Trayvon Martin was on everyone's minds at the ninth annual Outfest Fusion: LGBT People of Color Film Festival in Hollywood. At this year's event, director Lee Daniels was on hand to honor Noah's Arc creator Patrik-Ian Polk, who earlier spoke out about the unfolding tragedy surrounding 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The teen was allegedly shot and killed by George Zimmerman in what many believe was a hate-motivated crime.
We wanted to know what the black LGBT community had to say about the Trayvon Martin case. Mark Noble reports in this NoMoreDownLow.TV newsbreak (transcript below):
Transcript:
Jennia Fredrique, who stars in upcoming feature The Skinny, told us, "This is a red carpet. The girl that threw flour on Kim Kardashian was arrested immediately... Zimmerman is still walking the streets."
Standing up for what you believe in was the theme at the ninth annual Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival's closing gala.
Patrik-Ian Polk said, "I've been thinking about this story since it broke, and the national media wasn't on it. I was tweeting my friends at CNN and MSNBC to get involved, get involved, and I'm really glad the story finally got everyone's attention."
And getting everyone's attention is exactly what's happened since the national media began focusing on the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. From Sanford, Fla. to Los Angeles, people have taken to the streets with cries for justice.
Jennifer DeClue, Outfest Fusion programmer, said, "Today in Hollywood there was a protest march that I saw in Trayvon Martin's honor. So I'm encouraged, and I'm hopeful."
Lee Daniels said, "Being a black filmmaker is really, really hard work, and being a gay black filmmaker is close to impossible."
And on this night, director Patrik-Ian Polk, best known for his box-office features and television shows such as Punks and Noah's Arc, was being honored with the Fusion Award of Achievement for standing up and presenting positive images of same-gender-loving people of color.
Lee Daniels said, "Having the balls to tell gay stories in cinema, the way Patrik Polk has done, is inspiring to me, because I don't have those balls yet. I'm growing them, though."
Precious director Lee Daniels was on hand to do the honors.
Patrik Ian-Polk said, "It's so amazing to have giant footprints like yours to step in, and so I'm so appreciative to be honored in this way."
Photos from the Los Angeles Rally for Trayvon Martin:
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