ICONIC
AN LGBT CULTURAL LANDMARK, PARIS IS BURNING OPENED UP A HUGE DISCUSSION ON CLASS, GENDER, RACE AND SEXUALITY ISSUES IN AMERICA. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, MATT CAIN REVISITS THE DOCUMENTARY.
Matt Cain
@MattCainWriter
PARIS IS BURNING
RE-WATCHING THIS film twenty-five years after its release, it’s surprising how fresh it still feels. Perhaps this is because drag is still controversial; we’ve recently seen attempts to ban it from events run by the NUS and Glasgow Free Pride. Many gay men feel uncomfortable with the idea of female impersonation, possibly because it plays into our worst fears about being gay, possibly because we’re sensitive about the way the rest of the world sees us. I have to admit I used to hate it but now that I’m at ease with my sexuality, I’ve grown to love it. And there’s no denying that it’s a major part of our history – as evidenced in Paris is Burning.