It's really hard to reconcile this - yes, he was an inspiration to queer director John Waters, but he also said in a 2017 interview that 'God, Jesus, he made men, men, he made women, women. There are multiple layers in 'Little Richard: I Am Everything': there's the queer subcultures that Richard Wayne Penniman borrowed from and popularized to create a new sound - one that would act as a blueprint for later rock artists there's his breakthrough success in the '50s and his later career making gospel music but touring on his old hits and, there's Penniman's own inner conflict over his religion and his sexuality, which sometimes manifested as public, homophobic and transphobic statements. The problem with Little Richard as a pop culture figure is that he has a very messy legacy, and Cortés really struggles with balancing her celebratory intentions and needing to be transparent about what actually happened.
Then there are figures like Johnny Cash and Aretha Franklin, who despite having a clear 'breakout' period early in their career, stayed active in the industry, reinventing themselves along the way. In some ways, it's easier to study a pop culture icons like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, or Kurt Cobain - they have clear arcs in the industry and tragic ends, giving a clear, definitive ending to their story. I only wish the documentary spent more time celebrating his music.
