On-Demand

The Committee is a documentary film about the little-known Florida Legislative Investigative Committee of the State Legislature from 1956-1965. Florida Senator Charley Johns chaired the committee, and its aim was to root out communist and homosexual teachers and students from state universities. It was successful in either firing or expelling more than 200 suspected gay and lesbian citizens.

June is Pride Month and filled with the LGBTQIA Community living loud and proud. But how did the New York City Stonewall Riots turn into a month-long celebration? And specifically, how did we get from picketed protests like the Annual Reminder in Philadelphia to massive parades and parties around the world? From the Origins of Everything & PBS Digital Studios

There are all sorts of things people can be proud of: a decision, an accomplishment, or standing up and being true to who they are. Palestinian Muslim Eman finds the best tool to defy cultural stereotypes; April shares the relief & redemption of living an authentic self; and Jay comes out and receives surprising reactions. Three stories, three interpretations of PRIDE, hosted by Theresa Okokon.

THE WHISTLE tells the fascinating story of a secret code created by and shared among young lesbians in 1970s & 80s Albuquerque, New Mexico as a means of self-identification and finding community. The first-person film documents and reveals both humorous and heartbreaking stories, often told by participants in the same breath.

Available to watch on-demand through 5/1/25.

Brave Spaces explores courageous LGBTQ+ stories of triumph in spaces and because of them. Host Devin-Norelle (ze|zim) explores LGBTQ+ stories of triumph, transformation, and celebration in Brave Spaces. From book clubs and sports leagues to places of worship and the great outdoors, Devin-Norelle meets courageous heroes who, in the face of efforts to exclude Queer voices, are standing up to centuries of hate in order to shape a world where love always wins. The series is hosted by Devin-Norelle, a model, trans advocate and writer. See the series playlist above. The series is part of the PBS Voices collection in the PBS Digital Studios. Or on WXXI’s PBS Player site.

American Experience: Casa Susanna: In the 1950s and ’60s, an underground network of transgender women and cross-dressing men found refuge at a house in the Catskills region of New York. Known as Casa Susanna, the house provided a safe place to express their true selves.

Available to watch on-demand through 6/26/26.

Understanding LGBTQ+ Identity: A Toolkit for Educators offers a series of digital media resources to help teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, and other educators understand and effectively address the complex and difficult issues faced by LGBTQ students.

The collection includes a growing set of curriculum resources, designed to integrate LGBTQ+ history and narratives into US History and English classrooms. These resources are aligned with a curriculum guide developed by the New York City Department of Education’s Social Studies department called Hidden Voices: LGBTQ+ Stories in United States History. Hidden Voices examines individuals who questioned and broke the normed expectations of gender and/or sexuality, and who were therefore often “hidden” from the traditional historical record. These individuals influenced the social, political, cultural, and economic landscape of the United States in so many ways, and their contributions continue to shape our collective history and identity. A collection of 20 lesson plans that build on content found in the Hidden Voices curriculum guide is also available.

Note: Be sure to preview this material before using this content with your students.

Other resources, intended for use in teacher professional development settings or with GSAs, feature short segments of video content from WNET’s groundbreaking LGBTQ series First Person, a digital series that delivers candid personal narratives illustrating larger conversations about gender, sexuality, social norms, and identity development.

All video content is scaffolded by a suite of materials (informational text, conversation guides, discussion questions, and teaching tips) to facilitate their use in either classroom or professional development settings. The videos and accompanying educational resources are designed to help promote understanding, awareness, and self-esteem.