Hating Peter Tatchell (2021)

Thank God young queer people don't have to know what it was like to be a queer person in the 60s, 70s, 80s... But also it is important that we revisit the struggle to get us to where we are now. This doesn't mean we don't still have a long way to go, but knowing our history is essential to continuing the struggle. Peter Tachell, a name a lot of young queers today won't know, was a leader in the British and Australian liberation movement for decades. 

Director Amos' documentary is a piece of important education that both sets the tone for the oppressive historical period while also outlining the way Tatchell and his allies took the risks and set out the building blocks that brought us to the world we live in now. But what also stands out from this film is the lessons we can learn and the strategies we can use to go forward.  

The film hits some familiar beats (the AIDS Quilt) but also highlights some pieces of history that might be less known. The film remains rather adoring of him as a figure, allowing some contrary points of view occasionally, such as on the debate around outing, but sticking pretty much in Tatchell's camp. Interestingly the film spends little time on him as a person, instead looking at his activism instead. The film explores his relationship with his mother somewhat but even that is muted. 

Another weakness is the way the film skirts around the issue of white LG activism. It will occasionally reference issues that are radicalized within the queer liberation movement but often moves on from that quickly. The issues of gender identification is never once raised in the film. I would have liked to see a more robust exploration of the issues here. 

But this film is more about tribute and documentation of one of the world's leading activists for LGBTQ+ rights. At the end there is a remarkable scene where an Anglican bishop actually compares Tatchell to Jesus which felt quite remarkable. There is a moment where McKellen, who interviews Tatchell says the "world has caught up" to him. For me the film could have been a bit stronger if it had explored how not true that is. Sure the film hints at next steps by talking about the World Cup being played in Qatar in 2022 and how many countries still criminalize consenting adult same sex behavior, but it does feel like the film is trying to do a bit of a victory lap. And I get that and there may be some good to be gained from that so I am willing to forgive it. Sometimes we need that hope to keep moving forward. 

Hating Peter Tatchell

Starring: Peter Tatchell, Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry, 

Writer/Director: Christopher Amos