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Film about transgender retreat in Jewett to show on PBS
Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that a documentary film will premiere later this month on PBS telling the story of Casa Susanna, an retreat for transgender women and cross-dressing men in the 1960s in Jewett in Greene County. The 150-acre resort was a rare place for transgender individuals to go in the 1960s without fear of being incarcerated or institutionalized. “Casa Susanna is an amazing story,” said French director Sébastien Lifshitz. While transgendered individuals faced all sorts of opposition at the time, the story says, "It was reportedly not uncommon for Susanna and guests to get dressed up and go into Hunter without creating much of a stir." Casa Susanna closed in the 1970s like many Catskills resorts and boarding houses. The film "Casa Susanna" had its world premiere at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival and premieres on PBS channels on June 27. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.