Positively Groundbreaking: Cinematic Reflections on World AIDS Day

Over the years, ITVS has been responsible for producing ahead-of-their-time films about HIV-AIDS and LGBT issues. In honor of World AIDS Day, we wanted to highlight a few of the documentaries that have helped raise awareness about one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history.

Lance Loud! A Death in an American Family
Decades before reality programming took over primetime television, PBS made television history with the documentary series An American Family. Lance Loud, the eldest son, inspired and shocked a generation of viewers as the first openly gay character on TV. Lance Loud! A Death in an American Family examines a life of quiet inspiration that speaks volumes about pop culture, sexuality, fame, and family.
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Tags: documentary, gay rights, HIV AIDS, ITVS, LGBT, world AIDS day

Ask Not Snags Outstanding Doc at GLAAD Awards

ITVS-funded Ask Not by Johnny Symons was honored for Outstanding Documentary at the GLAAD Media Awards earlier this month in San Francisco. Ask Not originally aired in June 2009 on Independent Lens.

Equally important is the attention such an award will draw to the national debate over Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT.) The film explores the genesis of that policy from its inception under then-President Clinton in 1993.

Ask Not sheds light on how DADT has prevented some of America’s most talented recruits from serving their country. Examples include skilled Arabic translators so desperately needed in Afghanistan and Iraq combat, ordered to be silent and celibate or else be removed from duty.

“This was a fun award to receive and a great acknowledgment of the film and the issue,” said Symons.

The hype around Ask Not could not come at a more relevant time. At his State of the Union address this past January, President Obama vowed to repeal DADT during his first term. Soon after, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen also denounced the policy before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The film also recently aired on Capitol Hill to coincide with Congressional hearings on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Congratulations to Johnny and his team!

Tags: Ask Not, don't ask don't tell, gay rights, Johnny Symons, Military