Have you heard the story of the lesbian couple who spent five years fighting for their right to raise a family? What about the case of the lesbian detective who just wanted to ensure that her partner received the appropriate pension benefits after her death? Or how four Latina lesbians spent 15 years in jail on false child abuse charges? These are just three of the many documentaries about lesbians that you should be watching.
Whether you’re spending this weekend vegging out on the couch, or you only have an hour or two spare, here are 12 of my must-watch documentaries starring lesbian or bisexual women. Relationships and Family Freeheld (2007)
Still from Freeheld Trailer
When Detective Laurel Hester is diagnosed with terminal cancer, all she wants to do is ensure that her partner Stacie will be financially provided for but the Freeholder Board in Ocean County, New Jersey, refuses to allow Laurel’s pension benefits to be passed on to Stacie; despite being legally allowed to.
As a result, Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s LGBTQ+ advocacy group, organizes hundreds of people to speak at each Freeholder meeting and for then-Governor Jon Corzine to call the Board about the issue until they finally relent. Their decision was made only a short time before Laurel’s death, meaning they’d made a dying woman fight until her last breath for this small bit of equality.
Mommy Mommy (2007)
Still from Mommy Mommy Trailer
Linda Ludwick and Mona Laviolette spent five long years trying to start a family in Quebec, but they ran into many problems.
After trying unsuccessfully to conceive naturally using a sperm donor, they approached their local fertility clinic only to learn that their services were not available to lesbians. Even after the homophobic policy was overturned- thanks to an official complaint filed by another couple and the Quebec Human Rights Commission- Linda and Mona were still unable to conceive.
They turned to adoption and, after learning that the wait for local adoptions could be as much as 10 years, attempted to adopt from the US. Problem? The only US adoption agency approved by Quebec was a Christian one that wouldn’t place children with same-sex couples.
Thankfully, they do manage to adopt two Canadian children, but it’s heartbreaking that two loving parents were prevented from stopping a family because of homophobia on two occasions.
A Union in Wait (2001)
Wendy Scott (left) and Susan Parker (right) in front of Wake Forest University’s Wait Chapel via Wikipedia
In 1997, long-time partners and Baptist Church members Susan Parker and Wendy Scott wanted to have a union ceremony in Wake Forest University’s Wait Chapel, but their request was denied by the traditional Baptist University.
However, Susan and Wendy- with the backing of their church, gay rights activists, and sympathetic members of the community- were prepared for a fight that made national headlines and divided the residents of North Carolina.
Sports Training Rules (2009)
Still from Training Rules Trailer
For 27 years, homophobe Rene Portland coached the women’s basketball program at Pennsylvania State University. Her policy was simple: “No Drinking, No Drugs, No Lesbians”. Any player caught violating these rules would be instantly cut from the team.
After Jennifer Harris was dropped from the team because of her sexuality in 2005, she filed a lawsuit- alongside other former players- with the help of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The case was settled out-of-court in 2007 with Portland resigning in disgrace.
This documentary catalogs the stories of these from Penn State players, including one who revealed that Portland had threatened to ‘out’ her to her parents, and exposes a wider problem of homophobia in sport. It should not have taken 27 years to get rid of Portland, especially when her policy violated Penn State’s non-discrimination policy (implemented in 1991).
Celebrity Tig (2015)
Still from Tig Trailer
This inspiring documentary follows comedian Tig Notaro through her battle with breast cancer, attempts to start a family with her fiancée Stephanie Allynn, and coping with the sudden death of her mother.
It was filmed in the twelve months following Tig’s diagnosis in 2012, beginning with her now-viral performance at the Largo, Los Angeles, in which she opened with the line: “Good evening. Hello. I have cancer. How are you?”
Wish Me Away (2011)
Still from Wish Me Away trailer
When country singer Chely Wright came out as gay in 2010, it was the sort of thing that could really shake-up a music genre that wasn’t really known for its support of gay and lesbian rights.
This catalogs Chely’s coming out journey over 3 years and how it affected her conservative family, her brand, and most importantly herself, featuring interviews from Chely and those closest to her.
Hit So Hard (2011)
Still from Hit So Hard trailer
Patty Schemel, the drummer of ’90s alternative band Hole, was on top of the world until the death of close friends drove her to drugs. Her addiction cost Patty her job, her relationship, her home, and very nearly her life.
Told through a mixture of Hi8 video footage from the band’s 1994-95 world tour and contemporary interviews with Patty’s friends, family, and bandmates, this documentary charts her rise, her fall, and her recovery.
Crime Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four (2016)
Still from Southwest of Salem trailer
Back in 1997 and 1998, four Latina lesbians were wrongfully convicted of the sexual assaults of two young girls and imprisoned for nearly 15 years. This documentary follows their fight for justice.
Elizabeth Ramirez had let her seven and nine-year-old nieces stay with her for a week in the summer of 1994, which led to her being accused of instigating a gang rape of the girls with her friends, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquez.
They were sentenced to 15 years each in prison, with the exception of Elizabeth who received a 37.5-year sentence, and three of the women lost access to their children.
The women were freed in 2012 after one of the nieces revealed that their father (Elizabeth’s brother-in-law) had pressured them to lie after being romantically rejected by Elizabeth.
Identity Butch Mystique (2003)
Still from Butch Mystique trailer
What does it mean to be black and a lesbian? Nine black butch lesbians from California attempt to answer the question by discussing coming out, societal perceptions and what the butch identify means to them.
Ultimately, this powerful intersectional documentary explores the interplay of race, sexuality, and gender and how this shapes lesbians of color and the world around them.
Notable interviewees include actress Skyler Cooper, fire-fighter Elyse Duckett who led desegregation efforts, musician Kymberly Jackson, and performance artist Pippa Fleming.
Keep Not Silent (2004)
Still from Keep Not Silent trailer
Orthodox Judaism forbids lesbianism but, as everyone knows, your religion doesn’t determine your sexuality.
This Israeli film follows three lesbians in Jerusalem who are members of Jewish lesbian group OrthoDykes. One woman, Yudit, is trying to ensure that her same-sex marriage complies with Orthodox rules as far as possible. Two other women are married to men but are not ready to come out. Miriam-Ester is suppressing her sexuality and has not come out to her husband, while Ruth’s husband allows her to see her female lover and acts as a beard for her.
It’s an interesting look into the struggle between sexuality and religion, and how some women are reconciling their beliefs with their true feelings.
Ladies and Gentlewomen (2017)
Director Malini Jeevarathinam in an interview about Ladies and Gentlewomen
Billed as a story about love, life, and suicide among lesbians, you might be worried that this film is too sad for you. While it does have its sad moments, director Malini Jeevarathnam’s goal was to increase the visibility of WLW in India in order to save them from committing suicide or being the victims of honor killings.
She interviewed activists, journalists, lawyers and ordinary people in order to get a wide range of viewpoints for the film, but lamented that many from the lesbian community were not ready to talk on camera.
Culture Last Call at Maud’s (1993)
Still from Last Call at Maud’s trailer
The closing down of lesbian bars is no new phenomenon. When lesbian bar Maud’s closed its doors in 1989, this film captured its final night and delved into the personal lives of its employees and patrons alike, including owner Rikki Streicher, poet Judy Grahn, writer Sally Gearhart, and Daughters of Bilitis founders Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon.
So what did you think of the list? Which are your favorites? Which did I leave out? Let me know in the comments below.
