In celebration of the 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, a compelling lineup of HBO documentaries will air throughout the month of February on Foxtel.
premiering every Wednesday on FOX SHOWCASE and available On Demand.
Equal – Four-part docuseries starts Wednesday, February 3 at 8.30pm, airing weekly
Before Stonewall there was Compton’s Cafeteria, and before Harvey Milk there was José Sarria. Narrated by the incomparable Billy Porter, Equal is a dynamic four-part docuseries that pays tribute to the parents of the modern LGBTQ+ movement. Through stylistic depictions of the icons and unsung heroes of yesteryear, portrayed by a stellar cast of talented actors, including Cheyenne Jackson, Shannon Purser, Jamie Clayton, Jai Rodriguez, Samira Wiley and others – each episode captures the gripping, epic origin stories of trailblazers who changed the course of American history, giving a voice to millions of people yearning to be out, proud, and equal.
Buzz – Wednesday, February 3 at 9.30pm
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and celebrated author Buzz Bissinger is known for getting his subjects to open up, be it for Vanity Fair assignments – like his iconic Caitlyn Jenner profile – or for his bestselling book, Friday Night Lights. In this intimate documentary, it’s now Bissinger who is revealing his authentic self, during a tumultuous year in his personal life as he collaborates with Caitlyn Jenner on her biography and exposes his own buried desires in ways that test his marriage and family.
Transhood – Wednesday, February 10 at 9.30pm The documentary follows four transgender kids – beginning at ages 4, 7, 12 and 15 – as they redefine “coming of age.” Filmed over the course of five years in Kansas City, this compelling documentary film captures the nuanced stories of four families as they work to create safe and supportive spaces for their children, struggle to overcome discrimination and bias – and confront escalating political rhetoric that strives to invalidate LGBTQ+ lives. Moving, inspiring, and deeply funny at times, Transhood explores how parents and children are challenged, transformed and often met with unexpected purpose, as they mine the complexity of their identities and teach us something new about being human
Wig – Wednesday, February 17 at 9.30pm
This illuminating HBO documentary celebrates drag culture in New York City, through the voices of drag legends who tell the origin story of the iconic Wigstock festival of the ‘80s and ‘90s and its present-day revival. From Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Chris Moukarbel (Gaga: Five Foot Two), this feature documentary offers a vibrant cultural history of drag and the annual outdoor festival that came to epitomize it: Wigstock. Drawing on unfiltered access to some of New York’s most famed drag artists – tenured veterans and talented newcomers alike – Wig follows legendary drag queen Lady Bunny as she aims to resurrect Wigstock for a new generation. The film also features appearances by its co-producers, actor Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burtka, who, as longtime fans of Wigstock, try to help Lady Bunny with its revival. Showcasing footage of vintage drag performances from the ‘80s and ‘90s, the film takes a close-up look at the underground counterculture that gave birth to Wigstock and set the stage for the modern drag of today.
Equal – series starts Wednesday, February 3 at 8.30pm
Buzz – Wednesday, February 3 at 9.30pm
Transhood – Wednesday, February 10 at 9.30pm
Wig – Wednesday, February 17 at 9.30pm
