It often seems that capitalism has no time for history, and that’s the case for the bar profiled in We Came to Sweat. Founded in 1962, The Starlite was Brooklyn’s oldest black owned and operated gay bar. Over the decades it had been a refuge for people of colour who didn’t just face prejudice because of their sexuality, but also from other gay people because of their race.
The documentary picks up the story in 2010 after a new owner had taken over the building the Starlite was housed in. Due to the gentrification of the area the rent was massively increased and eviction prodeeding were looming.
As well as looking at The Starlite’s importance to New York’s gay history, the documentary also covers the fight to save it, with the patrons and devoted staff trying to find a way to save it.
The film had its world premiere on Friday at the New York LGBT film festival, Newfest. You can take a look at the trailer below.
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