Paris is Burning

Date: 1992

Region: North America

Subject: Racial/Ethnic,Sexual/Gender Orientation

Medium: Film Video


Artist: Jennie Livingston, Miramax and the NEA

Confronting Bodies: Dr. Ted Baehr's Christian Film and Television Commission

Dates of Action: 1992

Location: New York City and Washington, DC

Description of Artwork: A documentary film depicting homosexuality and gay balls in New York City.

The Incident: The Christian Film and Television Commission called for "all moral Americans" to boycott Jennie Livingston's Paris is Burning, charging that it was a "homosexual propaganda film." Livingston received grants from Art Matters, Inc., the New York State Council on the Arts, and the NEA film and video program.

Results of Incident: Paris is Burning received international attention and distribution. The Commission continues to recommend local ratings boards for film.

Source: Artistic Freedom Under Attack 1992