In a world where every generation of people seem to need all of history explained to them, personally, or they don’t “get” why we need a Pride month, it’s sometimes easy to feel a sense of disconnection from history.

The Stonewall Uprising happened 50 years ago – I recommend the American Experience episode on Stonewall for first-person recounting of what happened and why. If you haven’t read Lillian Faderman’s The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle, consider it assigned reading for this Pride Month, as well. ^_^

The protests we’re seeing this year tend to be about pushing back against rainbow capitalism and corporate overrun of Pride events – and these are legitimate issues, but there is also a welcome renewed “in your face”-ism about Pride, as a whole generation of hate groups show up to the party, enabled by the downfall of empathy in our governing bodies; so we’re back to having fun as loudly and publicly as possible to remind people that we won’t be forced back into the closet.

Most folks are probably not all that clear on the who and whats of even recent LGBTQ history, literature or art, much less events in the distant past. As I’m starting to see a whole generation of young people who are new to the ongoing struggle, I find I do want to re-establish those connections. Especially as we’re once again finding ourselves facing increasing violence and bias. It’s good to remind ourselves that we are not alone now…and we have never been alone.

As I get older, I’m also really finding myself less tolerant of people who believe that because the word “lesbian” didn’t exist, people could not be presumed to be lesbian. (Much as if Indigenous people needed colonizers to name their country before they had an identity. Which, yes, I know colonizers and white supremacists believe.) There have always been words to describe women who, when they look for romantic or sexual partnership, look to their own sex. There have always been words that queer people used for themselves, as well as those that have been used about us. The premise that because the word “lesbian” did not exist means that no lesbian relationships existed before the word is…well, it deserves to be ridiculed. Regardless of the words used, I guarantee that women fell in love and lust with other women before the 20th century.

And so we come to Gentleman Jack.

Gentleman Jack is a fictionalized story based upon the real diaries of a real 19th century English lesbian, Anne Lister. Actual passages from her diary are used in this show, in which the characters are won’t to break the 4th wall and address us in their actual, historically accurate words.

This HBO/BBC production is lovely, and painful and honest and often rather funny. Written and directed by Sally Wainwright, my wife and I are finding it to be compelling watching right now. Wonderfully acted by Suranne Jones, Anne is not all that likable, until she is…and she often is. Funny, snarky and scheming, hyperactive and overachieving, Anne Lister is someone who would be exhausting to be around, but amazing to watching from a distance. Anne’s relationship with the emotionally fragile Ann Walker can be tiresome, but I’m all in for watching this story take us into a second season.

The setting, the clothes, the facts of life in 19th century West Yorkshire are all impeccably researched and presented. Shibden Hall itself is a fantastic member of the cast. Anne’s relationship to the people around is presented as accurately as possible, with interpretation coming in the form of tone of voice, body language, expression, all of which feel real. The music is another cast member, “almost like her companion” as my wife describes it.

As an insight to one lesbian’s life, Gentleman Jack is a terrific story, but since our job today is to understand history and the context of the day we find ourselves in, it’s worth remembering that Anne Lister was not the only well-known 18th century lesbian in the UK. The Ladies of Llangollen were contemporary, preceding Anne in society as lesbians. They apparently knew each other and Anne visited Plas Newyd at least once (as have I, for what it is worth.)

I actually like that the sex scenes are not explicit or extended, but are not coy or childish either. The strongest bits of the narrative, in my opinion, are Anne talking about her gender presentation and sexuality with honesty, a little pain and a lot of self-awareness. These scenes are largely taken from her own words, which give them power and resonance.

Ratings:

Acting – 10
Cinematography – 8, but there have been some controversies.
Story – 9
Lesbian – 10

Overall – 9

Much of Anne’s voluminous diaries remains untranslated, but there are number of abridged editions available, including Gentleman Jack: The Real Anne Lister, by Anne Choma, the historical advisor for the series and a woman who is still transcribing the diaries. Also worth looking into is The Secret Diaries of Anne Lister, a 2010 BBC movie.