The cast of HBO Max’s Equal, the upcoming four-part docuseries about the history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement is stellar.
Along with never-before-seen archival footage, Anthony Rapp, Samira Wiley, Sara Gilbert, Cheyenne Jackson, Alexandra Grey, Jamie Clayton, Sam Pancake, Jai Rodriguez, Theo Germaine and Shannon Purser are just some of the nearly two dozen names who portray real gay rights activists from the turn of the century to the 70s following the Stonewall Riots.
Produced by Scout Productions (“Queer Eye”), Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions and Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak’s That’s Wonderful Productions, the series is directed by Stephen Kijak (Sid & Judy) and trans director Kimberly Reed (Prodigal Sons).
Equal will premiere on HBO Max in October in recognition of LGBTQ History Month.
Harry Hay was the founder of the first gay rights organizaiton The Mattachine Society
Jennings was a co-founder of the Mattachine Society,
the first gay rights groups started in the early 50s
Leitsch was president of the Mattachine Society in the 60s, the first gay reporter to publish an account of the Stonewall Riots a day after the first night
The Stonewall Riots were sparked by gay civil rights icon
and entertainer DeLarverie’s scuffle with police
Sylvia Rivera was a gay and transgender rights activists in NYC in the 1970s
who took part in the Stonewall Riots.
Rodwell participated in the Stonewall Riots and
was the founder of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookship in 1967
Segal is a journalist and gay rights activist who took part in the Stonewall Riots
and was a co-founder of the Gay Liberation Front.
The FBI Agent is a composite of the agents who kept files on and tracked
The Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis.
Martin and Lyon started the nation’s first lesbian organization Daughters of Bilitis in San Francisco in 1955.
“J.M.” represents The Ladder’s anonymous readers,
lesbians who were forced to live in the closet
It’s believed that Jack Starr would have identified as a transgender man
Considered the world’s first transgender celebrity following her
gender confirmation surgery in the early 50s
Anderson is one of the first doumented Black transgender persons in the U.S.
Rustin was a civil rights and gay activist who is credited
with organizing the 1963 March on Washington.
In 1961, José Sarria became the first openly gay person
to run for public office for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Lorraine Hannsberry was the first Black female writer
to have her work performed on Broadway
Alexis is a composite of the trans and queer people
who participated in the Cafeteria Riot in Compton, Calif., in 1966
Smith reported from inside the Stonewall Inn during the riots
by gaining entrance with his Village Voice reporter’s police credentials
(Photos, HBO Max; via Variety)
