“I am gay and I am normal.” ~ Aishah Shahidah Simmons

*Trigger Warning* I discuss my rape/pregnancy/abortion, which, in addition to being the result of misogyny and patriarchy, is also the result of internalized and externalized homophobia and heterosexism.

(Filmed in 1995 and subsequently) Produced and directed in 1996 by Aishah Shahidah Simmons and edited by Joan Brannon, ‘In My Father’s House’ is a documentary short about Aishah’s Black feminist lesbian exploration of her coming out process through self reflection, and candid conversations with her father, Michael Simmons {http://raday.blogs.com/}, her younger brother, Tyree Cinque Simmons, and Yvonne Marie Jones, one of her best friends from high school. 

‘In My Father’s House’ was grassroots guerrilla style videomaking. It was a no budget Hi8 video project, which is very evident in the production value. At the time, what small funds Aishah had went towards the making of her feature length film NO! The Rape Documentary {http://NOtheRapeDocumentary.org} 

‘Celebrating Father’s Day and LGBTQ Pride’ by Aishah Shahidah Simmons for The Feminist Wire gives more background information on the origins of In My Father’s House

{http://thefeministwire.com/2012/06/celebrating-fathers-day-and-lgbtq-pride/}