Promoting the exhibition of the U.S. flag according to Alexis Bittar's advocacy
In a moving 30-minute documentary titled "Reclaim the Flag," designer Alexis Bittar explores the complex and evolving relationship the LGBTQ+ community has with the American flag. The film, produced by Bruce Cohen, delves into the transformation of the flag from a symbol of unity, freedom, and patriotism to one associated with fear and division for many marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.
The documentary features interviews with nearly 50 LGBTQ leaders and trailblazers, including activists like Bill T. Jones and Raquel Willis, entertainers such as Lena Waithe and Symone, and community leaders like Darren Walker. Each participant was given a baby American flag to hold, symbolizing their personal connection to the symbol.
Bittar himself describes the project as a wake-up call and rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community and the broader left. He shares his own evolving sense of belonging, expressing that for the first time, he feels fully American. The film argues that reclaiming the flag is an act of addressing historical trauma honestly and envisioning a future where the flag unites rather than divides.
The documentary highlights the flag's historical connection to oppression and bloodshed but also positions it as a witness to struggles and a potential rallying point for unity and progress within the queer community and beyond. School children in the United States often recite the Pledge of Allegiance under the flag, and it is a fixture on porches, lapels, and various types of clothing, present at events like swearings-ins, football games, and naturalisation ceremonies.
Since President Donald Trump took office in 2017, the American flag has taken on new meanings, becoming increasingly associated with MAGA ideology and a narrow interpretation of 'American values.' Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, quotes Langston Hughes in the documentary, saying "Let America be America again."
Bittar hopes that one day soon, the American flag will unite more than it will divide. He is working with a social impact organization to turn the documentary into a national movement, aiming to spark conversation and inspire people to fight for the country and work towards unity. The film is a poignant reminder that the American flag, like the country it represents, is a contested symbol that can be reclaimed to embody the stories of pain, pride, resilience, and hope within the American identity.
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- brushed against the heartrending realities of discrimination and segregation faced by the LGBTQ+ community, drawing attention to the need for broader social change.
