How many LGBT people hold public office in the U.S.? More than one might think. Breaking Through is a powerful, moving documentary about the openly LGBT men and women who are pioneers in the world of public service and elected office—at all levels of government. Although largely comprised of a succession of interviews with numerous politicians who are openly LGBT, the sheer number of individuals speaking openly on camera is heartening. Some faces are familiar, such as Barney Frank, the recently retired Massachusetts congressman, who talks about the years he spent failing to cover his sexual identity in Washington, D.C. We also hear from Tammy Baldwin, the Wisconsin senator (currently serving) and former congresswoman. Lesser-known (at least on a national scale) openly LGBT interviewees include Lupe Valdez, sheriff of Dallas County, TX; Kathy Webb, an Arkansas state representative; and the delightful Alex Wan, an Atlanta city councilman. Each speaks freely about the anxiety, vulnerability, and even danger of serving in public office in a society with so much hostility toward LGBT people. But they take comfort in knowing that they have broken through barriers that also put them in a place where they can help make equality a reality for all. Highly recommended. (T. Keogh)
Breaking Through
Breaking Glass, 84 min., not rated, DVD: $19.99, June 17 Volume 29, Issue 4
Breaking Through
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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