A new 50-second clip from the upcoming Stonewall movie focuses on the iconic drag activist Marsha P. Johnson (the “P,” of course, standing for “Pay It No Mind”). The movie, you’ll likely recall, has come under fire amid claims of whitewashing and trans-erasure following the release of the first trailer for the film.
From Pink News:
Thousands signed a petition against the film, claiming based solely on the first trailer that veterans of the riots like Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera have been ‘airbrushed’ out of the centre of the story in favour of a fictional gay man.
The latest clip seems to have been released to address the criticism – focussing on drag pioneer Marsha P Johnson, and a number of drag queens and trans people.
Marsha P Johnson, one of the queens often credited with sparking the riots at New York’s historic Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, was an influential figure in both the gay liberation and drag movements.
Says Emmerich of the controversy:
“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 labour of love for me – finally comes to theaters, audiences will see that it deeply honours 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.”
Watch the clip below. Not sure it will do enough to stem the flow of bad publicity, but I guess we just have to wait until the movie comes out to judge for ourselves.
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