Pat Rocco: Sign of Protest (c.1970)

Sign of Protest (c.1970) directed by Pat Rocco.
Summary: Film documenting a February 7, 1970, gay liberation march outside Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood, CA, protesting a sign reading "Fagots [sic]--stay out" that hangs over the bar. Rocco plays the role of neutral reporter on the scene in this activist interpretation of a newsfilm, interviewing the bar's owners and patrons, as well as the protestors, and allowing their comments to speak for themselves. Rocco first speaks with the daughter of the bar's owner, who states that the sign has been up since 1959 and was originally accompanied by many more (since removed). She further states that the sign is part of the restaurant's history and will not come down unless Barney's is legally mandated to remove it. Rocco then goes over to the sign posted above the bar and interviews customers about their opinion of it, which is largely positive. Next, Rocco joins the 50 protesters outside and interviews Morris Kight, founder of the California chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, the organization that spearheaded the picket. Afterward, Rocco crosses the street to interview the single police officer assigned to monitor the protest, who reports that the proceedings have remained calm and orderly. Rocco then rejoins the protesters and speaks with Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the gay-affirming Metropolitan Community Church, who reiterates many of the comments heard from other protesters that the sign is offensive and should be taken down as a civil rights violation. Finally, Rocco interviews another protester who mentions a June 26, 1964, LIFE Magazine article about Barney's Beanery and the controversial sign.
Pioneering activist and filmmaker Pat Rocco produced short-form gay erotica in the 1960s that was widely embraced by the gay community, and received positive reviews from the mainstream press. Rocco's prolific output of erotic films slowed in the early 1970s as market preferences shifted toward hardcore fare. In the late 1960s through the 1980s, Rocco shot historically important footage of gay demonstrations, parades, marches, festivals and events, providing some of the only existing moving image documentation of the major beginnings of the gay rights movement in the U.S.

[@WildStrawberryFilms]

I'm pleased to say I was the sound recordist on this film.

[@c7261]

That's awesome! Thank you for helping bring this protest to public light and consequential queer liberation ❤

[@WildStrawberryFilms]

@@c7261 I appreciate the thank you. Things were much different then, so I feel a lot of gratification that now we mostly have normal civil rights, including marriage and an inspiring run for the presidency Pete Buttigied, married to Chasten with their newly adopted children, while serving in the President's cabinet. I feel our efforts proved to be worthwhile.

[@lukebandy516]

​@@WildStrawberryFilmsYou still want Pete to be President ?

[@Carol-et4fn]

Such brave souls! Glad we have this to view nearly 50yrs later

[@roberttelarket4934]

I knew Pat Rocco. He died 11/9/19! I definitely remember Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood and anti-gay policy!

[@brettmastema7056]

Only had heard the story. This is amazing to see.

[@roberttelarket4934]

@@brettmastema7056: Not a story! The truth! However you should know that apart from his great work for gay liberation since the 1960s he was basically a crook who didn't want to go every day to work. So he started in show business as a singer and host for a radio program - both short lived. So faced with homelessness he and Bob Humphreys started gay shelters in L.A., San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Seattle and in other states where they mainly had gay or straight drug addicts go door to door in various counties and solicit cash or checks. A percentage was given depending on the amount you brought in at the end of the week minus daily draws.They called this grace and favor. The addicts especially stole money for their habit. Rocco never went door to door. All he did was count the money and get his percentage. After he established a shelter he received a lifetime percentage of the take.

[@c7261]

@@roberttelarket4934 Well, he's the guy I see in the video here bringing the protest to public attention and confronting the bigots on their homophobia. I can't attest to youtube hearsay, but from all accounts he more than did his part in queer liberation. Those films didn't make themselves and are important time capsules of a bygone era. I'm sorry that you feel because he didn't go door to door that he was somehow not pulling his weight. A majority of people don't want to work everyday & we can't be held solely responsible for how our employees act - especially with outright thievery 🙄

[@roberttelarket4934]

@@c7261: I'm not arguing that he helped in gay liberation and appreciate his efforts with others but Rocco, Humphries, Morris Kight, and others did not do any white color work or labor!

[@user-is5vw4jt6w]

This place is still open for business.

[@russellzip]

Wow! Fans of the great Morris Kight (speaking at 11:03) and Troy Perry (16:23) will be happy to know they were both interviewed on Sheila Kuehl's "Get Used to It" (episodes 41 and 132), which UCLA has also put up here on their TH-cam channel. Thanks UCLA FTVA! I think the state of California should pass a bill to give the archive a budget of a billion dollars.

[@lancevoltron3585]

Wonderful documentary. I'm just struck by how comfortable all these people were with using the n word. Perhaps a bit too comfortable 😅

[@kenster8270]

They only use the N word and the F word when referring to the text on the signs that they are protesting against. No big mystery there.🤷
Unless you somehow believe that the word Negro was a slur in 1970? It was not. The English-speaking world has since updated some of its vocabulary, so nowadays Negro is considered old-fashioned but it's still not a slur.

[@petegtorcan]

I see that spelling and I can’t help but pronounce it as “fajoh” 😏💁🏻‍♂️