Are You Proud

by Ashley Joiner
July 2nd, 2019

The LGBTQ+ movement in the UK has fought bruising battles for equality. Directed by Ashley Joiner, Are You Proud? brings together rare archive footage and interviews from across a spectrum of historical campaigns to celebrate the movement’s landmark achievements . Gay Pride, the Gay Liberation Front and Stonewall are among the organisations recognised in a film that doesn’t just look back, but asks tough questions about the future. 50 years after the Stonewall riots in America, this is a timely moment to take stock and question how much attitudes have changed and fundamental rights have been achieved. 

Although the film’s many contributors are predominantly based in the UK, the issues addressed resonate across the globe. Through the prism of Pride in the UK we see the fragility of human rights, not only for the LGBTQ+ community but for everyone. Are You Proud? is a candid and moving investigation into seventy years of progress in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. It celebrates the many breakthroughs made by tireless individuals and it reminds us how far we have yet to go.


Released in summer of 2019 in the UK it was named by Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian as one of his top 10 documentaries of the year.  In 2020 the film was released in Poland, Italy and screened for passengers of Air New Zealand.  The film also partnered with diverstiy and inclusivity charity Educate & Celebrate to take Are You Proud in to schools in the UK.

In summer the film will feature as part of Global Digital Pride 2020, a twenty-four hour worldwide broadcast connecting pride organisations from as many countries as possible.  As part of this years pride celebrations the full film will also screen via Youtube for free in association with All Out a global charity combating homophobia.