Documentary on Community Hero Ray Hill Launches Kickstarter Campaign
By Megan Smith
With the defeat of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) on November 3, it is more crucial than ever to share our city’s deep-rooted LGBT history with a global audience. That’s why the filmmakers at Proud Pony International have launched a new Kickstarter campaign to help fund their full-length documentary—The Trouble With Ray—spotlighting Houston community hero Ray Hill’s 50 years of activism in Texas’ LGBT rights movement.
“For nearly five decades, the man whom the U.S. Supreme Court branded ‘Citizen Provocateur’ has been a loud, unapologetic voice for those who couldn’t speak, and his style of activism continues to shock and inspire today,” the creative collective said in a statement. “With unique Southern charm and a nothing-to-lose attitude, Ray Hill can still convince just about anybody that where there’s life, there’s hope. The Trouble With Ray connects Texas’ audacious LGBT history to today’s ever-changing political and cultural landscape.”
The film also includes interviews with other Houston LGBT trailblazers, such as Mayor Annise Parker, Judge Phyllis Frye, and Sissy Farenthold. “Thanks to a small group of activists—with Ray Hill’s mouth at the megaphone—a thriving LGBT community charged out of the closet to join a bold, national movement,” Proud Pony said.
The Kickstarter for The Trouble With Ray launched on November 10 and will continue through December 9. To donate to this project, visit bit.ly/rayhilldoc.
