Pride 2023 - P&E Picks - The Stroll

"The Stroll" is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that delves into the lives of trans sex workers in the New York Meat House district during the 1970s and 2000s. Directed by Kristen Lovell, the film provides a unique and insightful perspective on a community that has long been marginalized and misunderstood. When Lovell moved to New York in the 1990s, she was transitioning. She also was recently fired from her job. With very few options to earn money, Kristen, like many transgender women of color during this era, began sex work in an area known as The Stroll in the Meatpacking District of lower Manhattan, where trans women congregated and forged a deep camaraderie to protect each other from harassment and violence to survive.

Lovell reunited with her sisters to tell their first-hand experiences. Her narration and interviews bring an astonishing array of historical archives to life. As much as THE STROLL is a film about transgender life, it is also a startling account of gentrification as New York City Mayor Giuliani enacted Quality of Life initiatives that ramped up policing in the city and pushed the sex workers out of the neighborhood.

While Kristen and her sisters suffered threats to survive, they fought back. Their loss of The Stroll created a movement to protect their rights; activists recently reversed legislation dubbed Walking While Trans, which enabled police profiling and harassment of transgender people for decades.
At its core, The Stroll is a story about resilience and survival. Through interviews with former sex workers, activists, and community leaders, Lovell paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced by trans women in the sex industry during this period. From police harassment and violence to discrimination and social stigma, the film highlights the many obstacles these women had to overcome to survive.

Despite these challenges, however, The Stroll also celebrates the strength and resilience of the trans sex worker community. Through their stories, we see a group of individuals who refused to be silenced or marginalized and fought tirelessly for their rights and dignity. Whether through activism, community organizing, or living life on their terms, these women paved the way for future generations of trans people to live more openly and authentically.

Overall, "The Stroll" is a powerful and moving documentary that sheds light on an often-overlooked chapter in LGBTQ+ history. Through its compelling storytelling and insightful commentary, the film offers a glimpse into the lives of a community that has long been marginalized and misunderstood. For anyone interested in LGBTQ+ history, social justice, or great storytelling, "The Stroll" is a must-see.

The Stroll premieres June 21st on HBO.