Melinda Maerker didn't aim to premiere “We Live Here: The Midwest” a few weeks before Christmas, when networks and streaming platforms emphasize feel-good content.
However, the director is confident that those who watch her new documentary will find a “very positive holiday message,” even if it doesn't evoke the emotions found on the Hallmark Channel.
Released by Hulu on December 6, “We live here: The Midwest” is a lively, yet insightful, chronicle of LGBTQ+ families living in five Midwestern states: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Ohio.
Without a doubt, viewers from all walks of life can relate to the challenges—from homophobic and transphobic family members to feeling at odds with their religious faith—that the film's diverse themes endure. However, Maerker knew she wanted to magnify LGBTQ+ people who have chosen to live outside of urban and generally more progressive enclaves like New York and San Francisco from the start.
“We focused on the Midwest because it's the heart of family values,” he said. “There are many good things about family values — but what does that mean? Who is exempt from this? Discrimination that occurs in the queer community often takes place within the family. There is a painful irony. It was important for us to emphasize that family does not necessarily mean blood relatives.”
Speaking with HuffPost, Maerker and the producer David Clayton Miller shared how “We Live Here: The Midwest” was shaped by America's political climate and explained why they hope the documentary will be the first in a series.
The subjects of your film are honest about traumatic life experiences they've had. As filmmakers, how did you work together to create a relationship?
Melinda Maerker: Building trust was extremely important. That's why we call them brave families, first and foremost. Yes, they're part of the queer community ― but whatever community they're a part of is being maligned right now, they're very brave to stand up to it.
David Clayton Miller: One of the great things about being a documentarian is that you become vulnerable yourself, like a reporter dealing with a situation. Obviously, when you're dealing with children, we want to make sure that they feel safe and that the parents feel safe when we're talking to them separately.
David Clayton Miller/Hulu
The legalization of same-sex marriage in the US in 2015 was a major turning point for LGBTQ+ rights. However, as the film shows, it seems people are feeling much less optimistic about the future of the queer rights movement eight years later.
Marker: People talk about “don't ask, don't tell” – as long as you don't tell me, it might be okay. Suddenly marriage equality was being celebrated and there was a tremendous backlash against it. It seems that this reaction will not go away. The fear of anti-gay legislation is justified.
Miller: We are in scary times right now – more so than we were two years ago. The third most powerful person in the government [House Speaker Mike Johnson] right now has competing views of homosexuals. We have a Supreme Court justice who said he thinks same-sex marriage should be overturned. So it's incredibly important for people to see where we are in this country politically.
I think “family values” is a phrase picked up by conservatives or religious hardliners, but family values run the gamut. These families have family values. They may be a little different than yours, but they are still family values.
David Clayton Miller/Hulu
What was the biggest challenge for you in implementing this project?
Miller: It's really kind of two-fold, because we had to build trust before we talked [our subjects] and making sure they feel safe with us during filming. Now that there is a big release, they will be exposed to the world. They will be on TV and a lot of people will see them. The media will want to interview them.
There are haters out there and someone can go into a DM or something and say, “I think what you're doing is horrible.” But Hulu has been very good at making sure these families are aware of these aspects. I am very excited that these families can act as a vehicle to change people's minds, to bring about change in the world.
The title of the film made me wonder if we could see a sequel set in another region of the US – perhaps We Live Here: The South.
Miller: For sure. Melinda and I had such a great experience doing this and really uncovered so many things. We definitely want to go to other parts of the country. In fact, we are currently researching how to do this. We would like to release another documentary before the 2024 presidential election.
Marker: We all fear what will happen in the next election, so we feel a responsibility to share these stories now.
Rodin Eckenroth via Getty Images
How do you feel about the success of this film?
Miller: One of the things we hope people take away from watching it is: What are you afraid of? Look at these people, look at these families. They have complexities just like yours. They have financial burdens just like yours. They have health problems like yours.
Marker: Extremists are extremists, but there are many people in the middle who may not necessarily reject [the LGBTQ+ community] but they may be wary of supporting or affirming members of that community simply because they know nothing about them. There is this middle ground that they don't understand, but they want. I think that's the audience we'll eventually reach.
Watch a trailer for Hulu's “We Live Here: The Midwest” below.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.
