Proud and Gay

A documentary portrait of gay life, activism, and history in Germany. Through interviews and observational footage, Rosa von Praunheim explores themes of visibility, pride, discrimination, and political engagement within the LGBTQ+ community. The film features conversations with gay actor Kurt von Ruffin, Berlin-based promoter Harry Toste, and activist Andreas Meyer-Hanno, whose perspectives reflect different facets of gay cultural and political life. A central element of the film is the portrait of three older homosexual men, whose personal histories collectively trace a broader arc of 20th-century gay experience in Germany. One recounts life in the relatively liberal 1920s, another describes persecution and imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp, and the third reflects on the continued hostility faced by homosexuals in the repressive climate of the 1950s. Together, these testimonies highlight shifting yet persistent forms of oppression and resilience across decades.

Directed by Rosa von Praunheim, Proud and Gay leans on a strong ensemble — Harry Toste, Kurt von Ruffin, Andreas Meyer-Hanno — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1991.