Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Prospect Park 'Paris is Burning' Screening Draws Online Criticism

 The 1990 documentary
The 1990 documentary "Paris is Burning" is set to be screened for free as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn! festival in Prospect Park on June 26.
View Full Caption
Facebook/Celebrate Brooklyn

PARK SLOPE — A free showing of the award-winning documentary “Paris is Burning” this summer has stirred up online opposition to the event — and organizers are working to calm critics. 

The June 26 screening of the documentary portraying those involved in the drag ballroom scene in Harlem in the 1980s is part of the Celebrate Brooklyn! festival and originally included appearances by director Jennie Livington — who has been criticized for years by the ballroom community for the film — and musician JD Samson of Le Tigre.

But Samson pulled out of the event on May 9 after a Facebook page created by Celebrate Brooklyn! organizers was inundated with comments from those who take issue with Livingston and how she created the film.

Critics were also offended that no TQPOC (trans queer people of color) members of the ballroom community were invited to the screening. At the same time, a Change.org petition to cancel the screening has garnered more than 900 signatures as of Wednesday.

In response to the opposition, Celebrate Brookyn! said in a statement that it respects Samson's decision to pull out, and strongly believes in her and Livingston "as individual artists." 

The screening "will honor the lives of the members of the ballroom community, foster important dialogue about race, class, gender and the construction of identity," organizers said.

On Wednesday, the group announced in a separate posting that they will revise the line-up for the 24th-anniversary Prospect Park showing to "include artists and programming from the QTPOC and ballroom communities."

Livingston responded to the outpouring with a statement of her own on Sunday.

"I've been dialoguing about this film for 24 years and am open to critique and conversation; when so many people are reposting misinformation and personal attacks, it makes it difficult to respond, but I would hope that our communities could make space to talk in person," she said.

More than 7,400 people have already RSVP'd to the event, according to the event's Facebook page.