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Gay Sex in the '70s

Play trailer Poster for Gay Sex in the '70s 2005 1h 7m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
This documentary explores the birth of the gay pride movement in New York after the Stonewall riots of 1969 and the sexual freedom that resulted. It touches on many aspects of gay culture in the 1970s, including music, drugs and art, followed by the devastating impact that the onset of AIDS had on the homosexual community. Told through several interviews and archival material, it paints a picture of solidarity and positivity while exploring the sexuality of a relatively new movement.
Gay Sex in the '70s

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Life, love, and liberation: While imperfect in its direction, Gay Sex In The '70s is polarizing in its sense of self.

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Critics Reviews

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Sukhdev Sandhu Daily Telegraph (UK) 07/08/2010
3/5
Gay Sex in the '70s is technically erratic and far from definitive. Full of fascinating stories and fleshed out with evocative archival footage, it's also a loving portrait of a semi-forgotten New York. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian 07/01/2010
3/5
New York in the 1970s seems like an arena of nonstop gratification, but one that can only be understood in the context of the repression and fear that had gone before. It seems as distant as the 1890s. Go to Full Review John Hartl Seattle Times 03/24/2006
2.5/4
... lacks the authority of such gay documentary classics as "Word Is Out" and "Before Stonewall," which were far more inclusive. Go to Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall 07/08/2010
3.5/5
The pure filmmaking lets the people tell their stories with honesty and insight. Go to Full Review Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film 07/02/2010
3.5/5
This is an immersive documentary, evoking the period, and arguing the case that although the unbridled hedonism did bring dangers and problems with it, there was also something of a idyllic euphoria experienced by those in this first wave of gay freedom. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/01/2007
B-
Shows us the faces of some of the gay activists involved with that free love party scene who survived. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Garry A @heavyg 06/30/2025 The stories of cruising and brazen public sex was fascinating. I can't imagine what that would have been like in my adolescence. See more Dario D @RT72664136 03/02/2025 this sucks i saw a single frame in the background of a guy and a girl making out 0/10 ruined my experience See more 03/16/2018 What a waste of film. See more 03/19/2016 Do we learn anything here ? I guess not i'm afraid ! See more 03/04/2016 Seems things go full circle when you see what young lads are up to nowadays. See more 02/05/2014 Going into this movie I was expecting the least, although I was interested in the "Gay Scene" after the wide oppression leading up to the 70's, I know that the 70's was the decade that gays "came out" and felt more free. Again I was interested in the lives of these people before the widespread phenomenon of the Aids virus. I wasn't expecting to be coming out of this with as much admiration as I feel for it right now. The movie documents the Gay sex/club scenes in America (primary state being New York) the best thing for me was hearing what actual 70's club-goers were saying, how they were going into details of their personal experiences, sexually and emotionally. For the most part I have gathered that gay life during this period was crazier than you would expect, to bring up one of the points in the film, they tell us about how you would walk down the street and you'd be "cruised" that would then lead to being "took around the corner" or to the nearest public bathrooms. If you're thinking about watching it and like me, you're not involved in the "gay scene" at all, don't let the title put you off, for this was an extremely interesting watch and for me I highly recommend it. The only faults being that it was too short! See more Read all reviews
Gay Sex in the '70s

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Cast & Crew

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Joseph F. Lovett

Director

Larry Kramer

Self

Robert Alvarez

Self

Barton Benes

Self

Tom Bianchi

Self

Mel Cheren

Self

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Gay Sex in the '70s

Gay Sex in the '70s (2005) Gay Sex in the '70s (2005) Gay Sex in the '70s (2005) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary explores the birth of the gay pride movement in New York after the Stonewall riots of 1969 and the sexual freedom that resulted. It touches on many aspects of gay culture in the 1970s, including music, drugs and art, followed by the devastating impact that the onset of AIDS had on the homosexual community. Told through several interviews and archival material, it paints a picture of solidarity and positivity while exploring the sexuality of a relatively new movement.
Director
Joseph F. Lovett
Producer
M. Sean Kaminsky, Joseph F. Lovett, M. Sean Kaminsky
Production Co
Frameline, Heartlove Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$71.0K
Runtime
1h 7m