Today, I watched
The Children's Hour (1961) starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner.
Martha (Shirley MacLaine's character) and Karen (Audrey's character) are headmistresses of a girls' school. When they punish a notorious bratty child for bad behavior, she tells her grandmother (who wastes no time in spreading the word) that the two women are lovers. Of course, all the parents are disgusted and proceed to pull their children out of the school.
Like was the case with the few gay-themed movies in those days, Shirley MacLaine's character was made to portray the fact that she was actually in love with her friend and fellow teacher in a manner that showed her disgust and shame. When she confesses her love to Karen, she repeatedly says how ashamed and dirty she feels by the whole thing. Even though Martha's love was not reciprocated in the same way, Karen offered that they go away together, somewhere where they weren't known for the "unnatural" sexual activities they'd been accused of engaging in. I think that could've been a nice ending but no, Martha's fate was sealed by the end of the movie (let's just say they didn't ride off in the sunset together).
I am glad we've made some progress since then.
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