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Esther Newton Made Me Gay

03/17/2022

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1hr 32min

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Documentary

STORY

Esther Newton was drawn to the drag scene as a student in the 1950s. Identifying as both butch lesbian and between genders, she felt a kinship with the queens; what the feminine clothing society expected her to wear felt like a form of drag. Her 1972 book ‘Mother Camp: Female Impersonators in America’ is noted as the first rigorous study of its kind. Now entering her sixth decade writing about queer communities, Newton exudes wisdom and a healthy dose of New York no-nonsense. The film’s amazing archive footage encompasses gay liberation, the feminist sex wars, AIDS activism and life on the safe haven of Fire Island. Her other main passion is dog training, so this illuminating history lesson is peppered with poodles!

CAST & CREW

    Cast

  • Esther Newton
  • Louise Fishman
  • Amber Hollibaugh
  • Holly Hughes

    Directors

  • Jean Carlomusto
  • Caroline Berler

INFORMATION

    Production Companies

  • Konsonant
  • Chroma Center
  • Cresting Moon Productions
  • The Film Collaborative
  • NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment

    Production Countries

LANGUAGES

  • English

Cast

Esther Newton

Self

Louise Fishman

Self

Holly Hughes

Self

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