Film probes LGBT prison complex

One might not expect that an event on the tensions of discrimination toward homosexual and transgender individuals is accompanied by hearty laughter from the audience throughout, but such was the mood on Wednesday night.

Over 50 people, many of whom were non-Penn affiliated Philadelphia residents, gathered to view Criminal Queers, an independent film about gay struggles within the prison industrial complex in America.

The event took place in Fisher-Bennett Hall and was presented by Re:Thinking Queer, an undergraduate organization that presents lectures aimed at tackling queer issues.

Eric Stanley and Chris Vargas, the directors of the film, provided commentary before and after the screening.

“The brutality of U.S. law is hard to deny,” Stanley said. “The movie asks more questions than it gives answers,” Vargas added. The filmmakers addressed the subjects of violence and hate crimes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals by drawing parallels to race violence and condemning the penal system.

During one scene in the movie, a reporter questions whether the nature of crime makes every offense a hate crime. Stanley asked, “how can we not call the entire prison system itself a hate crime?”

Stanley and Vargas balanced the solemn aspects of the subject matter with lighthearted jokes, and the film reflected this with dialogue that was campy and jesting. Hardly a scene went by during which the audience did not erupt with laughter.

“I think that campy films can appeal to a wide audience and can convey a really serious message,” College freshman Loren Kole said. “There’s a lot of life in the film,” she added.

The responses from the rest of the spectators were of the same vein. College sophomore Joshua Herren said, “I really, really, really enjoyed the film. It hit on some very important issues. I thought it was funny, thought-provoking and very accessible.”

When asked about the use of humor on such a serious issue, Vargas said “it was a great way to deal with the weightiness, but make it pleasurable at the same time.” Stanley agreed. “Humor is a really important tool in political change,” he said.

This was the inaugural event hosted by Re:Thinking Queer, which was created by College junior Meg Hlousek and College junior Alex Niculescu. “We wanted to create a space for dialogue and discussion on the queer politics that is not necessarily the mainstream voice on Penn’s campus,” Hlousek said.

“We decided that we want the events to include a film along with a lecture and facilitated discussion,” Niculescu added.

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