A documentary amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ youth in South Florida has been nominated for a Suncoast Regional Emmy Award. Open Dialogues: Gen QueerZ captures the lived experiences of eight LGBTQ+ students from Gen Z, exploring what it means to grow up and come out in a changing world. Produced by the Art and Culture Center/Hollywood under the direction of Freddy Rodriguez, the film was created in association with Safe Schools South Florida, an advocacy nonprofit for LGBTQ students and educators.
The film, part of the Open Dialogues series’ fourth installment, features young adults navigating identity, family, and allyship. It also includes original poetry performances by Eric Martinez and Ja’na Nelson. Martinez developed his poem with Professor Richard Blanco, a National Humanities Medal recipient honored at the White House. The project was funded by The Our Fund Foundation, The Windhover Foundation/Quadracci Family, and the Dara and Jarrett Levan Fund for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Broward. The Emmy ceremony takes place on December 6 at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood.
