Pink Triangles

Year Published: 1981

Creator: Jenni Olson

Complete Record: Pink Triangles is a fascinating, informative film in which both the roots and the current manifestations of homophobia are explored. Historical documents and interviews with people who know about prejudice first-hand are mixed, showing how lesbians and gay men experience discrimination and oppression. The historical perspective of homophobia is revealed, along with its links to other forms of oppression (against women, blacks, radicals, and Jews) and the reasons why this particular prejudice is felt so strongly. The treatment of gays in ancient and medieval times, in the Nazi death camps, and during the witch hunts of the McCarthy years are all shown. These past atrocities are linked to the present through TV interviews and paid political announcements from today's moral majority. Pink Triangles shows how society looks for scapegoats in times of trouble, and how the past can be repeated. The best way to avoid this is to continue educating our society and ourselves. Pink Triangles is an important part of this effort.