Queens at Heart

A rare and provocative glimpse into pre-Stonewall queer life!

Produced in 1967, this amazing 22-minute short film introduces us to Misty, Vicky, Sonja and Simone—four transwomen who are subjected to a six-month psychological project and then grilled about their personal lives by a weird guy in a wood-paneled office who claims to have interviewed "thousands of homosexuals” (and who obviously doesn’t understand the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity).

Queens at Heart offers a rare glimpse into pre-Stonewall queer life as it takes us to a New York City drag ball and follows the women through their daily lives. They talk about their double-lives—going out as women at night but living as men during the day, and about how they take hormones and dream of "going for a change." One talks about avoiding the draft, another about her fiancé and another about the torment of childhood as an effeminate youth.

"We know that homosexuality is a psychological aberration that should be treated,” proclaims the interviewer as the film ends. Shifting to a surprisingly sympathetic tone he concludes with the provocative challenge, “but what about those who don't want to change? Who are we to judge?"

Queens at Heart is a tremendously valuable in-depth portrait of pre-Stonewall transgender women. Their candor and courage are a true gift to the queers of the new millennium.

Trailer...