On April 25, The Broken Hearts Club reunited on stage. Hosted by Pride House Los Angeles.
Twenty-five years after its debut, The Broken Hearts Club returned for an exclusive anniversary screening hosted by Street Food Cinema and Pride House Los Angeles/West Hollywood. There, transforming a warm April evening into a celebration of community, nostalgia and progress. The event not only honored the film’s legacy but also stood as a benefit that raised funds supporting LGBTQIA+ athletes through Pride House LA/WeHo and Team OutAthletes.
The night pulled in an impressive crowd, including original cast members and creatives like Billy Porter, Zach Braff, writer-director Greg Berlanti and producer Mickey Liddell, with a lively conversation moderated by Jess Cagle. Olympic athletes were also in attendance, adhering the event’s deeper mission of visibility and inclusion.
For Braff, the evening was as much about revisiting the past as it was about appreciating early success. Reflecting on the film’s Sundance moment, he shared a story that perfectly captured the reality of being a young actor: “Only in Hollywood can someone go see a movie and then have one of the stars of that movie wait on them for dessert. Show business, man. That was show business. I loved every single bit of it!”
Porter spoke candidly about the film’s cultural significance. Especially at a time when queer representation was limited. Way more limited than it is now. “At the time, there wasn’t anything for queer people,” he said, “let alone layering that with queer people of color.”
Berlanti, who made his directorial debut with the film, took a moment to reflect on the collaborative effort behind it. “My career and this film would not exist without Mickey Liddell,” he said, acknowledging the producer’s role in bringing the project to life.
More than just a reunion, the evening served as a reminder of how far representation has come! Yet it still has a long way to go. As Pride House LA/WeHo looks ahead to the 2028 Summer Olympics, where it aims to create a global hub for LGBTQ+ athletes and fans, events like this screening highlight the power of storytelling in shaping culture and community.
Credit: Edwin Santiago
As the film played under the stars, The Broken Hearts Club still resonated with fans. Its themes of friendship, love and chosen family are as relevant now as they were 25 years ago. And with initiatives like Pride House LA/WeHo building the energy ahead of the 2028 Summer Games, the night seemed like less of a look back and more like a meaningful step forward.
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