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Birmingham SHOUT presents the Academy Award-winning documentary that inspired the epic new movie Milk starring Sean Penn and directed by Gus Van Sant. The Times of Harvey Milk tells the story of this human rights pioneer with news footage from 1970s San Francisco and interviews with Milk’s colleagues.

Before the film is a screening of Bulldigger. This short documentary explores the challenges local State Representative Patricia Todd faced as Alabama’s first openly gay candidate. In addition, Howard Bayless, J.R. Finney, and John Smallwood are featured. Patricia Todd is scheduled to participate in a post-screening conversation.

Drama and divas and duct tape, oh my! Welcome to the world of Pageant, the exhilarating backstage documentary about the 34th Miss Gay America Pageant. Greeted by standing ovations at film festivals across the country (and winner of the coveted “Audience Award” in San Francisco, Miami and New York), Pageant follows five men as they compete to be Miss Gay America. As we get to know these men and their supportive families and friends, we come to appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that it takes to be one of the most fabulous female impersonators in the nation. Before long, the suspense, sparkle and surprise of the actual competition take over as we anxiously anticipate whose wig might finally cradle the tiara. Yet, amidst the astounding production numbers, astonishing physical transformations and antic costume changes, Pageant remains a simple, inspirational story of the beauty realized while pursuing one’s dreams.