Film Screening: Lesbians, Gays Support Miners — April 13

Alachua County Labor Coalition and Pride Community Center are teaming up for a showing of the film “Pride.”

Join these groups Monday, April 13, at 7pm at the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida for the Labor Coalition’s monthly film series screening of this 2014 film about the 1984 UK Miners Strike and the unlikely allies who rallied to show their support for union workers.

The London chapter of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) decide to collect money to help the striking miners. While some Londoners support the efforts of LGSM, others spit at them as they try to collect money. LGSM members stand fast, with the knowledge that the only people the homophobic British press hates more than gay people are the miners.

The dour machismo of the miners is contrasted with the sparkle of the lesbians and gay men. Much of the humor in this hilarious movie revolves around misunderstandings between the two communities and their growing fascination with one another.

Amid the jokes about lesbian cuisine and the Welsh mining community’s obsession with bingo, the director conveys the devastation that will face the miners if the pits close. Equally woven into the fabric of the film is the ’80s paranoia and misinformation about AIDS, and the danger of being out and proud in a hostile environment.

The characters depicted in the film realize that we are all not that different from one another, and we can use all the help we can get.  The LGSM raised 22,000 pounds for the impoverished Welsh mining community and formed deep and lasting friendships with the people affected by Margaret Thatcher’s pit closures. Pride won Best in Film at the British Independent Film Awards.

“Pride” celebrates camaraderie and solidarity. Isn’t that what we are all looking for?

Monday, April 13, 7pm, Pride Community Center of North Central Florida — 3131 NW 13th St., Gainesville.

Sponsors: Alachua County Labor Coalition, Pride Community Center of North Central Florida.

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