.

I Am
(READY/WORLD: Tuesday, June 13th at 12pm)
What would you do if you found out that your child is gay? Having lost the opportunity to come out to her own mother, an Indian lesbian filmmaker, now living in the US, travels across India to meet with parents of other gay and lesbian South Asians. I AM is a personal and revealing film that journeys to a country where being gay was until very recently a criminal and punishable offence. With daring determination and humor, parents in India share untold stories of their gay and lesbian children that have thus far remained in the realm of secrecy and silence. I AM is an innovative film that takes more than simply creative risks. The story and characters might be local, but it reflects a challenge that is facing a global community. A film about a contemporary and relevant social justice issue that questions assumptions and brings new international dialogue around sexuality and human rights.

America Reframed: Before You Know It
(READY/WORLD: Tuesday, June 13th at 6pm)
Three gay seniors navigate the adventures, challenges and surprises of life and love in their golden years.

Facing Fear
(READY/WORLD: Friday, June 16th at 6pm)
In this Academy Award nominated short documentary, worlds collide when a former neo-Nazi skinhead and the gay victim of his hate crime attack meet by chance 25 years after the incident that dramatically shaped both of their lives. Together, they embark on a journey of forgiveness that challenges both to grapple with their beliefs and fears, eventually leading to an improbable collaboration...and friendship.

Afropop: The Abominable Crime
(READY/WORLD: Saturday, June 17th at 12am)
Born into a homophobic society, what are you willing to sacrifice to survive? The Abominable Crime, at heart, is a story about a mother's love for her child and an activist's troubled love for his country. It gives voice to Jamaicans like Simone Edwards, who survives an anti-gay shooting, and Maurice Tomlinson, a leading activist who is forced to flee the country after being outed. Told as they unfold, these personal accounts take the audience on an emotional journey traversing four years and five countries. Their stories expose the roots of homophobia in Jamaican society, reveal the deep psychological and social impacts of discrimination on the lives of gays and lesbians and offer intimate first-person perspectives on the risks and challenges of seeking asylum abroad.

Independent Lens: Kumu Hina
(READY/WORLD: Sunday, June 18th at 2am)
Over the course of a momentous year, Kumu Hina, a native Hawaiian mahu (transgender) teacher, inspires a tomboyish young girl to claim her place as leader of an all-male hula troupe, as she herself searches for love and a fulfilling romantic relationship with an unpredictable young Tongan man.

Anyone and Everyone
(PBS 6: Sunday, June 18th at 10:30pm)
ANYONE AND EVERYONE tells the stories of families from Utah to North Carolina and Wyoming to New York, all connected by a common thread - a gay child. This poignant and often heartbreaking documentary by first-time filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz (also the parent of a gay son) depicts families representing a wide range of religions, nationalities and political leanings.

Independent Lens: Real Boy
(PBS 6: Monday, June 19th at 10pm)
Real Boy is the coming-of-age story of Bennett, a trans teenager with dreams of musical stardom. During the first two years of his gender transition, as Bennett works to repair a strained relationship with his family, he is taken under the wing of his friend and musical hero, celebrated trans folk singer Joe Stevens.

Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton
(PBS 6: Monday, June 19th at 11pm)
A key player in the artistic renaissance of San Francisco after World War II, James Broughton fathered a child with film critic Pauline Kael, wrote poetry alongside Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, received an award from Jean Cocteau at Cannes, and went on to push the boundaries of artistic expression and sexual liberation. While celebrating the impact of Broughton's art, Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton also explores his deeply intertwined creative and personal lives. For a man who joyfully embraced life and preached "follow your own weird," the repressive McCarthy era brought inner turmoil and even an attempt to "straighten himself out." Ultimately, Broughton's experimental films and poetry helped free both his own spirit and that of a new generation, and at the young age of 61, he met the love of his life.

Penny: Champion of The Marginalized
(PBS 6: Wednesday, June 21st at 3:30pm)
PENNY is a multi-dimensional portrait of Penny Cooper, a celebrated criminal defense attorney, art collector, supporter of female artists, and protector of the underdog. Cooper's life brims with stories mirroring the profound changes in our country from the 1940s to the present. In this revealing documentary, Cooper proves herself quite the raconteur with seemingly unlimited anecdotes. Her stories are engaging; sometimes funny, and sometimes distressing. The film is a collection of these moments as told by Cooper and the people who have been impacted by her dynamic spirit. The talented lawyer and art enthusiast offers a unique perspective on important social narratives such as criminal justice, the artists and collectors who generate today's global contemporary art market, gender equality, and more. Through it all, she has found herself at the center of dramatic social progress for women. A role model and pioneer, Cooper perhaps owes much of her success in transcending the glass ceiling to her unwavering resilience, fortitude and infamous humility.

POV: From this Day Forward
(READY/WORLD: Friday, June 23rd at 6:30pm)
Meet an American family coping with one of life's most intimate transformations. Sharon Shattuck's father came out as transgender, living as Trisha. Her mother stayed with him. Now Sharon wants to understand how the family survived intact.

Out & Proud in Chicago
(READY/WORLD: Sunday, June 25th at 2pm)
Hosted by actress Jane Lynch, OUT & PROUD charts the history of Chicago's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community from the 19th century to the present. The documentary profiles famous and unsung LGBT Chicagoans: a retired schoolteacher, a successful business man, a community activist, a bar owner, a lawyer and a social service worker. Each recounts their own extraordinary stories of struggle and success - from coming-out experiences and supporting anti-discrimination laws to founding Chicago's earliest gay-rights organization and defying the federal government's indifference towards people with AIDS. Through their voices, OUT & PROUD tells the story of the LGBT citizens who helped shape the face of a city.



PBS 6 (6.1 & 27.1)
Independent Lens: Limited Partnership June 12th at 10pm
Vicious June 12th at 12am
Anyone and Everyone June 18th at 10:30pm
Independent Lens: Real Boy
June 19th at 10pm
Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton June 19th at 11pm
The Committee June 20th at 3:30pm
Penny: Champion of the Marginalized June 21st at 3:30pm
Denial: The Dad That Wanted to Save the World
June 26th at 11pm

READY/WORLD (6.3 & 27.3)
Day It Snowed in Miami June 4th at 2pm
The Committee June 4th at 3:30pm
America Reframed: Broken Heart Land June 6th at 6pm
Independent Lens: The New Black June 7th at 6pm
Campaign June 7th at 7pm
Independent Lens: Limited Partnership June 11th at 2pm
POV: Out in the Night June 11th at 9pm
Reel South #203: Deep Run June 11th at 11pm
Denial: The Dad That Wanted to Save the World June 12th at 6pm
I Am June 13th at 12pm
America Reframed: Before You Know It June 13th at 6pm
Facing Fear June 16th at 6pm
Afropop: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange: The Abominable Crime June 17th at 12am
Independent Lens: Kuma Hina June 18th at 2am
Anyone and Everyone June 20th at 12pm
Independent Lens: Real Boy June 21st at 6pm
POV: From This Day Forward June 23rd at 6:30pm
Out & Proud in Chicago June 25th at 2pm

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