Perhaps it was a sign of our growing sense of identity – or perhaps more people simply had the wherewithal to make movies – but the 1980’s seemed to mark a growing interest in our history. ‘Before Stonewall’ was one of a number of films (for example, the Times of Harvey Milk, and Silent Pioneers) that seemed to reflect this trend.

Before Stonewall covers the period from the Thirties and Forties up to the Stonewall riots. It’s focus is entirely on events in the USA but this certainly doesn’t distract from its relevance to wider audiences.

The movie identifies a number of factors that led to an increasing awareness of homosexuals and homosexual identity. These included increasing migration to cities – which allowed many to escape social constraints and led to the development of ‘bohemian’ areas – and the impact of men (and women) going off to war and serving in single sex units.

Despite the government’s post-war efforts to reign in the sexual freedoms that had flourished during the war, many gay men and lesbians chose not to capitulate. As people became more confident in their identities, new social and political organisations began to develop. These included the women-only Daughters of Bilitis and the predominantly male Mattachine Society.

These organisations and their newsletters formed a crucial social function: bringing people together and reaching out to those too geographical isolated to attend gatherings. And there were even the beginnings of a political lobbying role – albeit somewhat restrained and conservative.

And then the police raided the Stonewall Inn…!