BY FRANCESCA LEWIS
Lesbian.com

GLAAD Media Award-winning film and TV producer JD Disalvatore (Shelter, Elena Undone) is crowdfunding a hugely important project. After seeing reports on the news about pets being surrendered to shelters due to a rash of foreclosures in the area, JD started volunteering at her local animal shelter.

Being a filmmaker, she quickly started to use her skills to photograph and film the amazing animals and the inspiring people who cared for them. When she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, JD did not slow down. Putting on her activist hat, she launched an Indie GoGo for an ambitious and worthy project: a documentary film about East Valley Animal Shelter, highlighting the No-Kill movement that aims to stop the unnecessary euthanizing of hundreds of dogs and cats every year, and a series of free educational videos for social media.

I caught up with JD to talk animals, inspirations and her plans for the project.

One of the major aims of your film is to address the unnecessary euthanizing of unwanted animals. What is the “no kill” movement all about?

Most times the city shelters don’t have the budgets we would like, and unfortunately the stray dogs and cats keep coming and coming. When there is no more room at a facility, that’s when they start to euthanize for space. The No Kill movement has been kick-started in Los Angeles by a big, wonderful organization called BEST FRIENDS. They are working with local shelter and rescues to brand NKLA (No Kill LA). This is a multi-tiered movement that involves all areas of animal rescue and care. And everyone is working on it! San Francisco is already a no-kill city, so I know we can do it.

Many people who love animals avoid shelters as they imagine it will be too depressing. Do you hope to debunk such ideas with your film?

I can’t speak for all shelters, but the city shelter where I have been volunteering for seven years — East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys — we have tried our best to make it a clean, warm and welcoming place. Depending on where you are, the shelter experience will vary. If people are put off by the idea of going to a place where the animals might be euthanized, there are so many no-kill rescues in every town in America. But don’t discard the idea of going to your local shelter as this is where the need is the greatest for loving adopters. I don’t know that I can debunk any thinking on shelters, but I can honestly depict the shelters where I film, and hopefully that’ll educate and enlighten.

In addition to the film, you are also producing free educational videos, what will these focus on?

I’ve formed a volunteer/staff committee at the shelter where I volunteer, so we discuss and vote on projects like this there. We’ve already discussed and currently we are just starting Kitten Season, so the biggest need now will be a video about Bottle Feeder Fosters and kitten season. Last year, 29,000 cats were euthanized in LA County. So we have to get that number down. A lot of organizations are throwing a ton of money at this, and some exciting things are happening. So a good internet video will only help everyone’s efforts. Next, we have been examining our shelter and the trends there, and we believe a video about “How To Introduce Your New Dog or Cat to Your Pets” would be needed, as we get many returns based on this. We’ll also be making a wonderful How To Become a Dog/Cat Foster… I say wonderful because I just adore all our Foster Families at my shelter. They really save lives, and it can be so rewarding to be a pet foster.

It is very admirable of you to take this on given your health status. Do you feel it’s therapeutic to be with animals and to fight for this cause?

I’m sure my oncologist would freak out if he knew I was at a city shelter all the time, considering my minuscule white blood count, and all the germs and possibility of scratches and bites, but what the hell. You only live once. Yes. It’s hard to suddenly be handicapped and not be able to do all you could do before, especially if you were an active, type A film producer, but these animals don’t care. Sometimes all you have to do is go in a cage and comfort a scared, lonely dog or cat. I can certainly still do that.

You must have met so many lovely, inspirational creatures on this journey, any in particular that stand out or that inspired you?

The key for me is trying NOT to get attached to all the animals because they come and go so quickly. I’m currently in love with (and fighting for) a dog named Butch. Poor Butch, just no one wants him. I met him when I was doing a photo session when I tried to grab good shots of about 30 dogs. What struck me was that even though he’d been in medical for a month (it’s rather small and isolating back there, as it needs to be for them to heal) he was still a happy dog. He is a good boy. But again, they are all good boys. Then I found out he was in medical because he had CANCER. Which you know, explains perhaps the instant bond. Fortunately, the vet at the shelter removed many of his skin tumors and was able to remove all this cancer. Butch was kept in a backyard for the four years of his life, and he is fair skinned. These backyard dogs, it’s like they have no idea what a real home is and they love love. Butch has been in the shelter since last August, and every day I pray they don’t put him down. He survived cancer, for god’s sake. There is no hope for me, but there’s hope for Butch.

To learn more about JD’s work and support the How To Save A Dog project, visit her indiegogo page.

Francesca Lewis is a queer feminist writer from Yorkshire, UK. She has written for Curve Magazine, DIVA Magazine, xoJane and The Human Experience. You can find her opinion pieces on Medium. 

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BY FRANCESCA LEWIS

We all have that fantasy of finding a trunk of priceless family heirlooms in the attic, but in Jane Anderson’s case, such a discovery led to something a lot more fulfilling than money. Anderson, an award-winning writer/director whose most recent work Olive Kitteridge won an Emmy in 2014, has been surrounded by her Great Aunt Edith’s artwork all her life. Discovered by her mother in a bunch of old steamer trunks in the attic, they decorated the walls of her house when she was growing up. Not much was known about the mysterious Aunt Edith, except that she was born in the 1860s and spent the latter 30 years of her life in an asylum. As Anderson herself grew into a bohemian artist, living in New York, in part inspired by what she knew of her artsy Aunt Edith’s life, she became fascinated with this familial kindred spirit. Her mother would send her sketches, done by Edith when she was in New York herself, that were almost identical to the ones Anderson herself was making. Upon researching Edith’s life she learned two things – that Edith, like her, was a lesbian, spending her life with a “companion” named Fanny, and that it appeared that Edith’s incarceration was less about mental illness and more about a greedy attorney who wanted to get his mitts on her inheritance. Thus began a lifelong obsession with her aunt. Over the years Anderson tried to learn more about Edith Lake Wilkinson – her art, her life, her tragedy – and to get her recognised by the art world. Finally, reaching the same age Edith was when she was put away, happily married to her spouse Tess, she embarked upon this documentary project and her aunt’s story finally opened up in fascinating and surprising ways. The resulting film, Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson, is a lively, colorful film full of heart, beauty and sadness – part detective story, part history lesson, part love letter to a kindred spirit.

Probably the most wonderful thing about this film, other than the intriguing story, is Anderson herself. A bubbly character with a vibrant red bob and a selection of funky glasses, she makes this so much more entertaining than a film about a woman who was wrongly thrown into an asylum would typically be. Her relationship with Tess, who seems like the yin to her yang, a serene and centred presence, lends a sweet dimension to the film, also providing an interesting mirror to the relationship of Edith and Fanny. As is pointed out in the film, Jane and Tess have what Edith and Fanny were tragically denied: the freedom to be in love.

Packed In The Trunk would be a worthwhile film even if it focused on an untalented relative with the same backstory, but what is surprising is that Edith Lake Wilkinson’s work actually has a significant place in American art history. Edith was part of a group of modernists in Provincetown in the 1910/20s whose names are well known for their work with white line printmaking. Anderson learns in the film that there is compelling evidence, in the dating of a piece she possesses, that her Aunt originated the style. This leads to her being prominently featured in a show at the Provincetown Art Association Museum, a place Anderson had longed to see Edith’s work displayed for some time. It is the smaller show before this, however, held in a building Edith painted many years ago, where Jane and Tess lovingly decorate the walls Edith’s favourite shade of forest green, that feels like the real victory. There are a number of genuinely moving moments in this film but Anderson’s exuberance and playful humour ensures that it never becomes sentimental or maudlin.

The details of Edith’s life are never fully uncovered, but we do learn a few things. Edith Lake Wilkinson studied art, moved to New York, and later spent a lot of time in Provincetown where she was friends with prominent members of the art scene there. Provincetown was a place where bohemians and queer people could live safely – a tolerant and progressive haven. Unfortunately, it seems that all it took to doom Edith to a life of tragedy was an unscrupulous attorney, and at the age of 57, just as she planned to move to Paris to join the thriving art scene there, he had her committed to an asylum in order to steal her money. Her diagnosis: paranoia. Likely she told the staff her lawyer was robbing her blind, but this was the 1920s and nobody listened. Edith remained incarcerated until her death in the 1950s. A tragic tale indeed – an independent and talented woman, cut off in her prime – which makes her grand-niece’s crusade to have her properly recognised all the more poignant.

Packed In The Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson is delightful on a number of levels. Firstly, it charts Edith’s return to her proper place in American art history. Secondly, it provides a window into the life of a queer woman who lived a century ago – and into the strides society has made in the time since then. Thirdly, and for me most importantly, it is a very human, very touching story about love, passion and the ways that those who have gone before us, even if they passed before we ever lived, can still have a profound effect on our lives.

You can watch Packed In The Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson on Wolfe video.

Francesca Lewis is a queer feminist writer from Yorkshire, UK. She has written for Curve Magazine, DIVA Magazine, xoJane and The Human Experience. You can find her opinion pieces on Medium. 

The post “Packed In The Trunk” – Part Detective Story, Part History Lesson, Part Love Letter To A Kindred Spirit first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Russia officially welcomed gay athletes and spectators to the Sochi Winter Olympics, but in a country where it’s thought only 1 percent of gay people dare to live completely openly, it appears to be a hollow gesture.

“Dispatches”  gained unique access to the vigilante gangs that target gay men and women. The film depicts a country troubled by disturbing violence and distressing intimidation.

Six months after the Russian parliament unanimously passed a law to protect children from ‘non-traditional’ relationships, this film explores the terror that gay people in Russia are calling ‘hunting season’.

The post ‘Dispatches’ – Vigilante gangs and homophobia in Russia first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY EBONI RAFUS

The title of Yoruba Richen’s award-winning documentary documenting the fight for marriage equality in Maryland, “The New Black,” has a double meaning. On the one hand, the title speaks to the idea that some believe that gay rights, and in particular, marriage equality is the civil rights issue of our time, ergo that being queer today is like being black in the 1960s. The idea that gay is the new black is offensive to many black people as it suggests that the struggles that black people face due to race are in the past (i.e. we live in a post-racial world) or that the fight racial justice can somehow be usurped or replaced by the fight for LGBTQ rights. On the other hand, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) people, offers another meaning. Lettman-Hicks speaks passionately, striving to create a more inclusive black community. She believes sexuality is a taboo topic in the black community and would like to change that. She says, “With the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t tell for the military, we’re ready to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the black community.”

Read more at AfterEllen.com

AfterEllen is the pop culture site that plays for your team

The post ‘The New Black’: Documentary looks at queer black lives in America first appeared on Lesbian.com.

What does a lesbian look like? What kind of stereotypes to people have about lesbians’ appearances? Check out these video interviews with straight people, made by the creator of “Girl on Girl” which will feature Lauren Bedford Russell of the “Real L Word.”

The post Straight talk: What does a lesbian look like? first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BY LUCIEN MAE

Whoopi Goldberg’s directorial debut, a documentary about Moms Mabley, the first female comedian to make a living as a stand up comic, as well as one of the very few out lesbians on stage during her time, will debut exclusively on HBO on Nov 18. Moms Mabley is an important figure in queer black history, one that Goldberg is intent on bringing back to life after decades of obscurity.

Jackie “Moms” Mabley, a black woman who pushed the boundaries by talking about race, politics, sexuality, and gender openly on stage as early as the 20’s, donned floppy hats, old housecoats, and even took off her dentures on stage in order to cultivate the persona of a frumpy grandmother. The Moms Mabley persona became so convincing that many believed Jackie was Moms, on and off stage– though nothing could be further from the truth. Coming out at the age of 27, Mabley was reportedly a dandy butch lesbian, known for her sartorial finesse and her ability to hang with the boys.

Read more at dot429.com

The post Whoopi Goldberg brings iconic comedian Moms Mabley to life in new documentary first appeared on Lesbian.com.

It’s been over five and a half years since 14-year-old Brandon McInerney shot his Oxnard, California classmate Lawrence “Larry” King in the head out of disgust for his sexual orientation and gender identity. The murder occurred a year before the spate of LGBT teen suicides that prompted the “It Gets Better” campaign, serving as a significant wake-up call about the issue of anti-LGBT bullying in U.S. schools. The new documentary Valentine Road, premiering Monday night on HBO, tells the story of Larry’s death, Brandon’s trial, and the institutional failures that led both boys to their fates.

No doubt, Larry’s gender non-conforming identity is at the heart of the story. He liked to wear dresses, high heels, and make-up to school, and openly expressed attraction to Brandon. Administrators at E.O. Green Junior High School, who declined to be interviewed for the documentary, pathologized Larry’s identity, suggesting it was a “behavioral problem” that he should minimize, though he was permitted to continue dressing as he pleased. One teacher who did speak in the film, ardent Catholic Shirley Brown, explained that Larry did not know “the consequences of his actions,” adding that she could even relate to Brandon’s reaction.

Read more at ThinkProgress.org

The post New documentary sheds light on anti-LGBT bullying first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Trailer for the HBO documentary “Valentine Road” which focuses on anti-gay bullying and the institutional failures that allow it to occur.

The post Trailer: ‘Valentine Road’ first appeared on Lesbian.com.

One story central to the film uses spirituality as a pillar. Image via PierKidsTheLife.tumblr.com

BY JAMES NICHOLS
Huffington Post Gay Voices

A new documentary titled “Pier Kids: The Life” by director Elegance Bratton is attempting to provide visibility to the plights and struggles of the LGBT youth of color who gather in public spaces, like the area surrounding Christopher Street in New York’s Greenwich village, particularly in wake of rapid gentrification and privatization of the surrounding area. 

The attempt to force young, often homeless queer people of color out of these spaces has become an issue taken up by advocacy organizations such as FIERCE, who developed the “Save Spaces Saves Lives” campaign in an effort to preserve the Christopher Street Pier area as a public safe space for LGBT youth. Bratton’s film attempts to generate a dialogue about what could be done to fix the reality that the streets are often safer spaces than homeless shelters for queer youth, and evidence problems surrounding the lack access to healthcare for these individuals, particularly those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

According to a report released last year, 40 perfect of homeless youth are LGBT.

The learn more about “Pier Kids: The Life” or help fund the initiative, check out the project’s website.

Read more at Huffington Post Gay Voices

The post ‘Pier Kids’ documentary: LGBT youth of color, homelessness and safe spaces first appeared on Lesbian.com.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Title IX, ESPN announced last year that it would be putting together nine documentaries about women in sports. This week it is airing “Let Them Wear Towels” about women reporters and their struggle to gain access to men’s locker rooms so that they could do their jobs.

Read more at After Ellen.com

AfterEllen is the pop culture site that plays for your team.

The post ‘Let Them Wear Towels’ shares stories of female sports reporters first appeared on Lesbian.com.