In celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month, Comcast hosted a special virtual panel discussion of MSNBC’s Rebellion! Stonewall documentary, in partnership with University of California Berkeley, the Gender Equity Resource Center to honor the historic protests that shaped the movement for LGBTQ+ equality.
The event featured a great line up of speakers, including Mark Segal, LGTBQ+ Rights Pioneer, U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Bravo’s Andy Cohen and an engaging conversation with Victoria Kolakowski, State Court Judge for Alameda County Superior Court and the first openly transgender trial judge to serve in the U.S. court system. Kerby Lynch, Ph.D. Candidate with UC Berkeley, and Associate with Bay Area Lesbian Archives. Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo plaintiffs and supreme court prop 8 challengers. Paul and Jeff helped restore marriage equality after challenging California’s Prop 8—their fight for equal rights led them to win the case before the United States Supreme Court. The conversation was moderated by NBC Bay Area’s Chief Meteorologist, Jeff Ranieri. During the event, we also heard from State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan, UC Berkeley Professor Mel Y. Chen and Vice President of External Affairs for the Comcast California Region, Beth Hester.
MSNBC’s Rebellion! Stonewall documentary, served as focus to the panel discussion, the film details the pre-Stonewall social and legal oppression that gave rise to rioting across several nights in 1969. That pivotal event in Greenwich Village propelled the gay rights movement and furthered the fight for our democratic ideals — the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The documentary is available to watch for free on NBC.com, and will also be on Xfinity On Demand through year-end.