시놉시스

미국 캘리포니아주에서 처음으로 공개적으로 선출된 4명의 여성 성소수자 정치인이 일궈낸 역사적이고 전설적인 시민 인권 운동에 관한 영화. 레즈비언 정치인들이 퀴어 시민권을 위해 입법 투쟁을 하는 과정을 따라간다.

감독

• 

  조나 말코비츠
  Jonah Markowitz

  Shelter (2007)

  The Revolution is not over. Though it seems as if we’ve transitioned into a 'post-gay' culture, we’re just starting the fight for concretely securing civil rights for all LGBT Americans. As the federal government steps up to ensure that students aren’t discriminated against in the most basic of human functions like using a restroom, comparisons to the desegregation of schools in the 1960s comes to
  mind. This is the time Political Animals focuses on. Now. With strong historical context, we show how the work of four fearless trailblazers’ in the 1990s can inspire a new generation to carry the torch and win this struggle, finally bringing true equality to all.

  We met in middle school in Boulder, Colorado, right when Proposition 2 passed—making it legal to discriminate against LGBT citizens. We both identify as LGBT filmmakers, and though neither of us were yet out, this fueled what would later turn into a collaboration on Political Animals. In 2013, Jonah met Carole Migden and discovered that the first four openly Gay California Representatives were all women. Coming from Narrative filmmaking, Jonah immediately went to Tracy, who had been making documentaries for over a decade and the collaboration began then and there. We looked back to our teenage years, when our government actually allowed us to be discriminated against, and decided to not only shed a light on these women’s influential work for social justice, but to make a film that would educate young people on how to continue the fight against discrimination in all its forms.

  We instantly wanted to know how and why these four women were simultaneously able to gain a seat at the Congressional table—not only as openly Gay candidates, but as women—a gender anomaly in politics to say the least. What we learned was that they all trained in the women’s movement and were more politically educated and acceptable than gay men at the time. We learned that women led a huge part of a movement that they are hardly ever credited for.

  Once in office, these women became true political animals, working tirelessly to pass groundbreaking legislation for LGBT equality. Each unique to say the least, they all possessed a character and drive that propelled a whole movement forward. Jackie Goldberg in her 'first time questioning authority' was arrested in the infamous Sproul Hall Protests at Berkeley. Shelia Kuehl was fired from her National Television show in the 1950s for being a lesbian, so she became a Harvard lawyer and returned to California to help the community she cared most about. Christine Kehoe had never been to the west coast before she packed a bag and headed to San Diego. She was in office there just years later. And Carole Migden, influenced by San Francisco in the 1970s and Harvey Milk’s leadership, was
  asked to advise the interim mayor Diane Feinstein on LGBT issues upon his death, leading her towards a run and eventual win of an Assembly Seat to represent the city.
  Needless to say we were immediately drawn into these women—Jackie’s tenacity, Shelia’s erudite poise, Carole’s brash and unapologetic strategy and Christine’s patient, emotional and unilateral ability to bring different parties to the table. Jonah’s background in narrative film, including writing and directing the indie film Shelter, along with Tracy’s vast experience in documentaries—from the feature
  Bomb It to current work for Vice around the globe, led to a beautiful collaboration in telling the story of these amazing Women.

  These trailblazers not only inspired us, they ignited a fuse that slowly led to an explosion of liberties and acceptance nationwide. But, in the post Will-and-Grace, post Gay-Celebrity, and post 'we all know a gay person' mentality of America, who is picking up and carrying the torch to the finish line? The film was made to show how bringing the social issues most important to you from your dinner
  tables to the streets, and eventually to the government, is the only way to enact real, cumulative
  change for your sisters and brothers, your daughters and sons, and yourself. There is true liberty and
  justice for all. As long as we fight for it.

• 

  트레이시 웨어즈
  Tracy Wares

  Royal Drag (1998)
  Shakti (2001)

  The Revolution is not over. Though it seems as if we’ve transitioned into a 'post-gay' culture, we’re just starting the fight for concretely securing civil rights for all LGBT Americans. As the federal government steps up to ensure that students aren’t discriminated against in the most basic of human functions like using a restroom, comparisons to the desegregation of schools in the 1960s comes to
  mind. This is the time Political Animals focuses on. Now. With strong historical context, we show how the work of four fearless trailblazers’ in the 1990s can inspire a new generation to carry the torch and win this struggle, finally bringing true equality to all.

  We met in middle school in Boulder, Colorado, right when Proposition 2 passed—making it legal to discriminate against LGBT citizens. We both identify as LGBT filmmakers, and though neither of us were yet out, this fueled what would later turn into a collaboration on Political Animals. In 2013, Jonah met Carole Migden and discovered that the first four openly Gay California Representatives were all women. Coming from Narrative filmmaking, Jonah immediately went to Tracy, who had been making documentaries for over a decade and the collaboration began then and there. We looked back to our teenage years, when our government actually allowed us to be discriminated against, and decided to not only shed a light on these women’s influential work for social justice, but to make a film that would educate young people on how to continue the fight against discrimination in all its forms.

  We instantly wanted to know how and why these four women were simultaneously able to gain a seat at the Congressional table—not only as openly Gay candidates, but as women—a gender anomaly in politics to say the least. What we learned was that they all trained in the women’s movement and were more politically educated and acceptable than gay men at the time. We learned that women led a huge part of a movement that they are hardly ever credited for.

  Once in office, these women became true political animals, working tirelessly to pass groundbreaking legislation for LGBT equality. Each unique to say the least, they all possessed a character and drive that propelled a whole movement forward. Jackie Goldberg in her 'first time questioning authority' was arrested in the infamous Sproul Hall Protests at Berkeley. Shelia Kuehl was fired from her National Television show in the 1950s for being a lesbian, so she became a Harvard lawyer and returned to California to help the community she cared most about. Christine Kehoe had never been to the west coast before she packed a bag and headed to San Diego. She was in office there just years later. And Carole Migden, influenced by San Francisco in the 1970s and Harvey Milk’s leadership, was
  asked to advise the interim mayor Diane Feinstein on LGBT issues upon his death, leading her towards a run and eventual win of an Assembly Seat to represent the city.
  Needless to say we were immediately drawn into these women—Jackie’s tenacity, Shelia’s erudite poise, Carole’s brash and unapologetic strategy and Christine’s patient, emotional and unilateral ability to bring different parties to the table. Jonah’s background in narrative film, including writing and directing the indie film Shelter, along with Tracy’s vast experience in documentaries—from the feature
  Bomb It to current work for Vice around the globe, led to a beautiful collaboration in telling the story of these amazing Women.

  These trailblazers not only inspired us, they ignited a fuse that slowly led to an explosion of liberties and acceptance nationwide. But, in the post Will-and-Grace, post Gay-Celebrity, and post 'we all know a gay person' mentality of America, who is picking up and carrying the torch to the finish line? The film was made to show how bringing the social issues most important to you from your dinner
  tables to the streets, and eventually to the government, is the only way to enact real, cumulative
  change for your sisters and brothers, your daughters and sons, and yourself. There is true liberty and
  justice for all. As long as we fight for it.

리뷰

“오늘 아침 대법원은 미국 헌법이 결혼의 평등을 보장함을 승인했습니다. 이야말로 전 국민이 하나의 진리를 깨닫도록 노력해 온 수많은 이름 없는 영웅들에 대한 지지의 표명입니다. 사랑은 사랑이란 것 말이죠(love is love).”
2015년 동성결혼 합헌 선언에 따른 오바마의 연설 내용이다. <폴리티컬 애니멀>은 이 연설로 시작한다. 그리고 이어 말한다. “사람들은 지금은 당연하게 여기는 역사적 진보들이 그저 한순간에 이룩되었다고 생각한다. 하지만 그건 그저 주어진 것이 아니다.”
다큐멘터리는 그 진보들을 이룩하기 위해 이어져 온 지난한 투쟁의 기록을 펼쳐놓는다. 그 기록의 가운데에는 네 명의 레즈비언 정치인들이 있다. 1990년대 그들은 학생들이 성적지향 및 성정체성에 따라 학교에서 따돌림당하거나 학대당하지 않도록 하는 반차별법 제정을 위해 힘썼다. 덕분에 1999년, 드디어 차별금지법이 제정된다. 이어서 그들은 동성 파트너와 그 가족이 이성 파트너로 구성된 가족과 같은 법적 권리를 누릴 수 있도록 법제정에 나선다. 이런 투쟁의 결과들이 모여 역사는 조금씩 앞으로 나아간다.
변화는 한순간에 오지 않는다. 지워진 목소리가 기어코 들리게 되었을 때, 그 목소리들이 집단을 이루어 정치 세력화될 때, 그리고 그 세력화가 제도적 진보를 이루어낼 때. 변화는 그 시간의 중첩 속에서 비로소 가시화된다. <폴리티컬 애니멀>은 그 가슴 뛰는 역사에 대한 기록이다. [손희정]

Credits

• Director  Jonah Markowitz, Tracy Wares
• Producer  Anne Clements
• Cinematographer  David Gil
• Editor  Michael Hofacre

Contribution & World Sales

• Contribution & World Sales  Arlin Golden
• E-mail  arlin@videoproject.com