In 1959, a decade prior to Manhattan's Stonewall riots, across the bridge in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the Starlite Lounge was founded as a non-discriminating bar for gay people of color. In 2009, the community was shocked when the Starlite Lounge, now the oldest, Black-owned bar was given notice to vacate. Starlite was filmed during this critical moment at the intersection of race, sexuality and gentrification.
The Starlite Project is a feature length documentary and on/offline network strategy, currently in production. Please join the filmmakers to view scenes from the rough cut and to engage in a discussion with them and their special guests.
Guests include George Chauncey, author of Gay New York.
Followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Kate Kunath and Sasha Wortzel.
6 pm open seating
6:15 pm screening
Text and image: courtesy Kate Kunath and Sasha Wortzel
