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Dr. Evelyn Hooker (1907 - 1996)
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This inspiring film recounts the life and work of psychiatrist
Dr. Evelyn Hooker, whose groundbreaking 1950s scientific study --
with the result showing no discernable difference between her gay
and straight subjects -- disputed the general notion of
homosexuality as a mental disorder. Dr. Hooker, who died in 1995,
is both articulate and courageous as she emotionally recalls her
life and historic work. An important film on the history of gays
and lesbians.
Academy Award winning director Richard
Schmiechen (The Times of Harvey Milk) vividly portrays the
life and work of the woman described by the Los Angeles Times as
“The Rosa Parks of Gay Rights” in Changing Our Minds: The
Story of Dr. Evelyn Hooker. During the repressive 1950’s,
Dr. Evelyn Hooker undertook ground breaking research that led to a
radical discovery: homosexuals were not, by definition,
“sick.” Dr. Hooker’s finding sent shock waves through the
psychiatric community and culminated in a major victory for gay
rights -- in 1974 the weight of her studies, along with gay
activism, forced the American Psychiatric Association to remove
homosexuality from its official manual of mental disorders.
Startling archival footage of the medical procedure used to
“cure” homosexuality, images from the underground gay world of
the McCarthy era and “home movies” of literary icon
Christopher Isherwood bring to life history which we must never
forget. Dr. Hooker’s insights into “gay marriage” and the
“gay community” (a term she coined), and the filmmakers’
winning approach make this documentary education at its most
exciting and enjoyable. Narrated by Patrick Stewart.
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From the Sexual
Orientation website at UC Davis
Evelyn Hooker, Ph.D., published the first
empirical research to challenge the prevailing psychiatric
assumption that homosexuality was a mental illness. Her work was
the cornerstone for an entire body of research that ultimately led
to removal of "homosexuality" from the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Her courage, insight, and
integrity have inspired social scientists, mental health
professionals, human rights activists, and people around the
world...
Site Includes:
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By Jim Kepner, © 1998 BEI
Excerpt:
In 1952 Sam and his lover took the Hookers on a
San Francisco bar hopping trip, including Finnochio's famous drag
show. He insisted she had a duty to do an impartial study of
"people like us." Some colleagues encouraged her. Others
said it would be the end of her career. She at first didn't know
how to systematize it.
Determined to approach the subject
scientifically, she applied for and received a National Institute
of Mental Health grant (the man in charge flew out to make sure
she was not Lesbian, then recommended funding her study...)
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Names Index:
A B
C D
E F
G H
I J
K L
M N
O P
Q R
S T
U V
W X
Y Z
| Authors
Index | Scholars
Index |
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Changing Our Minds -- The Story of Dr. Evelyn Hooker
