Old Lesbians: Unveiling LGBTQ History
In a powerful tribute to resilience and history, filmmaker Meghan McDonough has unveiled her latest project, a documentary short titled “Old Lesbians.” This poignant work delves into the archives of the Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project (OLOHP), paying homage to its late founder, Arden Eversmeyer, who passed away last November at the age of 91.
Eversmeyer, a self-proclaimed “old lesbian,” founded Lesbians Over Age Fifty (LOAF) in 1987 after losing her partner of 33 years. Faced with a lack of support groups for lesbians her age, she created a community that later inspired the OLOHP. This project, initiated in 1998, aimed to preserve the life stories of lesbians over 70 in their own words.
Meghan McDonough stumbled upon the OLOHP in 2022 while searching for lesbian history archives online. Intrigued, she connected with Eversmeyer and was inspired to create a documentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ history, shedding light on the struggles and triumphs of older lesbians.
The OLOHP archive now boasts over 800 recorded interviews, safeguarded at Smith College, Massachusetts. These interviews, accompanied by photos and documents, offer a firsthand account of the experiences of lesbians over 70, contributing significantly to LGBTQ history.
McDonough’s documentary premiered on Nov. 11 at the Aesthetica Film Festival in York, England, emphasizes the importance of knowing and appreciating the struggles of previous generations. In an era where anti-LGBTQ sentiments are on the rise, understanding the historical context becomes crucial.
As highlighted by Barbara Kucharczyk, a trained interviewer for OLOHP, the goal is not to sensationalize but to preserve stories. Kucharczyk emphasizes the urgency for LGBTQ youth to learn about their history, given the current political climate with a surge in anti-LGBTQ state bills proposed by Republican lawmakers.
The documentary, McDonough believes, serves as a reminder to younger generations that the rights they enjoy today were hard-won. Through conversations with Eversmeyer, McDonough learned about the challenges faced by queer women on college campuses in the mid-20th century, emphasizing the cyclical nature of history.
With over 500 anti-LGBTQ state bills proposed this year alone, the film takes on added significance, urging viewers to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that persist. As McDonough aptly puts it, “I hope that young people, people of my generation, watch the film and realize that we can’t take our rights for granted.”
McDonough’s “Old Lesbians” promises to be a vital addition to LGBTQ history, offering a heartfelt tribute to those who fought for the rights enjoyed by the community today.
Sources:
- Ruddy, E. (2023, November 10). “Old Lesbians” documentary highlights the importance of recording “herstory.” NBC News.
- WWW.OLOHP.ORG. (n.d.). The Old Lesbian Oral Herstory Project. WWW.OLOHP.ORG.
- Image Credit: Rengim Mutevellioglu