(The) Aggressives filmed 2005

This striking and illuminating documentary explores and exposes the secret subculture of New York lesbians living as "aggressives." Often mistaken for men, these women range from pretty tomboys to the blatantly butch, boldly creating their own identities outside of society's established sexual categories. Stripped of pretense, they lead us to fashion shoots and prison cells to reveal their work lives, love lives and social lives, including the underground "ball" scene where lesbians compete for lead "AG" status.

The resulting documentary is the culmination of five years spent uncovering the "no apologies" lifestyle of six self-defined aggressives as they define their dreams, share their most intimate secrets and reveal their deepest fears. The female counterpart to Paris is Burning, this heartfelt all-access film exposes the AG community in all its unabashed, rough-edged glory and explores its impact on gender identity.

Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer 1992

Nick Broomfield, the director of 'Kurt and Courtney', offers another interesting insight to a notorious subject of a different kind. Aileen Wuornos, dubbed America's first female serial killer and a woman who killed seven men, is the topic of Broomfield's investigation. He draws attention to the circumstances surrounding the media and Hollywood deals and the characteristics of Wuornos's lawyer and a Christian woman (who adopts Aileen and becomes her spiritual mother) and exposes their agenda.

Rather than give insight to the crimes itself, Broomfield reveals the sensationalism of the event, and the people involved with Aileen. This is hardly a brilliant documentary but essential viewing as we see Broomfield struggle to get his interview with Aileen where the compelling factor revolves around the circumstances of the process and people involved itself!

Girls Who Like Girls (2001) ***

Explore the sexy side of the love that dares not speak its name in this saucy collection of steamy girl-on-girl encounters from the swinging '60s and '70s!

Lovemaking between two women is taken to a new level of intensity in this riveting collection of sapphic pleasures, featuring the finest moments from elegant erotica maestro Radley Metzger and the sensual European classics from the Audubon Library. Enjoy the lovely ladies from such favorites as "The Fourth Sex," "The Dirty Girls," "The Lickerish Quartet," "Sexus," "The Alley Cats," "Score," "Her and She and Him," "Olga's Girls," "Naked Came the Stranger," "The Immoral One," "The Twilight Girls," "Therese and Isabelle," "Carmen, Baby," and more!

Great Things About Being Queer 2005

A one-hour special entitled "Great Things About Being Queer." Although I'm grateful for positive media exposure (we're so easy to please), I'm not sure this show represents a step forward for us, or anybody else. This show is "special" like Special Ed.

"Great Things About Being Queer" offers a twenty-item countdown of the "best things" about being Gay or Lesbian in America today.

Laughing Matters (filmed 2004)

Laughing Matters celebrates out lesbian comics Kate Clinton (In the Life), Karen Williams (In the Life), Marga Gómez (The D Word, Desi's Looking for a New Girl, Out There, In the Life, Traveling Companion, Fabulous!) and Suzanne Westenhoefer (A Family Affair, Live at the Village, Out There, Where the Girls Are), pioneers on stage in the 1980s and 90s. Interspersed with clips of their performances, they talk about growing up, coming out and getting started in comedy.

Williams and Gómez touch on issues of race and ethnicity. All talk about the effects of Ellen DeGeneres on being identified as lesbian comics and the political and social changes in atmosphere over the years.

Westenhoefer in particular tells us that she started out with a purpose to be openly gay in front of straight audiences and say the things that nobody would say. Gómez does personal comedy and couldn't be this personal unless she was out.

All very funny ladies, and it's great to see more of them. The dvd also includes footage of the premiere of the film and the Q&A session that follows with the comics.

Lavender LimeLight 1997

Documentary about recent spate of films by and about lesbians makes enthralling viewing for those interested in subject. Interviews with Jennie Livingston, Cheryl Dunye, Monika Treut, Rose Troche, and others.

Lesbian Sex & Sexuality 2007

Lesbian Sex and Sexuality takes viewers on an uncharted and provocative journey where the subject of lesbian sexuality and desire isn't whispered, but celebrated.

In a nation where sexuality in general is taboo, lesbian sex, lust and sexual representation are even more marginalized. By visiting writers, academics and "sexperts," and going inside sex shops, erotic dance clubs and lesbian-owned porn companies, this series will go beyond mass appeal to find out what really turns on lesbians and perhaps any woman who has ever had a girl-on-girl fantasy.

Suzanne Westenhoefer: Live from the Village 2004

Simply put, Suzanne Westenhoefer (Laughing Matters, Out There, Where the Girls Are, A Family Affair) is always a pleasure. Funny, witty and wise, see her show on dvd for the first time with this live performance from The Village Theater in Hollywood.

In the dvd extras, Suzanne discusses her identity as a "lesbian comedian" rather than a comedian who happens to be a lesbian. Especially as one of the first out gay or lesbian comics to play straight comedy clubs with lesbian material, she has an agenda. You won't find her shy about making fun of gay or straight stereotypes, while covertly educating some audiences through laughter.

In this performance, she tackles the insanity of airport security these days, although there are the joys of spreading your legs and being wanted by cute women in uniform. Other topics include her forays into Home Depot as a lesbian who has no fix-it skills, turning 40, cats, fighting with your girlfriend, and being lost in Egypt.

Venus Boyz (2002)

A film journey through a universe of female masculinity.

A legendary Drag King Night in New York is the point of departure for an odyssey to transgendered worlds, where women become men - some for a night, others for their whole lives. What motivates them? What changes take place? What do they dream of?

The drag kings of New York meet in clubs and change lustfully into their male alter egos, parodying them and exploring male eroticism and power strategies. In London we see women experiment with hormones to become new men and 'cyborgs'.

Masculinity and transformation as performance, subversion or existential necessity.