Paulette Green and Donna Dear, a married couple living on a 111-acre farm in Maryland, have become the subjects of a new short film that highlights their enduring love and commitment to their land and community. In 1994, the couple purchased Mt. Pleasant Acres Farms, located between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The farm is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad, and for the past 30 years, the couple has dedicated themselves to conservation and cultivating the land.
The film, The Aunties, created by married filmmakers Charlyn Griffith-Oro and Jeannine Kayembe-Oro, follows the couple’s inspiring journey as queer elders and mentors to younger generations. The filmmakers, who met Green and Dear in 2016, view them as role models and have developed a deep connection with them. Griffith-Oro described the couple’s relationship as one rooted in love and respect, rejecting both heteronormativity and systemic racism while embracing lifelong partnerships.
Kayembe-Oro emphasized the importance of seeing queer Black elders represented in media. “Everyone loves it because they’re like, ‘oh my gosh, I really needed these Black queer elders in my life to see,’” she told LGBTQ Nation. The filmmakers believe that The Aunties offers a rare and transformative blueprint for Black queer people, showing them the power of mentorship, love, and freedom from societal expectations.
The relationship between Griffith-Oro, Kayembe-Oro, and Green and Dear deepened during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Newly married themselves, the filmmakers felt a stronger bond with the couple, which ultimately led to the idea for the short film. Griffith-Oro explained that The Aunties serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of intergenerational friendships and the strength that comes from embracing one’s elders.
Green and Dear’s connection to history is also a key theme of the film. Their farm is a living testament to Harriet Tubman’s legacy, with the couple naming their miniature poodle Araminta, after Tubman’s birth name, and their cat Rit, in honor of Tubman’s mother. However, beyond their historical ties, Green and Dear’s role as queer elders has been a source of inspiration for both the filmmakers and the broader queer community.
Greene, a native of The Bronx and Harlem, recalls a story from her past when she took her grandmother to a gay party. The experience was life-changing for her grandmother, who remarked, “If I had known that this life could be like this, you may not have ever made it.” Dear, who spent 27 years in the military, has her own transformative journey, with Greene jokingly saying that the military “turned her out” as she rose to the highest ranks during her service.
Now, after decades of commitment to their farm, Green and Dear show no signs of slowing down. Their dedication to both the land and their community has inspired Griffith-Oro and Kayembe-Oro to consider expanding The Aunties into a feature film. However, the filmmakers insist that the story must be told in a way that celebrates triumph, rather than focusing on the disenfranchisement often experienced by queer people in media.
“The Aunties” is now available for streaming on the Black Public Media YouTube channel, offering a powerful, uplifting narrative that celebrates love, resilience, and the importance of queer mentorship across generations.
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