You Must Be Proud
ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
At a time when homophobia is on the rise, how do LGBTQ+ people find self-love?

SYNOPSIS
To grow up LGBTQ+ in the United States, one quickly learns what hate looks and feels like. Messages of being less-than and different are often communicated in ways both subtle and overt, appearing in pop culture, religion, politics—even the homes we grow up in. To grow up LGBTQ+ is often a lesson in how to hide.

However, our authentic selves yearn for recognition. Our authentic selves yearn for what many call Pride.

YOU MUST BE PROUD is a feature length documentary that tells the story of how LGBTQ+ people find self-acceptance and self-love at a time when homophobia and transphobia are on the rise. For many communities, Pride started as a protest against inequality and a demanding of rights. More recently, Pride has become a celebration of our personal and collective gains to live as our authentic selves, often acting as the gateway into the LGBTQ+ community, and the start of many people’s personal journey to self-love.

Over the course of the 2024 Pride season, the documentary will follow the organizers of Pride events in three locations: New York, NY, Provincetown, MA, and Montgomery, AL. More importantly, we’ll get to know the individuals planning these events, their backstories, challenges, heartaches, and triumphs, and witness how their work in advocacy is changing lives.


PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Matthew Bardugone
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Ayse Reyering

WEBSITE youmustbeproud.com


The Film Collaborative (TFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs and services for independent filmmakers. TFC’s federal tax ID number is 32-0295081. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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