Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives

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Compelling, often hilarious and always rebellious, nine women paint a portrait of lesbian sexuality against a backdrop of tabloid headlines, book covers and dramatizations from lesbian pulp novels.

This feature documentary delves into the rich history of Canadian queer women’s experiences in the mid-20th century. Compelling, often hilarious and always rebellious, the women interviewed in this film recount stories about their search for the places where openly gay women gathered in urban centres. Contemporary interviews, archival footage, and a stylized fictional narrative based on the pulp novels of the 1950s are woven throughout this simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and empowering film. Forbidden Love brings an important and empowering history of lesbian sexuality in Canada out of the closet.

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Main credits

Weissman, Aerlyn (film director)
Weissman, Aerlyn (screenwriter)
Fernie, Lynn (film director)
Fernie, Lynn (screenwriter)
Pettigrew, Margaret (film producer)
Stikeman, Ginny (film producer)
Morgenstern, Stéphanie (actor)
Adams, Lynne (actor)
Thério, Marie-Jo (actor)

Other credits

Director of photography, Zoe Dirse; edited by Cathy Gulkin, Denise Beaudoin; music, Kathryn Moses.

MARC Record See Worldcat record

Keywords

; "Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives"; National Film Board of Canada; lesbian; popular culture;

WEBVTT

00:00:15.918 --> 00:00:23.918
♪ Fifties rock
and roll music ♪

00:00:54.584 --> 00:00:56.666
[ Radio Announcer ]:
AND NOW, A PRETTY BALLAD

00:00:56.667 --> 00:01:00.208
THAT\'S CLIMBING THE CHARTS,
\"TELL LAURA I LOVE HER\",

00:01:00.209 --> 00:01:02.458
A TRAGIC TALE
OF TEENAGE LOVE.

00:01:02.459 --> 00:01:04.875
[ Switches to another station ]

00:01:04.876 --> 00:01:12.876
♪ Fifties ballad ♪

00:01:35.083 --> 00:01:37.166
HONEY, MAYBE IT
WOULD BE EASIER

00:01:37.167 --> 00:01:40.625
FOR LAURA IF SHE
DIDN\'T SEE YOU AGAIN.

00:01:40.626 --> 00:01:43.626
BUT I NEED
TO SEE HER.

00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:52.626
LAURA?

00:01:53.250 --> 00:01:55.249
[ Train whistle ]

00:01:55.250 --> 00:01:58.917
I JUST HAD TO COME
AND SAY GOODBYE.

00:01:58.918 --> 00:02:00.041
BILL DROVE ME.

00:02:00.042 --> 00:02:01.918
[ Car door closing ]

00:02:08.167 --> 00:02:12.082
OH MEG, I THOUGHT YOU
MIGHT BE COMING WITH ME.

00:02:12.083 --> 00:02:14.291
NO, I JUST
HAD TO...

00:02:14.292 --> 00:02:16.041
COME WITH ME!

00:02:16.042 --> 00:02:19.708
OH MEG, WE COULD
BE SO HAPPY.

00:02:19.709 --> 00:02:21.751
[ Whispers ]: PLEASE.

00:02:25.042 --> 00:02:26.042
PLEASE...

00:02:26.043 --> 00:02:28.751
[ Conductor ]: ALL ABOARD!

00:02:41.709 --> 00:02:44.167
[ Whispers ]: NO...

00:02:45.584 --> 00:02:47.292
NO...

00:02:58.751 --> 00:03:00.625
[ Train whistle ]

00:03:00.626 --> 00:03:08.626
♪ Music ♪

00:03:13.751 --> 00:03:21.751
♪ I WAS SUCH A FOOL ♪

00:03:22.459 --> 00:03:30.459
♪ TO FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU ♪

00:03:31.334 --> 00:03:36.208
♪ I WAS SUCH A FOOL ♪

00:03:36.209 --> 00:03:44.209
♪ TO THINK
YOU\'D LOVE ME TOO ♪

00:03:45.751 --> 00:03:52.041
♪ \'CAUSE SUDDENLY
SOMETHING HAPPENED ♪

00:03:52.042 --> 00:04:00.042
♪ YOUR LOVE
FLICKERED AND DIED ♪

00:04:00.250 --> 00:04:03.374
♪ BUT MINE ♪

00:04:03.375 --> 00:04:06.041
♪ MINE KEPT RIGHT
ON BURNING ♪

00:04:06.042 --> 00:04:10.082
♪ THEN BURST INTO A TORCH ♪

00:04:10.083 --> 00:04:12.958
♪ IMPOSSIBLE TO HIDE ♪

00:04:12.959 --> 00:04:17.750
♪ I WAS SUCH A FOOL ♪

00:04:17.751 --> 00:04:23.333
♪ TO THINK THAT
YOU WERE MINE ♪

00:04:23.334 --> 00:04:27.249
MY MOTHER WAS HAVING
A BIT OF A PROBLEM WITH ME,

00:04:27.250 --> 00:04:30.541
YOU KNOW, MY SEXUALITY,
AND SO...

00:04:30.542 --> 00:04:35.708
I REMEMBER ONCE SHE WRITING ME
THAT SHE WAS READING THESE BOOKS

00:04:35.709 --> 00:04:37.082
TO UNDERSTAND ME BETTER;

00:04:37.083 --> 00:04:39.625
THAT WAS THE WORST
KIND OF LITERATURE

00:04:39.626 --> 00:04:42.583
SHE COULD READ,
NEXT TO THE KINSEY REPORT.

00:04:42.584 --> 00:04:45.583
THE BOOKS WERE DISPLAYED
WITH THE OTHER BOOKS,

00:04:45.584 --> 00:04:46.708
AND YOU HAD TO DIG FOR THEM.

00:04:46.709 --> 00:04:50.249
THE ONLY WAY TO IDENTIFY THEM
WAS BY PICTURES ON THE COVER.

00:04:50.250 --> 00:04:53.416
AS SOON AS I\'D SEE
A PICTURE OF TWO WOMEN,

00:04:53.417 --> 00:04:55.416
I\'D SAY, THIS HAS TO BE ONE.

00:04:55.417 --> 00:04:58.791
♪ Music ♪

00:04:58.792 --> 00:05:01.416
[ Stephanie ]: AND I USED
TO TAKE THEM BABY-SITTING.

00:05:01.417 --> 00:05:04.958
WHEN THE PEOPLE WENT OUT,
I WOULD SIT AND READ

00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.666
THESE LESBIAN NOVELS
WHEN NOBODY WAS AROUND.

00:05:07.667 --> 00:05:11.666
[ Ann Bannon ]: THERE WAS
A GOLDEN AGE OF LESBIAN WRITING

00:05:11.667 --> 00:05:14.416
AND PUBLISHING THAT CAME TO PASS

00:05:14.417 --> 00:05:17.249
IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES...

00:05:17.250 --> 00:05:20.750
AND I THINK WE SUDDENLY
REACHED OUT AND CONNECTED

00:05:20.751 --> 00:05:22.666
WITH WOMEN WHO WERE
VERY ISOLATED

00:05:22.667 --> 00:05:25.708
AND SEQUESTERED, ALMOST,
IN LITTLE TOWNS

00:05:25.709 --> 00:05:27.750
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

00:05:27.751 --> 00:05:30.791
♪ Music ♪

00:05:30.792 --> 00:05:34.082
I THINK THAT\'S ONE REASON
WHY PAPERBACK ORIGINALS

00:05:34.083 --> 00:05:36.249
WHICH DEALT WITH
A LESBIAN THEME

00:05:36.250 --> 00:05:38.625
BECAME SO VALUABLE
TO SO MANY WOMEN.

00:05:38.626 --> 00:05:41.875
THEY WERE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED
AND THEY SAID,

00:05:41.876 --> 00:05:44.833
THIS IS WHO SOME
OF YOUR SISTERS ARE.

00:05:44.834 --> 00:05:47.166
[ Reva ]: I DON\'T REMEMBER
ALL THE AUTHORS,

00:05:47.167 --> 00:05:50.958
I JUST REMEMBER ALL THE BOOKS,
AND THERE WERE TONS OF THEM.

00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.875
AND THEY ALL HAD GREAT COVERS...
VERY SUGGESTIVE

00:05:54.876 --> 00:05:57.626
AND ENTRANCING.

00:06:02.792 --> 00:06:07.583
AND THE STORIES WERE ALL SORT OF
LIKE THE ROMANCE NOVELS TODAY:

00:06:07.584 --> 00:06:09.249
THERE WAS SORT OF A FORMULA.

00:06:09.250 --> 00:06:13.791
BUTCH MEETS STRAIGHT LITTLE
FEMME AND THEY FALL IN LOVE

00:06:13.792 --> 00:06:16.708
AND, OF COURSE, IT HAD
A TRAGIC SORT OF ENDING.

00:06:16.709 --> 00:06:22.416
IT NEVER... RARELY WORKED
OUT TO ANYBODY\'S JOY.

00:06:22.417 --> 00:06:23.125
OH, WELL.

00:06:23.126 --> 00:06:27.791
[ Bannon ]: I THINK WOMEN
WRITING IN THE 50s AND 60s

00:06:27.792 --> 00:06:29.751
FOR THE PAPERBACK
HOUSES IN PARTICULAR

00:06:29.792 --> 00:06:32.500
WERE OFTEN CONSTRAINED
BY THE KIND OF FORMULA

00:06:32.501 --> 00:06:36.542
THAT THE PUBLISHER
IMPOSED ON THEM.

00:06:40.876 --> 00:06:44.041
SOME KIND OF RETRIBUTION
WAS ESSENTIAL AT THE END

00:06:44.042 --> 00:06:48.833
SO YOU COULD LET THEM HAVE
A LITTLE FUN IN THE MEANTIME.

00:06:48.834 --> 00:06:51.333
AND PRESUMABLY,
ENTERTAIN THE READER.

00:06:51.334 --> 00:06:53.875
BUT IT WAS NOT TO GO UNPUNISHED,

00:06:53.876 --> 00:06:56.208
SO AT THE END OF
A STORY LIKE THAT,

00:06:56.209 --> 00:06:58.333
ONE OR BOTH OF
THE WOMEN HAD TO DIE

00:06:58.334 --> 00:07:01.583
OR BE ESSENTIALLY SHIPPED OUT
OF THE COUNTRY,

00:07:01.584 --> 00:07:05.541
OR UNDERGO SOME CALAMITY
THAT WOULD BREAK HER HEART

00:07:05.542 --> 00:07:10.083
OR BREAK HER SPIRIT
OR END HER LIFE!

00:07:11.125 --> 00:07:13.750
IF THERE WAS ONE GOOD THING

00:07:13.751 --> 00:07:16.583
THAT CAME OUT OF
GOLD MEDAL BOOKS

00:07:16.584 --> 00:07:18.082
LEAVING ME TO MY OWN DEVICES,

00:07:18.083 --> 00:07:21.124
IT WAS THAT I DIDN\'T
HAVE TO DO THAT.

00:07:21.125 --> 00:07:22.917
MY WOMEN SURVIVED.

00:07:22.918 --> 00:07:25.791
THEY LOVED HARD,
AND THEY LOST HARD,

00:07:25.792 --> 00:07:30.918
BUT THEY WON A FEW,
AND THEY DIDN\'T DIE.

00:07:31.209 --> 00:07:34.166
THEY\'D FIND WAYS
IN THE COVER BLURBS

00:07:34.167 --> 00:07:36.541
TO SAY \"MUST SOCIETY REJECT ME?\"

00:07:36.542 --> 00:07:42.333
OR THIS KIND OF VERY OBVIOUS
NONE-TOO-SUBTLE CLUE.

00:07:42.334 --> 00:07:43.999
THEY DIDN\'T WANT IT SUBTLE;

00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:45.917
THEY WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW

00:07:45.918 --> 00:07:49.667
THEY WERE BUYING SOMETHING
WITH A LESBIAN THEME.

00:08:01.334 --> 00:08:02.958
I LIKED \"WE TOO ARE DRIFTING\",

00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:07.166
AND \"THE PRICE OF SALT\" WAS
GREAT BECAUSE IT ENDED HAPPILY

00:08:07.167 --> 00:08:08.917
INSTEAD OF
THIS MISERABLE SITUATION

00:08:08.918 --> 00:08:13.124
WHERE THE WOMAN HAD TO FALL
INTO SOMEBODY\'S ARMS.

00:08:13.125 --> 00:08:14.458
YOU KNOW, THE OLD MYTH.

00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:19.082
THE WHOLE WORLD IS FULL
OF STUPID MYTHS ABOUT WOMEN.

00:08:19.083 --> 00:08:21.374
\"ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS MEET A GOOD MAN,

00:08:21.375 --> 00:08:25.541
AND YOU\'LL BE ALL RIGHT...
YOU WON\'T NEED WOMEN ANY MORE.\"

00:08:25.542 --> 00:08:33.082
♪ Music ♪

00:08:33.083 --> 00:08:37.249
WHEN I FIRST STARTED WRITING,
I WOULD TRAVEL FROM PHILADELPHIA

00:08:37.250 --> 00:08:40.958
WHERE WE WERE LIVING UP TO
NEW YORK BY COMMUTER TRAIN,

00:08:40.959 --> 00:08:43.458
AND BEELINE RIGHT DOWN
TO GREENWICH VILLAGE,

00:08:43.459 --> 00:08:47.416
AND SOMETIMES I WOULD SPEND
LONG HOURS SIMPLY WALKING

00:08:47.417 --> 00:08:50.583
UP AND DOWN THE STREETS
OF THE VILLAGE

00:08:50.584 --> 00:08:52.082
TO SOAK IT UP,
MAKE IT MINE,

00:08:52.083 --> 00:08:56.124
BECAUSE I COULD ONLY HAVE
THESE LITTLE MOMENTS.

00:08:56.125 --> 00:09:00.041
IT WAS NEVER MORE
THAN A WEEK AT A TIME.

00:09:00.042 --> 00:09:01.666
IT MATTERED TO ME,

00:09:01.667 --> 00:09:05.291
AND THEREFORE IT WAS
IMPRINTED ON ALL MY SENSES

00:09:05.292 --> 00:09:08.249
AS SOMETHING TO TAKE
AWAY WITH ME AND KEEP

00:09:08.250 --> 00:09:12.876
AND USE TO MINE IT
FOR MY SUBSEQUENT WRITING.

00:09:13.584 --> 00:09:18.041
IT LEFT ME WITH A SORT OF
MAGIC PLACE IN MY MIND

00:09:18.042 --> 00:09:21.917
AND IMAGINATION, THIS GREENWICH
VILLAGE IN THE 1950s, THAT I...

00:09:21.918 --> 00:09:26.041
MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD HAVE SAID
IT\'S A DIAMOND IN YOUR POCKET.

00:09:26.042 --> 00:09:30.374
YOU CARRY THAT WITH YOU FOREVER,
AND IT FEEDS THE STORIES.

00:09:30.375 --> 00:09:32.666
♪ Music ♪

00:09:32.667 --> 00:09:35.291
[ Male ]:IN THE LAST 50 YEARS,
THERE\'S BEEN

00:09:35.292 --> 00:09:38.291
A REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE
IN THE STATUS OF WOMEN.

00:09:38.292 --> 00:09:40.416
IN MOST PARTS OF
THE WESTERN WORLD,

00:09:40.417 --> 00:09:41.917
WOMEN CAN VOTE, OWN PROPERTY,

00:09:41.918 --> 00:09:45.750
AND PRACTISE ANY PROFESSION
WITHIN THEIR CAPABILITIES.

00:09:45.751 --> 00:09:50.333
♪ Music ♪

00:09:50.334 --> 00:09:55.666
BEAUTY, HOWEVER, IS STILL ONE OF
THE CHIEF ATTRIBUTES OF WOMEN.

00:09:55.667 --> 00:09:57.416
♪ Music ♪

00:09:57.417 --> 00:10:01.666
THE WOMAN OF TODAY IS TRYING
TO SOLVE HER PROBLEMS

00:10:01.667 --> 00:10:04.124
IN THE WAY OF THE 20th CENTURY.

00:10:04.125 --> 00:10:06.458
AROUND HER SHE SEES
MODERN HOUSEHOLD AIDS:

00:10:06.459 --> 00:10:10.917
PRESSURE COOKERS, FREEZERS,
TINY GARBAGE DISPOSAL UNITS,

00:10:10.918 --> 00:10:13.333
LIGHTWEIGHT IRONS,
AND A HOST MORE.

00:10:13.334 --> 00:10:15.833
AND SHE WANTS THEM ALL...
BUT FOR MANY,

00:10:15.834 --> 00:10:21.000
THE IDEAL KITCHEN
IS STILL ONLY A DREAM.

00:10:22.417 --> 00:10:23.666
WHETHER IT\'S CAREERS

00:10:23.667 --> 00:10:27.416
OR CRADLES OR BOTH,
THE WOMAN OF TODAY

00:10:27.417 --> 00:10:29.416
IN EVERY FIELD OF ACTIVITY

00:10:29.417 --> 00:10:33.416
WELCOMES THESE NEW PLANS
FOR BETTER LIVING.

00:10:33.417 --> 00:10:37.833
ALTHOUGH SHE WILL NEVER ABANDON
HER ROLE AS WIFE AND MOTHER,

00:10:37.834 --> 00:10:40.166
SHE LOOKS FORWARD
TO A GREATER SHARE

00:10:40.167 --> 00:10:41.999
IN THE WORLD OF TODAY...

00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.042
AND TOMORROW.

00:10:45.709 --> 00:10:51.166
A WORLD WHICH CAN BE
AN ADVENTURE IN HAPPINESS!

00:10:51.167 --> 00:10:56.542
♪ Music ♪

00:10:59.417 --> 00:11:00.666
[ Reva ]: WELL, ACTUALLY,

00:11:00.667 --> 00:11:04.750
I GOT MARRIED WHEN
I WAS JUST TURNED 21,

00:11:04.751 --> 00:11:06.791
AND I GOT INVOLVED
WITH A FRIEND,

00:11:06.792 --> 00:11:10.999
AND SHE HAD COME ACROSS ALL
THESE WONDERFUL LESBIAN NOVELS,

00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:15.124
AND SHE SAID, \"I\'D LIKE YOU
TO READ THIS GREAT BOOK.\"

00:11:15.125 --> 00:11:18.708
AND THEN SHE GAVE ME ONE,
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE,

00:11:18.709 --> 00:11:21.917
BY NOW I WAS SORT OF
GETTING HOOKED ON THE STORIES,

00:11:21.918 --> 00:11:26.625
AND AT SOME POINT SHE CONFESSED,
\"WELL, I THINK I\'M LIKE THAT.\"

00:11:26.626 --> 00:11:29.625
I FREAKED OUT AND SAID,
\"OH NO! NOT LIKE THAT!\"

00:11:29.626 --> 00:11:33.917
WHATEVER THAT WAS BECAUSE IT
WAS ALL A NEW EXPERIENCE TO ME.

00:11:33.918 --> 00:11:38.833
EVENTUALLY I SORT OF THOUGHT
MAYBE I\'M LIKE THAT TOO.

00:11:38.834 --> 00:11:42.082
♪ Music ♪

00:11:42.083 --> 00:11:44.082
ULTIMATELY WE GOT IT TOGETHER,

00:11:44.083 --> 00:11:47.917
AND I JUST LEFT
MY HUSBAND AND, UH...

00:11:47.918 --> 00:11:51.333
SORT OF TOOK ON A NEW LIFE.

00:11:51.334 --> 00:11:55.500
♪ Music ♪

00:11:55.501 --> 00:11:56.417
AT ONE POINT WE THOUGHT,

00:11:56.418 --> 00:11:59.917
ALL THE LESBIANS OBVIOUSLY
LIVE IN GREENWICH VILLAGE...

00:11:59.918 --> 00:12:01.958
AT LEAST THE BOOKS SAID THAT...

00:12:01.959 --> 00:12:07.459
SO WE DECIDED WE HAD TO GO
AND FIND THE LESBIANS!

00:12:09.250 --> 00:12:11.249
SO I PUT ON WHAT I THOUGHT

00:12:11.250 --> 00:12:12.583
WAS MY BEST BUTCH CLOTHING...

00:12:12.584 --> 00:12:15.625
\'CAUSE WE THOUGHT THEY
WERE ALL BUTCH AND FEMME.

00:12:15.626 --> 00:12:19.917
I PUT ON MY RED BLAZER,
A TIE, A SHIRT, AND DARK PANTS.

00:12:19.918 --> 00:12:21.708
AND MY LOVER WORE A DRESS,

00:12:21.709 --> 00:12:23.917
AND OFF WE WENT
TO GREENWICH VILLAGE

00:12:23.918 --> 00:12:25.124
TO LOOK FOR THE LESBIANS!

00:12:25.125 --> 00:12:28.666
WE ASKED TAXI DRIVERS
AND POKED AROUND

00:12:28.667 --> 00:12:30.875
AND WENT IN HERE AND THERE,

00:12:30.876 --> 00:12:32.500
AND WE NEVER FOUND THEM!

00:12:32.501 --> 00:12:33.459
IT WAS A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT.

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:37.124
PEOPLE THOUGHT WE LOOKED
STRANGE, THEY LOOKED AT US

00:12:37.125 --> 00:12:40.917
A LITTLE BIT OUT OF
THE CORNER OF THEIR EYES.

00:12:40.918 --> 00:12:42.374
WE SURVIVED THAT VENTURE,

00:12:42.375 --> 00:12:46.500
BUT THAT WASN\'T THE LESBIANS
THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

00:12:46.501 --> 00:12:49.583
THEY JUST WEREN\'T THERE,
OR WE DIDN\'T RECOGNIZE THEM

00:12:49.584 --> 00:12:54.208
\'CAUSE THEY WEREN\'T WEARING
BUTCH AND FEMME THINGS.

00:12:54.209 --> 00:13:02.209
♪ Bongo drums ♪

00:13:04.250 --> 00:13:07.416
I HAD MY FIRST AFFAIR
WHEN I WAS 13.

00:13:07.417 --> 00:13:09.416
I MET A 20-YEAR-OLD WOMAN.

00:13:09.417 --> 00:13:11.583
I REMEMBER THE DAY I MET HER,

00:13:11.584 --> 00:13:14.917
BECAUSE I WENT TO VISIT
HER AUNT AT HER HOUSE,

00:13:14.918 --> 00:13:18.500
AND I WALKED IN THE DOOR
AND SHE LOOKED ME OVER.

00:13:18.501 --> 00:13:20.249
I SAID, \"MY NAME IS STEPHANIE.\"

00:13:20.250 --> 00:13:23.082
SHE SAID,
\"OH, WHAT A LOVELY NAME.\"

00:13:23.083 --> 00:13:24.791
AND WE WERE OFF.

00:13:24.792 --> 00:13:26.500
IT ONLY LASTED A FEW DAYS,

00:13:26.501 --> 00:13:29.625
BUT I KNEW WHAT
I WAS FOR SURE THEN.

00:13:29.626 --> 00:13:33.166
I GOT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
MOSTLY BY DATING...

00:13:33.167 --> 00:13:36.999
SUBCONSCIOUSLY, ACTUALLY...
GAY MEN, GAY YOUNG MEN.

00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.500
I LIKED TO DANCE A LOT,

00:13:38.501 --> 00:13:42.999
AND I WOULD FIND A YOUNG MAN
WHO LIKED TO DANCE TOO.

00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:44.249
WE WOULD GO TO
DANCES, MOVIES.

00:13:44.250 --> 00:13:48.082
THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL INTIMACY
AT ALL, SO IT WAS JUST GREAT.

00:13:48.083 --> 00:13:51.833
THEY STILL THOUGHT, \"STEPH\'S
IN LOVE WITH THIS GUY.\"

00:13:51.834 --> 00:13:52.917
I\'D JUST GO HOME

00:13:52.918 --> 00:13:57.041
AND LAUGH UP MY SLEEVE,
BUT IT GOT ME PAST.

00:13:57.042 --> 00:14:05.042
♪ Rock music ♪

00:14:16.209 --> 00:14:20.625
I WAS GOING TO SLEEP WITH
THIS WOMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME,

00:14:20.626 --> 00:14:23.999
AND SHE WAS MUCH OLDER THAN I...

00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.416
OH GEE, IT WAS SO GOOD.

00:14:25.417 --> 00:14:30.249
AND I HAD A GOOD TIME,
BUT WHEN I CAME BACK HOME

00:14:30.250 --> 00:14:33.291
I DECIDED TO TELL
MY MOTHER WHAT I DID.

00:14:33.292 --> 00:14:35.917
AND BOY, DID I MAKE A MISTAKE.

00:14:35.918 --> 00:14:39.291
I MEAN, SHE BEAT
THE SHIT OUT OF ME.

00:14:39.292 --> 00:14:41.333
AND IT WAS LIKE PUNISHMENT.

00:14:41.334 --> 00:14:43.208
SHE LOCKED ME UP IN THE ROOM.

00:14:43.209 --> 00:14:46.416
AND I\'M NOT LYING,
EVERY HOUR SHE\'D COME IN

00:14:46.417 --> 00:14:51.416
AND SLAP ME ACROSS THE FACE,
AND CALL ME A \"DIRTY...\"

00:14:51.417 --> 00:14:55.167
WELL, YOU SEE, THE WORD IS...

00:14:55.709 --> 00:14:57.208
LIKE A TORTILLA.

00:14:57.209 --> 00:15:00.292
SHE\'D SAY,
\"YOU DIRTY TORTILLERA.\"

00:15:00.792 --> 00:15:02.082
AND I WOULD CRY.

00:15:02.083 --> 00:15:05.458
AND I SAID,
\"MOTHER, BUT I LOVE HER.\"

00:15:05.459 --> 00:15:09.583
\"NO, YOU DON\'T LOVE A WOMAN,
YOU LOVE A MAN.\"

00:15:09.584 --> 00:15:14.583
AND I SAID, \"I\'M SORRY,
I LOVE A WOMAN, AND THAT\'S IT.\"

00:15:14.584 --> 00:15:20.709
[ Bird calling ]

00:15:33.792 --> 00:15:36.625
[ Keeley ]: I WAS BORN
IN NORTHERN ALBERTA

00:15:36.626 --> 00:15:40.082
ABOUT 60 MILES FROM
DAWSON CREEK, UP IN THE BUSH.

00:15:40.083 --> 00:15:43.750
WE DID MOST OF OUR FARMING
AND TRAVELLING WITH HORSES.

00:15:43.751 --> 00:15:47.416
MY PARENTS CAME FROM EUROPE,
AND SETTLED IN THERE,

00:15:47.417 --> 00:15:50.583
AND THAT COUNTRY
OPENED UP IN \'38.

00:15:50.584 --> 00:15:51.750
THAT\'S WHERE I GREW UP

00:15:51.751 --> 00:15:54.917
AND BECAME THE BEAUTIFUL
PERSON I AM TODAY.

00:15:54.918 --> 00:15:56.584
[ She laughs ]

00:15:59.250 --> 00:16:02.958
YEAH, WELL, I ALWAYS HAD
THIS ATTRACTION FOR WOMEN.

00:16:02.959 --> 00:16:07.249
AND I HAD THIS DREAM ABOUT
THIS TEACHER WHEN I WAS 14.

00:16:07.250 --> 00:16:12.082
I WENT TO SCHOOL, AND SHE WAS
TEACHING THERE, SHE WAS 19.

00:16:12.083 --> 00:16:15.082
AND SHE WAS AT THIS LOCAL PICNIC

00:16:15.083 --> 00:16:17.583
AND ALL THE BOYS
WERE HANGING AROUND

00:16:17.584 --> 00:16:22.541
\'CAUSE SHE LOOKED LIKE THE BRECK
SHAMPOO GIRL OR SOMETHING.

00:16:22.542 --> 00:16:24.458
AND I WAS HANGING
AROUND, ADORING HER.

00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:28.999
THEN WHEN I WENT HOME THAT NIGHT
I WAS SLEEPING AND I DREAMT

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:33.208
THAT I WAS SITTING IN
THIS FIELD FULL OF FLOWERS.

00:16:33.209 --> 00:16:36.041
THEY WERE ALL
PURPLISH-BLUE FLOWERS.

00:16:36.042 --> 00:16:39.249
I SAW THIS FIGURE
COMING AT A DISTANCE.

00:16:39.250 --> 00:16:43.333
AND SHE HAD THIS
BIG PICTURE HAT ON

00:16:43.334 --> 00:16:44.583
AND THIS GAUZY DRESS

00:16:44.584 --> 00:16:49.583
WITH THE SAME PATTERN OF FLOWERS
AS I WAS SURROUNDED WITH.

00:16:49.584 --> 00:16:52.208
AND THEN AS SHE CAME
NEAR ME I LOOKED UP

00:16:52.209 --> 00:16:55.708
AND SHE STOOPED OVER
AND KISSED MY FOREHEAD.

00:16:55.709 --> 00:16:58.208
AND I LOOKED UP
AND IT WAS HER.

00:16:58.209 --> 00:17:02.416
AND THEN AFTERWARDS,
I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL THERE,

00:17:02.417 --> 00:17:04.500
AND SHE WAS THE TEACHER...

00:17:04.501 --> 00:17:07.791
SHE WAS TEACHING
CORRESPONDENCE OR SOMETHING...

00:17:07.792 --> 00:17:10.208
AND WE STARTED
HAVING THIS AFFAIR,

00:17:10.209 --> 00:17:12.833
BUT WE WEREN\'T VERY
DISCREET ABOUT IT.

00:17:12.834 --> 00:17:16.082
WE WERE, YOU KNOW,
CARRYING ON IN THE SCHOOL

00:17:16.083 --> 00:17:19.999
AND THE KIDS WERE ALL RUNNING
AROUND PEEKING IN THE WINDOWS.

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.291
YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY,
SHE HAD TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL.

00:17:24.292 --> 00:17:31.375
AND THAT WAS A FAIRLY
ABRUPT ENDING TO THE AFFAIR.

00:17:32.042 --> 00:17:36.999
♪ Romantic music ♪

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:40.583
[ Jeanne ]: I WOULD GET
THESE VIOLENT CRUSHES,

00:17:40.584 --> 00:17:41.917
AND ALWAYS ON GIRLS.

00:17:41.918 --> 00:17:47.166
AND I DIDN\'T PARTICULARLY
WONDER ABOUT IT.

00:17:47.167 --> 00:17:50.666
BUT I RECALL WHEN
I WAS 15 0R 16

00:17:50.667 --> 00:17:53.500
TAKING A BOOK OUT
OF THE LIBRARY

00:17:53.501 --> 00:17:56.750
IT WAS CALLED \"SERENADE\"
BY JAMES M. CAIN.

00:17:56.751 --> 00:17:58.875
I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT MUSIC,

00:17:58.876 --> 00:18:01.249
WHICH IS WHAT
ATTRACTED ME TO IT,

00:18:01.250 --> 00:18:02.875
BUT WHEN I GOT IT HOME

00:18:02.876 --> 00:18:05.416
IT WAS THE STORY OF
A MALE HOMOSEXUAL.

00:18:05.417 --> 00:18:12.125
I THOUGHT, GEE, BOTH SEXES...
AND I WAS SURPRISED.

00:18:12.417 --> 00:18:18.416
MY FIRST REAL RELATIONSHIP
WAS WHEN I WAS 22,

00:18:18.417 --> 00:18:20.791
WHICH WOULD BE 1946.

00:18:20.792 --> 00:18:24.791
AND I MET HER THROUGH A FRIEND

00:18:24.792 --> 00:18:27.833
WHO WORKED AT
THE SAME OFFICE I DID.

00:18:27.834 --> 00:18:31.166
AND IT WAS JUST... DYNAMITE;

00:18:31.167 --> 00:18:35.791
IT WAS LIKE BEING RUN OVER
BY A TEN-TON TRUCK.

00:18:35.792 --> 00:18:36.917
♪ Music ♪

00:18:36.918 --> 00:18:41.082
WE USED TO GO TO MOVIES
AND NECK AND HOLD HANDS.

00:18:41.083 --> 00:18:44.416
WE\'D WRITE A LOVE
LETTER EVERY NIGHT,

00:18:44.417 --> 00:18:46.082
AND WE\'D MEET IN RESTAURANTS

00:18:46.083 --> 00:18:49.666
AND WE\'D BE STARING
INTO EACH OTHER\'S EYES.

00:18:49.667 --> 00:18:53.416
I MEAN, WHY WOULD WE
HIDE IT, YOU KNOW?

00:18:53.417 --> 00:18:57.041
WE COULDN\'T HAVE ANYWAY...
IT WAS TOO STRONG.

00:18:57.042 --> 00:18:58.666
♪ Piano music ♪

00:18:58.667 --> 00:19:01.917
WE USED TO RENT A BOOTH
AT HEINTZMAN\'S...

00:19:01.918 --> 00:19:04.791
IT WAS 25 CENTS AN HOUR...

00:19:04.792 --> 00:19:06.750
AND SHE WOULD PLAY THE PIANO.

00:19:06.751 --> 00:19:10.583
SO WE\'D GET A BOTTLE OF RYE
AND WE\'D HEAD OVER

00:19:10.584 --> 00:19:14.166
TO HEINTZMAN\'S AND
HAVE MUSIC AND DRINKS,

00:19:14.167 --> 00:19:16.249
AND WE ENJOYED THAT.

00:19:16.250 --> 00:19:17.291
♪ Piano music ♪

00:19:17.292 --> 00:19:22.249
WE HAD A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP
FOR ABOUT A YEAR,

00:19:22.250 --> 00:19:27.082
BUT SHE HAD TO LEAVE TO GO
TO COLLEGE IN THE STATES

00:19:27.083 --> 00:19:29.750
BECAUSE SHE COULDN\'T
GET IN TO U of T

00:19:29.751 --> 00:19:31.750
AND SHE WANTED
TO STUDY MEDICINE.

00:19:31.751 --> 00:19:37.166
SO SHE LEFT, AND THAT WAS WHEN
I REALLY SORT OF CAME APART.

00:19:37.167 --> 00:19:41.082
AND IN THOSE DAYS THERE
WAS NO ONE TO TALK TO,

00:19:41.083 --> 00:19:46.959
NO ONE TO TELL IT TO,
BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A NO-NO.

00:19:55.125 --> 00:19:56.917
I WAS BORN ON THE OCEAN,

00:19:56.918 --> 00:20:00.750
AND THAT WAS BETWEEN
HYDEQUY AND THE MAINLAND,

00:20:00.751 --> 00:20:01.917
UP NORTH OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

00:20:01.918 --> 00:20:07.500
ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER
GROWING UP BACK HOME WAS THAT

00:20:07.501 --> 00:20:11.041
EVERY SCHOOL YEAR,
MY FATHER FOUGHT FOR ME

00:20:11.042 --> 00:20:15.208
NOT TO BE SENT AWAY
TO A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL

00:20:15.209 --> 00:20:16.875
BY LAW AT THAT TIME

00:20:16.876 --> 00:20:20.541
ALL NATIVE CHILDREN HAD TO
BE TAKEN FROM THE RESERVE

00:20:20.542 --> 00:20:22.625
AND PUT INTO
A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL.

00:20:22.626 --> 00:20:24.750
SO I TALKED WITH MY DAD

00:20:24.751 --> 00:20:27.458
AND HE GAVE ME SOME
OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM.

00:20:27.459 --> 00:20:29.416
THE CHOICES HE GAVE ME WAS

00:20:29.417 --> 00:20:32.166
WORK IN A CANNERY
THE REST OF MY LIFE

00:20:32.167 --> 00:20:34.416
THE WAY MY MOM
AND GRANDMOTHERS DID.

00:20:34.417 --> 00:20:37.958
BUT I RECOGNIZED I WOULD
BECOME CRIPPLED LIKE THEM.

00:20:37.959 --> 00:20:40.999
OR SCRUB AND SWEEP
THE WHITE MAN\'S HOME.

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:43.374
THOSE WERE NOT THINGS
I WANTED TO DO,

00:20:43.375 --> 00:20:47.333
OR STAY HOME AND HAVE KIDS,
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HERE.

00:20:47.334 --> 00:20:50.833
OR GO TO THE WHITE MAN\'S
SCHOOL AND GO THERE.

00:20:50.834 --> 00:20:55.082
BUT THAT CHOICE MEANT THAT
I HAD TO SEPARATE FROM THEM.

00:20:55.083 --> 00:20:56.750
WHEN I CAME TO THIS SOCIETY

00:20:56.751 --> 00:21:00.458
I SAW THAT WOMEN HAD
TO TAKE THE MEN\'S NAME

00:21:00.459 --> 00:21:02.041
AND THE MEN RULED EVERYTHING.

00:21:02.042 --> 00:21:05.416
I DIDN\'T WANT A RELATIONSHIP
WITH SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

00:21:05.417 --> 00:21:09.667
WITH A WOMAN YOU WOULDN\'T
H1VE THAT... SO I THOUGHT.

00:21:10.042 --> 00:21:14.374
SO WHEN I EVENTUALLY GOT
MY BACHELOR OF EDUCATION

00:21:14.375 --> 00:21:17.249
AND GOT A JOB
ON VANCOUVER ISLAND,

00:21:17.250 --> 00:21:20.208
WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS THAT

00:21:20.209 --> 00:21:21.999
THE PARENTS OF WHITE HERITAGE

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.917
CAME AND TOOK THEIR
CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL

00:21:24.918 --> 00:21:27.333
BECAUSE I WAS
THE FIRST NATIVE PERSON

00:21:27.334 --> 00:21:30.082
TO HAVE TAUGHT IN
A MAINSTREAM SCHOOL.

00:21:30.083 --> 00:21:33.750
THE OTHER HARD PART
WAS COMING HOME

00:21:33.751 --> 00:21:34.958
TO WHERE I WAS LIVING,

00:21:34.959 --> 00:21:38.958
AND THEY WOULD BREAK MY WINDOWS
AND THROW SHIT INTO IT.

00:21:38.959 --> 00:21:42.583
THIS HAD GONE ON FOR SIX MONTHS
WHEN I FINALLY BROKE

00:21:42.584 --> 00:21:45.374
AND SAID, \"THIS IS TOO HARD.
THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT.\"

00:21:45.375 --> 00:21:49.500
I SAID, \"TO HELL WITH IT,
I\'LL GO WITH IT, I\'M BAD.\"

00:21:49.501 --> 00:21:51.291
AND I WAS REALLY GOOD BAD.

00:21:51.292 --> 00:21:53.374
I WAS SMART, SO I WAS BAD BAD.

00:21:53.375 --> 00:21:58.751
AND THAT\'S HOW I ENDED
UP GOING ONTO THE STREETS.

00:21:59.501 --> 00:22:03.791
PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME IF I
BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT,

00:22:03.792 --> 00:22:04.958
AND I CERTAINLY DO.

00:22:04.959 --> 00:22:09.208
IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS, AN OLD
WOMAN TALKING ABOUT LOVE

00:22:09.209 --> 00:22:10.666
WHEN YOU\'RE 22,

00:22:10.667 --> 00:22:12.374
OR WHATEVER IT WAS.

00:22:12.375 --> 00:22:15.082
♪ Music ♪

00:22:15.083 --> 00:22:19.166
WALTER WAS OVERSEAS BY THIS
TIME, AN INFANTRY OFFICER.

00:22:19.167 --> 00:22:20.500
I HAD ONE TWO-YEAR-OLD.

00:22:20.501 --> 00:22:22.208
I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

00:22:22.209 --> 00:22:24.416
AND I WENT BACK
TO SUMMER SCHOOL.

00:22:24.417 --> 00:22:27.791
AND I\'D NOTICED THERE
WAS A WOMAN TEACHER

00:22:27.792 --> 00:22:30.416
TEACHING SOME OF
THE SUMMER SCHOOL CLASSES.

00:22:30.417 --> 00:22:36.958
AND SHE HANDED THESE THINGS OUT,
AND AS SHE HANDED A PAPER TO ME,

00:22:36.959 --> 00:22:38.041
SOME ASSIGNMENT OR OTHER,

00:22:38.042 --> 00:22:42.249
SHE LOOKED AT ME AND
I LOOKED AT HER, AND WHAM!

00:22:42.250 --> 00:22:42.876
THAT WAS IT.

00:22:42.877 --> 00:22:47.999
WE WENT THROUGH ALL THIS SUMMER
AT SUMMER SCHOOL,

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.875
AND WE WERE SLEEPING TOGETHER,

00:22:49.876 --> 00:22:52.999
WE WERE HUGGING,
WE WERE DOING EVERYTHING,

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:57.500
EXCEPT ANYTHING REALLY
TOO CLOSE, INTIMATE.

00:22:57.501 --> 00:22:58.917
WE DIDN\'T GET TO THAT.

00:22:58.918 --> 00:23:04.918
I DON\'T KNOW HOW MANY DETAILS
YOU WANT ME TO GO INTO...

00:23:05.918 --> 00:23:11.750
ANYWAY... THIS IS WHAT
I MEAN, THE DETAILS.

00:23:11.751 --> 00:23:14.374
AT THAT POINT, WE SORT OF KNEW.

00:23:14.375 --> 00:23:19.208
WE TALKED ABOUT IT;
NEITHER OF US KNEW WHAT TO DO.

00:23:19.209 --> 00:23:21.833
WE WERE SO STUPID,
IT\'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

00:23:21.834 --> 00:23:27.041
WE SPENT TWO OR THREE DAYS AT
THIS LAKE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA,

00:23:27.042 --> 00:23:32.917
NECKING LIKE ABSOLUTE MAD BUT
STILL DIDN\'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

00:23:32.918 --> 00:23:34.416
THIS SEEMS SO SILLY...

00:23:34.417 --> 00:23:39.917
FINALLY, SHE WAS GOING BACK
ON THE TRAIN TO JASPER,

00:23:39.918 --> 00:23:42.917
AND I SAID, \"THIS IS
JUST UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

00:23:42.918 --> 00:23:44.917
I\'M GOING WITH YOU TO JASPER.\"

00:23:44.918 --> 00:23:48.082
SO I LEFT MY LITTLE BOY
IN CHARGE OF SOMEONE ELSE

00:23:48.083 --> 00:23:53.041
AND I WENT WITH HER... JUST DROVE
ON THE TRAIN TO JASPER AND BACK.

00:23:53.042 --> 00:23:56.082
AND ON THE TRAIN, THAT\'S
WHEN THINGS HAPPENED.

00:23:56.083 --> 00:24:01.291
SHE STARTED BY MAKING LOVE TO ME
AND I COULDN\'T UNDERSTAND IT.

00:24:01.292 --> 00:24:03.500
ALL THESE CRUSHES
I\'D HAD ON WOMEN...

00:24:03.501 --> 00:24:04.958
ALL OF A SUDDEN
THERE\'S A LIGHT.

00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:08.416
THIS IS WHAT\'S WRONG WITH ME.
THERE\'S NOTHING THE MATTER.

00:24:08.417 --> 00:24:10.082
I JUST LIKE WOMEN
MORE THAN MEN!

00:24:10.083 --> 00:24:12.458
IT WAS GREAT...
I WAS DELIGHTED.

00:24:12.459 --> 00:24:15.583
THAT WAS MY REACTION.
I WAS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED.

00:24:15.584 --> 00:24:19.666
SHE SAID TO ME, \"BOY,
WERE YOU INHIBITED.\"

00:24:19.667 --> 00:24:21.833
AND I SAID,
\"OH, WELL, WAS I?

00:24:21.834 --> 00:24:24.917
WOULD YOU LIKE ME
TO DO THAT TO YOU?\"

00:24:24.918 --> 00:24:27.082
SHE SAID YES,
AND STARTED CRYING.

00:24:27.083 --> 00:24:30.167
SO I DID, AND THAT WAS IT.

00:24:30.542 --> 00:24:35.541
[ Carol ]: IN THE LATE FORTIES,
WHEN I WAS MUCH, MUCH YOUNGER,

00:24:35.542 --> 00:24:36.708
I MET A LOT OF...

00:24:36.709 --> 00:24:41.959
VERY NICE GAY PEOPLE,
BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

00:24:42.209 --> 00:24:46.374
WE TOOK THE BOAT,
AND THE ISLAND BOAT

00:24:46.375 --> 00:24:49.541
AT THAT TIME WENT
AROUND THE ISLANDS

00:24:49.542 --> 00:24:51.708
AND ENDED UP AT HANLANS POINT.

00:24:51.709 --> 00:24:57.082
AND WE WOULD ARRIVE...
VERY POSH, VERY BEAUTIFUL.

00:24:57.083 --> 00:25:01.250
THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
ON THE BEACH.

00:25:04.542 --> 00:25:06.875
WE USED TO ALL MEET

00:25:06.876 --> 00:25:10.082
AT A PLACE CALLED
THE CANDLELIGHT CAFE.

00:25:10.083 --> 00:25:12.625
EVERYBODY MET THERE ON A SUNDAY.

00:25:12.626 --> 00:25:16.625
WE WORE WHITES
AND YACHTING CAPS,

00:25:16.626 --> 00:25:22.500
AND WE HAD LARGE PICNIC BASKETS
WITH ALL SORTS OF STUFF IN THEM.

00:25:22.501 --> 00:25:26.833
SMOKED OYSTERS, YOU NAME IT,
WE HAD THEM ALL...

00:25:26.834 --> 00:25:28.082
WINE... BLANKETS.

00:25:28.083 --> 00:25:31.082
AND WE\'D HEAD
FOR HANLANS POINT,

00:25:31.083 --> 00:25:35.249
WHICH WAS THE GAY
SECTION OF THE BEACH.

00:25:35.250 --> 00:25:40.541
♪ Lounge music ♪

00:25:40.542 --> 00:25:43.249
THE VERY ELEGANT PART OF TORONTO

00:25:43.250 --> 00:25:47.082
SPANNED FROM LETROS,
TO THE KING EDWARD,

00:25:47.083 --> 00:25:50.417
TO MELANIE\'S...

00:25:50.959 --> 00:25:52.917
ALL VERY POSH BARS.

00:25:52.918 --> 00:25:55.541
YOU DRESSED TO GO THERE,

00:25:55.542 --> 00:25:59.041
YOU DID NOT GO WITHOUT A MAN...
YOU COULDN\'T GO

00:25:59.042 --> 00:26:03.333
TO THE KING EDWARD
TO THE MEZZANINE FLOOR

00:26:03.334 --> 00:26:05.876
IN PANTS, IN SLACKS.

00:26:06.918 --> 00:26:09.583
YOU DRESSED,
AND YOU DRESSED WELL.

00:26:09.584 --> 00:26:12.416
AND YOU WENT WITH ONE
GOOD-LOOKING FELLOW.

00:26:12.417 --> 00:26:17.541
WHAT HE DID IN THE MEN\'S ROOM
WAS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS,

00:26:17.542 --> 00:26:19.208
BUT THEY MADE GOOD ESCORTS.

00:26:19.209 --> 00:26:22.917
THEY WERE CHARMING,
THEY WERE GOOD-LOOKING,

00:26:22.918 --> 00:26:27.750
AND YOU GOT EVERYWHERE
YOU WANTED TO GO.

00:26:27.751 --> 00:26:35.751
♪ Lounge music ♪

00:26:55.834 --> 00:26:57.416
[ Narrator ]:LAURA\'S
HEART WAS POUNDING.

00:26:57.417 --> 00:27:00.082
SHE\'D HEARD THESE PLACES
COULD BE DANGEROUS,

00:27:00.083 --> 00:27:05.917
BUT HER NEED TO BE WITH OTHER
WOMEN LIKE HER, LIKE \"THAT\",

00:27:05.918 --> 00:27:06.999
WAS STRONGER THAN HER FEAR.

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:12.416
WELL, SHE WAS HERE,
AND SHE MIGHT AS WELL GO IN.

00:27:12.417 --> 00:27:15.124
SHE\'D JUST HAVE ONE DRINK.

00:27:15.125 --> 00:27:23.125
♪ Fifties rock
and roll music ♪

00:28:42.792 --> 00:28:47.375
MITCH JUST BOUGHT YOU
A GRASSHOPPER, HONEY.

00:28:49.083 --> 00:28:50.709
OH...

00:28:51.417 --> 00:28:53.458
YOU\'RE NEW
IN TOWN.

00:28:53.459 --> 00:28:55.249
AH... YES.

00:28:55.250 --> 00:28:56.541
HOW DID YOU
KNOW?

00:28:56.542 --> 00:29:00.542
OH, YOU GET A SIXTH
SENSE WORKING HERE.

00:29:17.250 --> 00:29:25.250
♪ Fifties ballad ♪

00:29:31.167 --> 00:29:37.666
♪ WHY MUST I MEET YOU
IN A SECRET RENDEZVOUS ♪

00:29:37.667 --> 00:29:45.124
♪ WHY MUST WE STEAL AWAY
TO STEAL A KISS OR TWO ♪

00:29:45.125 --> 00:29:47.542
YOU\'RE NEW
IN TOWN...

00:29:49.209 --> 00:29:50.834
YES, I...

00:29:54.626 --> 00:29:57.416
THANKS FOR THE DRINK.

00:29:57.417 --> 00:29:59.041
IT\'S MY FAVOURITE.

00:29:59.042 --> 00:30:00.124
[ Chuckles ]

00:30:00.125 --> 00:30:01.918
I THOUGHT SO.

00:30:03.375 --> 00:30:06.584
DO YOU MIND
IF I JOIN YOU?

00:30:07.417 --> 00:30:10.082
WHAT\'S
YOUR NAME?

00:30:10.083 --> 00:30:10.918
LAURA.

00:30:10.919 --> 00:30:12.625
HI, LAURA,
I\'M MITCH.

00:30:12.626 --> 00:30:14.958
YES, I KNOW.
SHE TOLD ME.

00:30:14.959 --> 00:30:16.708
I BET SHE DID.

00:30:16.709 --> 00:30:19.082
WHERE ARE YOU
FROM, LAURA?

00:30:19.083 --> 00:30:20.625
OH, NOWHERE.

00:30:20.626 --> 00:30:22.541
AH, I\'VE BEEN
THERE TOO.

00:30:22.542 --> 00:30:24.501
YOU HAVE?

00:30:25.584 --> 00:30:28.416
SO LISTEN, DO
YOU WANT TO DANCE?

00:30:28.417 --> 00:30:31.082
OH, UM, NO...
SORRY, THANK YOU.

00:30:31.083 --> 00:30:32.750
MAYBE NEXT TIME.

00:30:32.751 --> 00:30:33.459
WAIT...

00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:35.625
[ Narrator ]:LAURA
JUST HAD TO ESCAPE.

00:30:35.626 --> 00:30:39.166
SHE LIKED MITCH, BUT EVERYTHING
WAS MOVING TOO FAST.

00:30:39.167 --> 00:30:44.082
AND YET, IF SHE LEFT NOW,
WOULD THERE BE A NEXT TIME?

00:30:44.083 --> 00:30:52.083
♪ Fifties ballad ♪

00:30:53.751 --> 00:31:01.333
THE FIRST TIME THAT I WAS
EVER IN A GAY BAR I WAS 19.

00:31:01.334 --> 00:31:04.041
MY EX-HUSBAND HAD GONE
OFF TO WHITEHORSE

00:31:04.042 --> 00:31:06.416
TO PLAY IN A BAND
FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.

00:31:06.417 --> 00:31:10.374
I WAS ABOUT SEVEN
AND A HALF MONTHS PREGNANT.

00:31:10.375 --> 00:31:13.249
WELL, THE AGE LIMIT TO DRINK

00:31:13.250 --> 00:31:15.124
WAS 21 AT THAT TIME,

00:31:15.125 --> 00:31:17.416
SO I WAS NERVOUS
ABOUT BEING UNDERAGE,

00:31:17.417 --> 00:31:19.875
BUT SHE SAID, \"YOU\'RE
PREGNANT, NOBODY\'LL KNOW.

00:31:19.876 --> 00:31:21.666
YOU LOOK OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK.\"

00:31:21.667 --> 00:31:24.500
IF YOU\'RE OLD ENOUGH TO BE
PREGNANT, YOU CAN DRINK.

00:31:24.501 --> 00:31:27.583
SO IN WE WENT, AND I WAS
REALLY NERVOUS AND SCARED.

00:31:27.584 --> 00:31:30.917
I WAS LOOKING AROUND
AT ALL THESE GAY WOMEN.

00:31:30.918 --> 00:31:33.583
LIKE, I\'D ALWAYS BEEN
INTRIGUED BY IT.

00:31:33.584 --> 00:31:37.124
I JUST... YOU KNOW, IT WAS
REALLY FASCINATING FOR ME.

00:31:37.125 --> 00:31:43.875
SO WE SAT DOWN AND I SAW THIS
WOMAN SITTING ACROSS THE ROOM,

00:31:43.876 --> 00:31:46.917
AND I COULDN\'T TAKE
MY EYES OFF HER

00:31:46.918 --> 00:31:49.416
BECAUSE SHE WAS
SO UNIQUE LOOKING.

00:31:49.417 --> 00:31:51.208
SHE HAD THIS SHORT RED HAIR

00:31:51.209 --> 00:31:54.208
AND HAD THIS LITTLE BLACK
JACKET AND WHITE SHIRT ON,

00:31:54.209 --> 00:32:00.291
WITH A LITTLE HANKY STICKING OUT
AND BLACK PATENT LEATHER BOOTS.

00:32:00.292 --> 00:32:01.958
SHE WAS REALLY ATTRACTIVE.

00:32:01.959 --> 00:32:05.124
SHE WAS ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD,
I GUESS,

00:32:05.125 --> 00:32:08.374
AND JUST YOUNG
AND VIBRANT, AND...

00:32:08.375 --> 00:32:12.750
SO I THOUGHT ABOUT HER
FOR A LONG, LONG TIME,

00:32:12.751 --> 00:32:14.875
AND THAT SONG \"SHANGRI-LA\"

00:32:14.876 --> 00:32:18.041
WAS PLAYING AT THE TIME
ON THE JUKEBOX.

00:32:18.042 --> 00:32:20.917
AND EVERY TIME I HEARD
THAT SONG AFTER THAT

00:32:20.918 --> 00:32:23.166
I ALWAYS THOUGHT
ABOUT THIS WOMAN.

00:32:23.167 --> 00:32:26.917
SO, WHEN I FINALLY CAME
OUT INTO THE GAY SCENE

00:32:26.918 --> 00:32:30.333
I ASKED MY SISTER, WHO
IS GAY, ABOUT THIS WOMAN.

00:32:30.334 --> 00:32:34.333
AND SHE THOUGHT IT WAS
THIS WOMAN, GAVE ME HER NAME,

00:32:34.334 --> 00:32:36.833
AND SAID, \"SHE\'LL BE
AT THE CLUB TONIGHT.\"

00:32:36.834 --> 00:32:38.541
AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS HER.

00:32:38.542 --> 00:32:43.083
SO, IT WAS MY THREE-YEAR
FANTASY COME TRUE.

00:32:48.626 --> 00:32:51.583
[ Steph ]: I USED TO
GO TO ALL THE BARS

00:32:51.584 --> 00:32:53.249
UP AND DOWN GRANVILLE STREET

00:32:53.250 --> 00:32:55.666
\'CAUSE I DIDN\'T KNOW
WHERE THEY WERE,

00:32:55.667 --> 00:32:58.583
AND I WOULD GO INTO
BARS AND PEER AROUND,

00:32:58.584 --> 00:33:01.374
ARE THEY IN HERE,
ARE THEY IN HERE?

00:33:01.375 --> 00:33:04.041
FINALLY, THROUGH A MALE CUSTOMER

00:33:04.042 --> 00:33:06.833
WHO WAS ACCUSING ME
OF BEING A DYKE,

00:33:06.834 --> 00:33:08.666
SAID, \"YOU OUGHT
TO GO DOWN THERE,

00:33:08.667 --> 00:33:10.416
THAT\'S WHERE YOU BELONG.\"

00:33:10.417 --> 00:33:13.208
HE TOLD ME ABOUT
THE NEW FOUNTAIN.

00:33:13.209 --> 00:33:16.416
♪ Music ♪

00:33:16.417 --> 00:33:18.958
AND IT WAS A CHOICE AREA.

00:33:18.959 --> 00:33:22.291
IT WAS ON CORDOVA St.
WHERE GASTOWN IS NOW,

00:33:22.292 --> 00:33:25.583
BUT THEN IT WAS DRUNKS
AND DRUG ADDICTS.

00:33:25.584 --> 00:33:26.917
IT WAS REALLY \"SKID ROW\",

00:33:26.918 --> 00:33:31.458
AND I WAS REALLY SCARED...
BUT I WENT DOWN THERE BY MYSELF,

00:33:31.459 --> 00:33:34.833
THIS FRESH-FACED PUNK
KID FROM VICTORIA

00:33:34.834 --> 00:33:37.041
WHO KNEW FROM NOTHING,

00:33:37.042 --> 00:33:39.708
AND JUST WALTZED IN THE DOOR.

00:33:39.709 --> 00:33:42.417
AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

00:33:43.876 --> 00:33:46.249
[ Amanda ]: I KNEW
NOTHING ABOUT SKID ROW.

00:33:46.250 --> 00:33:49.416
ALL I KNEW, IT WAS HOME
TO ME, JUST LIKE HOME.

00:33:49.417 --> 00:33:53.833
THERE WERE NATIVE PEOPLE
AROUND, PEOPLE WERE DRINKING.

00:33:53.834 --> 00:33:57.166
THAT WAS NORMAL FOR ME,
I FELT COMFORTABLE.

00:33:57.167 --> 00:33:59.082
AND I HEARD SOMEONE SAY,

00:33:59.083 --> 00:34:03.124
\"THERE\'S A CLUB DOWN THERE,
THAT\'S WHERE ALL THE WOMEN GO.\"

00:34:03.125 --> 00:34:05.666
AND I WENT,
\"I\'LL CHECK THIS OUT HERE.\"

00:34:05.667 --> 00:34:07.416
THAT\'S HOW I FOUND THE VANPORT.

00:34:07.417 --> 00:34:10.374
BUT IT ALSO SCARED
THE SHIT OUT OF ME TOO.

00:34:10.375 --> 00:34:13.625
IT WAS FILTHY; IT WAS
IN AN OLD, OLD BUILDING.

00:34:13.626 --> 00:34:17.416
IT\'S NOT THERE ANY MORE;
IT\'S BEEN GONE A LONG TIME.

00:34:17.417 --> 00:34:21.416
BUT IT WAS COCKROACHES
RUNNING AROUND ON THE WALLS,

00:34:21.417 --> 00:34:24.833
YOUR FEET STUCK TO
WHATEVER FELL ON THE FLOOR.

00:34:24.834 --> 00:34:29.708
IF YOU DROPPED A CIGARETTE,
YOU DIDN\'T BOTHER PICKING IT UP.

00:34:29.709 --> 00:34:32.416
I DON\'T THINK THEY EVER CHANGED

00:34:32.417 --> 00:34:36.124
THE LITTLE TERRY TOWEL
COVERS ON THE TABLES.

00:34:36.125 --> 00:34:39.583
PEOPLE WOULD PULL
THE LITTLE THREADS OUT

00:34:39.584 --> 00:34:41.124
AND SET THEM ON FIRE!

00:34:41.125 --> 00:34:43.333
IT REALLY WAS A DIVE,
BUT IT WAS FUN.

00:34:43.334 --> 00:34:48.208
[ Keeley ]: THE VANPORT
WASN\'T EXCLUSIVELY A GAY BAR,

00:34:48.209 --> 00:34:50.166
IT JUST TOLERATED GAYS.

00:34:50.167 --> 00:34:51.626
EVERYBODY\'S MONEY WAS GOOD.

00:34:52.792 --> 00:34:54.876
THERE WAS DRUG ADDICTS,
THERE WAS DRUG DEALERS,

00:34:57.417 --> 00:35:00.082
THERE WERE HOOKERS,
THERE WERE HOUSEWIVES,

00:35:00.083 --> 00:35:05.124
THERE WERE ALL THESE BUTCHY
WOMEN WHO DROVE TRUCKS AND TAXIS

00:35:05.125 --> 00:35:08.249
AND EVERYTHING THEY COULD
DO THAT WAS UNFEMININE.

00:35:08.250 --> 00:35:10.124
♪ Lounge music ♪

00:35:10.125 --> 00:35:12.500
[ Nairobi ]: LET ME
TELL YOU SOMETHING.

00:35:12.501 --> 00:35:13.583
WHEN I CAME TO MONTREAL,

00:35:13.584 --> 00:35:16.583
THE WORD THEY SAY
HERE IN ENGLISH IS

00:35:16.584 --> 00:35:17.750
\"FREAK OUT\".

00:35:17.751 --> 00:35:19.458
[ Car horn ]

00:35:19.459 --> 00:35:22.917
I WENT TO MY FIRST GAY BAR...

00:35:22.918 --> 00:35:25.125
\"BABYFACE\".

00:35:25.959 --> 00:35:30.458
I WALK IN THE BAR...
I\'D JUST FINISHED MY SHOW,

00:35:30.459 --> 00:35:33.374
DRESS AND ALL,
MAKEUP AND EVERYTHING.

00:35:33.375 --> 00:35:34.042
I WALK IN,

00:35:34.043 --> 00:35:37.082
AND, BINGO, I SEE
ALL THESE WOMEN

00:35:37.083 --> 00:35:38.208
AND I FREAK OUT AGAIN.

00:35:38.209 --> 00:35:41.875
THAT\'S WHAT THEY SAY IN
ENGLISH... YOU FREAK OUT.

00:35:41.876 --> 00:35:45.249
AND I SAY, \"WHOO,
WOMEN, WOMEN, WOMEN!\"

00:35:45.250 --> 00:35:53.250
♪ Slow dancing music ♪

00:36:13.751 --> 00:36:17.750
YOU JUST GLIMPSE ACROSS THE ROOM

00:36:17.751 --> 00:36:21.791
AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY AND SAY,
\"MMM, THAT\'S WHAT I WANT.\"

00:36:21.792 --> 00:36:23.625
AND YOU SEND THEM A DRINK.

00:36:23.626 --> 00:36:26.041
THEN THE FLOWER LADY WALKS IN,

00:36:26.042 --> 00:36:29.374
AND YOU BUY HER
A FLOWER, A ROSE.

00:36:29.375 --> 00:36:32.416
AND SHE GETS IT,
SHE GETS THE MESSAGE.

00:36:32.417 --> 00:36:34.458
SHE LOOKS AROUND,
AND THEY POINT

00:36:34.459 --> 00:36:37.124
AND SAY, \"THAT\'S THE ONE
THAT SENT IT.\"

00:36:37.125 --> 00:36:42.166
IF SHE WAS INTERESTED,
SHE\'D GO AND SAY THANK YOU,

00:36:42.167 --> 00:36:44.166
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DANCE?

00:36:44.167 --> 00:36:45.750
NOW, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL,

00:36:45.751 --> 00:36:50.459
BECAUSE EVERYBODY JUST
GOT TOGETHER THAT WAY.

00:36:53.083 --> 00:36:56.708
[ Jeanne ]: IT WAS SOMEWHERE
IN THE AREA OF 1951

00:36:56.709 --> 00:37:00.124
WHEN WE FOUND
THE FIRST GAY BAR

00:37:00.125 --> 00:37:02.042
IN TORONTO.

00:37:02.334 --> 00:37:06.875
WE\'D ASKED SOME,
I THINK THEY WERE HOOKERS,

00:37:06.876 --> 00:37:09.541
ON YONGE STREET IN A RESTAURANT,

00:37:09.542 --> 00:37:12.291
AND THEY DIRECTED
US TO THE RIDEAU,

00:37:12.292 --> 00:37:15.458
WHICH WAS AT JARVIS
AND GERRARD...

00:37:15.459 --> 00:37:17.999
A VERY TOUGH SPOT.

00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:20.291
AND IT WAS KIND OF NOVEL

00:37:20.292 --> 00:37:24.833
BECAUSE THEY HAD A BAR
FOR WOMEN ONLY,

00:37:24.834 --> 00:37:28.166
NOT WOMEN AND ESCORTS,
BUT WOMEN ONLY.

00:37:28.167 --> 00:37:30.583
SO THAT THE GAY WOMEN IN TORONTO

00:37:30.584 --> 00:37:34.041
HAD CHOSEN THAT PLACE
TO HAVE THEIR DRINKS.

00:37:34.042 --> 00:37:38.249
I THINK THAT ONLY WENT
FOR A YEAR OR TWO, THE RIDEAU,

00:37:38.250 --> 00:37:42.750
BECAUSE THEY CHANGED IT
AND MADE IT LADIES AND ESCORTS,

00:37:42.751 --> 00:37:45.541
AND IT WAS JUST
TOO WICKED DOWN THERE.

00:37:45.542 --> 00:37:50.458
SO ALL THE LADIES MOVED
OVER TO THE CONTINENTAL HOTEL

00:37:50.459 --> 00:37:52.541
AT DUNDAS AND ELIZABETH.

00:37:52.542 --> 00:37:55.917
AND THERE WAS A BACK ROOM
IN THE CONTINENTAL,

00:37:55.918 --> 00:38:01.042
AND THAT\'S WHERE MOST OF
THE GAY WOMEN CONGREGATED.

00:38:13.918 --> 00:38:15.999
[ Amanda ]: WHEN I WENT
TO THE VANPORT,

00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:18.666
MY FANTASY WAS THAT
THIS WOULD BE A PLACE

00:38:18.667 --> 00:38:20.208
WHERE THERE\'S WOMEN WITH WOMEN.

00:38:20.209 --> 00:38:23.082
I WENT IN AND SAW
THERE WERE CERTAIN WOMEN,

00:38:23.083 --> 00:38:25.750
BUT I COULDN\'T FIND
THE OTHER WOMEN.

00:38:25.751 --> 00:38:28.625
THE WOMEN THEY WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE WITH

00:38:28.626 --> 00:38:31.750
DIDN\'T LOOK LIKE WOMEN,
THEY LOOKED LIKE MEN.

00:38:31.751 --> 00:38:34.875
SO I WAS VERY CONFUSED
ABOUT THAT WHOLE THING.

00:38:34.876 --> 00:38:38.458
AND ON TOP OF THAT,
IT WAS REALLY HURTFUL TOO,

00:38:38.459 --> 00:38:42.416
BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS EITHER
DRUNK OUT OF THEIR MIND

00:38:42.417 --> 00:38:44.124
OR STONED OUT OF THEIR MIND.

00:38:44.125 --> 00:38:48.750
AND WHAT I WAS TRYING TO RUN
AWAY FROM WAS EXACTLY THIS,

00:38:48.751 --> 00:38:50.166
IT WAS JUST LIKE BACK HOME.

00:38:50.167 --> 00:38:52.875
AND I REALIZED IT WAS
NOT WHAT I WANTED.

00:38:52.876 --> 00:38:54.958
BUT I WAS STILL SO CONFUSED;

00:38:54.959 --> 00:38:56.750
HOW COME THEY LOOK LIKE MEN?

00:38:56.751 --> 00:39:01.208
IF YOU\'RE GONNA LEAD A DOUBLE
LIFE, LEAD A DOUBLE LIFE.

00:39:01.209 --> 00:39:03.583
I HAD TO DRESS NICELY
ALL MY LIFE AT WORK.

00:39:03.584 --> 00:39:07.666
SO I DRESSED IN BLACK PANTS,
A BLACK COWBOY SHIRT,

00:39:07.667 --> 00:39:09.625
SOMETIMES COWBOY BOOTS, BLACK,

00:39:09.626 --> 00:39:12.082
AND A BIG THICK BELT
AROUND MY WAIST,

00:39:12.083 --> 00:39:14.917
WITH A KNIFE ON IT;
WHEN IT BECAME ILLEGAL

00:39:14.918 --> 00:39:16.416
TO HAVE A FIVE-INCH KNIFE,

00:39:16.417 --> 00:39:19.333
I WORE A THREE-INCH
KNIFE, AND SO ON.

00:39:19.334 --> 00:39:22.166
THE BUTCHES WERE REALLY
BUTCH, SOME OF THEM,

00:39:22.167 --> 00:39:27.041
TOTALLY BUTCH AND SO AWARE
OF IT, AND SWAGGERING AROUND.

00:39:27.042 --> 00:39:29.791
SO WE\'D WAIT AND GO OVER
AT ONE POINT AND SAY,

00:39:29.792 --> 00:39:33.917
\"LISTEN, ARE YOU BUTCH OR FEMME?
WE\'RE LOOKING FOR A FEMME.\"

00:39:33.918 --> 00:39:35.625
THEY WOULD JUST HIT THE ROOF:

00:39:35.626 --> 00:39:40.708
\"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, AM I
BUTCH OR FEMME? I\'M BUTCH!\"

00:39:40.709 --> 00:39:44.416
AND WE\'D THINK THIS WAS FUNNY.

00:39:44.417 --> 00:39:47.500
THEY HAD BIG TATTOOS...

00:39:47.501 --> 00:39:52.666
AND MEN\'S TIES AND
THEY HAD ON BIG JACKETS

00:39:52.667 --> 00:39:55.708
AND I DON\'T KNOW
HOW TO EXPLAIN,

00:39:55.709 --> 00:39:58.541
BUT THEY HAD THEIR FEET
UP ON THE CHAIR

00:39:58.542 --> 00:40:00.833
AND THEY\'RE JUST,
YOU KNOW, LIKE...

00:40:00.834 --> 00:40:03.291
\"VOULEZ-VOUS DANSER AVEC MOI?\"

00:40:03.292 --> 00:40:08.249
AND YOU KIND OF LIKE,
\"AHEM, I BEG YOUR PARDON?\"

00:40:08.250 --> 00:40:09.416
LIKE, YOU KNOW...

00:40:09.417 --> 00:40:14.167
BUT THEY WERE GENTLE,
THEY WERE SWEET,

00:40:15.125 --> 00:40:19.625
THEY HAD PASSION,
THEY HAD... EVERYTHING.

00:40:19.626 --> 00:40:22.416
WILD BILL CAME FROM FERGUS,
ONTARIO.

00:40:22.417 --> 00:40:26.999
SHE WAS ONE OF THE CRAZIEST
SCOTS I\'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.

00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:32.750
THAT LADY WORKED AS A MAN
ON A FARM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

00:40:32.751 --> 00:40:37.374
AND YOU SIMPLY COULDN\'T
TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

00:40:37.375 --> 00:40:40.750
SHE HAD A SLIGHT ALTERCATION

00:40:40.751 --> 00:40:43.708
WITH A FRIEND WHO
SHE DID NOT LIKE,

00:40:43.709 --> 00:40:47.249
AND ONE DAY SHE DROVE
HER MOTORCYCLE

00:40:47.250 --> 00:40:51.917
STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK
DOOR OF THE CONTINENTAL

00:40:51.918 --> 00:40:54.791
AND STRAIGHT UP TO THE TABLE.

00:40:54.792 --> 00:40:56.082
IT WAS LOVELY!

00:40:56.083 --> 00:41:01.416
FEMMES WERE EXPECTED TO ACT
LIKE \"FEMMES FATALES\", I GUESS,

00:41:01.417 --> 00:41:02.209
YOU KNOW, YOU WERE...

00:41:02.210 --> 00:41:07.416
YOU NEVER OPENED YOUR CAR DOORS
OR LIT YOUR OWN CIGARETTES,

00:41:07.417 --> 00:41:09.708
AND YOU NEVER HAD
TO BUY YOUR OWN BEER.

00:41:09.709 --> 00:41:14.750
YOU COULD GO OUT WITH A DOLLAR
AND GO HOME WITH A DOLLAR!

00:41:14.751 --> 00:41:17.416
BEER WAS ONLY TEN CENTS
A GLASS THEN, TOO,

00:41:17.417 --> 00:41:19.458
SO YOU COULD GET DRUNK
ON TWO DOLLARS.

00:41:19.459 --> 00:41:22.166
I THOUGHT, \"I DON\'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO HERE.

00:41:22.167 --> 00:41:26.291
\"I DON\'T FEEL LIKE A BUTCH
WHO COULD PICK UP A FEMME.

00:41:26.292 --> 00:41:29.666
AND I\'M NO FEMME,
NO BUTCH WILL PICK ME UP.\"

00:41:29.667 --> 00:41:31.958
AND SO I SAT THERE,
REALLY ISOLATED,

00:41:31.959 --> 00:41:36.625
AND FINALLY, I SEEMED TO GET
A BIT CHUMMY WITH BOTH SIDES,

00:41:36.626 --> 00:41:39.166
BUT NEVER REALLY INVOLVED
WITH EITHER SIDE.

00:41:39.167 --> 00:41:43.917
AND I WENT AWAY THINKING, AFTER
MANY ATTEMPTS AND GOING THERE,

00:41:43.918 --> 00:41:46.875
THAT MAYBE I HAD
TO CHOOSE SOMETHING

00:41:46.876 --> 00:41:49.750
SO I COULD BE
PART OF THIS PICTURE.

00:41:49.751 --> 00:41:51.833
I THOUGHT, \"MAYBE
I\'LL BECOME A BUTCH,\"

00:41:51.834 --> 00:41:54.041
BECAUSE ACCORDING
TO THOSE STORIES,

00:41:54.042 --> 00:41:55.583
THE FEMMES DID ALL THE WORK.

00:41:55.584 --> 00:41:57.750
THEY HAD JOBS AND COOKED
AND CLEANED,

00:41:57.751 --> 00:42:01.208
AND BUTCHES JUST HAD TO BE
COOL AND WEAR PANTS.

00:42:01.209 --> 00:42:05.791
I WOULD SAY THERE WAS AT LEAST
A RATIO OF TEN TO ONE,

00:42:05.792 --> 00:42:09.541
BUTCHES TO FEMMES,
SO IT WAS REALLY TERRITORIAL.

00:42:09.542 --> 00:42:11.875
THEY WOULD PROTECT
THEIR TERRITORY

00:42:11.876 --> 00:42:17.291
AND HEAVEN FORBID ANY OTHER
BUTCH WOULD CROSS THAT LINE.

00:42:17.292 --> 00:42:20.416
AND IT WAS LIKE...

00:42:20.417 --> 00:42:22.917
WELL, LIKE ANIMALS, ALMOST...

00:42:22.918 --> 00:42:26.750
LIKE HOW LIONS DEFEND
THEIR MATES AND THAT.

00:42:26.751 --> 00:42:28.750
IT WAS THAT FIERCE.

00:42:28.751 --> 00:42:31.999
I USED TO FLIRT
A LOT AND I HAD...

00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:34.791
I GOT AWAY WITH IT
A LOT BECAUSE...

00:42:34.792 --> 00:42:37.416
WELL, EVERYBODY
THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE

00:42:37.417 --> 00:42:39.917
AND THAT\'S HOW YOU
WERE EXPECTED TO ACT.

00:42:39.918 --> 00:42:45.333
THERE\'S BEEN A FEW BUTCHES THAT
HAVE LITTLE FIGHTS, I GUESS.

00:42:45.334 --> 00:42:48.666
OH, THERE WERE FIGHTS
ALL THE TIME.

00:42:48.667 --> 00:42:50.416
IT WAS MOST EXCITING.

00:42:50.417 --> 00:42:52.875
BUT IF YOU\'RE LEADING
A DOUBLE LIFE,

00:42:52.876 --> 00:42:55.917
WHY GO TO A NICE
FRIENDLY TEA PARTY

00:42:55.918 --> 00:43:00.708
WHEN YOU\'RE NOT DOING WHATEVER
YOU DO IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?

00:43:00.709 --> 00:43:03.249
WHY NOT REALLY LEAD
A DOUBLE LIFE?

00:43:03.250 --> 00:43:06.541
THAT PLACE MEANT YOU LED
A DOUBLE LIFE INDEED!

00:43:06.542 --> 00:43:10.750
WE ALWAYS SAT WITH OUR COATS ON,
OUR BACK TO THE WALL,

00:43:10.751 --> 00:43:14.917
SO WE COULD GET OUT IN
A HURRY IF NECESSARY.

00:43:14.918 --> 00:43:16.791
OH, THAT\'S A S...

00:43:16.792 --> 00:43:22.124
WE\'D BEEN TO THE ROYAL ALEX,
TO THE BALLET,

00:43:22.125 --> 00:43:26.041
AND I WAS WEARING
A WHITE KNITTED SUIT,

00:43:26.042 --> 00:43:29.834
THE WHOLE BIT, PEARLS, EARRINGS.

00:43:30.417 --> 00:43:33.416
AND I WAS ACCOSTED,
AND I RETALIATED.

00:43:33.417 --> 00:43:38.249
I RUINED MY SUIT,
I NEARLY LOST MY EARRINGS,

00:43:38.250 --> 00:43:40.333
BUT I WON THE FIGHT.

00:43:40.334 --> 00:43:41.917
DID I FIGHT?

00:43:41.918 --> 00:43:45.249
NO, I YELLED A LOT,
I DIDN\'T FIGHT.

00:43:45.250 --> 00:43:46.750
I ONLY FOUGHT WITH DAWN,

00:43:46.751 --> 00:43:50.124
BUT I DIDN\'T GET
INTO THE PUBLIC BRAWLS.

00:43:50.125 --> 00:43:54.541
I JUST STOOD BACK AND EGGED
ON WHOEVER I WANTED TO WIN.

00:43:54.542 --> 00:43:55.209
IT WAS GREAT!

00:43:55.210 --> 00:43:59.124
AND WE\'D ALL SCATTER TO
THE SIDES OF THE BAR.

00:43:59.125 --> 00:44:03.417
\"COME ON, GO!\"
TILL THE POLICE CAME.

00:44:12.918 --> 00:44:16.416
WE SAW THIS RED LIGHT COME ON,

00:44:16.417 --> 00:44:21.417
AND BINGO, IT MEANT... DANGER.

00:44:21.792 --> 00:44:25.666
WHAT IS THIS DANGER?
THE POLICE IS COMING.

00:44:25.667 --> 00:44:29.041
SO... IT MEANS TAKE COVER.

00:44:29.042 --> 00:44:32.082
SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
YOU SIT THERE.

00:44:32.083 --> 00:44:33.583
AND I SAID, \"OH MY GOD,

00:44:33.584 --> 00:44:38.374
\"I AM JUST A WORKING PERSON
THAT CAME TO THIS COUNTRY,

00:44:38.375 --> 00:44:41.875
\"I HAVE A CONTRACT FOR
WORKING, A WORKING PERMIT.

00:44:41.876 --> 00:44:46.999
\"BUT IF I GET ARRESTED,
THEY\'RE GONNA THROW ME OUT.

00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:49.249
I\'M IN A LESBIAN CLUB.\"

00:44:49.250 --> 00:44:57.250
[ Police siren ]

00:45:01.501 --> 00:45:07.958
[ Police radio ]

00:45:07.959 --> 00:45:09.541
THE POLICE THEY COME IN,

00:45:09.542 --> 00:45:13.500
AND THEY HAVE A FLASHLIGHT
AND THEY GO AROUND LIKE...

00:45:13.501 --> 00:45:16.249
\"DON\'T MOVE,
HANDS ON THE TABLE!

00:45:16.250 --> 00:45:17.167
EMPTY YOUR POCKETS!\"

00:45:17.168 --> 00:45:21.625
AND I AM LIKE, STAND STILL,
DON\'T MOVE, HANDS ON THE TABLE.

00:45:21.626 --> 00:45:24.750
AND, YOU KNOW,
I SAID, \"OH, JESUS.\"

00:45:24.751 --> 00:45:29.875
[ Female ]: GET YOUR HANDS
OFF OF HER!

00:45:29.876 --> 00:45:32.501
LAY OFF!

00:45:36.167 --> 00:45:39.625
[ Policeman ]: I KNOW
WHAT YOU NEED, GIRLIE.

00:45:39.626 --> 00:45:41.959
[ Female ]: LET GO!

00:45:43.083 --> 00:45:46.291
[ Policeman ]:
LEZZIES! QUEERS!

00:45:46.292 --> 00:45:48.709
[ Female ]: LET HER GO!

00:45:50.209 --> 00:45:54.918
[ Policeman ]: COME ON,
GIRLIE, GET IN THE CAR.

00:46:00.125 --> 00:46:05.334
[ Police siren ]

00:46:10.709 --> 00:46:11.709
THIS ONE BIG COP,

00:46:11.710 --> 00:46:15.917
HIS WIFE HAD RUN OFF WITH
ANOTHER WOMAN, AND HE WAS MAD.

00:46:15.918 --> 00:46:21.374
AND HE WAS MAD AT ALL OF US,
HE DIDN\'T CARE WHO WE WERE.

00:46:21.375 --> 00:46:26.291
[ Policemen\'s boots
against pavement ]

00:46:26.292 --> 00:46:30.583
AND HE WOULD HARASS US
AND FOLLOW US INTO THE STREET,

00:46:30.584 --> 00:46:31.708
AND COME UP TO US AND SAY,

00:46:31.709 --> 00:46:35.708
\"I WANT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS,
AND I\'M KEEPING IT IN MY BOOK.\"

00:46:35.709 --> 00:46:38.416
HE HAD A BOOK WITH
EVERYBODY\'S NAME AND ADDRESS.

00:46:38.417 --> 00:46:41.166
HE SAID, \"I DON\'T CARE
IF YOU\'RE JAYWALKING,

00:46:41.167 --> 00:46:44.291
I\'M GONNA NAIL YOU
IF I EVER CATCH YOU.\"

00:46:44.292 --> 00:46:47.166
AND HE WENT AFTER
CLARA ONE NIGHT.

00:46:47.167 --> 00:46:48.791
AND SHE WAS MAD!

00:46:48.792 --> 00:46:52.541
THIS WOMAN WEIGHED 275 lbs.,
WAS ABOUT 5 FOOT 7,

00:46:52.542 --> 00:46:56.708
AND IT TOOK SEVEN COPS
TO PUT HER IN THE BUN WAGON

00:46:56.709 --> 00:46:59.500
HE HAD TO BRING
SIX OF HIS FRIENDS

00:46:59.501 --> 00:47:02.250
\'CAUSE SHE WAS SCRAPPING.

00:47:03.834 --> 00:47:07.666
[ Carol ]: YOU HAD TO TAKE
THE GOOD WITH THE BAD,

00:47:07.667 --> 00:47:10.917
ie., IF IT WAS KIND OF DIRTY,

00:47:10.918 --> 00:47:13.333
IF IT WAS KIND OF MIXED PEOPLE,

00:47:13.334 --> 00:47:16.333
YOU TOOK IT BECAUSE
IT WAS ALL YOU HAD,

00:47:16.334 --> 00:47:20.333
AND IF YOU DIDN\'T GO THERE
YOU HAD NOWHERE TO GO.

00:47:20.334 --> 00:47:27.750
♪ Trumpet ♪

00:47:27.751 --> 00:47:29.541
WELL, AT THAT TIME,

00:47:29.542 --> 00:47:34.625
IT WAS ILLEGAL TO HAVE A HOUSE
PARTY WITH ONLY ONE SEX.

00:47:34.626 --> 00:47:37.416
SO YOU AT LEAST HAD
TO HAVE TWO WOMEN.

00:47:37.417 --> 00:47:41.751
NOW, YOU COULD HAVE
45 MEN AND TWO WOMEN.

00:47:42.459 --> 00:47:45.500
AND AS LONG AS
THE WOMEN WERE DISCREET

00:47:45.501 --> 00:47:46.917
AND COULD SIT IN THE LIBRARY,

00:47:46.918 --> 00:47:51.082
AND LET THE BOYS DO WHAT
THEY LIKED, AND ANSWER THE DOOR,

00:47:51.083 --> 00:47:52.249
THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.

00:47:52.250 --> 00:47:55.374
- WHAT HAPPENED IF
THERE WEREN\'T WOMEN THERE?

00:47:55.375 --> 00:47:57.541
- THEY WOULD RAID IT.

00:47:57.542 --> 00:47:59.500
THEY WOULD ABSOLUTELY RAID IT.

00:47:59.501 --> 00:48:02.709
THEY WOULD LEVEL IT, THE POLICE.

00:48:04.501 --> 00:48:07.833
IT WAS WELL KNOWN THAT
THE TORONTO POLICE

00:48:07.834 --> 00:48:10.416
GOT THEIR KICKS
FROM PICKING UP WOMEN

00:48:10.417 --> 00:48:12.208
TAKING THEM OUT TO CHERRY BEACH.

00:48:12.209 --> 00:48:15.416
SOME WERE RAPED,
SOME WERE BADLY BEATEN UP.

00:48:15.417 --> 00:48:17.291
AND THEY JUST LEFT THEM THERE.

00:48:17.292 --> 00:48:19.416
I GUESS THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT

00:48:19.417 --> 00:48:21.583
BECAUSE WHO CARED
ABOUT GAY WOMEN?

00:48:21.584 --> 00:48:24.166
GAY WOMEN COULDN\'T COMPLAIN.

00:48:24.167 --> 00:48:26.416
THERE WAS NOBODY TO COMPLAIN TO.

00:48:26.417 --> 00:48:30.250
IF YOU WENT TO COURT
YOU DIDN\'T EXIST!

00:48:32.459 --> 00:48:35.458
I NEVER COULD COME OUT
WHILE I WAS TEACHING

00:48:35.459 --> 00:48:37.708
BECAUSE IT WAS
RIGHT IN MY CONTRACT

00:48:37.709 --> 00:48:42.500
THAT I COULD BE FIRED ON
A TUESDAY AT 10 O\'CLOCK.

00:48:42.501 --> 00:48:46.334
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

00:48:53.709 --> 00:48:54.875
I\'LL NEVER FORGET

00:48:54.876 --> 00:48:57.416
ONE OF THE FIRST
TIMES AT THE VANPORT,

00:48:57.417 --> 00:48:59.416
I ASKED THIS OLDER
WOMAN BESIDE ME,

00:48:59.417 --> 00:49:02.291
\"WELL, HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN QUEER?\"

00:49:02.292 --> 00:49:04.124
SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,

00:49:04.125 --> 00:49:07.999
\"IT\'S NOT QUEER, YOU NEVER
SAY QUEER, IT\'S GAY.\"

00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:11.500
SO I WAS TOLD QUITE FRANKLY
RIGHT THEN AND THERE,

00:49:11.501 --> 00:49:15.166
NEVER USE THE WORD \"QUEER\",
AND I HAVEN\'T SINCE EITHER.

00:49:15.167 --> 00:49:18.875
MEN WOULD BRING THEIR WOMEN
DOWN TO LOOK AT THE QUEERS.

00:49:18.876 --> 00:49:22.249
THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS
SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT.

00:49:22.250 --> 00:49:24.249
AND THIS REALLY
APPEALED TO US;

00:49:24.250 --> 00:49:26.791
WE WOULD BE SITTING,
AND THEY\'D COME IN,

00:49:26.792 --> 00:49:30.833
AND WE\'D TURN OUR CHAIRS AROUND
AND JUST STARE AT THEM

00:49:30.834 --> 00:49:33.458
THROUGH SORT OF
SLIGHTLY CLOSED EYES.

00:49:33.459 --> 00:49:36.416
WHEN THEIR WOMEN WENT
TO THE BATHROOM,

00:49:36.417 --> 00:49:37.292
WE WOULD FOLLOW THEM.

00:49:37.293 --> 00:49:42.082
FOUR OR FIVE OF US WOULD FOLLOW
THESE TWO TERRIFIED WOMEN,

00:49:42.083 --> 00:49:44.917
AND NOT DO ANYTHING,
BUT JUST TO SEE THEIR EYES,

00:49:44.918 --> 00:49:48.500
AND TO SEE THE MEN WONDERING
WHAT WE WERE DOING.

00:49:48.501 --> 00:49:51.041
ONE NIGHT WE GOT SO
FED UP WE MADE A SIGN

00:49:51.042 --> 00:49:55.666
\"PLEASE DON\'T FEED THE ANIMALS\",
PUT IT UP, AND JUST STARED.

00:49:55.667 --> 00:50:01.041
I REMEMBER ONCE WE SAT
IN A WINDOW IN A DETROIT BAR...

00:50:01.042 --> 00:50:02.583
I THINK IT WAS DETROIT.

00:50:02.584 --> 00:50:07.249
WE WERE ALL IN THE WINDOW;
THESE GUYS WOULD STAND OUTSIDE.

00:50:07.250 --> 00:50:10.750
THEY WOULD HASSLE YOU
WHEN YOU WENT IN AND OUT,

00:50:10.751 --> 00:50:13.583
BECAUSE GUYS DON\'T LIKE
THE IDEA THAT YOU\'RE...

00:50:13.584 --> 00:50:16.583
YOU\'RE DOING ANYTHING
WITH WOMEN, YOU KNOW,

00:50:16.584 --> 00:50:18.583
WHEN YOU\'RE DRESSED LIKE THAT.

00:50:18.584 --> 00:50:20.750
AND I CAN REMEMBER ONE TIME

00:50:20.751 --> 00:50:24.416
THEY WERE ALL OUT THERE
CATCALLING AND CATCALLING.

00:50:24.417 --> 00:50:26.708
WHEN PEOPLE TODAY
TALK ABOUT HARASSMENT

00:50:26.709 --> 00:50:29.124
THEY DON\'T KNOW WHAT
THEY\'RE TALKING ABOUT.

00:50:29.125 --> 00:50:33.333
THIS ONE TIME THEY\'RE STANDING
OUT THERE YELLING AT US...

00:50:33.334 --> 00:50:36.458
I FORGET WHAT THEY SAID...
YOU CAN IMAGINE.

00:50:36.459 --> 00:50:40.708
AND I JUST PULLED MY JACKET
BACK AND I SHOWED MY KNIFE.

00:50:40.709 --> 00:50:42.333
SAID SOMETHING STUPID LIKE

00:50:42.334 --> 00:50:45.666
\"I\'M WEARING A KNIFE
AND I KNOW HOW TO USE IT\",

00:50:45.667 --> 00:50:47.500
WHICH IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!

00:50:47.501 --> 00:50:50.625
I ONLY KNEW HOW TO
PEEL POTATOES WITH IT.

00:50:50.626 --> 00:50:52.166
HOWEVER, IT WORKED!

00:50:52.167 --> 00:51:00.167
♪ Lounge music ♪

00:51:20.375 --> 00:51:24.416
[ Nairobi ]: OH, WELL,
I\'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING,

00:51:24.417 --> 00:51:25.417
I WAS \"THE QUEEN\".

00:51:25.418 --> 00:51:31.708
ACTUALLY, I WAS THE ONLY BLACK
PERSON I COULD REALLY RECALL

00:51:31.709 --> 00:51:33.500
BEING IN THE GAY CLUBS.

00:51:33.501 --> 00:51:35.708
STRAIGHT CLUBS,
OH YES, OF COURSE,

00:51:35.709 --> 00:51:37.500
THERE WERE A MILLION OF THEM.

00:51:37.501 --> 00:51:40.249
BUT IN THE GAY BARS
I WAS THE ONLY ONE

00:51:40.250 --> 00:51:41.125
THAT EVERYBODY WAS CHASING.

00:51:41.126 --> 00:51:46.208
I WISH THEY WOULD CHASE ME NOW,
BUT I GUESS I\'M TOO OLD NOW.

00:51:46.209 --> 00:51:48.416
THEY SAY TO HELL WITH THAT...

00:51:48.417 --> 00:51:50.249
BUT I WAS ONE OF THE ONLY ONES,

00:51:50.250 --> 00:51:56.583
AND YOU DIDN\'T SEE CHINESE,
JAPANESE, NOTHING ABSOLUTELY.

00:51:56.584 --> 00:51:58.124
JUST... JUST ME.

00:51:58.125 --> 00:52:02.750
THERE WAS A LOT OF
PREJUDICES AT THE TIME.

00:52:02.751 --> 00:52:05.416
WE HAD OUR WASPS... YOU KNOW...

00:52:05.417 --> 00:52:08.458
THEY DIDN\'T LIKE
WOMEN OF COLOUR,

00:52:08.459 --> 00:52:11.875
THEY DIDN\'T LIKE ANYONE
WHO WAS DIFFERENT.

00:52:11.876 --> 00:52:14.583
I ENDED UP GOING
TO A BLACK CLUB.

00:52:14.584 --> 00:52:18.166
AND AT THAT TIME THEY WERE
CONSIDERED \"THE BLACK CLUB\",

00:52:18.167 --> 00:52:22.374
AND WHAT ATTRACTED ME WAS
THE MUSIC WAS REALLY GOOD,

00:52:22.375 --> 00:52:26.041
IT WAS VERY FUNKY, AND
EVERYBODY DRESSED REALLY SNAZZY.

00:52:26.042 --> 00:52:30.875
AND I THOUGHT, \"OH, THIS IS
WHAT I\'M LOOKING FOR.\"

00:52:30.876 --> 00:52:33.416
THIS WAS PART OF
FULFILLING MY FANTASY

00:52:33.417 --> 00:52:35.750
OF LOOKING GOOD AND BEING COOL.

00:52:35.751 --> 00:52:39.958
AND IT WAS FAST, IT WAS COOL
AND IT WAS IN THE NIGHTTIME.

00:52:39.959 --> 00:52:41.875
SO THAT\'S WHERE I ENDED UP.

00:52:41.876 --> 00:52:45.750
ACTUALLY, THAT\'S WHERE
I CAME OUT, NOT IN VANPORT.

00:52:45.751 --> 00:52:49.166
BUT IN A PLACE WHICH WAS
SUPPOSEDLY A STRAIGHT BAR,

00:52:49.167 --> 00:52:50.333
BUT WASN\'T A STRAIGHT BAR,

00:52:50.334 --> 00:52:54.208
BECAUSE THERE WAS PEOPLE
FROM THE STREET GOING THERE.

00:52:54.209 --> 00:52:55.917
AND THOSE WERE
THE ONLY PEOPLE...

00:52:55.918 --> 00:52:57.917
BUT THE THING
I LIKED ABOUT IT...

00:52:57.918 --> 00:53:00.833
YOU COULD BE WHOEVER YOU
WANTED TO BE IN THAT BAR.

00:53:00.834 --> 00:53:04.917
IT DIDN\'T MATTER BECAUSE THERE
WERE ACTUALLY BLACK PEOPLE,

00:53:04.918 --> 00:53:08.041
THERE WERE PEOPLE
OF WHITE HERITAGE, ASIANS,

00:53:08.042 --> 00:53:09.750
AND NATIVE PEOPLE IN THERE.

00:53:09.751 --> 00:53:12.166
IT WAS A PLACE
WHERE EVERYBODY BELONGED,

00:53:12.167 --> 00:53:14.999
NOBODY JUDGED YOU FOR
WHO OR WHATEVER YOU DID.

00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:18.458
THE MAJORITY OF THE WOMEN
WHO WERE WORKING

00:53:18.459 --> 00:53:21.416
AND AROUND THE STREETS,
OR INTO DRUGS

00:53:21.417 --> 00:53:22.833
OR INTO THE PROSTITUTION

00:53:22.834 --> 00:53:27.124
OR INTO THE DANCING
WERE LESBIAN WOMEN.

00:53:27.125 --> 00:53:35.125
♪ Burlesque music ♪

00:53:46.792 --> 00:53:47.999
THEY WERE WITH WOMEN.

00:53:48.000 --> 00:53:50.583
THEY WOULDN\'T IDENTIFY
THEMSELVES AS LESBIAN

00:53:50.584 --> 00:53:54.958
OR GAY OR ANYTHING... THERE
JUST WAS AN UNWRITTEN CODE.

00:53:54.959 --> 00:53:56.082
THEY WERE WITH WOMEN.

00:53:56.083 --> 00:53:59.249
♪ YOU GOT ME JUMPIN\'
LIKE A CRAZY CLOWN ♪

00:53:59.250 --> 00:54:02.458
[ Narrator ]:LAURA
COULDN\'T QUITE REMEMBER

00:54:02.459 --> 00:54:04.750
HOW SHE GOT BACK
TO MITCH\'S APARTMENT.

00:54:04.751 --> 00:54:07.333
SHE\'D STAYED FOR ONE
MORE DRINK AT THE BAR

00:54:07.334 --> 00:54:11.458
AND SHE NEVER WANTED
THE NIGHT TO END.

00:54:11.459 --> 00:54:14.291
♪ HEY HEY SET ME FREE ♪

00:54:14.292 --> 00:54:18.082
♪ STUPID CUPID
STOP PICKIN\' ON ME ♪

00:54:18.083 --> 00:54:21.374
♪ HEY HEY SET ME FREE ♪

00:54:21.375 --> 00:54:24.708
♪ STUPID CUPID
STOP PICKIN\' ON ME ♪

00:54:24.709 --> 00:54:31.249
♪ STUPID CUPID STUPID CUPID ♪

00:54:31.250 --> 00:54:33.375
♪ STUPID CUPID ♪

00:54:38.667 --> 00:54:42.708
SO WHAT WOULD YOU
LIKE TO HEAR NEXT?

00:54:42.709 --> 00:54:46.166
I DON\'T THINK I COULD
DANCE ANOTHER STEP.

00:54:46.167 --> 00:54:47.833
I\'M EXHAUSTED.

00:54:47.834 --> 00:54:49.500
ALL RIGHT THEN.

00:54:49.501 --> 00:54:51.918
I\'LL CHOOSE ONE
FOR US.

00:55:09.542 --> 00:55:11.999
WHO\'S THE WOMAN
IN THE PHOTOGRAPH?

00:55:12.000 --> 00:55:14.708
OH, THAT\'S AMELIA EARHART.

00:55:14.709 --> 00:55:16.875
SHE WAS ONE HELL OF A PILOT.

00:55:16.876 --> 00:55:20.917
QUITE THE HERO FOR ALL
THE WOMEN IN THE AIR FORCE.

00:55:20.918 --> 00:55:22.333
I WANTED TO BE JUST LIKE HER.

00:55:22.334 --> 00:55:27.458
JUST TAKE OFF ONE DAY AND HAVE
NOTHING BETWEEN ME AND THE GODS

00:55:27.459 --> 00:55:30.083
BUT THE GREAT BIG BLUE SKY.

00:55:31.918 --> 00:55:35.417
SHE\'S AN INCREDIBLE
LOOKING WOMAN.

00:55:37.918 --> 00:55:39.542
YEAH...

00:55:52.709 --> 00:55:59.416
♪ Fifties ballad ♪

00:55:59.417 --> 00:56:06.500
♪ IF YOU PROMISED
THAT YOU\'D CALL ME ♪

00:56:06.501 --> 00:56:14.458
♪ AND I SPENT A THOUSAND
NIGHTS JUST WAITING ♪

00:56:14.459 --> 00:56:21.166
♪ IT WOULD STILL STILL
STILL BE WORTH IT ♪

00:56:21.167 --> 00:56:29.124
♪ JUST TO HEAR YOUR
VOICE WHEN YOU CALLED ♪

00:56:29.125 --> 00:56:35.791
♪ IF I RULED
THE WORLD COMPLETELY ♪

00:56:35.792 --> 00:56:43.082
♪ BUT I HAD TO BE
A SLAVE TO LOVE YOU ♪

00:56:43.083 --> 00:56:50.708
♪ IT WOULD STILL STILL
STILL BE WORTH IT ♪

00:56:50.709 --> 00:56:57.791
♪ IT WOULD STILL BE
WORTH IT MY LOVE ♪

00:56:57.792 --> 00:57:05.792
♪ UNLESS UNLESS
I\'M HOLDING YOU ♪

00:57:05.834 --> 00:57:12.291
♪ WHAT GOOD CAN
THESE ARMS BE ♪

00:57:12.292 --> 00:57:20.292
♪ WHAT USE WHAT USE
ARE THESE LIPS OF MINE ♪

00:57:20.751 --> 00:57:27.917
♪ IF YOURS ARE
FORBIDDEN TO ME ♪

00:57:27.918 --> 00:57:35.918
♪ IF I HAD TO DIE
TOMORROW JUST TO SHARE ♪

00:57:36.834 --> 00:57:39.115
WHEN DOROTHY AND I SPLIT UP,
I LEFT HER ACTUALLY FOR VERA.

00:57:42.959 --> 00:57:49.041
AND VERA FINALLY LEFT IRIS,

00:57:49.042 --> 00:57:51.750
AND THEN VERA AND I
LIVED TOGETHER.

00:57:51.751 --> 00:57:56.500
AND IN THE BEGINNING DOROTHY
AND IRIS LIVED TOGETHER.

00:57:56.501 --> 00:58:00.291
THEN IRIS AND VERA.
THEN JEANNE AND DOROTHY.

00:58:00.292 --> 00:58:05.041
AND THEN WHEN I LEFT VERA,
DOROTHY AND VERA GOT TOGETHER.

00:58:05.042 --> 00:58:09.249
SO THE ONLY ONE THAT MISSED
OUT WAS IRIS AND JEANNE.

00:58:09.250 --> 00:58:11.374
BUT THAT DIDN\'T WORK OUT.

00:58:11.375 --> 00:58:17.750
♪ Piano music ♪

00:58:17.751 --> 00:58:20.291
THIS WOMAN CAME UP THE HALL

00:58:20.292 --> 00:58:22.833
AND FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN MY LIFE,

00:58:22.834 --> 00:58:26.625
I THINK I JUST ABOUT
DROPPED DEAD ON THE SPOT,

00:58:26.626 --> 00:58:29.416
IT WAS INCREDIBLE,
SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

00:58:29.417 --> 00:58:31.041
SHE WAS A HUNGARIAN GYPSY,

00:58:31.042 --> 00:58:33.875
WITH JET BLACK HAIR
AND BLUE EYES.

00:58:33.876 --> 00:58:36.999
I JUST TOOK ONE LOOK
AT HER AND I WAS TOAST.

00:58:37.000 --> 00:58:40.583
I TOOK HER HOME
WITH ME ON THE BUS.

00:58:40.584 --> 00:58:42.917
ON THE BUS...

00:58:42.918 --> 00:58:47.958
AND IT WAS VERY LATE, AND
WE WERE IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

00:58:47.959 --> 00:58:50.666
NECKING IN THE BACK OF THE BUS.

00:58:50.667 --> 00:58:54.917
IN 1963... PRETTY BRAVE...
PRETTY BRAVE...

00:58:54.918 --> 00:58:59.666
AND SHE WAS INCREDIBLE BECAUSE
SHE WAS LIKE A REAL BUTCH.

00:58:59.667 --> 00:59:04.082
YOU HAD TO LOOK TWICE
TO KNOW SHE WAS A WOMAN,

00:59:04.083 --> 00:59:07.249
BECAUSE SHE WAS REALLY,
REALLY SKINNY, NO TITS.

00:59:07.250 --> 00:59:12.374
JUST STRIDES AND A T-SHIRT,
AND MEN\'S SHOES AND TATTOOS

00:59:12.375 --> 00:59:14.750
FROM HER... SLICKED-BACK
SHORT HAIR...

00:59:14.751 --> 00:59:17.583
TATTOOS FROM HER
WRISTS TO HER ELBOWS.

00:59:17.584 --> 00:59:20.249
A REAL STEREOTYPICAL BUTCH.

00:59:20.250 --> 00:59:21.875
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.

00:59:21.876 --> 00:59:24.583
I\'D NEVER SEEN ONE
LIKE THAT BEFORE

00:59:24.584 --> 00:59:27.208
AND I WAS MESMERIZED
BY THIS WOMAN.

00:59:27.209 --> 00:59:30.750
I WAS ATTRACTED TO HER
BECAUSE SHE WAS LIKE SHE WAS,

00:59:30.751 --> 00:59:34.584
SO I BECAME
THE FLUFFY LITTLE FEMME.

00:59:36.125 --> 00:59:36.959
THE LITTLE...

00:59:36.960 --> 00:59:40.583
HETEROSEXUAL WIFE,
BECAUSE THAT\'S WHAT WE WERE.

00:59:40.584 --> 00:59:44.708
WE WERE JUST WOMEN WHO WERE
ACTING LIKE HETEROSEXUALS.

00:59:44.709 --> 00:59:47.750
SHE COOKED... SHE THOUGHT
SHE WAS A BETTER COOK.

00:59:47.751 --> 00:59:51.625
BUT I DID THE CLEANING
AND LOOKING AFTER HER.

00:59:51.626 --> 00:59:55.249
THE DUTIFUL LITTLE WIFE
WHO NEVER OPENED HER MOUTH.

00:59:55.250 --> 00:59:59.082
BECAUSE IF YOU DID YOU
PROBABLY GOT A FIST IN IT.

00:59:59.083 --> 01:00:04.082
AND YOU WERE OBEDIENT.
YOU ONLY TALKED TO OTHER FEMMES.

01:00:04.083 --> 01:00:07.750
YOU DIDN\'T TALK TO OTHER
BUTCHES, YOU WEREN\'T ALLOWED.

01:00:07.751 --> 01:00:09.958
IT WAS GOOD FOR A POKE TOO.

01:00:09.959 --> 01:00:10.999
AND SO WE LIVED

01:00:11.000 --> 01:00:14.958
MUCH AS A STRAIGHT MARRIED
COUPLE WOULD HAVE LIVED

01:00:14.959 --> 01:00:16.458
IT WAS DISGUSTING!

01:00:16.459 --> 01:00:20.082
WHEN I LOOK AT IT NOW,
I CANNOT BELIEVE I DID THAT.

01:00:20.083 --> 01:00:23.249
BUT I DIDN\'T KNOW ANY BETTER.
THAT\'S HOW IT WAS.

01:00:23.250 --> 01:00:26.458
BUT I REMEMBER ONE DAY
LOOKING IN THE MIRROR

01:00:26.459 --> 01:00:30.918
AND SAYING, \"WHO ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?\"

01:00:31.834 --> 01:00:33.750
DAWN WAS A STONE BUTCH.

01:00:33.751 --> 01:00:35.583
SHE WOULD MAKE LOVE TO ME,

01:00:35.584 --> 01:00:38.833
BUT I WASN\'T ALLOWED TO TOUCH
HER... RAY WAS THE SAME.

01:00:38.834 --> 01:00:41.291
THAT WAS FAIRLY COMMON
AMONGST OUR GROUP.

01:00:41.292 --> 01:00:44.374
IT WAS PRETTY COMMON
IN THE LARGER GROUP, TOO.

01:00:44.375 --> 01:00:49.082
FOR YEARS I HAD THE SCARS OF
THIS BECAUSE SHE REACTED

01:00:49.083 --> 01:00:51.166
LIKE I DIDN\'T KNOW
WHAT I WAS DOING...

01:00:51.167 --> 01:00:54.333
IDIDN\'T,BUT I WANTED HER
TO TEACH ME.

01:00:54.334 --> 01:00:57.249
AND THE HARDER I TRIED,
THE MORE SHE SAID,

01:00:57.250 --> 01:01:00.583
\"NO.. NO. YOU\'RE NO GOOD.
JUST FORGET IT.\"

01:01:00.584 --> 01:01:03.625
SO FOR YEARS I HAD
A COMPLEX ABOUT THAT,

01:01:03.626 --> 01:01:07.166
THAT IT WAS ME,
THAT I WAS NOT A GOOD LOVER.

01:01:07.167 --> 01:01:10.124
WELL, AFTER I BROKE UP WITH HER,

01:01:10.125 --> 01:01:11.917
I IMMEDIATELY WENT
AND GOT MY HAIR CUT,

01:01:11.918 --> 01:01:14.374
BOUGHT SOME JEANS
AND A PLAID LUMBERJACK SHIRT

01:01:14.375 --> 01:01:18.541
AND WALKED INTO THE BAR,
AND SOME PEOPLE WERE DISMAYED,

01:01:18.542 --> 01:01:20.082
BUT THERE WAS MOSTLY CHEERS.

01:01:20.083 --> 01:01:23.166
THE WOMEN WERE YELLING,
\"YEAH STEPH, ALL RIGHT!\"

01:01:23.167 --> 01:01:24.500
THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS GREAT.

01:01:24.501 --> 01:01:28.125
THIS WAS WHERE...
THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

01:01:28.834 --> 01:01:32.249
WHEN I MET JANE I DIDN\'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER,

01:01:32.250 --> 01:01:36.082
BUT I FELT VERY ATTRACTED TO HER
AND WANTED TO BE WITH HER

01:01:36.083 --> 01:01:40.750
BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN MY WORLD
OPENED UP TO SOMETHING I WANTED.

01:01:40.751 --> 01:01:43.374
WITH MY NAIVETE I NEVER REALIZED

01:01:43.375 --> 01:01:47.374
THAT JANE WAS VERY MUCH
ENTRENCHED INTO THE STREET LIFE.

01:01:47.375 --> 01:01:51.833
I STAYED, REALLY, TOGETHER
WITH JANE ABOUT THREE YEARS.

01:01:51.834 --> 01:01:55.333
SHE WOULD TAKE ME PLACES,
DOWN TO L.A., TO NEVADA,

01:01:55.334 --> 01:01:58.917
AND KIND OF ON A CIRCUIT TYPE
THING WE WOULD GO THROUGH THERE.

01:01:58.918 --> 01:02:00.918
IT WAS A FRIEND WHO
WAS OF BLACK HERITAGE

01:02:03.042 --> 01:02:05.750
WHO CAME UP TO ME,
AND LITERALLY THREW ME

01:02:05.751 --> 01:02:09.208
IN FRONT OF A MIRROR AND SAID,
\"IS THIS REALLY YOU?

01:02:09.209 --> 01:02:09.792
SHE SAID,

01:02:09.793 --> 01:02:12.750
\"REMEMBER THIS IS MY LIFE,
I WAS BROUGHT UP INTO THIS.

01:02:12.751 --> 01:02:16.583
YOU\'VE GOT AN EDUCATION.
YOU DON\'T HAVE TO DO THIS.\"

01:02:16.584 --> 01:02:19.124
I REALIZED WHEN I COULDN\'T
RECOGNIZE MYSELF

01:02:19.125 --> 01:02:21.708
IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT
OF THAT SITUATION.

01:02:21.709 --> 01:02:24.374
AND THAT\'S HOW
I GOT OFF THE STREETS.

01:02:24.375 --> 01:02:26.583
I WENT TO THE MONTREAL CLUB,

01:02:26.584 --> 01:02:28.249
AND THE FIRST EVENING
I WAS THERE,

01:02:28.250 --> 01:02:29.958
I WAS TALKING TO AN OLDER WOMAN

01:02:29.959 --> 01:02:33.416
WHO HAD BEEN IN THE GAY
SCENE FOR A LONG TIME.

01:02:33.417 --> 01:02:37.583
SHE COULD TELL I WAS UPSET
ABOUT MY MARRIAGE BREAKING UP,

01:02:37.584 --> 01:02:40.583
AND SHE SAID... DEAR HEART
SHE CALLED ME...

01:02:40.584 --> 01:02:45.082
\"IF YOU THINK IT HURTS TO GET
YOUR HEART BROKEN BY A MAN,

01:02:45.083 --> 01:02:47.249
WAIT \'TILL A WOMAN DOES IT.\"

01:02:47.250 --> 01:02:49.958
I DIDN\'T UNDERSTAND
EXACTLY WHAT SHE MEANT.

01:02:49.959 --> 01:02:52.958
I THOUGHT, \"A BROKEN
HEART\'S A BROKEN HEART.\"

01:02:52.959 --> 01:02:53.999
BUT IT WAS DIFFERENT.

01:02:54.000 --> 01:02:57.416
WHEN IT HAPPENED,
I REALIZED WHAT SHE WAS SAYING.

01:02:57.417 --> 01:03:01.791
BECAUSE I FIND BEING WITH
A WOMAN IS A LOT MORE INTIMATE,

01:03:01.792 --> 01:03:04.416
A LOT MORE SHARED
THAN WITH A MAN.

01:03:04.417 --> 01:03:06.500
SO THE PAIN, WHEN YOU LOSE THAT,

01:03:06.501 --> 01:03:10.291
WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEBODY AND
THEY DON\'T LOVE YOU ANY MORE,

01:03:10.292 --> 01:03:13.708
THE PAIN IS HARDER;
YOU\'RE LOSING A PART OF YOU.

01:03:13.709 --> 01:03:18.791
I NEVER FELT THAT WHEN
I BROKE UP WITH MY HUSBAND.

01:03:18.792 --> 01:03:20.750
I THOUGHT I WAS LOSING HIM,

01:03:20.751 --> 01:03:23.999
AND MY FAMILY,
AND MY SURROUNDINGS.

01:03:24.000 --> 01:03:26.374
I NEVER FELT I WAS
LOSING A PART OF ME,

01:03:26.375 --> 01:03:30.500
BUT WHEN I HAD MY FIRST
HEARTBREAK WITH A WOMAN,

01:03:30.501 --> 01:03:34.750
I FELT I WAS LOSING
PART OF MYSELF.

01:03:34.751 --> 01:03:36.374
KIND OF SAD.

01:03:36.375 --> 01:03:44.375
♪ Music ♪

01:04:00.751 --> 01:04:04.208
[ Nairobi ]: IN 1970,
WE MADE A BIG GROUP.

01:04:04.209 --> 01:04:06.875
IT WAS THE TRAVELLING BAND.

01:04:06.876 --> 01:04:10.791
RICKY AND RUBY
AND THE TRAVELLING BAND.

01:04:10.792 --> 01:04:13.667
AND IT WAS A GOOD BAND.

01:04:14.959 --> 01:04:17.416
WE WENT TO CHURCHILL, MANITOBA.

01:04:17.417 --> 01:04:19.625
WE WENT TO FORT WILLIAMS.

01:04:19.626 --> 01:04:23.458
WE WENT TO A LITTLE
TOWN CALLED THE PAS,

01:04:23.459 --> 01:04:26.041
AND THEN LABRADOR
AND FLIN FLON.

01:04:26.042 --> 01:04:29.208
AND THEN ROUYN-NORANDA,
VAL-D\'OR,

01:04:29.209 --> 01:04:31.416
SEVEN ISLANDS...

01:04:31.417 --> 01:04:33.834
MONT-LAURIER.

01:04:34.083 --> 01:04:37.625
THERE WAS NO PROBLEM
RUNNING INTO SISTERS

01:04:37.626 --> 01:04:40.917
BECAUSE THEY\'RE ALL OVER,
WHAT CAN I SAY?

01:04:40.918 --> 01:04:43.583
THERE WERE LOTS OF MARRIED WOMEN

01:04:43.584 --> 01:04:46.416
THAT I WENT WITH,
ESPECIALLY IN B.C.

01:04:46.417 --> 01:04:48.292
IT WAS TOO BAD
THAT THE GUYS WERE SO...

01:04:51.417 --> 01:04:54.374
THEY WERE SUCH BASTARDS,
I WOULD SAY, BASTARDS.

01:04:54.375 --> 01:04:59.500
WOMEN... IT WAS THIS BIG
COMPETITION ABOUT WOMEN.

01:04:59.501 --> 01:05:02.124
WHO\'S GONNA HAVE
THE FIRST GIRL IN TOWN?

01:05:02.125 --> 01:05:05.458
WHO\'S GONNA HAVE...
AS THEY SAY... \"THE FIRST LAY\"?

01:05:05.459 --> 01:05:08.625
THERE THEY ARE,
BUYING ALL THESE DRINKS,

01:05:08.626 --> 01:05:11.291
INVITING THESE WOMEN,
DOING STUPID THINGS...

01:05:11.292 --> 01:05:14.625
I WOULD JUST SIT THERE,
OR FINISH MY SHOW.

01:05:14.626 --> 01:05:16.041
AND I DID NOTHING.

01:05:16.042 --> 01:05:19.666
I HAD SOMEBODY KNOCKING
ON MY DOOR OR CALLING ME.

01:05:19.667 --> 01:05:23.167
IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL,
THEY HATED ME!

01:05:23.959 --> 01:05:25.416
THEY HATED ME FOR THAT.

01:05:25.417 --> 01:05:29.583
THEY STARTED TO FIGHT WITH ME,
THEY CALLED ME NAMES,

01:05:29.584 --> 01:05:32.416
LIKE YOU LESBIAN,
YOU THIS AND YOU THAT.

01:05:32.417 --> 01:05:35.666
AND I, HOW COME WE WORKED
FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE

01:05:35.667 --> 01:05:36.501
AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE,

01:05:36.502 --> 01:05:39.625
AND NOW, BECAUSE I\'M ALONE...
MY BROTHER\'S GONE...

01:05:39.626 --> 01:05:41.249
YOU GUYS TREAT ME THIS WAY.

01:05:41.250 --> 01:05:46.666
I USED TO WALK OFF THE STAGE
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT IN TEARS.

01:05:46.667 --> 01:05:50.124
SO ONE DAY I JUST SAID
TO MYSELF, \"THIS IS IT.\"

01:05:50.125 --> 01:05:54.458
AND I SAID, \"GUYS,
YOU KNOW WHAT? FUCK YOU.\"

01:05:54.459 --> 01:06:01.082
MY EX-HUSBAND NEVER REALLY MADE
ANY COMMENTS ONE WAY OR OTHER...

01:06:01.083 --> 01:06:02.833
OR ANOTHER... ABOUT GAY PEOPLE

01:06:02.834 --> 01:06:07.124
UNTIL HE FOUND OUT THAT
I WAS GOING OUT WITH WOMEN.

01:06:07.125 --> 01:06:10.082
AND THEN I GUESS
HE TOOK IT PERSONALLY.

01:06:10.083 --> 01:06:15.333
IT WAS A PERSONAL AFFRONT TO HIM
THAT I CHOSE TO BE WITH WOMEN.

01:06:15.334 --> 01:06:19.625
AND HE JUST WENT...
COMPLETELY CHANGED.

01:06:19.626 --> 01:06:22.666
HE TURNED RELIGIOUS,
HE BECAME A FANATIC.

01:06:22.667 --> 01:06:27.416
AND HE MUST HAVE TAKEN
SEVEN YEARS OF HIS LIFE

01:06:27.417 --> 01:06:31.583
TRYING TO GET ME TO COME
BACK AND TO BE STRAIGHT

01:06:31.584 --> 01:06:33.541
AND TO DROP MY WOMEN FRIENDS.

01:06:33.542 --> 01:06:37.583
AND WHAT HE DIDN\'T REALIZE IS
THAT IT WASN\'T BECAUSE OF HIM.

01:06:37.584 --> 01:06:41.750
IT WAS BECAUSE REALLY,
DEEP DOWN, IT\'S WHAT I WANTED.

01:06:41.751 --> 01:06:43.374
BUT HE TOOK IT PERSONALLY.

01:06:43.375 --> 01:06:47.082
AND HE\'S ALWAYS RESENTED
THE FACT THAT I\'M WITH WOMEN.

01:06:47.083 --> 01:06:51.166
AND WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT
MY OLDEST DAUGHTER WAS GAY,

01:06:51.167 --> 01:06:55.082
WELL, THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW...
I MEAN, HE JUST FLIPPED.

01:06:55.083 --> 01:06:57.917
AND BECAUSE OF HIS
RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND,

01:06:57.918 --> 01:07:00.833
HE HONESTLY FEELS
THAT I\'M GOING TO...

01:07:00.834 --> 01:07:03.875
HE WROTE MY YOUNGEST
DAUGHTER A LETTER

01:07:03.876 --> 01:07:07.458
TELLING HER TO HAVE NOTHING
TO DO WITH ME ANY MORE

01:07:07.459 --> 01:07:11.958
AND TO PUT A CROSS AND SKULLBONE
ON MY FRONT DOOR,

01:07:11.959 --> 01:07:16.082
AND JUST WRITE ME
RIGHT OUT OF HER LIFE.

01:07:16.083 --> 01:07:18.750
AND HE COMMENTED...
WHAT DID HE SAY?

01:07:18.751 --> 01:07:23.583
YOUR MOTHER IS GONE AND I\'VE
LOST MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER DAWN.

01:07:23.584 --> 01:07:26.416
SHE\'S GOING TO BURN
IN HELL WITH HER MOTHER

01:07:26.417 --> 01:07:31.082
BECAUSE SHE\'S DECIDED SHE WANTS
TO BE WITH WOMEN AS WELL.

01:07:31.083 --> 01:07:33.082
SO THAT\'S HIS FEELINGS ABOUT IT.

01:07:33.083 --> 01:07:37.917
LIKE WE ARE... YOU KNOW,
WE\'RE LIVING IN SATAN\'S HOUSE.

01:07:37.918 --> 01:07:40.333
AND HE USES THOSE
KINDS OF WORDS,

01:07:40.334 --> 01:07:45.708
LIKE SATAN\'S HOUSE AND
PITS OF HELL, AND YOU KNOW...

01:07:45.709 --> 01:07:49.583
[ Witch cackling ]

01:07:49.584 --> 01:07:57.584
♪ Eerie organ music ♪

01:08:07.751 --> 01:08:11.917
I GOT REALLY DRUNK THIS NIGHT,
I WAS WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.

01:08:11.918 --> 01:08:14.708
THE RUMOURS WERE STARTING
ABOUT ME BEING GAY,

01:08:14.709 --> 01:08:17.917
AND I STILL WASN\'T COMFORTABLE
WITH MY GAYNESS.

01:08:17.918 --> 01:08:20.249
SO I THOUGHT,
\"I\'LL PROVE YOU WRONG.\"

01:08:20.250 --> 01:08:23.416
SO I ENDED UP IN
THIS MALE CUSTOMER\'S ROOM,

01:08:23.417 --> 01:08:24.708
AND I ENDED UP PREGNANT.

01:08:24.709 --> 01:08:27.500
I DIDN\'T THINK
I COULD HAVE THIS BABY.

01:08:27.501 --> 01:08:28.209
ALSO I WAS GAY!

01:08:28.210 --> 01:08:31.541
I\'D HEARD STORIES ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS TO CHILDREN OF GAYS.

01:08:31.542 --> 01:08:36.541
IT WAS REALLY GREAT THAT
I GOT TO RAISE RACHEL ON MY OWN

01:08:36.542 --> 01:08:39.041
BECAUSE I COULD RAISE
HER THE WAY I WANTED,

01:08:39.042 --> 01:08:43.875
TO BE A STRONG, INDEPENDENT
WOMAN WHO NOBODY WOULD WALK ON.

01:08:43.876 --> 01:08:48.999
WHEN SHE WAS FIVE, I GOT INTO
A RELATIONSHIP WITH A WOMAN

01:08:49.000 --> 01:08:51.625
AND DECIDED THEN
TO TELL HER I WAS GAY.

01:08:51.626 --> 01:08:54.416
I EXPLAINED IT AS
AN ALTERNATE LIFESTYLE.

01:08:54.417 --> 01:08:58.875
THAT THERE WERE THOSE OF US
WHO WERE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS.

01:08:58.876 --> 01:09:01.249
NOT WRONG, OR NO BLAME,
BUT JUST DIFFERENT.

01:09:01.250 --> 01:09:04.583
AND SHE WAS VERY ACCEPTING,
AND SHE STILL IS.

01:09:04.584 --> 01:09:08.917
SHE\'S ABOUT THE LEAST
HOMOPHOBIC PERSON I KNOW.

01:09:08.918 --> 01:09:10.583
SHE\'S VERY GAY POSITIVE

01:09:10.584 --> 01:09:14.542
AND SHE\'S VERY ANGRY
WHEN PEOPLE AREN\'T.

01:09:15.375 --> 01:09:18.999
AND HE BLESSED
AND HE BROKE IT.

01:09:19.000 --> 01:09:21.500
AND HE GAVE IT TO THEM SAYING,

01:09:21.501 --> 01:09:24.458
\"THIS IS MY BODY WHICH
IS GIVEN UP FOR YOU.\"

01:09:24.459 --> 01:09:25.292
I GOT INVOLVED WITH

01:09:25.293 --> 01:09:29.917
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO

01:09:29.918 --> 01:09:33.458
AND I HAD BEEN THROUGH
SEVERAL CHURCH HOMES,

01:09:33.459 --> 01:09:35.917
AND EACH TIME IT CAME CLOSE TO

01:09:35.918 --> 01:09:37.708
THEM FINDING OUT I WAS GAY.

01:09:37.709 --> 01:09:40.917
I EITHER HEARD FROM
THE PULPIT IT WAS WRONG

01:09:40.918 --> 01:09:44.416
OR I KNEW THAT THEY
THOUGHT IT WAS WRONG.

01:09:44.417 --> 01:09:46.750
MAY THE BODY OF
CHRIST PROTECT YOU.

01:09:46.751 --> 01:09:49.416
THERE WAS A LOT OF
VIOLENCE TOWARDS MCC.

01:09:49.417 --> 01:09:53.124
THE MOTHER CHURCH, AFTER
THEY\'D HAD IT THREE YEARS,

01:09:53.125 --> 01:09:54.416
WAS BURNT TO THE GROUND.

01:09:54.417 --> 01:09:56.583
CHURCHES WERE DESECRATED
AND SPRAY-PAINTED.

01:09:56.584 --> 01:09:58.249
THREE CHURCHES HAVE
BEEN BURNED DOWN.

01:09:58.250 --> 01:10:03.124
23 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A FIRE
IN THE NEW ORLEANS CHURCH

01:10:03.125 --> 01:10:05.958
THAT SOMEBODY SET
DURING THE SERVICE.

01:10:05.959 --> 01:10:10.791
OUR MINISTERS ARE
CONSISTENTLY MUGGED, BEATEN...

01:10:10.792 --> 01:10:12.791
SOME OF THEM ARE MURDERED.

01:10:12.792 --> 01:10:14.751
I DIDN\'T WANT TO TELL
RACHEL ABOUT THAT

01:10:16.375 --> 01:10:17.583
BECAUSE SHE HAS CERTAIN FEARS.

01:10:17.584 --> 01:10:21.500
SHE KNOWS SOME OF WHAT\'S
HAPPENED TO SOME OF THE CHURCHES

01:10:21.501 --> 01:10:23.999
AND TO THE MINISTERS;
I REALLY DOWNPLAY IT.

01:10:24.000 --> 01:10:26.666
BUT SOMETIMES WHEN
I\'LL GO TO A FUNCTION,

01:10:26.667 --> 01:10:30.374
SHE\'LL SAY, \"WILL YOU BE
ALL RIGHT? WILL YOU BE SAFE?\"

01:10:30.375 --> 01:10:33.249
[ Protesters ]:
- WHAT DO WE WANT?
- CHOICE!!!

01:10:33.250 --> 01:10:34.416
- WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
- NOW!!!

01:10:34.417 --> 01:10:38.249
[ Lois ]: AND IF YOU AREN\'T
MISTRESSES OF YOUR OWN BODIES

01:10:38.250 --> 01:10:40.958
YOU\'RE A SLAVE!
THAT\'S WHAT SLAVERY IS.

01:10:40.959 --> 01:10:43.583
HAVING SOMEONE ELSE
CONTROL YOUR BODY.

01:10:43.584 --> 01:10:49.249
MALES HAVE TRIED TO REGULATE
REPRODUCTION ALL THEIR LIVES.

01:10:49.250 --> 01:10:51.791
I DON\'T THINK MEN
SHOULD RUN THE WORLD.

01:10:51.792 --> 01:10:54.833
MANY PEOPLE AGREE THAT
MEN ARE BOYS OR SOMETHING;

01:10:54.834 --> 01:10:59.082
I THINK THEY\'RE BOYS LIKE
THE BOYS IN \"LORD OF THE FLIES\".

01:10:59.083 --> 01:11:03.416
AND THEY\'VE BROUGHT THE WORLD
TO THE BRINK OF DESTRUCTION

01:11:03.417 --> 01:11:04.750
IN EVERY WAY YOU CAN THINK.

01:11:04.751 --> 01:11:07.917
I THINK POST-MENOPAUSAL
WOMEN SHOULD RUN THE WORLD.

01:11:07.918 --> 01:11:11.291
[ Protesters ]:
- WHAT DO WE WANT?
- CHOICE!!!

01:11:11.292 --> 01:11:14.082
- WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
- NOW!!!

01:11:14.083 --> 01:11:22.083
♪ Saxophone music ♪

01:11:24.083 --> 01:11:27.999
[ Bannon ]: I STOPPED
WRITING IN THE EARLY 1960s

01:11:28.000 --> 01:11:28.918
AT A TIME WHEN

01:11:28.919 --> 01:11:32.958
MY CHILDREN WERE JUST OF
AN AGE TO START ASKING

01:11:32.959 --> 01:11:35.583
WHAT I WAS DOING
AT THE TYPEWRITER

01:11:35.584 --> 01:11:37.082
FOR SO MANY HOURS A DAY.

01:11:37.083 --> 01:11:43.082
AND BEGINNING TO READ AND
INTERESTED IN WHAT I WAS DOING.

01:11:43.083 --> 01:11:45.249
AND IT MADE ME UNEASY.

01:11:45.250 --> 01:11:47.416
I WISH I HAD BEEN BRAVER

01:11:47.417 --> 01:11:52.917
BECAUSE I THINK I WAS BEGINNING
TO BE A LOT BETTER WRITER.

01:11:52.918 --> 01:11:55.750
IT WAS EASIER TO LIVE IN MY HEAD

01:11:55.751 --> 01:11:58.875
THAN TO GO OUT
AND LIVE A REAL LIFE,

01:11:58.876 --> 01:12:03.583
AND I SOMETIMES WONDER
IF I HARMED MYSELF SOMEHOW.

01:12:03.584 --> 01:12:05.249
I\'VE GOTTEN SO GOOD AT IT

01:12:05.250 --> 01:12:08.291
THAT\'S NOW IT\'S TEMPTING
TO STAY IN MY HEAD.

01:12:08.292 --> 01:12:12.249
I THINK THAT\'S PROBABLY
NOT WHAT ONE SHOULD DO,

01:12:12.250 --> 01:12:13.666
ONE NEEDS TO GET OUT,

01:12:13.667 --> 01:12:17.249
BUT IT WAS A STRATEGY THAT
PROBABLY SAVED MY SANITY.

01:12:17.250 --> 01:12:20.374
I WAS DOING WHAT
EVERYONE TOLD ME TO DO.

01:12:20.375 --> 01:12:24.833
MY FAMILY, MY LIFE,
MY CULTURE, MY SOCIETY ALL SAID,

01:12:24.834 --> 01:12:26.333
\"BE A GOOD WIFE AND MOTHER.\"

01:12:26.334 --> 01:12:30.833
AND I GAVE IT A GOOD TRY
AND IT FINALLY DIDN\'T WORK.

01:12:30.834 --> 01:12:34.333
AND SO I\'M LIVING
A MUCH BETTER LIFE.

01:12:34.334 --> 01:12:36.917
I\'M MUCH TRUER TO MYSELF NOW.

01:12:36.918 --> 01:12:40.708
BUT YOU CAN\'T GO BACK
AND REWRITE IT.

01:12:40.709 --> 01:12:45.875
♪ Music ♪

01:12:45.876 --> 01:12:49.917
I GOT VERY SICK...
VERY, VERY, VERY SICK.

01:12:49.918 --> 01:12:53.791
LIKE, \"KAPUT... C\'EST FINI!

01:12:53.792 --> 01:12:55.917
TODO... TERMINADO.\"

01:12:55.918 --> 01:12:58.291
[ Dog barking ]

01:12:58.292 --> 01:13:00.750
AND THEY DID LOTS OF TESTS.

01:13:00.751 --> 01:13:02.708
THEY TOOK ABOUT A MONTH.

01:13:02.709 --> 01:13:04.291
AND THEY SAID TO ME,

01:13:04.292 --> 01:13:07.082
\"NAIROBI, GUESS WHAT?
YOU NEED A HEART.\"

01:13:07.083 --> 01:13:08.917
AND I SAID, \"OH,
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?\"

01:13:08.918 --> 01:13:15.333
MY TRANSPLANT, IT WAS IN 1988,
AND I\'LL NEVER FORGET THAT DATE.

01:13:15.334 --> 01:13:17.875
THE 13th OF JULY \'88.

01:13:17.876 --> 01:13:20.541
THAT\'S MY LUCKY NUMBER.

01:13:20.542 --> 01:13:22.458
I WAS SHOCKED AT MY MOTHER.

01:13:22.459 --> 01:13:26.374
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
THAT MY MOTHER KISSED ME.

01:13:26.375 --> 01:13:28.333
BECAUSE SHE NEVER DID BEFORE.

01:13:28.334 --> 01:13:29.583
I THOUGHT SHE THOUGHT

01:13:29.584 --> 01:13:33.833
THAT KISSING A LESBIAN
WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS.

01:13:33.834 --> 01:13:35.500
CATCHY!

01:13:35.501 --> 01:13:37.917
AND WHEN SHE LAID
DOWN CLOSE TO ME,

01:13:37.918 --> 01:13:41.791
OR STOOPED DOWN AND KISSED ME,
I\'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

01:13:41.792 --> 01:13:46.583
I, AS THEY SAY, I SAW THE LIGHT.

01:13:46.584 --> 01:13:47.417
MY MOTHER KISSED ME.

01:13:47.418 --> 01:13:51.583
AND I LOOKED AT HER AND SAID,
\"MOTHER, YOU KISSED ME!\"

01:13:51.584 --> 01:13:53.791
SHE KISSED ME AGAIN AND SMILED.

01:13:53.792 --> 01:13:55.249
SHE SAID, \"YOU\'LL MAKE IT.\"

01:13:55.250 --> 01:13:59.750
THAT WAS JUST BEFORE
I WENT TO THE OPERATION TABLE.

01:13:59.751 --> 01:14:02.042
AND I LOVED THAT.

01:14:04.501 --> 01:14:06.124
[ Amanda ]: I WAS BROUGHT UP

01:14:06.125 --> 01:14:08.625
IN THE HAIDA NATION,
AND OUR CULTURES

01:14:08.626 --> 01:14:11.416
AND VALUES AND BELIEFS
ARE MUCH DIFFERENT.

01:14:11.417 --> 01:14:13.583
I WASN\'T BROUGHT UP
WITH CHRISTIANITY.

01:14:13.584 --> 01:14:16.791
MY FIRST LANGUAGE
IS NOT ENGLISH,

01:14:16.792 --> 01:14:20.708
AND THE VALUES OF OWNERSHIP,
OF MATERIALISTIC THINGS,

01:14:20.709 --> 01:14:23.082
WAS NOT PART OF MY VALUES.

01:14:23.083 --> 01:14:26.166
BUT I REALIZED
WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY

01:14:26.167 --> 01:14:29.833
THAT THIS SOCIETY BASES
THE VALUE OF A PERSON

01:14:29.834 --> 01:14:34.166
ON WHAT JOB THEY DO
AND WHAT THEY OWN.

01:14:34.167 --> 01:14:37.917
[ Birds chirping ]

01:14:37.918 --> 01:14:40.917
FOR A PERSON OF WHITE HERITAGE,

01:14:40.918 --> 01:14:42.708
YOU\'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET,

01:14:42.709 --> 01:14:44.750
YOU ARE NOT TARGETED
AS LESBIAN OR GAY,

01:14:44.751 --> 01:14:48.583
BUT AS A NATIVE PERSON YOU\'RE
TARGETED AS A NATIVE PERSON.

01:14:48.584 --> 01:14:51.041
AND WHEN YOU REALIZE
THAT YOUR CHOICE

01:14:51.042 --> 01:14:52.458
OF PARTNER IS OF THE SAME SEX,

01:14:52.459 --> 01:14:56.374
THEN YOU REALIZE THERE MUST BE
SOMETHING MORE WRONG WITH YOU,

01:14:56.375 --> 01:14:58.583
BECAUSE SOCIETY DOESN\'T
ACCEPT YOU ALREADY

01:14:58.584 --> 01:15:00.917
AS IT IS, BUT NOW
YOU\'VE GOT THIS ADDED ON.

01:15:00.918 --> 01:15:03.750
DO YOU LOSE YOUR
PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS?

01:15:03.751 --> 01:15:05.041
NOW WHERE DO YOU BELONG?

01:15:05.042 --> 01:15:08.625
IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE
TO BE WHAT WE WERE.

01:15:08.626 --> 01:15:10.458
THESE WERE ALL COURAGEOUS WOMEN.

01:15:10.459 --> 01:15:12.208
WE WERE ALL OUT THERE
FLAUNTING THE LAW

01:15:12.209 --> 01:15:15.708
AND JUST BEING BRAVE ENOUGH
TO DO WHAT WE WERE DOING.

01:15:15.709 --> 01:15:18.333
WITH NO SUPPORT, WITH
NO HELP FROM ANYBODY.

01:15:18.334 --> 01:15:21.791
AND IT APPEALED TO ME,
ESPECIALLY AS A 21-YEAR-OLD.

01:15:21.792 --> 01:15:24.500
I WAS REALLY INTO BEING
A REBEL, SO... IT WAS GREAT!

01:15:24.501 --> 01:15:29.082
AND THAT ATTRACTED MANY YOUNG
PEOPLE TO THE LIFESTYLE THEN.

01:15:29.083 --> 01:15:30.750
IT WAS THE FORBIDDENNESS.

01:15:30.751 --> 01:15:34.249
IT WAS DOING SOMETHING
THAT WAS SLIGHTLY ILLICIT!

01:15:34.250 --> 01:15:36.082
WHEN I LOOK BACK
I REALIZE THAT

01:15:36.083 --> 01:15:39.541
THE PEOPLE BACK HOME
WERE VERY STRONG PEOPLE.

01:15:39.542 --> 01:15:43.374
AND THE WOMEN IN VANPORT,
EVEN THOUGH THEY SCARED ME,

01:15:43.375 --> 01:15:47.082
WERE ALSO VERY STRONG
BECAUSE THEY GOT OUT THERE

01:15:47.083 --> 01:15:50.082
AND SAID, \"THIS IS WHO
WE ARE, LIKE IT OR NOT.\"

01:15:50.083 --> 01:15:55.458
WHEN I CAME INTO THE GAY SCENE,
WHAT I APPRECIATED ABOUT IT

01:15:55.459 --> 01:16:00.416
WAS THAT THE WOMEN THAT HAD
DECIDED WHAT THEY WANTED TO BE

01:16:00.417 --> 01:16:03.875
AND THEIR SEXUALITY,
WERE VERY STRONG WOMEN,

01:16:03.876 --> 01:16:07.041
AND THEY HAD TO BE
TO MAKE A DECISION THEN.

01:16:07.042 --> 01:16:09.333
IT WAS VERY HARD TO BE GAY THEN,

01:16:09.334 --> 01:16:13.416
IT JUST WASN\'T ACCEPTED
WITH FAMILIES OR FRIENDS.

01:16:13.417 --> 01:16:16.500
AND WOMEN, I FOUND,
STUCK TOGETHER MORE.

01:16:16.501 --> 01:16:21.750
I THINK THAT
NOT BEING ABLE TO...

01:16:21.751 --> 01:16:25.291
MOVE FREELY THROUGH SOCIETY
AS A HUMAN BEING

01:16:25.292 --> 01:16:31.042
AND A PERSON WITH DIGNITY
ISN\'T EXCITING!

01:16:31.626 --> 01:16:35.416
I THINK MAYBE ROBBING
A BANK IS EXCITING.

01:16:35.417 --> 01:16:37.917
BUT NOT BEING AN OUTCAST

01:16:37.918 --> 01:16:42.958
BECAUSE YOU HAVE PREFERENCES
THAT THE MAJORITY DON\'T HAVE.

01:16:42.959 --> 01:16:44.500
THAT\'S NOT EXCITING.

01:16:44.501 --> 01:16:45.833
NOT... IT NEVER WAS TO ME.

01:16:45.834 --> 01:16:50.333
I DON\'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYBODY,
I JUST WANT TO BE A PERSON.

01:16:50.334 --> 01:16:53.666
I JUST WANT TO WALK THROUGH LIFE
FREELY AND NOT HARM ANYBODY.

01:16:53.667 --> 01:16:56.833
I DON\'T WANT TO BE HARMED, I
JUST WANT NICE SOCIAL CONTACTS.

01:16:56.834 --> 01:16:58.750
I JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN.

01:16:58.751 --> 01:17:00.625
I DON\'T WANT TO HAVE TO THINK,

01:17:00.626 --> 01:17:02.750
\"THERE\'S SOMETHING
WRONG WITH ME.

01:17:02.751 --> 01:17:05.082
\"I\'M NOT AS GOOD AS THIS PERSON.

01:17:05.083 --> 01:17:08.208
I HAVE TO GO TO
THE BACK OF THE BUS.\"

01:17:08.209 --> 01:17:09.625
THAT SUCKS!

01:17:09.626 --> 01:17:10.501
I TRUST ALL WOMEN.

01:17:10.502 --> 01:17:14.791
IF THERE WAS ONLY WOMEN,
I WOULD NEVER LOCK MY DOORS.

01:17:14.792 --> 01:17:17.750
BUT I LOCK MY DOORS
TO KEEP THE MEN OUT,

01:17:17.751 --> 01:17:19.583
NOT TO KEEP THE WOMEN OUT.

01:17:19.584 --> 01:17:22.459
I LOCK THEM TO KEEP
THE WOMEN IN!

01:17:23.083 --> 01:17:31.083
♪ Romantic music ♪

01:19:51.417 --> 01:19:56.291
♪ Fifties ballad ♪

01:19:56.292 --> 01:19:56.834
LAURA?

01:19:56.835 --> 01:19:58.876
♪ SECRETLY WISH WE DIDN\'T
HAVE TO KISS SECRETLY ♪

01:20:06.542 --> 01:20:12.082
♪ WISH WE DIDN\'T
HAVE TO BE AFRAID ♪

01:20:12.083 --> 01:20:13.917
I MADE YOU
A COFFEE.

01:20:13.918 --> 01:20:18.541
♪ SHOW THE WORLD
THAT WE\'RE IN LOVE ♪

01:20:18.542 --> 01:20:21.917
♪ TILL WE HAVE THE RIGHT ♪

01:20:21.918 --> 01:20:23.750
THANKS...

01:20:23.751 --> 01:20:26.250
IT\'S MY FAVOURITE.

01:20:28.250 --> 01:20:31.500
[ Narrator ]:LAURA THOUGHT
SHE WOULD BE CAUGHT

01:20:31.501 --> 01:20:34.249
IN A HIDEOUS TRAP
OF WARPED DESIRES.

01:20:34.250 --> 01:20:38.541
INSTEAD SHE FOUND HER
WILDEST DREAMS HAD COME TRUE.

01:20:38.542 --> 01:20:42.458
NOW SHE KNEW WHAT
SHE WAS, FOR SURE:

01:20:42.459 --> 01:20:44.959
A LESBIAN!

01:20:51.125 --> 01:20:58.167
Closed captions
SOUS-TITRAGE PLUS INC.

01:24:04.709 --> 01:24:06.999
I KEEP LAUGHING
AT WHAT YOU SAID

01:24:07.000 --> 01:24:09.416
ABOUT THIS THING
BEING A HIT,

01:24:09.417 --> 01:24:10.583
REMEMBER?

01:24:10.584 --> 01:24:11.542
YES.

01:24:11.543 --> 01:24:13.208
WHAT DID YOU SAY?

01:24:13.209 --> 01:24:15.208
I SAID, \"LOIS,
WITH OUR LUCK

01:24:15.209 --> 01:24:17.082
\"THIS MOVIE WILL
BE A HIT.

01:24:17.083 --> 01:24:20.124
\"AND THERE WILL BE
PEOPLE LINED UP

01:24:20.125 --> 01:24:22.750
WITH BASEBALL BATS
TO GET US.\"

01:24:22.751 --> 01:24:25.082
IT WON\'T BE
ANYTHING NEW FOR ME!

01:24:25.083 --> 01:24:27.500
IT\'LL BE LIKE
THE OLD DAYS.

01:24:27.501 --> 01:24:28.000
YES.

01:24:28.001 --> 01:24:31.417
THE OLD DAYS OUTSIDE A GAY BAR.
THEY WERE GREAT STUFF!

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