Premium Content:

Revelation Film Fest: The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin (★★★★★) is an absorbing documentary about San Francisco writer Armistead Maupin whose Tales in the City became a cult television series. Tales in the City started out as an entertaining column in the Francisco Chronicle in the mid seventies that recorded the local stories of the city’s residents – both gay and straight – and eventually included a coming-out letter from Maupin to his parents.

- Advertisement -

Director Jennifer Kroot interviews Maupin who insists that he is not a gay writer, but a writer who happens to be gay, although his writing didn’t flourish until he came out. He says, “To keep a huge secret in your heart and be a good writer is very difficult”. He also says that he became an accidental hero as he was the only person writing about San Francisco’s increasingly gay population, even if it was under the guise of a story.

This “big romantic with a slutty side” rubbed shoulders with many famous people who are interviewed for the documentary, including Sir Ian McKellan, Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Amy Tan and Jonathan Groff. Kroot also interviews his husband Christopher who he met on a website called ‘Daddy Hunt’ and there’s both funny and sad revelations in this fascinating documentary.

Maupin gave hope to all the people who, like him, had to challenge the indoctrination and stigmatisation that shackled their lives. This is essential viewing for people who want to love or be loved without anybody hating them for it.

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin screens as part of Revelation Film Festival – 4.45pm Tuesday 11 July and 7.10pm Sunday 16 July at Luna Cinema, Leederville and 6.45pm Tuesday 18 July at Luna SX, Fremantle. 

Lezly Herbert


Support OUTinPerth

Thanks for reading OUTinPerth. We can only create LGBTIQA+ focused media with your help.

If you can help support our work, please consider assisting us through a one-off contribution to our GoFundMe campaign, or a regular contribution through our Patreon appeal.

Become a Supporter→     Make a contribution→ 

Latest

Trump commutes sentence and releases George Santos from prison

The former congressman has been released after serving just a few months of his seven year sentence.

City of Perth results see old and new faces elected

The election results are in and there's some new faces joining the ranks of the City of Perth Council.

Romance and tragedy intersect at WA Opera’s ‘Il Trovatore’

With bold staging, stunning music and a plot filled with misunderstandings and jealousy this a great production of Verdi's much loved work.

Iconic UK festival Mighty Hoopla is heading to Sydney in 2026

With headliners including Jessie Ware, Kelly Rowland, Nelly Furtado, Sugababes and Steps - Mighty Hoopla has built a reputation as one of the most fabulous queer music festivals in the UK.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Trump commutes sentence and releases George Santos from prison

The former congressman has been released after serving just a few months of his seven year sentence.

City of Perth results see old and new faces elected

The election results are in and there's some new faces joining the ranks of the City of Perth Council.

Romance and tragedy intersect at WA Opera’s ‘Il Trovatore’

With bold staging, stunning music and a plot filled with misunderstandings and jealousy this a great production of Verdi's much loved work.

Iconic UK festival Mighty Hoopla is heading to Sydney in 2026

With headliners including Jessie Ware, Kelly Rowland, Nelly Furtado, Sugababes and Steps - Mighty Hoopla has built a reputation as one of the most fabulous queer music festivals in the UK.

Lilly Wachowski joins Victoria’s TILDE film festival as patron

Iconic filmmaker and one half of the visionary creators...

Trump commutes sentence and releases George Santos from prison

The former congressman has been released after serving just a few months of his seven year sentence.

City of Perth results see old and new faces elected

The election results are in and there's some new faces joining the ranks of the City of Perth Council.

Romance and tragedy intersect at WA Opera’s ‘Il Trovatore’

With bold staging, stunning music and a plot filled with misunderstandings and jealousy this a great production of Verdi's much loved work.