queer custody (working title)

A DOCUMENTARY short FILM - in development

Queer Custody (working title) is a documentary sequel to the landmark 1977 lesbian feminist documentary film In the Best Interests of the Children (dirs. Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens, Cathy Zheutlin, produced by Iris Films) that humanized the issue of lesbian mothers fighting to regain custody of their children in the 1970s after coming out and divorcing their husbands. Our documentary short contextualizes both the personal and legal context of that original film, placing this nearly forgotten period of LGBTQ+ history in dialogue with experiences of children of queer parents today. As a sequel, our film centers in part on Julie Stevens, daughter of filmmaker Liz Stevens who had lost custody of her children and was the inspiration for the making of “In the Best Interests of the Children.” Our film reunites Julie with a number of the original film subjects including Kathy Sloan, daughter of Margaret Sloan-Hunter (black lesbian-feminist writer and an editor of Ms. Magazine) and who both played an important role in the original film. Staging dialogues between Julie, Kathy, filmmaker Frances Reid, and other subjects of the original film with children of queer parents today, our film explores what having lesbian mothers meant during a time when homosexuality was considered a mental illness and juxtaposes that past to the radically different queer parenting situations of today. As a conversation between past and present, our film centers the perspectives and experiences of children, highlights the impact of this too little known period of lesbian history, and represents processes of healing from the traumas of child-separation and homophobia.

Our approach is modeled on the original film’s feminist verité aesthetic that centers the humanity and relatability of lesbians and their children. The subjects, who represent a range of race and class backgrounds, will be interviewed while engaged in everyday activities that cultivate curiosity and represent authentic connections between adults and children—while playing games, singing or taking part in physical activities. Conversations and dialogue scenes between the adult children from the original film and the children of queer parents today will be juxtaposed to 16mm vignettes reenacting Frances Reid’s memories of falling in love with Liz Stevens and making the film while fighting for custody of Julie. Our film will integrate clips from the original film, archival footage, photographs and historical documents, children’s voices, singing and music that emphasize the visceral, emotional impact of the larger legal and societal contexts of our subject.

Our documentary will impact the understanding of queer family history—bringing awareness of the forgotten history of legal homophobia in parent custody cases. We hope the film will inspire gratitude for the work done by queer elders in radically transforming the legal and social landscape of queer parenting today. Through screenings, discussion and press, the film will provide emotional context for audiences (straight and queer) to understand issues faced by queer families and will serve as an advocacy bridge to related political issues such as child separation of immigrants and recent transphobic and homophobic discrimination policies.