Thanks to Hank: A Liberation Movement, a Plague, and an Unsung Hero

In 1970s San Francisco, activist Hank Wilson (1947–2008) cofounded the first gay teachers’ union, the first gay community self-defense project, the first gay comedy club and the first gay film festival. Wilson also worked to draw attention to the problem of gay youth suicide, and after the emergence of AIDS, he spent 20 years running a 150-room residential hotel as an informal hospice for homeless people dying of the disease.

“Thanks to Hank” (2019) is a loving, cinematic portrait of this extraordinary man by director and composer Bob Ostertag, featuring gorgeous handmade scissor-and-paper animation by animator Jeremy Rourke and the music of the Kronos Quartet and the Tin Hat Trio. Following the screening, Ostertag and longtime activist and elected official Tom Ammiano will respond to questions and comments from the audience.

SPEAKERS

Bob Ostertag has published more than twenty CDs of music, five books and numerous articles and essays. His writings on contemporary politics have been published on every continent and in many languages, and he has designed electronic instruments that are at the cutting edge of both music and video performance technology. “Thanks to Hank” is his first feature film.

Tom Ammiano is a legendary San Francisco leader who has served the city for four decades as a teacher, school board president, member of the San Francisco Board of Education (1990–1994) and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1994–2008), on which he also served as president. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 2008, where he has had an unmatched record of achievement. He has been at the forefront of reform on many issues including affordable housing, LGBTQ rights, education, labor, immigration, prisons and marijuana.

LOCATION
The GLBT Historical Society Museum
4127 18th St., San Francisco
www.glbthistory.org/museum

ADMISSION
$5.00 | Free for members
Space is limited; advance tickets recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows.

ASL INTERPRETATION

ASL interpretation provided upon request. Please write at least three days in advance of event to leigh@glbthistory.org.

JOIN THE GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Become a member of the GLBT Historical Society for free museum and program admission, discounts in the museum shop and other perks:
www.glbthistory.org/memberships

Image credit: Poster for “Thanks to Hank” designed by Ernesto Sopprani; used with permission.