Inspiring Documentaries Like State of Firsts About Political Change, Identity, and Breaking Barriers

State of Firsts (2026) is a powerful documentary directed by Chase Joynt that follows Sarah McBride’s historic campaign to become the first openly transgender member of the U.S. Congress. With intimate behind-the-scenes access, the film captures both the excitement of a groundbreaking political journey and the challenges that come with living under a national spotlight. Its blend of personal storytelling, activism, and modern politics makes it a compelling watch for anyone interested in real-life change-makers.

If State of Firsts left you wanting more inspiring stories about trailblazers, political movements, and people reshaping history, these movies are well worth adding to your watchlist.

Becoming More Visible

Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 13m
Release date: 10th June 2016
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/10)

Like State of Firsts, Becoming More Visible explores LGBTQ+ representation and the power of visibility, highlighting personal stories that drive social change.

The challenges and joys of being your true self as seen through the journey of four transgender youths as they strive to become more visible. Becoming More Visible is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 13m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 0.0 by 0 people.

Mayor Pete

A campaign love story.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 36m
Release date: 12th November 2021
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.5/10)

Fans of State of Firsts will appreciate Mayor Pete's look at barrier-breaking political leadership and the challenges of representation in public office.

Pete Buttigieg, the Mayor of South Bend, Indiana runs for President of the United States. With extraordinary access to the candidate, his husband Chasten and members of the campaign team, the film follows Buttigieg from before he officially announced his candidacy, through the campaign and his victory in the Iowa Caucus and his appointment to the Biden Administration as the first LGBTQ Cabinet member in history. Mayor Pete is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 5.5 by 11 people.

The Times of Harvey Milk

He was powerful, charismatic, compassionate and gay. After eleven months in office he was assassinated.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 30m
Release date: 7th October 1984
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

The Times of Harvey Milk echoes themes found in State of Firsts by chronicling a pioneering LGBTQ+ political figure whose impact reshaped civic life.

Harvey Milk was an outspoken human rights activist and one of the first openly gay U.S. politicians elected to public office; even after his assassination in 1978, he continues to inspire disenfranchised people around the world. The Times of Harvey Milk is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 7.3 by 119 people.

Milk

Never blend in.
Streaming on:
Genre: History, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 8m
Release date: 5th November 2008
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Milk shares State of Firsts' focus on trailblazers who challenge institutions and expand opportunities for marginalized communities.

The true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man ever elected to public office. In San Francisco in the late 1970s, Harvey Milk becomes an activist for gay rights and inspires others to join him in his fight for equal rights that should be available to all Americans. Milk is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 8m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,425 people. The movie made an estimated total of $54,600,000 in the box office.

Disclosure

Trans lives on screen
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 48m
Release date: 19th June 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

Disclosure complements State of Firsts through its examination of transgender visibility and the cultural importance of authentic representation.

An investigation of how Hollywood's fabled stories have deeply influenced how Americans feel about transgender people, and how transgender people have been taught to feel about themselves. Disclosure is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.8 by 144 people.

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

A life that launched a revolution, a death that remains a mystery.
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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 45m
Release date: 27th July 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.1/10)

Like State of Firsts, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson highlights activism, identity, and the fight for recognition within LGBTQ+ history.

Describing herself as a 'street queen,' Johnson was a legendary fixture in New York City’s gay ghetto and a tireless voice for LGBT pride since the days of Stonewall, who along with fellow trans icon Sylvia Rivera, founded Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R.), a trans activist group based in the heart of NYC’s Greenwich Village. Her death in 1992 was declared a suicide by the NYPD, but friends never accepted that version of events. Structured as a whodunit, with activist Victoria Cruz cast as detective and audience surrogate, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson celebrates the lasting political legacy of Johnson, while seeking to finally solve the mystery of her unexplained death. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 45m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.1 by 104 people.

Julia

The delicious life of America's first food icon.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 35m
Release date: 4th November 2021
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.2/10)

Julia follows a groundbreaking woman who changed cultural norms, making it a strong companion to the barrier-breaking themes of State of Firsts.

Using never-before-seen archival footage, personal photos, first-person narratives, and cutting-edge, mouth-watering food cinematography, the film traces Julia Child's surprising path, from her struggles to create and publish the revolutionary Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961) which has sold more than 2.5 million copies to date, to her empowering story of a woman who found fame in her 50s, and her calling as an unlikely television sensation. Julia is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.2 by 13 people. The movie made an estimated total of $399,671 in the box office.

Knock Down the House

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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 26m
Release date: 27th January 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Knock Down the House mirrors State of Firsts by showcasing newcomers challenging entrenched political systems and redefining representation.

In 2018, a young bartender in the Bronx, a coal miner’s daughter in West Virginia, a grieving mother in Nevada and a registered nurse in Missouri join a movement of insurgent candidates challenging powerful incumbents in Congress. Without political experience or corporate money, these four women are attempting to do what many consider impossible. Knock Down the House is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.2 by 182 people.

RBG

Hero. Icon. Dissenter.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 38m
Release date: 4th May 2018
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.5/10)

RBG and State of Firsts both celebrate influential figures whose achievements opened doors and transformed public institutions.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg now 84, and still inspired by the lawyers who defended free speech during the Red Scare, Ginsburg refuses to relinquish her passionate duty, steadily fighting for equal rights for all citizens under the law. Through intimate interviews and unprecedented access to Ginsburg’s life outside the court, RBG tells the electric story of Ginsburg’s consuming love affairs with both the Constitution and her beloved husband Marty—and of a life’s work that led her to become an icon of justice in the highest court in the land. RBG is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.5 by 307 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,002,767 in the box office.

Boys State

Democracy isn't a spectator sport.
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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 50m
Release date: 24th January 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.1/10)

Boys State examines political participation and leadership development, themes that align with the civic engagement explored in State of Firsts.

This raucous journey into the heart of democracy captures an unusual rite of passage: 1,100 teenage boys from across Texas coming together to build a representative government from the ground up. Boys State is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.1 by 110 people.

Girls State

One nation. Under girls.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 35m
Release date: 18th January 2024
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

Girls State complements State of Firsts through its focus on young leaders navigating power, representation, and democratic processes.

What would American democracy look like in the hands of teenage girls? In this documentary, young female leaders from wildly different backgrounds in Missouri navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up. Girls State is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2024 with an average rating of 7.3 by 18 people.

Navalny

Poison always leaves a trail.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 38m
Release date: 8th April 2022
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Navalny shares State of Firsts' interest in courageous public figures confronting political systems and advocating for change.

Follows the man who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning with a lethal nerve agent in August 2020. During his months-long recovery, he makes shocking discoveries about the attempt on his life and decides to return home. Navalny is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2022 with an average rating of 7.2 by 289 people.

Citizenfour

Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 53m
Release date: 10th October 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.7/10)

Citizenfour explores the impact of one individual's actions on society, a theme that resonates with the transformative leadership in State of Firsts.

In June 2013, Laura Poitras and reporter Glenn Greenwald flew to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with Edward Snowden. She brought her camera with her. Citizenfour is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.7 by 1,413 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,003,169 in the box office.

The Edge of Democracy

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Genre: Documentary
Country: Brazil
Language: Portuguese
Runtime: 2h 1m
Release date: 24th January 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.7/10)

The Edge of Democracy offers a political lens on institutional change, making it appealing to viewers interested in the civic themes of State of Firsts.

A cautionary tale for these times of democracy in crisis—the personal and political fuse to explore one of the most dramatic periods in Brazilian history. With unprecedented access to Presidents Dilma Rousseff and Lula da Silva, we witness their rise and fall and the tragically polarized nation that remains. The Edge of Democracy is a movie from Brazil in Portuguese, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.7 by 380 people.

13th

From slave to criminal with one amendment.
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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 40m
Release date: 7th October 2016
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.9/10)

13th examines systemic inequality and reform, connecting with State of Firsts' broader interest in social progress and representation.

An in-depth look at the prison system in the United States and how it reveals the nation's history of racial inequality. 13th is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.9 by 793 people.

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution

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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 47m
Release date: 25th March 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution parallels State of Firsts by documenting a movement that expanded rights and visibility for an underrepresented community.

Down the road from Woodstock in the early 1970s, a revolution blossomed in a ramshackle summer camp for disabled teenagers, transforming their young lives and igniting a landmark movement. Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.2 by 160 people.

How to Survive a Plague

Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 49m
Release date: 21st September 2012
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.8/10)

How to Survive a Plague highlights grassroots activism and social change, themes central to the spirit of State of Firsts.

A story of two coalitions – ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) – whose activism and innovation turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition. Despite having no scientific training, these self-made activists infiltrated the pharmaceutical industry and helped identify promising new drugs, moving them from experimental trials to patients in record time. How to Survive a Plague is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.8 by 79 people. The movie made an estimated total of $122,665 in the box office.

Welcome to Chechnya

Inside the Russian Republic's deadly war on gays
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 47m
Release date: 26th January 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Welcome to Chechnya shares State of Firsts' focus on marginalized communities fighting for dignity, visibility, and equal rights.

This searing investigative work shadows a group of activists risking unimaginable peril to confront the ongoing anti-LGBTQ program raging in the repressive and closed Russian republic. Unfettered access and a remarkable approach to protecting anonymity exposes this under-reported atrocity–and an extraordinary group of people confronting evil. Welcome to Chechnya is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 6.9 by 51 people.

Pray Away

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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 41m
Release date: 16th June 2021
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

Pray Away explores identity and advocacy within LGBTQ+ communities, making it a thoughtful companion to State of Firsts.

In the 1970s, five men struggling with being gay in their Evangelical church started a bible study to help each other leave the "homosexual lifestyle." They quickly received over 25,000 letters from people asking for help and formalized as Exodus International, the largest and most controversial conversion therapy organization in the world. But leaders struggled with a secret: their own “same-sex attractions” never went away. After years as Christian superstars in the religious right, many of these men and women have come out as LGBTQ, disavowing the very movement they helped start. Focusing on the dramatic journeys of former conversion therapy leaders, current members, and a survivor, PRAY AWAY chronicles the “ex gay" movement’s rise to power, persistent influence, and the profound harm it causes. Pray Away is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.7 by 101 people.

Changing the Game

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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 28m
Release date: 26th April 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.3/10)

Changing the Game directly connects to themes of representation and inclusion that viewers of State of Firsts are likely to appreciate.

Transgender high school athletes from across the country compete at the top of their fields, while also challenging the boundaries and perceptions of fairness and discrimination. Changing the Game is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.3 by 12 people.

Framing Agnes

Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 15m
Release date: 17th November 2022
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.8/10)

Framing Agnes blends history and identity to spotlight transgender experiences, echoing the visibility-focused storytelling of State of Firsts.

After discovering case files from the UCLA gender clinic from the 1950s, a group of trans actors confronts the legacy of young trans women being forced to choose between honesty and access. Framing Agnes is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 15m runtime, released in 2022 with an average rating of 5.8 by 8 people.

Paris Is Burning

Having a ball… Wish you were here
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 18m
Release date: 13th March 1991
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.0/10)

Paris Is Burning captures the resilience and culture of LGBTQ+ communities, offering historical context to themes explored in State of Firsts.

Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza. Paris Is Burning is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 18m runtime, released in 1991 with an average rating of 8.0 by 546 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,906,006 in the box office.

The Case Against 8

Battles Are Won Because We Fight Them
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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 49m
Release date: 6th June 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.8/10)

The Case Against 8 follows a landmark equality movement, making it highly relevant for audiences drawn to State of Firsts.

A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Case Against 8 is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 6.8 by 25 people.

United in Anger: A History of ACT UP

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Genre: Documentary, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 30m
Release date: 6th June 2012
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

United in Anger: A History of ACT UP showcases activism that changed public policy, reflecting the change-making spirit of State of Firsts.

United in Anger: A History of ACT UP is an inspiring documentary about the birth and life of the AIDS activist movement from the perspective of the people in the trenches fighting the epidemic. Utilizing oral histories of members of ACT UP, as well as rare archival footage, the film depicts the efforts of ACT UP as it battles corporate greed, social indifference, and government negligence. United in Anger: A History of ACT UP is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.9 by 9 people.

Call Me Malcolm

One man's struggle with faith, love and gender identity.
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 30m
Release date: 26th February 2005
Rating: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (3.0/10)

Call Me Malcolm presents a personal journey of identity and acceptance that aligns with the human-centered storytelling of State of Firsts.

Call Me Malcolm is an amazing story of the human spirit and God's spirit, and the liberating struggle to realize and express with confidence the marvelous gift of one's truest sense of self. As Malcolm shares his own story and through the stories of others we meet, Call Me Malcolm offers us a glimpse into the real lives of real people who are transgender. But it is only a glimpse. There are many stories to be told and Malcolm helps us make connections to our own stories, encouraging us to share them. That can seem daunting in a culture which has done more to heap shame on persons who identify as transgender. The good news of Malcolm's story is the way in which shame and fear are overcome by grace, compassion and knowledge. Viewers cannot help but come to a deeper understanding of faith, love, and gender identity, and by doing so, arrive at a deeper understanding of their own journey. Call Me Malcolm is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 3.0 by 4 people.

And the Band Played On

Strength. Friendship. Courage. Sometimes that’s all you have.
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, TV Movie
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 20m
Release date: 11th September 1993
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

And the Band Played On examines advocacy during a public health crisis, complementing State of Firsts' themes of leadership and social impact.

The story of the discovery of the AIDS epidemic and the political infighting of the scientific community hampering the early fight with it. And the Band Played On is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 20m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 6.5 by 112 people.

All In: The Fight for Democracy

How the right to vote went wrong.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 9th September 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

All In: The Fight for Democracy explores voting rights and civic participation, themes that connect strongly with State of Firsts.

Examines the often overlooked, yet insidious issue of voter suppression in the United States in anticipation of the 2020 presidential election. With the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, the film offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know is a threat to their basic rights as citizens of the United States. All In: The Fight for Democracy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.3 by 23 people.

The First Wave

Four months, New York City, 2020.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 34m
Release date: 19th November 2021
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.6/10)

The First Wave highlights resilience and public service under pressure, appealing to viewers interested in societal change like that seen in State of Firsts.

When Covid-19 hit New York City in 2020, filmmaker Matthew Heineman gained unique access to one of New York’s hardest-hit hospital systems. The resulting film focuses on the doctors, nurses, and patients on the frontlines during the “first wave” from March to June 2020. Their distinct storylines each serve as a microcosm to understand how the city persevered through the worst pandemic in a century The First Wave is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.6 by 29 people. The movie made an estimated total of $60,511 in the box office.

The Devil All the Time

Everyone ends up in the same damned place.
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Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 18m
Release date: 11th September 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

While fictional and darker in tone, The Devil All the Time explores power structures and societal pressures that contrast with the hopeful progress in State of Firsts.

In Knockemstiff, Ohio and its neighboring backwoods, sinister characters converge around young Arvin Russell as he fights the evil forces that threaten him and his family. The Devil All the Time is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 18m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.2 by 3,664 people.

Attica

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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 57m
Release date: 9th September 2021
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Attica examines institutional conflict and demands for justice, echoing the reform-oriented themes present in State of Firsts.

Follows the largest prison uprising in US history, conducting dozens of new interviews with inmates, journalists, and other witnesses. Attica is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.9 by 43 people.

The Fight

Goliath, meet David.
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Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 37m
Release date: 31st July 2020
Rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5.2/10)

The Fight follows legal advocates defending civil rights, making it a natural recommendation for fans of State of Firsts.

Inside the ACLU, five scrappy lawyers battle against the Trump administration’s historic assault on civil liberties - from separating families at the border, to rolling back transgender, reproductive, and voting rights. The Fight is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 5.2 by 16 people.

Whose Streets?

It's our duty to win.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 30m
Release date: 11th August 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.8/10)

Whose Streets? documents grassroots activism and community leadership, themes that closely align with State of Firsts.

A nonfiction account of the Ferguson uprising told by the people who lived it, this is an unflinching look at how the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown inspired a community to fight back—and sparked a global movement. Whose Streets? is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 5.8 by 20 people.

Mary for Mayor

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Genre: Comedy, Family
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 37m
Release date: 1st April 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.0/10)

Mary for Mayor mirrors State of Firsts through its portrayal of an underdog political campaign and the pursuit of representation.

Running for mayor against her incumbent mayor father, an eighteen-year-old young woman learns valuable life lessons that not only are the building blocks to saving her family, but also the town she lives in. Mary for Mayor is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 6.0 by 1 people.

Street Fight

Sometimes elections are won and lost in the streets...
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 23m
Release date: 23rd April 2005
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Street Fight offers an inside look at local politics and electoral change, making it relevant to audiences of State of Firsts.

This documentary follows the 2002 mayoral campaign in Newark, New Jersey, in which a City Councilman, Cory Booker, attempted to unseat longtime mayor Sharpe James. Street Fight is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 23m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 6.9 by 29 people.

Advocate

Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: Canada
Language: Hebrew
Runtime: 1h 48m
Release date: 27th January 2019
Rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5.3/10)

Advocate follows a determined human-rights lawyer whose work reflects the commitment to social progress seen in State of Firsts.

Lea Tsemel, a Jewish-Israeli lawyer, defends Palestinians: from feminists to fundamentalists, from nonviolent demonstrators to armed militants. As far as most Israelis are concerned, she defends the indefensible. As far as Palestinians are concerned, she’s more than an attorney, she’s an ally. «Advocate» follows Tsemel in real time, including the trial of a 13-year-old boy — her youngest client to date. Advocate is a movie from Canada in Hebrew, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 5.3 by 6 people.

A Fantastic Woman

My name is Marina Vidal. Do you have any problem with that?
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama
Country: Chile
Language: Spanish
Runtime: 1h 44m
Release date: 6th April 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

A Fantastic Woman explores dignity, identity, and resilience, themes that complement the representation-focused narrative of State of Firsts.

Marina's life is thrown into turmoil following the death of her partner. Mourning the loss of the man she loved, she finds herself under intense scrutiny from those with no regard for her privacy. A Fantastic Woman is a movie from Chile in Spanish, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.0 by 741 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,880,736 in the box office.

Lingua Franca

Genre: Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 35m
Release date: 1st July 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.1/10)

Lingua Franca centers on identity and belonging, making it a strong thematic match for viewers who enjoyed State of Firsts.

Olivia, an undocumented Filipina immigrant paranoid about deportation, works as a caregiver to a Russian-Jewish grandmother in New York. When the man she’s secretly paying for a green card marriage backs out, she becomes involved with a slaughterhouse worker who is unaware that she’s a trans woman. Lingua Franca is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 6.1 by 23 people.

Tangerine

Shit floats to the surface
Streaming on:
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 27m
Release date: 10th July 2015
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Tangerine presents vibrant transgender perspectives and lived experiences that align with the inclusivity celebrated in State of Firsts.

It's Christmas Eve in Tinseltown and Sin-Dee is back on the block. Upon hearing that her pimp boyfriend hasn't been faithful during the 28 days she was locked up, the working girl and her best friend, Alexandra, embark on a mission to get to the bottom of the scandalous rumor. Their rip-roaring odyssey leads them through various subcultures of Los Angeles, including an Armenian family dealing with their own repercussions of infidelity. Tangerine is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 27m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.9 by 799 people. The movie made an estimated total of $925,000 in the box office.

Eduardo and Monica

Who's to say there's no reason in things that come from the heart?
Streaming on:
Genre: Romance, Drama
Country: Brazil
Language: Portuguese
Runtime: 2h 0m
Release date: 20th January 2022
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.7/10)

Eduardo and Monica is less politically focused but still explores personal growth and overcoming expectations, themes that can resonate with State of Firsts viewers.

On an unusual day, a series of coincidences lead Eduardo to meet Monica at a party. A curiosity is aroused between the two and, despite not being alike, they fall madly in love. In 1980s Brasília, their love needs to mature and learn to overcome differences. Eduardo and Monica is a movie from Brazil in Portuguese, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2022 with an average rating of 7.7 by 82 people.

Will & Harper

Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary, Comedy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 54m
Release date: 12th September 2024
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.4/10)

Will & Harper combines personal discovery with transgender visibility, making it one of the closest thematic companions to State of Firsts.

When Will Ferrell's good friend Harper comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip to bond and reintroduce Harper to the country as her true self. Will & Harper is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2024 with an average rating of 7.4 by 109 people.

The Dilemma of Desire

Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 48m
Release date: 28th May 2020
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

The Dilemma of Desire challenges social norms and advocates for understanding, reflecting the broader representation themes of State of Firsts.

The Dilemma of Desire explores the work of four women who are shattering myths and lies that women are being told about their sexual desire and their bodies. Coined by artist Sophia Wallace, “Cliteracy” is the understanding that the clitoris is fundamental to the female orgasm. Through her art, Wallace is changing culture. Dr. Stacey Dutton, a neuroscientist, studies the biology of the clitoris; Dr. Lisa Diamond is dismantling outdated notions about women’s arousal; and Ti Chang, an industrial designer, creates elegant vibrators for women. Providing the embodiment of their work are the real life stories of Umnia, Becca, Jasmine, Sunny, and Coriama. The Dilemma of Desire is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 6.5 by 2 people.

The Janes

They didn't have a choice.
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 41m
Release date: 3rd May 2022
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.6/10)

The Janes highlights collective action and social reform, echoing the change-driven storytelling found in State of Firsts.

Defying the state legislature that outlawed abortion, the Catholic Church that condemned it, and the Chicago Mob that was profiting from it, the members of “Jane” risked their personal and professional lives to support women with unwanted pregnancies. In the pre-Roe v. Wade era — a time when abortion was a crime in most states and even circulating information about abortion was a felony in Illinois — the Janes provided low-cost and free abortions to an estimated 11,000 women. The Janes is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2022 with an average rating of 5.6 by 44 people.

Selma

One dream can change the world.
Streaming on:
Genre: History, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 8m
Release date: 25th December 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.4/10)

Selma chronicles a historic civil-rights struggle and the pursuit of equality, making it highly relevant to the themes of State of Firsts.

"Selma," as in Alabama, the place where segregation in the South was at its worst, leading to a march that ended in violence, forcing a famous statement by President Lyndon B. Johnson that ultimately led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act. Selma is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 8m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.4 by 2,323 people. The movie made an estimated total of $66,787,908 in the box office.

On the Basis of Sex

Her story made history
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 0m
Release date: 25th December 2018
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

On the Basis of Sex follows a pioneering woman breaking barriers, directly connecting to the trailblazing spirit of State of Firsts.

Young lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg teams with her husband Marty to bring a groundbreaking case before the U.S. Court of Appeals and overturn a century of sex discrimination. On the Basis of Sex is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,135 people. The movie made an estimated total of $38,755,968 in the box office.

Harriet

Be free or die
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 5m
Release date: 1st November 2019
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

Harriet tells the story of a courageous leader who challenged injustice, aligning with the inspirational themes of State of Firsts.

The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history. Harriet is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.3 by 937 people.

The Insurrectionist Next Door

Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 15m
Release date: 15th October 2023
Rating: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (3.0/10)

The Insurrectionist Next Door explores contemporary political divides, providing additional context for viewers interested in civic themes like those in State of Firsts.

Alexandra Pelosi turns her camera on some of the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Through a series of candid interviews conducted over the last two years, Pelosi talks to several individuals charged with crimes for their participation in the unprecedented events of the day. The Insurrectionist Next Door is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 15m runtime, released in 2023 with an average rating of 3.0 by 4 people.

American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs

Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 22m
Release date: 16th June 2013
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs profiles a lifelong activist whose dedication to change mirrors the values highlighted in State of Firsts.

Grace Lee Boggs is an activist and philosopher in Detroit who has dedicated her life to the next American Revolution and the possibility of a better, more just future for all of humanity. At age 97, she has been building movements and developing strategies for social change for most of her life -- reminding us that revolution is not only possible and necessary, but a process that must always be in motion. American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 22m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.8 by 4 people.

Stonewall Uprising

On June 28, 1968, Everything Changed.
Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 20m
Release date: 16th June 2010
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.8/10)

Stonewall Uprising documents a defining LGBTQ+ rights moment, offering important historical context for themes explored in State of Firsts.

Stonewall Uprising is a 2010 American documentary film examining the events surrounding the Stonewall riots that began during the early hours of June 28, 1969. Stonewall Uprising made its theatrical debut on June 16, 2010 at the Film Forum in New York City.The movie features interviews with eyewitnesses to the incident, including NYPD deputy inspector Seymour Pine. The film was produced and directed by documentarians Kate Davis and David Heilbroner, and is based on the book by historian David Carter, Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution. The title theme is by Gary Lionelli. Stonewall Uprising is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 5.8 by 16 people.

Before Stonewall

Streaming on:
Genre: Documentary, History
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 27m
Release date: 15th September 1984
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

Before Stonewall traces LGBTQ+ history before major rights victories, deepening the historical perspective behind State of Firsts.

New York City's Stonewall Inn is regarded by many as the site of gay and lesbian liberation since it was at this bar that drag queens fought back against police June 27-28, 1969. This documentary uses extensive archival film, movie clips and personal recollections to construct an audiovisual history of the gay community before the Stonewall riots. Before Stonewall is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 27m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 6.5 by 32 people.

After Stonewall

Genre: Documentary
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 28m
Release date: 6th June 1999
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.6/10)

After Stonewall examines progress and ongoing challenges in LGBTQ+ rights, making it an excellent companion to State of Firsts.

This sequel to "Before Stonewall" documents the history of gay and lesbian life from the riots at Stonewall in 1969 to the present. Narrated by Melissa Etheridge, the film explains the work, struggles, victories, and defeats the gay community has weathered to become a vibrant and integral part of North American society. After Stonewall is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 5.6 by 15 people.

Like State of Firsts, these documentaries spotlight individuals navigating public pressure while pushing society forward. They offer emotional, thought-provoking stories that prove meaningful change often begins with one determined voice.

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