The Power of Queer Girlhood and Woman-Centric Projects
Written by Daphne Bryant
All images courtesy of IMDb
I think queer girlhood has very quickly become a central theme in all of my writing, creative direction,and other artistic mediums. Before the inception of Dreamworldgirl Zine, my multimedia magazine for all things girlhood, I’d previously toyed with the idea, but never really dived into or thought about what it might mean for different kinds of people. Now, I think queer girlhood is undoubtedly one of the most powerful things in the world. I’ve been told that, in a lot of ways, Dreamworldgirl Zine is a revolutionary publication with lots of promise. While that might be true, I also think we are taking the torch from amazing, bold, and brave artists that came before me and my team.
“I think queer girlhood is undoubtedly one of the most powerful things in the world.”
Take for example, The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995), one of, if not my favorite lesbian films. There’s a lot to love about this movie. For starters, it was a DIY, low-budget venture, just like the zine. I always like to say that you can do a lot with a little. Thousands of dollars, fancy locations, or the most famous faces aren’t necessary to strike a chord with an audience. All you really need is a lot of heart and passion, which bisexual writer and director Maggie Maggenti definitely brought when she created The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love. Not only that, but this film is a sweet story with a happy ending. If you’re sapphic and consume any kind of visual media, I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that MANY lesbian narratives don’t have happy endings. Someone always has to break up, or end up with a man, or die or worse (I don’t know how it could get worse really but knowing lesbians, it probably could). The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love is a refreshing, Romeo and Juliet-esque tale that ends with a wholesome kiss between two teenage girls who have spent the entire movie falling in love, though it is against all odds. It really is an adventure seeing tomboy, known dyke, and likely high school dropout, Randy Dean, crush sooo fucking hard on the rich girl, goody-two shoes, seemingly straight, Evie Roy (& vice versa). And then of course, there’s the fact that the project was made almost entirely by women, with all the major positions belonging to these badass ladies: writer and director: Maggenti, producer: Dolly Hall, cinematographer: Tami Reiker, editor: Susan Graef). There’s truly nothing like working with AFAB people who believe in the same mission as you. Coming together to create this unashamedly gay movie in the mid 90s is such a flex, and I think it deserves to be a pinnacle of sapphic film. Other aspects I loved that I’d consider honorable mentions: the interracial romance, silly romcom humor, great settings, interesting family dynamics (Randy lives with her lesbian aunt and girlfriend, and her aunt’s ex-girlfriend), and Laurel Holloman as a baby masc.
Another project I really loved? Bottoms (2023), which was released almost two decades after The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love. Now considered a certified camp classic, Bottoms combines ragtag ridiculousness with romantic queer tropes, and mashes it all together to create a Gen-Z masterpiece. Essentially, lesbo Fight Club meets Easy A? Mention Bottoms to a lesbian, and they’ll probably sing the movie’s praises. It definitely deserves all the love, and I’m glad so many of us queer girlies and gays have gotten to see it. Despite all the love, getting the movie into theaters and onto streaming platforms wasn’t an easy task for director Emma Seligman. Apparently, Seligman greatly struggled to pitch, shoot, and edit Bottoms, because many potential studios, companies,and collaborators thought the premise was alienating, hypersexual and,for lack of better words,“ too gay.” Seligman and Rachel Sennott, who co-wrote the film, received a bunch of rejections, and sometimes were not even let into the doors of executives. They ended up having to film at an abandoned elementary school and college gymnasium, because the high schools in Louisiana wanted nothing to do with a lesbian film. In a weird way,this mirrors the DIY nature of The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love, although I’d argue that in Maggenti’s case it was a money problem, and Seligman and Sennott mostly dealt with overt homophobia. Hell, even I experienced it when the movie came out: they weren’t playing it at all in certain Alabama theaters (where I was when the film got released, hanging out with a 24 year old ex-girlfriend of mine who I’d never met before, long story, very gay, very tragic). I’d wanted to go on a date to see Bottoms, and I couldn’t because theaters were actively boycotting it. In the face of this discrimination Seligman and Sennott not only prevailed, but they excelled. The director, writers, and cinematographer (Maria Rusche) were all women, just like with The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love. I think the team behind Bottoms did a phenomenal job, and so do critics. This movie is so fucking funny, relatable and perfectly messy; it’s right up there with my favorite lesbian films, and for good reason. Bottoms shocked, surprised, and stunned queer and straight audiences alike. That’s the power of queer girlhood and woman-centric projects.
It’s creating spaces where there are no spaces. It’s embracing the good while sticking a middle finger up at the bad. It’s rallying around a community that understands you and your work to an incredible degree. It’s pursuing your dreams, even when they seem impossibly far away. Let these movies serve as a reminder for whenever you’re feeling down about your work; queers can really, truly, do anything, and we can make it fun too!
