Screening: “The Last American Gay Bar”

Event Details

Presented in collaboration with Capitol City Pride, during the Des Moines Art Center’s Social Saturday: Pride and Seek event, and during Des Moines’ annual PrideFest celebration, we’re showing a full screening of “The Last American Gay Bar.” The show is a six-episode documentary series following the story of Iowa’s legendary Blazing Saddle, the oldest gay bar in Des Moines opened in 1983, and the community that built it. Episodes will run consecutively.

SCREENING INFORMATION:

Episode 1: 1960s: Stonewall and Vietnam (20 minutes)
Three men come of age and head to war in Vietnam.

Episode 2: 1970s: Scooping the Loop (22 minutes)
Anita Bryant is praying for our sins while gay men are hitting the streets.

Episode 3: Violence in the Streets (21 minutes)
Are gays raging war with each other in the city of Des Moines?

Episode 4: The War on AIDS (21 minutes)
Long after Vietnam, the gay community faces an invisible enemy.

Episode 5: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (22 minutes)
The fight for equal rights arrives but not without a cost.

Episode 6: Here and Now (21 minutes)
Trans visibility is at an all-time high, but the world is falling apart.

This screening is presented in partnership with Capital City Pride (CCP) and forwards the education pillar of pride. CCP fosters a culture where curiosity, learning, and innovation are celebrated. Through educational programs and events, CCP invites the community to explore, understand, and appreciate the richness of diverse LGBTQ+ experiences.

Free; no registration required.

Image: “The Last American Gay Bar” series cover.

We strive to provide live captioning for all events offered in Levitt Auditorium. Due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa, American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing jfeatherstone@desmoinesartcenter.org.