From the sexual experimentation of the roaring twenties to the scapegoating of homosexuals during the McCarthy era, to the development of the early homophile rights movement. Before Stonewall presents a unique portrait of the history of homosexual experience in America. Using filmed collections and a wealth of archival material, both from the mass medias portrayal of homosexuality and from the gay subculture on documentation, the film traces the social, political and cultural development of the lesbian and gay community. Featuring author-poet André Lorde, Native American activist Smilie Hillaire, historian playwright Martin Duberman, gay activist Barbara Gittings, poet Allen Ginsberg, Reverend Grant Gallups and others.