A 19-year-old female was assaulted while attending the Pittsburgh annual Pride Fest Celebration in June 2014. 

On May 20, 2014, Pennsylvania became the 19th state to allow same-sex marriages.

In the spring of 2015, a few Point Park University film students will make their attempt to also become a part of the LGBTQ movement history.

Point Park seniors Marlee Schneider, Michael Barger, Jess Walsh and Point Park alumna Camelia Montoy have come together to create a documentary that will follow LGBTQ rights with a first-hand perspective.

“We’re all humans, that’s what it comes down to,” producer Montoy said in regards to the documentary theme. 

The documentary entitled “The Out Project” will follow the lives of those in the LGBTQ community. The students hope that it will shed some light on the community for those that are not familiar with the subject.

Schneider, the director of the film, became inspired with the idea after hearing about the assault at the Pittsburgh Pride Fest. 

During the celebration, a fight began between Ariel Lawther and a man. When a police officer attempted to break up the fight, Lawther allegedly began punching the officer. A video taken of the fight shows the officer grabbing Lawther by the hair and punching her in the chest. She was later sentenced to a $420 fine.

“I was at work that day… and several [fellow employees] are gay and they were telling me about some similar stories that they’ve had happen to them,” Schneider said.

One employee told stories of how she had been jumped several times, mistaken for a young boy. She stopped reporting the incidents after numerous policemen sided with the assaulters.

After realizing how common the stories of abuse are, Schneider thought of using people’s stories to help explain the LGBTQ point of view.

“People in the community just want to tell you their story, so you can relate to them even more so than you thought because they are humans just like you and I, us; we’re all the same,” Montoy said.

Schneider contacted her team with the idea and they got to work.

The film’s website reads, “Over the past few years, LGBTQ equality has gone from a dream to an ever-growing reality.”

“There is a lot of concern in the gay community that gay rights are going to be halted…we just need awareness,” said Jess Walsh, the film’s cinematographer.The team held their kick-off fundraiser last week at local restaurant, Grit & Grace. They also have an IndieGoGo campaign, which has help bring them to almost half of their current goal.

The team hopes to raise $2,500, according to Schneider.

“The Out Project” is currently still looking for subjects to be featured in the documentary. Those who are interested or would like to follow the project can visit www.outprojectfilm.com.

“I want to make this person a human, not a subject or stereotype of an LGBT person,” said film editor Barger.