The film’s journey begins in Lansing, Michigan, in a local hub of lesbian community known colloquially as “Dyke Heights.” The longest-running lesbian periodical is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Lesbian Connection’s superfans – those who have subscribed since the 1970s– are trickling in from all over the country, from rural areas to...
SYNOPSIS
Our journey begins in Lansing, Michigan, in a local hub of lesbian community known colloquially as “Dyke Heights.” The longest-running sapphic periodical is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Lesbian Connection’s superfans– those for whom the magazine has served as a lifeline since the 1970s– are trickling in from all over the country, from rural areas to big cities and everything in between.
Many in this cohort were proud members of the “Staples Club” during the early years when the magazine was stapled shut to prevent passerby from seeing the word “lesbian” on the cover. For them, it was social media before social media.
In a road trip across the United States, we introduce viewers to the most loyal readers of the magazine affectionately known as LC, or Elsie. From a ceramicist in eastern Washington to a former nun at a lesbian retirement community in Florida, these subscribers show us how a sense of belonging can be forged even in isolation– and how to world-build in a world that wasn’t built for us.
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Meghan McDonough
Meghan McDonough is a filmmaker and journalist who won Aesthetica/Audible’s Listening Pitch for her documentary short Old Lesbians, which was featured on IDA’s 2024 Best Short Documentary Shortlist, commissioned by The Guardian, and has screened at institutions, community centers, and film festivals around the world, including the California State Capitol, the British Film Institute, and the American LGBTQ+ Museum. Meghan’s work has appeared in NBC, Scientific American, Quartz, and more, and has been supported by the Pulitzer Center. She received her BA in Film and Media Studies from Amherst College.
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