SURVIVING THE SILENCE: The Untold Story of Two Women in Love Who Helped Change Military Policy
USA, 2020, 73 min
Director: Cindy L. Abel
Producers: Cindy L. Abel, Marc Smolowitz
Editor: Michael Bruno
Cinematographers: Michael Bruno, Jesse Stephen Freeman
Years before the U.S. Military Code of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, Colonel Patsy Thompson presided over the review board that dismissed Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer—a highly-decorated nurse and war hero who was on track to becoming a general—for being a lesbian. Presiding over this case forced Patsy to confront her own moral dilemma and her own secret: she too was a lesbian.
Surviving the Silence tells the story of two women in love who played a part in changing military policy, shining light on the unknown history of how a closeted colonel forced to expel an Army hero for being lesbian did so in a way resulting in re-instatement via federal court. Surviving the Silence is a coming out story like no other, deeply moving, troubling, revealing of unknown, policy-changing history and, powerfully inspirational.
Director and Producer Cindy L. Abel formed Atlantis Moon Productions in 2007 to develop film-related projects that launch conversations and impact popular culture. Her first full-length documentary, the award-winning Breaking Through, was conceived in response to the high number of teens who were taunted because of being gay or perceived to be and committing suicide. Having struggled with coming out, Abel knew the importance of having positive role models and wanted to highlight openly LGBT leaders living authentic and fulfilled lives.
UP CLOSE Intro by Director Cindy Abel