The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: Pride

Pride is based on the true story of lesbian and gay activists coming to the aid of Welsh coal miners in the 80s.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

Pride passes the Bechdel and Russo test but does not the race test.  

There were numerous times in Pride where named women talk to each other without mentioning men so the film easily passes the Bechdel test. Pride also easily passes the Russo test since half of the characters in the film are gay.

As to the race test, there are no non-White characters in Pride so the film does not pass the race test.

*The Bechdel test entails three requirements:
1. It has to have at least two (named) women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

*The Vito Russo test entails three requirements:
1. The film contains a character that is identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and/or transgender
2. The character must not be solely or predominately defined by her sexual orientation, gender identity and/or as being intersex
3.The character must be tied into the plot in such a way that her removal would have a significant effect

***The race or people of color (POC) test has three requirements:
1. It has two people of color in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something other than a White person

****Just because a film passes the Bechdel, Russo and race test does not mean that it is not sexist, heterosexist, racist and/or cissexist, etc. The Bechdel, Russo and race test is only a bare minimum qualifier for the representation of LGBTI individuals, women and people of color in film. The failure to pass these tests also does not identify whether the central character was a woman, a person of color or a LGBTQI individual and it does not dictate the quality of the film.