TL;DR
- Arizona’s long-running Desperado LGBTQ Film Festival was canceled due to Trump’s executive order banning DEI initiatives.
- New York’s NewFest stepped in with the Arizona Queer Film Access Initiative.
- Arizonans get free virtual access to 100+ queer films from Oct. 9–21.
- Organizers say it’s about keeping queer voices heard despite political attacks.
- The move highlights culture wars threatening LGBTQ visibility and community spaces.
NY Queer Film Fest Saves Arizona
Arizonans who thought their queer cinema fix was canceled are getting a lifeline—from New York. The largest LGBTQ film festival in the U.S., NewFest, is throwing open its virtual doors and giving Arizona free access to over a hundred queer films after the Desperado LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Phoenix was axed last month.
Why the shutdown? Organizers of Desperado said they had no choice but to pull the plug after President Donald Trump’s executive order killed diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at publicly funded institutions. Paradise Valley Community College, which hosted the festival for 16 years, warned that defying the order could torpedo federal funds for students, faculty, and staff. In short: Trump’s decree didn’t just cancel a film fest—it threatened an entire community’s safety net.
For David Hatkoff, executive director of NewFest, the news was a punch in the gut. “It felt scary, it felt enraging, and I felt sad for the folks in Arizona,” he said. His team didn’t waste time. Partnering with Desperado’s organizers, they launched the Arizona Queer Film Access Initiative, ensuring anyone in the state can log in for free screenings from Oct. 9 to Oct. 21. That includes nearly 100 short films across every genre—animated, horror, comedy, you name it.
“This felt like a calling, in some ways, to step up,” Hatkoff said. And step up they did.
Silencing Queer Stories? Not on Their Watch
The move comes as the Trump administration continues to target LGBTQ communities, attempting to erase their visibility from public institutions. For Hatkoff, the connection is clear: “The antidote to that is telling our stories loudly and proudly.” He warned that losing access to queer narratives doesn’t just cut culture—it strips people of the ability to see themselves reflected in the world.
Desperado co-coordinator Dale Heuser echoed the resilience of queer culture. “We are adapting to new challenges, but our vision remains the same,” he said, pledging a comeback in 2026.
NewFest’s intervention isn’t just about films—it’s about fighting back against policies designed to silence. In a climate where LGBTQ youth already face cuts to suicide prevention resources, every queer story on screen is a small act of defiance and survival.
What It Means for the LGBTQ Community
For Arizona’s queer community, the cancellation could have been devastating—yet another reminder that political decisions ripple down into daily lives. Instead, NewFest’s lifeline keeps the screen glowing. It means queer teens in Phoenix can still see a character who looks like them. It means queer elders can still sit down and watch their stories honored. It means, in the face of erasure, visibility wins another round.
As the culture wars rage, this isn’t just about movies—it’s about existence. NewFest has made it clear: when one queer festival falls, another rises to keep the stories alive.