GAYLETTER

Hollywood has a secret meant to disappear in the memories of those who have lived it. A secret that isn’t technically “new,” since it just turned eighty-seven years old. It is a secret hidden behind Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, and Katharine Hepburn. The secret was kept by a man who won three Oscars, designed costumes for 285 films, struggled with alcohol and shaped the look of the Golden Age of Hollywood. He also happened to be Cary Grant’s boyfriend. A love lost in the convenient homophobia of the 1930s American dream.

Australian filmmaker Gillian Armstrong has unearthed Orry George Kelly’s story in her new documentary, Women He’s Undressed. Through surrealist live narration in Kelly’s own voice and a network of interviews with timeless muses and industry heavyweights, the film crafts a confident persona of this uncompromising, gay Australian man whose legacy was lost because of his openness.

Armstrong sits down with actors like Angela Lansbury and Jane Fonda, and costume designers Catherine Martin of Moulin Rouge! and Colleen Atwood of Chicago to tease out the mechanics of the film industry and explore how Kelly behaved because of it. Through these conversations, we learn that Hollywood was (and probably still is) a boy’s club controlled by a handful of straight men at the head of each studio who were persistent on presenting the conventional family dynamic. Being openly gay in this environment was rare. “It was like being a communist,” laughs Fonda, one of the last to work with Kelly. …

In my opinion, you can never have enough queer film. Luckily, the first ever Outtakes Film Festival is going on right now at the historic Cherry Grove Community House and Theater on Fire Island. Cherry Grove has been a bastion of LGBT artistic expression since it began over 170 years ago. That’s a lot of homos making art. The film festival aims to commemorate Cherry Grove’s history while looking proudly into its future.

The Cherry Grove Archives Committee (CGAC) has been preserving every type of footage they can get their hands on. From 8 millimeter films to family photo albums, members of the community have generously donated their keepsakes in the name of conserving what makes Cherry Grove special. For Outtakes, the CGAC has put together documentaries, short films, and archival footage to create a truly special cinematic experience. Join in celebrating a place that’s known just as much for activism as it is for camp.

FREE (donations welcome), July 16 &17, Cherry Grove Community House and Theater, Fire Island, NY. …

“My name is Moises Serrano. I’m queer, undocumented, and unafraid.” With these words, Moises Serrano (pictured) came out publicly as both gay and undocumented, a second kind of closet most of us can’t even image having to grapple with. Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America is a documentary by Tiffany Rhynard, that follows the life of 23 year-old Moises as he struggles growing up in North Carolina. He is impossibly sweet and works tirelessly to raise awareness for migration reform.

Throughout the movie we follow his relationship with his boyfriend and his journey applying to college. What the film does best is what Moises often tries to do with his activism; it puts a face to a number. Undocumented immigrants are not simply a statistic we can throw around for the sake of a political argument. They are real people, facing serious problems, while also going through the ups and downs of life.

The film begins with the sound bite of Donald Trump’s racist hate speech regarding Mexicans, throwing us right into the thick of our current bleak political situation. There were over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States as of 2014, with obviously a significant portion of them belonging to the queer community. There is wide misinformation being constantly spread by politicians and the media about undocumented people. They work hard and contribute to society (and yes, they pay taxes), yet aren’t eligible for food stamps or medicaid, not to mention living in a constant state of fear. …

Golden is a short film by award-winning German director Kai Staenicke that follows the life of a boy who is noticeably different. The hesitant glances and awkward interactions are all too familiar to anyone who identifies as queer. Our protagonist shuffles through life until he finally finds someone else he can relate to and experiences what it’s like not to be lonely. At a time when standing out has never been scarier, it’s important to remember how special it is to be different.

Check out Golden here.

Kai Staenicke has won many international accolades such as “Most Promising Award” from Videonale in Berlin, “Outstanding Artistic Achievement” from Filmout Festival in San Diego and “Creative Directors Award” from the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival. His other work includes music videos and more experimental shorts.

Watch more of Staenicke’s work here. …

Growing Up Coy is a new documentary that follows the Mathis family fighting for their transgender daughter’s right to use the girls’ bathroom. The film takes place when Coy is six but her parents have known she was uncomfortable with her assigned gender since she was as young as 18 months. When Coy was stopped from using the girls’ bathroom at school, her parents sprung into action and filed a complaint. In the hopes of educating people and putting a very cute face to the cause, Coy’s parents then chose to go public with the help of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund. 

Directed by Eric Juhola and produced and edited by Jeremy Stulberg, the film is not always comfortable or easy to watch. It took a whole two minutes for me to tear up for the first time. As viewers, we see the hateful backlash thrown at both Coy and her parents, as well as the stress that this very public case puts on all members of the family. The movie also deals with the complicated matter of how to handle civil rights cases involving children. Is it okay to subject a six year old to public scrutiny in order to fight for her basic rights? Juhola does a fantastic job of putting the viewer in Coy’s shoes throughout the whole ordeal. We feel elated every time she’s able to play like a “normal” kid, and appropriately awkward as soon as she doesn’t want to do another interview with the press. …

According to author and playwright, Larry Kramer, this is a movie that needs to be made. But in order for that to happen the team behind After Louie need our help on Kickstarter. The film tells the story of Sam, played by Alan Cumming, an AIDS activist and member of ACT UP in the 1980s and 90s, who is desperate to reconcile his past with his present. A chance encounter with a younger man forces him to confront the trauma from years ago. At the helm of the project is director, Vincent Gagliostro, who was the original member of ACT UP and chaired the Communication and Graphics Outreach group. Here’s what he has to say:

“My film After Louie is a portrait of what happened to us — the generation who endured the AIDS epidemic, a generation whose shared history continues to haunt us. In confronting the end of a traumatic era and provoking a conversation between generations, I dare us to dream of a new and vibrant future, again. After Louie will be a testament to the joys of the fully lived life and the inseparability of art and living.”

The story is both relevant and urgent. In order to grow as a community, we must first learn and understand what came before us. The project is in good hands with Vincent at the helm, along with co-writer Anthony Johnston and actors Zachary Booth and Wilson Cruz. Act now! There are only two days left to help make this movie happen. …