Tag Archives: Astypalaia

Sneak Peak Scagliotti vs. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

While John Scagliotti was news director at WBCN in 1975 he was arrested by the Boston Police vice squad and charged with “soliciting to commit unnatural and lascivious acts.” A jury dressed in festive St. Patrick’s Day attire quickly brought a verdict: guilty as charged. Scagliotti fought that conviction all the way to the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, and with the help of the ACLU, the initial ruling was overturned.

It was a landmark decision for gays and lesbians, and for personal freedom.

Representative Barney Frank at the time told Gay Community News: “This is binding. In effect, it has amended the state’s laws against unnatural acts.… Private consensual, homosexual sex is not convictable.”

Now, more than 40 years later, Scagliotti returns to the scene of the crime April 8th, 2017 at 2PM at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to present the world premiere screening of “Before Homosexuals: The Prequel to Before Stonewall” as part of the 33rd Annual Wicked Queer LGBT Film Festival. He will be joined by members of the crew and cast for a lively Q&A session after the screening.

Tickets go on sale March 23rd at 10:00AM at http://www.mfa.org/programs/film/before-homosexuals