A Heist for Love: LGBTQ+ Representation in ‘Dog Day Afternoon’

In 2009, the Library of Congress selected Sidney Lumet’s film Dog Day Afternoon for preservation in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. Based on a true story of a bank robbery that turned into a media circus in 1972, the film is a brutally honest portrayal of LGBTQ+ issues at the time of its making. 

Both the LGBTQ+ characters in the film and their interaction with mainstream society are portrayed honestly and true to the period. Particularly, Sonny (Al Pacino) and Liz Eden (Chris Sarandon), who is referred to as “Leon ” throughout the film, are portrayed as human beings with complex problems and issues directly related to their identity and how they are treated in society as a result. Dog Day Afternoon is a progressive film for its time, portraying LGBTQ+ characters as complex individuals misunderstood by the people around them. The film also reflects and challenges some of the issues and movements that were prominent at the time, especially concerning LGBTQ+ rights and representation.

To understand the historical significance of Dog Day Afternoon, it is important to know the background and context of the film. The film is based on the events that took place on August 22, 1972, when John Wojtowicz and two accomplices attempted to rob a Chase Manhattan bank in Brooklyn, New York. One of the accomplices fled the scene before the robbery, but Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile held seven bank employees hostage for 14 hours, demanding $250,000 and a plane to escape. The robbery was motivated by Wojtowicz’s desire to pay for his partner, Liz Eden’s gender affirmation surgery. The robbery became one of the first media circuses with full news coverage. The film is a fictional account that Wojtowicz described as 30% accurate. However, the film’s approach to the real story is significant in its own way. 

One of the most notable aspects of Dog Day Afternoon is its realistic and sensitive treatment of LGBTQ+ issues during a time when homophobia and transphobia were accepted norms in society. Sonny is a bisexual man who is married to both a cisgender woman (Angie, played by Susan Peretz) and a transgender woman (Liz.) Liz suffers from gender dysphoria and depression and has attempted suicide several times. Sonny loves both Angie and Liz, but he feels more committed to Liz and wants to help her transition. However, Sonny’s sexuality and relationship with Liz are met with hostility, ridicule, and disbelief by his family, the police, the media, and the public. The film does not shy away from showing the discrimination and violence that Sonny and Liz face because of their identity.

Liz is misgendered throughout the entire film and referred to as “Leon.” However, Liz describes her gender dysphoria. She tells the officers that her psychiatrist told her that she was a woman trapped in a man’s body and recommended gender affirmation surgery. She’s also honest about her depression and repeated suicide attempts. The officers show a lack of regard and disrespect as they sneer and giggle as she shares the intimate details of her life. 

One of the film’s most progressive points is when Liz tells her story. Her details regarding her gender dysphoria and her repeated suicide attempts reflect a grim reality about the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ youth have a higher rate of suicide and many people even after they transition or decide to detransition still take their own lives. Anti-LGBTQ+ groups and individuals like to point this out as proof that transitioning doesn’t help. It obviously doesn’t occur to them that the person may have detransitioned or committed suicide after transitioning because of society’s attitude towards transgender people. According to a survey published on the National Library of Medicine’s website:  “Of those who had detransitioned, 82.5% reported at least one external driving factor. Frequently endorsed external factors included pressure from family and societal stigma.” It doesn’t occur to those pushing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation that this person may have been surrounded by people who were unsupportive and may have been threatened. 

There are many other accurate portrayals of accepted myths, beliefs, and stereotypes in the film during the time. Beginning with the second edition in 1968, homosexuality was classified as a mental disorder in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM.) The APA board of trustees voted to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973, one year after the robbery and one year before filming began. However, distress over one’s sexual orientation remained in the manual under different names. It was not until 1987 that homosexuality was removed from the DSM. 

There are many examples in the film that illustrate these attitudes in society at the time. Unfortunately, there is a portion of the population who still label members of the LGBTQ+ community as “sick” and  “groomers.” As much as I try to avoid negativity, there are days when I make the mistake of looking at the news. I see articles by right-wing extremists referring to transgender people as “gender confused individuals” who are using “gender ideology” to frighten and control people. A perfect example in the film of how this affects public attitudes is Sonny’s telephone conversation with his mother. She reacts to the situation by calling him a “sicko” and a “disgrace.” She expresses her disappointment in his decision to not remain with Angie and their children, stating that it has disgraced their family. She also expresses her confusion over his marriage to Liz and suggests that he should have sought assistance for his “problem.”  

Another attitude represented is the person that doesn’t spew insults but doesn’t take LGBTQ+ identities seriously. There’s also the attitude of the relative who only cares about their own reputation and is embarrassed. When Sonny tries to speak to his father about his situation and his relationship with Liz, his father responds with a lack of understanding and disregard for his son’s sexual orientation. He tells Sonny that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about and to stop playing games. He also says that he does not care about Sonny or Liz and that he just wants to get out of the mess.

Then, there’s just open, unapologetic mockery, hatred, and discrimination. When Sonny calls Liz from the bank, the police officer who answers the phone responds with hostility and disbelief. The officer mocks Sonny for having a wife named “Leon” and asks him if he is a fairy. He also refuses to let Sonny talk to Liz until he proves his identity by answering personal questions. When Liz arrives at the bank with police, the media and the crowd ridicule him, using slurs such as “freak,” and “pervert.” Liz is also subjected to invasive and insensitive questions about her sexuality and her relationship with Sonny. She is visibly distressed and humiliated by the attention. 

The most compelling scene is when Sonny finally gets to speak to Liz on the phone. Sonny tries to comfort Liz and express his love for her. However, Liz is angry and hurt by Sonny’s actions and blames Sonny for ruining her life. She tells Sonny that she does not want to see him again and that she hates him. She also reveals that she has attempted suicide several times because of her gender dysphoria and Sonny’s neglect. This is the most important point about Dog Day Afternoon — the treatment of the LGBTQ community as human beings capable of a loving relationship. The extremes that Sonny goes to to help his partner transition show that he will do anything to make Liz happy. 

The film also portrays the diversity and solidarity of the LGBTQ+ community at the time. Among the crowd that shows up outside of the bank, many are members of the LGBTQ+ community who cheer Sonny on and chant slogans such as “Gay power!” and “Out of the closets!” The film also references some of the social and cultural movements that were happening at the time, such as the Stonewall Uprising in 1969 that sparked the LGBTQ+ rights movement and the Attica prison riot in 1971 that exposed the injustices of the prison system. Sonny yells “Attica!” outside of the bank as a sign of defiance and frustration with the police and the system.

The film’s naturalistic approach creates a sense of urgency and authenticity that makes the viewer empathize with Sonny and Liz’s plight. The film was praised by critics for its performances and direction and has been referenced in pop culture many times over the years, mostly for the iconic Attica scene.

Dog Day Afternoon is a remarkable film that challenges stereotypes and prejudices about LGBTQ+ people. The film portrays Sonny and Liz as complex individuals who struggle to be themselves in a world that does not accept them. The film also shows how society reacts to their identity with fear, hatred, or curiosity. The film is not only a thrilling crime drama but also a powerful social commentary on LGBTQ+ issues and representation. Its message is still relevant today, especially with the influx this year of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, mostly focussed on education and health care. Many states have proposed or even passed bills prohibiting the discussion of LGBTQ+ identity and access to health care for transgender youth. We also can forget the push to ban access to LGBTQ+ literature that’s a valuable and necessary resource for youth people as well as adults who grew up in a conservative society. We also can’t forget attempts to ban drag performances. Dog Day Afternoon stands as proof of progress. However, looking at the news lately, there’s still much left to accomplish.