The Facts:
Synopsis: Highlights the individual experiences of LGBTQI+ families who, in the face of discriminatory laws and rising hostility, are attempting to establish lives in their communities.
Stars: Heather Keeler
Director: Melinda Maerker
Rated: NR
Running Length: 53 minutes
TMMM Score: (7/10)
Review: We only now understand the mighty impact of the changes affecting our country over the past seven years. Living through a disgraced presidency that brought out the worst in our society and our government officials encouraged the type of reflection on past gains that sought to undo those steps forward instead of looking for further ways to progress. Acceptance turned to rejection, sympathy became apathy, and the faceless many started speaking for the brave few who were putting their lives out there for the world to see.
Chief among the issues that divided the country (and still do today) were the advancements of civil liberties for LGBTQI+ individuals. Seeking equality, not superiority, was seen as a threat by those who had no reason to fear the impact of creating a harmonious environment where all could thrive. Still, there were fierce court battles regarding businesses that refused to work with gay and lesbian couples, uproar when schools attempted to create safe environments for LGBTQI+ teens, and continued reports of hate crimes directed toward those identified within this community.
Knowing all these factors makes the participants in the new Hulu documentary We Live Here: The Midwest all the more extraordinary for going on camera to highlight their stories. The families profiled by director Melinda Maerker speak frankly and openly about the experience of living in Middle America, including feelings of disconnection and acceptance from their neighbors. Residing in Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, Kansas, and Minnesota, Maerker’s subjects come to the documentary with their unique experiences but a shared strength in remaining authentically themselves.
The opportunity to visit with these families is welcome, but at times, it feels like, at 53 minutes, Maerker’s film doesn’t have enough time to represent everyone interviewed enough. A trans teen’s complicated relationship with their mother is hinted at, but their struggle to find level ground felt like it had further to go. A brief sit down with Minnesota State Representative Heather Keeler barely gets going before we are on to a new face. If anything, We Live Here: The Midwest feels like the first chapter in a more extended series that dissects the LGBTQI+ experience across the country, one that would be circled back to in a later episode.
The good thing about it coming in under an hour is that it can be used as an intelligent way to have a more extensive discussion about our current political climate and attitude toward the families represented and increase the type of visibility and understanding that can lead to acceptance. Ultimately, normalcy is all that is being requested, the same go-about-your-daily-business mindset most of America already enjoys. We Live Here: The Midwest wins when it paints with the simplest colors of its diverse palette.
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