Pride Season 1 Episode 3 1970s: The Vanguard of Struggle

As the Pride movement gains momentum in the 1970s, the third episode of the show Pride takes a deep dive into the pioneers who led the struggle. Titled '1970s: The Vanguard of Struggle', the episode chronicles the laborious journey taken by the LGBTQ+ community for their rights and recognition.

From the very beginning, the episode takes the viewers back in time, to the earliest days of Pride, where the community only had secret locations and safe spaces to celebrate their identity. Whether it was the Stonewall Riots in 1969 or the Lavender Scare of the 1950s, one thing was clear - the LGBTQ+ community was starved of basic human rights. The episode then transitions to the 1970s, where the movement began to pick up steam.

The episode highlights the voices of queer and trans activists who played a defining role during the period. Some of the big names in this period were Harvey Milk, Sylvia Rivera, and Marsha Johnson, all of whom fought tirelessly for LGBTQ+ rights.

One theme that's clear throughout the episode is the intersectionality of queer issues with other social and political movements. The Stonewall Riots, for example, was a response to police brutality, a phenomenon that affected Black communities as well. Another example is of the Combahee River Collective, founded in Boston in 1974, which was a black feminist lesbian organization that sought to bridge the gap between queer struggles and that of people of color.

As the episode progresses, it delves deeper into the struggle of the LGBTQ+ community for their basic rights. From the demand of housing for queer people to the medical aid and recognition they deserved, it was a struggle that demanded significant effort and hard work. The episode features interviews with historians and activists, who help shed light on the struggles of the era.

One of the most engaging moments of the episode is when it looks into the ways in which the AIDS pandemic affected the LGBTQ+ community in New York and San Francisco. It highlights the ways in which the government was apathetic and homophobic, which led to the deaths of thousands of people. The episode also shows how the gay community mobilized in the face of this crisis, with organizations like ACT UP and Queer Nation leading the way.

Throughout the episode, the viewer is transported back in time through archival footage, photographs, and interviews. It is an immersive experience that's sure to leave a deep impression on anyone who watches the episode.

In the end, the episode leaves the viewers with a sense of pride and hope. The struggle depicted in the episode highlights how far the LGBTQ+ community has come, and while there is still work to be done, the victories of the past are a testament to the strength and resilience of the queer community. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in LGBTQ+ history and the struggles of the queer community over the years.