For the past few months, I have found myself revisiting some of my personal favorite queer films - “Shelter,’ “Get Real,” “The Falls,” “Handsome Devil,” “Call Me By Your Name” along with new ones, “The Thing About Harry” and “Almost Love.”

“Almost Love” is an example of a film that I would have programmed for Oxford Film Festival in a heartbeat, but its release fell in a spot that wouldn’t quite work with our dates.

I was grateful to have been given early access to “Almost Love,” then called “Sell By” and did everything I could to say positive things about it prior to its release.

Another film that recently landed in my inbox was the documentary “The Right Girls” directed by Timothy Wolfer which is available online starting August 11th. One glance at the trailer (below), and I knew I needed to watch it.

The Right Girls is a story of three young transgender women from El Salvador and Honduras - Valentyna, Joanne and Chantal – who attempt to travel from Southern Mexico to the US border within the high-profile 2018 Migrant Caravan. They develop deep friendships as they walk and hitch rides northward, coping with physical exhaustion, limited funds and regular harassment. They team up with other transgender women along the route and begin to integrate themselves within the caravan’s LGBTQ community, finding hope among the ruins. As they trek the thousands of miles needed to reach their dreams, their relationships face the ultimate test.

Within minutes I knew this film and these women were special. The vulnerability on display…to be filmed on this difficult and necessary journey toward asylum…was a privilege to watch. I couldn’t help but wonder if the camera was a savior for them as they risked mockery, rape, kidnapping and death.

There is a scene in which the women have been walking for miles and miles and come upon a Human Rights group assisting women and children, offering them rides to protect them from the dangers mentioned above. Unfortunately Valentyna, Joanne and Chantal are not considered women by the worker. Human rights? Not if you’re trans. This is one of many powerful moments in the film.

Not to be dissuaded, Joanne tells us why, despite the challenges, that she is on this journey. It was difficult for her to leave her Mom, she says, but she simply had to in order to find a place where she can have “more security and more respect….”

We watch over the course of the film as the caravan travels all the way to Tijuana, with our three women hoping for a chance to legally enter the US, surrendering themselves to authorities, not knowing what will happen - all for a chance at a better life.

Although gay people in the US may have won our right to marry, discrimination is alive and well in not only our current administration but also with many of its supporters. I have seen it first hand. Some of you reading this may have even participated in that discrimination with either your voice or your vote. But there is hope, which is represented in the film’s ending.

Joanne reminds us that “many have died because of homophobia in our world” and while the desire to be respected comes up multiple times in “The Right Girls,” the right to live, is the greatest right.

For more information, including how to watch “The Right Girls” visit their website HERE.