Esther Newton Made Me Gay (2022)
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!
Director: Jean Carlomusto
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 92 min
Release Date: March 17, 2022
Cast
- Esther Newton - Self
- Louise Fishman - Self
- Amber Hollibaugh - Self
- Holly Hughes - Self
Screenplay
Music: Gil Talmi
Cinematography: Alex Rappoport, Jean Carlomusto
Editing: Jean Carlomusto
Production: Konsonant, Chroma Center, Cresting Moon Productions, The Film Collaborative, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment
Language: English
Original Language: en
Trailer
Esther Newton Made Me Gay TrailerMore Films by Director: Jean Carlomusto
More Films in Genre: Documentary
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Esther Newton Made Me Gay about?
- 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!
- Who directed Esther Newton Made Me Gay?
- Esther Newton Made Me Gay was directed by Jean Carlomusto.
- Who stars in Esther Newton Made Me Gay?
- Esther Newton Made Me Gay stars Esther Newton, Louise Fishman, Amber Hollibaugh, Holly Hughes.
- How long is Esther Newton Made Me Gay?
- Esther Newton Made Me Gay has a runtime of 1h 32m (92 minutes).
- What genre is Esther Newton Made Me Gay?
- Esther Newton Made Me Gay is a Documentary film.