The director of an upcoming film that depicts the 1969 Stonewall Riots addressed the controversy surrounding the film's trailer -- released this week -- through a post on his Facebook.
Roland Emmerich, who directed "Stonewall," which hits theaters on September 25, defended his film against an intense backlash based on its recently released trailer, which some queer and trans activists claim misrepresents who was actually at Stonewall on the night of the famous riots.
Stonewall, often cited as the beginning of the mainstream gay rights movements, took place on June 28, 1969 when police raided the now iconic New York City gay bar, prompting its patrons to fight back against policing and violence aimed at the queer community. Some activists, after viewing the trailer, have claimed that the film "whitewashes" the narrative and erases the drag queens, transgender patrons and queer people of color present during the night of the rebellion.
Emmerich responded on Facebook yesterday:
In the post, Emmerich emphasizes that the movie is a "fictionalized drama" of the events at Stonewall. He also addressed concerns that "Stonewall" overlooks important historical figures, writing that following the film's release "audiences will see that it deeply honors 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."
The outrage surrounding the trailer for "Stonewall" has culminated in a proposed boycott of the film. A petition making it's rounds on the Web calls on queer people to not pay to see the film and to "use social media to recall what you know to be true of Stonewall."
What do you think about Emmerich's response? Will you still see the "Stonewall"? Let us know in the comments below.
UPDATE: One of the stars of "Stonewall," Jeremy Irvine, released a statement on his Instagram about the controversy:
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