On December 3, my wife and I attended the Atlanta debut screening of "black./womyn: conversations with lesbians of african heritage" at The Plaza Theatre. The filmmaker, tiona m., was in attendance for this single showing. Now a resident of Philadelphia, she began her film career in Atlanta, attending Clark Atlanta University. Her documentary's participants spanned three countries, and some of the Atlantans featured in it were in the audience. Its subject matter could initially be dismissed as a no-brainer: just a couple of gay black chicks sitting around talking, right? But tiona's thoughtfully prepared interviews and well-paced editing revealed insights about this demographic that were enlightening. It's a good film. 

When it ended, the credits rolled to enthusiastic applause and we eagerly adjusted ourselves in our seats to lean in for the audience of about 75 people to now pose questions to the filmmaker. But tiona cut us off cold. She declared in a strained but clear voice that she had just heard and witnessed the concession stand cashier holler "faggots" at two young African-American gay men from Macon, GA, who had arrived at The Plaza by mistake. They had driven all the way to Atlanta to see "Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom," playing at a theater a few blocks away. Their request for directions to another theater was met with hostility and hate. Refusing to stay in The Plaza for another minute, tiona asked the audience to meet her outside. Everyone got up immediately and solemnly marched out with her. We all stood in a semi-circle around her as she broke into tears; she was not the only person in tears. Her big night had been ruined. Still, she prevailed and bravely conducted her post-screening Q&A on the sidewalk. 

tiona m. spoke to the owner of The Plaza Theatre that night in person, as did the two young gay men from Macon at her urging. He refused to take any action regarding his offending employee, because, despite three people hearing it, the employee denied using the word "faggot." Out On Film, Atlanta's annual GLBT film festival has been confirmed for May 28—31, 2009, at The Plaza Theatre.