Want to participate in The Whistle?
***Please share this page to anyone you know who identifies (or once identified) as a Latinx (Latina/o) dyke or lesbian AND came out as a youth in 1980s in or around ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. ***
My name is StormMiguel Florez. I am a queer Chicano trans man and filmmaker from Albuquerque, now living in San Francisco. I came out as a dyke in 1987 during my freshman year at Del Norte High School and identified as a butch dyke until the early 2000s.
I am currently in pre-production for a documentary film called “The Whistle.” The name refers to the “dyke whistle.” The Whistle will tell the story about what I feel was a very unique and not very well known moment in Albuquerque and New Mexico LGBTQ history, specifically the history of dyke youth in the 80s.
Over the years, when I’ve shared my coming out story with queer people from many different places, everyone I’ve told has been amazed by the community and ways of communication we had in Abq at that time. Specifically, when I tell people about the dyke whistle and code words like “wrecked” and “1-4-3,” they are really impressed that we all found each other, and created safe ways of communicating and convening as queer youth in the 1980s in New Mexico.
I’d like to delve further into this moment in time and share our stories on the screen to help preserve this important piece of American/New Mexican LGBTQ history.
I am seeking participants who came out as dykes/lesbians around the 80s in or around Albuquerque, NM to be interviewed about their experience. These stories might seem small or personal or inconsequential, but part of the power of documentary film is finding the extraordinary in the every day. Given how far we’ve come in the fight for LGBTQ equality, this history feels particularly important to revisit today.
Participants will be on screen talking about what it was like to come out and find safe places to be themselves during that time. I’m looking for stories about how you found other people like yourself, where you and your gay friends hung out, who you were and weren’t out to and how you navigated around family, school, and straight friends, and of course, how/when/if you learned the dyke whistle. If you’re not comfortable or do not feel safe being visible on screen but want to share your story, there will be an option for audio-only interviews as well. I will start with introductory phone interviews, then will be filming/recording pre-interviews in early 2017 and hope to have the final film released by early 2018.
The film will be specifically made to be shown on Public Broadcast Television and at film festivals across the United States and around the world. Each participant will have a chance to see how their story is edited and give final approval of their story before the film is released.
This will be my second feature documentary. I recently co-produced and edited “MAJOR!,” which has screened at festivals around the world and to date has received 13 awards for best documentary.
Right now, I am looking for predominately Latinx (Latina/o, Chicano/a, etc.) and dykes of color. Trans folks who came out as dykes in the 80s are also welcome to respond. If you are interested in participating or if you have any questions or wish to see my previous work, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can email me at [email protected] or private message me on Facebook (StormMiguel Florez).
We are a part of LGBTQ history, and I hope you’ll join me in documenting these stories.
Yours in community,
StormMiguel Florez
My name is StormMiguel Florez. I am a queer Chicano trans man and filmmaker from Albuquerque, now living in San Francisco. I came out as a dyke in 1987 during my freshman year at Del Norte High School and identified as a butch dyke until the early 2000s.
I am currently in pre-production for a documentary film called “The Whistle.” The name refers to the “dyke whistle.” The Whistle will tell the story about what I feel was a very unique and not very well known moment in Albuquerque and New Mexico LGBTQ history, specifically the history of dyke youth in the 80s.
Over the years, when I’ve shared my coming out story with queer people from many different places, everyone I’ve told has been amazed by the community and ways of communication we had in Abq at that time. Specifically, when I tell people about the dyke whistle and code words like “wrecked” and “1-4-3,” they are really impressed that we all found each other, and created safe ways of communicating and convening as queer youth in the 1980s in New Mexico.
I’d like to delve further into this moment in time and share our stories on the screen to help preserve this important piece of American/New Mexican LGBTQ history.
I am seeking participants who came out as dykes/lesbians around the 80s in or around Albuquerque, NM to be interviewed about their experience. These stories might seem small or personal or inconsequential, but part of the power of documentary film is finding the extraordinary in the every day. Given how far we’ve come in the fight for LGBTQ equality, this history feels particularly important to revisit today.
Participants will be on screen talking about what it was like to come out and find safe places to be themselves during that time. I’m looking for stories about how you found other people like yourself, where you and your gay friends hung out, who you were and weren’t out to and how you navigated around family, school, and straight friends, and of course, how/when/if you learned the dyke whistle. If you’re not comfortable or do not feel safe being visible on screen but want to share your story, there will be an option for audio-only interviews as well. I will start with introductory phone interviews, then will be filming/recording pre-interviews in early 2017 and hope to have the final film released by early 2018.
The film will be specifically made to be shown on Public Broadcast Television and at film festivals across the United States and around the world. Each participant will have a chance to see how their story is edited and give final approval of their story before the film is released.
This will be my second feature documentary. I recently co-produced and edited “MAJOR!,” which has screened at festivals around the world and to date has received 13 awards for best documentary.
Right now, I am looking for predominately Latinx (Latina/o, Chicano/a, etc.) and dykes of color. Trans folks who came out as dykes in the 80s are also welcome to respond. If you are interested in participating or if you have any questions or wish to see my previous work, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can email me at [email protected] or private message me on Facebook (StormMiguel Florez).
We are a part of LGBTQ history, and I hope you’ll join me in documenting these stories.
Yours in community,
StormMiguel Florez