Filmmaker Nneka Onuorah gives voice to LGBTQ women of color who are attempting to break free from various strictures associated with their identities. A woman who dresses like a "stud" one day, for instance, may want to dress like a "femme" the next, but faces criticism when trying on different looks. Studs who date other studs also meet with disapproval from those who believe they should only date femmes. Says one woman, "If you want to be with a stud, why don't you just be with a man?" "It does hurt," says Jordan Diaz-Cross when other lesbians express disgust. King Kellz, an exotic dancer and hairstylist, takes heat for wearing a weave, since it isn't consistent with the AG or "aggressive" identity in which the more acceptable hairstyles include dreads and low-cut Caesars. As the mother of an 11-year-old daughter, she wants to both model and encourage free expression. Felicia Pearson, who played Snoop on The Wire, prefers masculine clothing, but as an actress she needs to try on other personas. When she poses for head shots with makeup and feminine attire, fans criticize her for selling out. Diaz-Cross and Kellz both confront two of the more vitriolic critics of their Instagram streams, which creates a little understanding where none existed before, allowing Onuorah to end her somewhat disheartening documentary on a hard-won optimistic note. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)
The Same Difference
(2015) 78 min. DVD: $89: public libraries, $395: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies (www.wmm.com). PPR.
The Same Difference
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