LILLI VINCENZ

LESBIAN
PIONEER

Making History and Capturing It.

MAKING HISTORY AND CAPTURING IT

by Lillian Faderman

Lilli Vincenz has a unique place in gay history. She was the first lesbian to join a Washington, D.C. picket against homosexual persecution; the first to appear on the cover of a national homosexual publication; and the first to document pivotal points of our history on film.

Groundbreaking Film Leads to Modern Non-Discrimination Legal Battle

by McDermott Will & Emery

Lilli Vincenz’s film “Gay and Proud” is only twelve minutes long, but it provides a unique glimpse into the early days of the gay rights movement in the United States. The film showcases a revolutionary period in history, and its message of understanding and acceptance remains just as important in 2019 as it was almost 50 years ago when the film was released. The film is especially relevant in view of Vincenz’s legal battle, which started in 2005, with a video store operator who denied her service after learning the titles of her films.