Browse Films

With a fearless look at a highly charged subject, Straightlaced unearths how popular pressures around gender and sexuality are confining American teens. Their stories reflect a diversity of experiences, demonstrating how gender role expectations and homophobia are interwoven, and illustrating the different ways that these expectations connect with culture, race and class.

From girls confronting media messages about culture and body image to boys who are sexually active just to prove they aren’t gay, this fascinating array of students opens up with brave, intimate honesty about the toll that deeply held stereotypes and rigid gender policing have on all our lives.

Straightlaced includes the perspectives of teens who self-identify as straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning and represent all points of the gender spectrum. With courage and unexpected humor, they open up their lives to the camera: choosing between “male” and “female” deodorant; deciding whether to go along with anti-gay taunts in the locker room; having the courage to take ballet; avoiding the restroom so they won’t get beaten up; or mourning the suicide of a classmate. It quickly becomes clear that just about everything teens do requires thinking about gender and sexuality.

Coming of age today has become increasingly complex and challenging; Straightlaced offers both teens and adults a way out of anxiety, fear and violence and points the way toward a more inclusive, empowering culture.

 

If I was King of the World I'd have every parent, teacher and teenager in America see this documentary so that as many hearts and minds as possible would find more compassion and understanding, and take more initiative in protecting our young people, our future.
Donald Schwartz
CineSource
full review

Heartfelt, fast-moving and fully multicultural . . An honest, smart, respectful, and nearly comprehensive treatment of gender in teens' lives with the potential to inspire nuanced, spirited conversations.
Megan Honig
School Library Journal
full review

Watching Straightlaced rekindled both the outrage and the hope that came with bringing Harvey Milk's story to the screen. This new documentary is a rare gem that provides a forum for young people to speak eloquently about the courage it takes to break out of the box, live authentic lives, and stand up for justice. I think Harvey would be proud of the kids in Straightlaced, and I urge young and old alike to support GroundSpark's campaign to get this film screened in schools and communities across the country.
Bruce Cohen
Producer, "MILK"

"Essential viewing." Beaks down stereotypes and visualizes something we can't afford not to talk about. A vital tool for classrooms around the country.
Jennifer Raab
President, Hunter College

As in Chasnoff'sprevious recent works, the film is remarkable for the candor with which its subjects speak - in this case, teens discussing their frustrations with gender roles and stereotypes.
Justin Berton
San Francisco Chronicle
full review

More Reviews

AWARDS & SCREENINGS:

• Best Documentary  Baltimore Women's Film Festival

• Winner! Cine Golden Eagle

• Audience Choice Award  Western Psychological Association 

• Frameline—San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

• OUTFEST—Los Angeles International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

• London International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

• NEWFEST - New York International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

• Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

Resource Web Sites

Straightlaced Discussion Guide