Equal docudrama covers forgotten LGBTQ+ history

HBO docudrama Equal, chronicling landmark US events and the forgotten heroes of the LGBTQ+ movement, will screen on Binge in October.

The series produced by Greg Berlanti, Jim Parsons features never-before-seen archival footage with actors who bring true stories to life.

The cast includes Anthony Rapp, Shannon Purser, Heather Matarazzo, Jamie Clayton, Isis King, Samira Wiley, Gale Harold and Aussie Keiynan Lonsdale.

Filmmaker and producer Stephen Kijak (Sid & Judy) is the showrunner and director of episodes one, three and four alongside ground-breaking trans director Kimberly Reed (Prodigal Sons), who directs episode two.

An airdate is yet to be announced.

Over the course of the series, viewers will meet a wide range of LGBTQ+ visionaries portrayed by a powerhouse cast, many of whom identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Each part across the series has a distinct and connected telling:

• Part one explores the rise of early organisations;
• Part two chronicles the 20th century trans experience, bookended by the 1966 Compton Cafeteria riots in San Francisco;
• Part three examines the contributions from the Black community on the growing LGBTQ+ civil rights movement; and
• Part four ties in the decades long struggles with the culminated Stonewall uprising – the beginning of the Pride movement.

HBO Max this week released the names and images of the actors set to portray iconic LGBTQ+ activists and trailblazers recognised for their unrelenting fight for justice and equality in the queer community of post-war America and pre-Stonewall uprising.

Grammy® nominee Cheyenne Jackson, SAG® nominee Anthony Rapp, Primetime Emmy® nominee Shannon Purser, Heather Matarazzo, Jamie Clayton, Isis King, Samira Wiley, Gale Harold, and many others star in this powerhouse line-up.

Emmy® Award-winning Scout Productions, Emmy® Nominated Greg Berlanti Productions, Emmy® Award-winning Producer Jim Parsons and That’s Wonderful Productions, Jon Jashni of Raintree Ventures, and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television’s New Documentary Unit team up to bring this powerful series to viewers.