Frequent queries, in which I respond, though perhaps not actually answer, common questions surrounding me and this website.

• What is this place, exactly?
  I thought the front page adequately explained that, but okay. This is a directory of silent films and silent-era actors and directors that are all of a gay, lesbian, transgender, or just generally queer nature. Too often, people seem to think queers sprang into existence in 1969, but no, we do go back a bit further than that and can be seen not just in silent cinema, but even Victorian cinema. I made this website because of this misconception and the dearth of information on early queer cinema online.
   
• “Just generally queer”, what does that mean?
  You know, just generally queer. Some films (and I only apply the term to films) you’ll see here are daringly explicit and easily pegged “gay” or “lesbian” or “trans”, but most are vague enough to be debatable. If no specific term is reachable, but it’s decidedly not straight, queer is the best word for it.
   
• What do the Rainbomometer ratings mean?
  I think you already know what they mean, speaking generally, and your question is really what do the specific numbers correspond to. The answer to that is, it’s much more fluid than that and based more on feeling than science. However, as a general rule, it works like this:
   
  If we’re talking about a film, a gay rating of 0 means there’s nothing in it that suggests gay situations or characters. 7 means one, the other, or both are so strongly implied that there is no other possible interpretation, but it’s not explicitly stated. 8 means explicit, but side characters or minor events. 9 means explicit main characters or major plot points.
   
  If we’re talking about a person, a gay rating of 0 means they’re not gay or there’s a lack of evidence to the contrary. 7 means it’s common knowledge that they were gay, but they were never publicly or privately out, except to a handful of people. 8 means they were privately out—that is, within the industry. 9 means they were publicly out.
   
  Bisexuality is designated as either “half-gay” or “half-lesbian”, whichever the case may be. In other words, a rating of 5.
   
• Why isn’t <insert the name of some talkie here> listed?
  Perhaps you’re unfamiliar with the term, but this is about queer silents. Silent films. You know, no talking. I will include synchronized sound films, but not those with dialogue (the distinction between silent and talkie starts to get muddy by the late ‘20s and into the ‘30s, but this is a common dividing line).
   
• What is that background image?
  A rainbow flag, as it would be seen on orthochromatic film. Ortho film was commonly used in silents before the advent of panchromatic film. It’s characteristic in that it’s insensitive to red light—it only records blue and green. The little inverted triangles used for list points are pink, by the way. Feel free to steal either for your own use.
   
• What’s with that thing at the bottom of the page?
  The “such whores we are” text and the arrow? You must be using an ad blocker, otherwise you’d get it. It points to what would be an advertisement. You might as well go ahead and block that image, too—I mean, for shame, blocking goodly ads! You must unblock them at once and be influenced by them to buy many products and/or services!
   
• I have a lead on a film not in your archive…
  Do you now? Well, click that “Contact info” link over in the menu and tell me about it. If you know where I can get a copy, that’s even better. I can do VHS, DVD (NTSC or PAL and I don’t care a fig for regions), 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm, or 35mm. I’m interested in shorts as well as features, so don’t hesitate telling me about something just because it’s only a few minutes long.