EQUAL is a four-part documentary series directed by Stephen Kijak and Kimberly Reed. Released on HBO Max, the series aims to highlight the roots of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States by bringing visibility to the history of queer resistance before Stonewall. Each episode focuses on a different era and its pioneering figures: activists who challenged gender norms in the 1920s and ’30s, gay rights advocates who organized despite widespread homophobia in the 1950s, trans trailblazers, and Black queer leaders. Through archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and creative storytelling that captures the spirit of each period, the documentary presents queer history not just as a record of the past, but as a legacy that continues to inspire today’s struggles.
