Why
Many people, myself included, have spent at least some part of their life searching for a sense of community, a sense of belonging. It’s a tough thing to come by for many, if it exists at all. And when you do get to a place you think might fit the bill, expectations and reality can disagree painfully. For some LGBTQ women, this search has been particularly fraught, given the ever-shrinking number of spaces intended for them.
Inspired in part by my play Unknown, this documentary film project, explores the value and role of physical gathering spaces through the lens of LGBTQ women’s communities.
Learn more about the project, the crew, the people we interviewed, and read up on some of the research we’ve been doing on the project website.
Want to view of screen this film? This film is distributed by Women Make Movies. Full information about how to book the film can be found on their website.
What
This feature-length documentary film is personal exploration of LGBTQI women’s communities, cultures, and social justice work through the lens of the spaces they create, from bars to bookstores to arts and political hubs.
Social groups rely on physical spaces to meet and build connections, step outside oppressive social structures, avoid policing and violence, share information, provide support, and organize politically. Yet, in the past decade, more than 100 bars, bookstores, art and community spaces where LGBTQI women gather have closed. In this film I travel the country to explore the factors driving the loss of these spaces, understand why some are able to endure, and to search for community among the ones that remain. From a lesbian bar in Oklahoma; to the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center inSan Antonio, Texas; to the WOW Café Theatre in New York; to the public gatherings organized by the Trans Ladies Picnics around the US and beyond; to the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, the film takes us into LGBTQI spaces and shines a light on why having a place to gather matters. Ultimately, this film is a celebration of the history and resilience of the LGBTQI community and the inclusive spaces they make, as well as a call to action to continue building stronger futures for all communities.
When & Where
Check out the latest screening information on the project website.
