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Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts (German: Armee der Liebenden oder Aufstand der Perversen) is a 1979 German documentary film directed by Rosa von Praunheim. The film, mainly shot in San Francisco, chronicles the rise of gay activism in the United States between 1972 and 1978 in the aftermath of the Stonewall riots and before the arrival of the AIDS epidemic. It explores, among other themes, the initial unity formed post-Stonewall era, splintered into numerous factions. The American gay liberation movement, strengthened by the assault of the Anita Bryant-led anti-gay initiatives, appears foundering into polarization and self-interest groups in an increasingly fractured leadership. The film discusses whether overt sexual expression and promiscuity were helping or hurting the cause of gay rights. Those interviewed include a gay Nazi; gay porno movie stars; spokespersons from the Gay Activists Alliance and its more conservative counterpart, the National Gay Task Force; leaders of the Mattachine society; the founders of the Daughters of Bilitis; and novelist John Rechy, who defends gay male promiscuity against the director’s contention that what is hurting the gay men’s movement is the obsession with “discos”, baths, and orgy bars”. Grace Jones appears at a rally singing “I Need A Man” and is sharply criticized for doing so by a Lesbian feminist.
