by Bruce Haulman

Five Vashon organizations will present a series of historic LGBTQ films for the island. Organized by the Heritage Museum, the Senior Center, Voice of Vashon, Island GreenTech, and the Vashon Theatre; the film series will screen at the Vashon Theatre on GreenTech Tuesdays and at the Senior Center on Wednesdays and Fridays. The LGBTQ Film Series is inspired by the IN and OUT: Being LGBTQ on Vashon Island exhibit that opened in June at the Heritage Museum.

Catherine Swearingen, Executive Director of the Vashon Senior Center, commented that “The Center is involved in the film series because we want to engage more intentionally with our LGBTQ neighbors and those who love them. This film series not only brings good cinema focused on the LGBTQ community to the island, but also captures the collaboration that exists among Vashon organizations. The Center's involvement in this project reflects our mission of enriching the lives of older adults on Vashon, where everyone is welcome and supported.” This approach is echoed by Elsa Croonquist the Executive Director of the Vashon Heritage Museum: “Our vision at the Museum is to inspire and educate, so we are thrilled to be part of bringing this inspiring film series to Vashon and to keep the conversation going that was started by our current exhibit, IN AND OUT: Being LBGTQ on Vashon Island. Films, and our partnerships with the Senior Center, Voice of Vashon, Island GreenTech, and the Vashon Theatre, allow us to take our special exhibits out of the museum, and continue conversations about our heritage and thriving culture. It’s a good conversation.”

Films schedule for the series include Radical Harmonies (2002), Torch Song Trilogy (1988), La Mission (2010), Better Than Chocolate (1999), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), TransMilitary (2018) with speaker Captain El Cook, The Birdcage (1996), Saving Face (2004), and The Celluloid Closet (1995). Stephen Silha, one of the In and OUT curators commented, “Music and film have played such an important role in LGBTQ liberation and history. Between Brian Fisher’s windows and this film series, we are sharing important cultural expressions that have been part of the LGBTQ story, internationally and on Vashon.”

According to Lisa Breen, Executive Director, Voice of Vashon KVSH 101.9 FM, “Being Vashon’s “Community Connection” is our primary mission at VoV and helping the Heritage Museum and Senior Center make these connections feels like a natural fit for us.” The first film, Radical Harmonies, will screen at the Senior Center on Wednesday September 25, at 5:00 PM. Other films will screen each month from October to May.

This film series brings together a collective of LGBTQ ally organizations in support of Vashon’s LGBTQ people by screening historic LGBTQ films. The exhibit is an inner look at the Vashon LGBTQ community, the film series turns our focus outwards to look at the broader LGBTQ community,” according to Maridee Bonadea, the Film Series Coordinator. She also stated, “As a member of the advisory committee for the IN and OUT exhibit I’m excited about the year-long LGBTQ film festival on Vashon. This film series reflects all the peoples' vision and hard work organizing the exhibit and how all that has brought so many together culminating in the film festival.”

The IN and OUT exhibit is open through early May of next year, Wednesdays through Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, and the film series will run from this September through next April. Films and dates will be advertised well ahead of the screenings, and a poster and advertisements will specify each film, time, and date.