Even within the LGBTQ community Troy Perry remains a controversial figure. Not for his outspoken advocacy for gay rights for the past half a century, but for planting a flag where a lot of LGBTQ people feel should be left alone.

No doubt about it, religion has been the enemy of gays getting true legal, social, economic and political equality. Their bible prophesies bad things on Judgment Day and many believers on earth figure to score points for best digs in heaven by going out of their way to treat us badly on earth.

Lots of LGBTQ folks have figured religion just ain't for us and Pentecostal type services FUHGEDDABOUTIT. Still there is a spiritual hunger in all of us and Perry seeks to take care of that side of humankind.

After a life of torment about these strange feelings he had which did not go with the religious upbringing he had which included a suicide attempt and a marriage that broke up Perry reached a moment where he said to himself that his mission in life was to evangelize amongst the gays.

Thus the Metropolitan Community Church was born, a Protestant denomination that preaches specifically towards LGBTQ folks. It's not gotten acceptance among a lot of Protestant denominations and lots of gay people attack anyone with a kind word for religion.

The church was first founded in the Los Angeles area. The film is Perry's journey of religious and civil rights activism from a southern California point of view. We see the demonstrations, the first pride parade in Los Angeles, the fight against the Briggs initiative, Anita Bryant who sought to revive a dormant career through homophobia. the crisis around AIDS and eventually the right to have same sex marriages including one for Troy Perry himself.

12 years after this film was made Troy Perry is still with us. The Metropolitan Community Church isn't quite what it used to be as many mainline churches are open and affirming.toward LGBTQ people.

Still Perry's contribution is important and this film demonstrates just how much.

The biography, or "biopic", is a genre that portrays the life story of a real person, often a notable individual or historical figure. They aim to provide a depiction of the subject's personal history, achievements, challenges, and impact on society.

Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

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Call Me Troy is a truly inspirational story about a remarkable and dynamic individual whose activism was decades ahead of its time. Rev. Perry is perhaps best known as the founder of the Metropolitan Community Church - the first church to recognize the spiritual needs of the gay community - but his "firsts" don't stop there. He was the first openly gay person to serve on the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. In 1969, Perry performed the first public same-sex wedding in the U.S., and in 1970 he filed the first-ever lawsuit seeking legal recognition for same-gender marriages. From presidential advisor to outspoken advocate, Perry has been on the front lines leading the charge for equal rights and protections for gay men and lesbians the world over as well as providing a place for all people, gay and straight, to worship side by side. This film celebrates his life and his legacy.

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Call Me Troy

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