onePULSE Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization in Orlando Florida, building the permanent national memorial and museum dedicated to the PULSE tragedy will promote the Disarm Hate film screening at the Orlando Film Festival. The Disarm Hate documentary feature film is about 9 LGBTQ+ activists traveling cross-country from LA to DC on an RV to an anti-gun rally in its 2020 lineup. The festival referred to as “Coolest Film Festivals in the World” is slated for October 29 to November 5.
‘It means the world to me to have the onePULSE Foundation, an organization that is championing a permanent memorial for the victims and families of this senseless tragedy help promote the film screening,” said Julianna Brudek. She added, ‘It is a natural fit as my film is also meant to educate, inspire, and pay homage to the victims and their loved ones.”
About Disarm Hate being selected by the Orlando Film Festival, Brudek said, “I am honored and humbled to have my film be included in the Orlando Film Festival. Though bittersweet, it is apropos to be a part of this community since the Pulse nightclub tragedy was the reason why I wanted to make this film.” She continued, “I hope that Disarm Hate will give comfort to the family, friends, and those affected by this brutal hate crime and remind them that we are all one community standing together against hate, gun violence, and terrorism.”
Directed by Brudek and narrated by the iconic actor Harvey Fierstein, the film chronicles nine diverse LGBTQ+ activists who come together after the Pulse nightclub tragedy to join Jason P. Hayes, a hairdresser, and an activist from New Jersey who is on a crusade. Without political experience, Hayes builds a national rally to demand LGBTQ+ equal rights, fight the NRA, and challenge America’s obsession with gun violence. The film seeks to create awareness about gun violence against the LGBTQ+ community following the 2016 Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando that took 49 lives as the impetus.
“We want to help make more people aware of the work that Julianna has created and also support the Orlando Film Festival,” said Barbara Poma, CEO of onePULSE Foundation.
On August 30, at the MTV Video Music Award, Lady Gaga gave a shout-out to Disarm Hate in her tribute video presenting her with the inaugural MTV Tricon Award.
Lady Gaga took home the inaugural MTV Tricon Award, for being a triple icon in music, acting, fashion, and activism. Supermodel Bella Hadid presented her with the award. The tribute video showed a clip of the icon marching with the Disarm Hate group at the New York City Pride.
About the film, Brudek continued, “I wanted to bring awareness to how disproportionately gun violence has affected the less privileged members of our community. Two weeks before Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered, Rita Hester, a trans woman of color was murdered, and the media buried the story. Forgotten forever,” said Julianna Brudek. She added, “I did not want that to happen to the innocent victims who had their lives taken at the Pulse nightclub. As a community, we must remember the hate crimes, and work together to stop the violence perpetrated on each one of us.”
Beginning as a road trip, the journey turned into so much more than anyone could have expected. Exploring their similarities and differences, the group develops a life-changing bond as they visit prominent sites of gun violence that have affected LGBTQ+ people nationwide. This common ground opens discussions between the travelers and the people they meet along the way, that look to alleviate these horrific hate crimes and bring a better understanding for all.
The renowned trans activist and media personality Ashlee Marie Preston who is a cast member and an executive producer said, “The threat of gun violence is intersectional. When someone’s identity overlaps with multiple marginalized groups, their risk is compounded. Black Americans are 10 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than white Americans. Being a woman and trans exacerbates those odds.” She continued, “Disarm Hate,” which focuses on the discriminatory culture within America that informs the violence marginalized communities face. If we are ever to eradicate gun violence, we must interrogate the attitudes and beliefs that fan the flames of hate. Our journey was not about taking away people’s guns, it was about removing the barriers that obstruct their ability to recognize our humanity.”
The documentary successfully probes the emotional journeys of the activists, who squabble, laugh, cry, and even fall in love throughout their trip. It also examines opposing views and counterpoints to their calls for gun reform from a pro-gun perspective, as they visit a shooting range and engage with a member of the Pink Pistols, a pro-gun LGBTQ+ group.
Harvey Fierstein, who narrated the film summed it up with, “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.”
Streaming Now on the Following Platforms:
Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIYurcNSRzY