This film explores the empowering legacy of Southern California Women For Understanding.
For over three years, Angela Heine, Darlene Weege, and Jordan Colley have been working on a documentary about Southern California Women for Understanding (SCWU). The documentary, entitled SCWU: And Our Name Spells Lesbian, explores how the group empowered closeted lesbians, educated city officials, and created forever friendships.
SCWU was started in 1976 when Betty Berzon, a prominent and out psychologist, knew there needed to be a place where professional women could meet other professional women without going out to seedy bars.
For 30 years, SCWU was a safe place for closeted lesbians to meet like-minded women, for political lesbians to have a voice in the local and national community, and for many women to be able to hold a leadership position that was usually held by men.
Through dances, camps, dinners and outings SCWU provided a social outlet for women. Speakers provided education on topics from coming out to financial and legal advice to self awareness.
To ensure the story is told as accurately as possible, the filmmakers have done countless interviews and spent hours upon hours of research through archives.
The film has just entered the final phase of editing and needs a bit of help to be completed.
Angela, Darlene, and Jordan have launched a Kickstarter to help finance the last phase of this film. The filmmakers aim to raise at least $10,000 by Saturday August 13.
To learn more or help out SCWU: And Our Name Spells Lesbian, visit the Kickstarter Page.
Connect with SCWU: And Our Name Spells Lesbian online at the Official Website or Facebook