‘Equal’ trailer: The fight for LGBTQ freedom begins in new HBO docuseries
Cheyenne Jackson, Samira Wiley and Keiynan Lonsdale chart the beginnings of the gay rights movement.
By Will Stroude
The first trailer for HBO’s new triumphant new docuseries Equal is here – and if you didn’t know your LGBTQ history before, well, class is officially in session.
The four-part series, which is set to air on HBO’s streaming service HBO Max next month, stars the likes of Cheyenne Jackson, Keiynan Lonsdale, Anthony Rapp and Samira Wiley as 20th century LGBTQ trailblazers.
Through re-enactments and archival footage, vital but little-known parts of queer history including the Mattachine Society and Compton’s Cafeteria Riots will be remembered.
An official synopsis reads: “Equal will introduce viewers to a wide range of LGBTQ+ visionaries portrayed by the cast, many of whom identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Each part offers a distinct and connected chapter within the historical timeline: part one, ‘The Birth of a Movement’, explores the rise of early organizations, The Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis in Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively.
“Part two, ‘Transgender Pioneers’, chronicles the 20th century trans experience, bookended by the 1966 Compton Cafeteria riots in San Francisco.
“Part three, ‘Black is Beautiful, Gay is Good!’ examines the contributions from the Black community on the growing LGBTQ+ civil rights movement; and part four, ‘Stonewall: From Rebellion to Liberation’, ties in the decades long struggles with the culminated Stonewall uprising – the beginning of the Pride movement.”
There’s still a month to go until Equal makes its loud and proud premiere, but in the meantime you can get acquainted with the cast real-life characters here.
Equal premieres on HBO Max on 22 October. Check out the trailer below: