Historical and contemporary in its discussions, Rose’s House is a love letter to the power, ingenuity, and care of all those LGBTQ+ community leaders who have transformed our society by dedicating their energy and their lives to inclusion, transformation, and change.
Celebrating and remembering pride, protest, community and resiliance has never been more important than it is now. Across our world, pride celebrations and remembrance are under threat, from right-wing ideology to the anti-trans movement and those who seek to paint diversity and inclusion as divisive and dangerous. Often during Pride Month, you will see articles, interviews, and videos about politicians, prolific writers, actors, and global activists who have advanced LGBTQ+ equality. Still, some of the most important people are missing from these conversations: community leaders and activists who have silently, without celebration, dedicated their lives to supporting others and, in turn, have furthered equality, diversity and inclusion from the heart of our local communities. Martine Rose is one of those people, and now Naomi Abel-Hirsch’s beautiful, timely and powerful short documentary Rose’s House brings her story to the screen.
Martine has lived and continues to live an extraordinary life, and now, aged 85, she quietly reflects on it in Rose’s House. Born in Chester, Martine moved to Sheffield in 1979, where she purchased a small, run-down terrace house in a quiet neighbourhood away from prying eyes. So much more than just her home, this was a terrace house that Martine planned to share with a hidden community who often led double lives and lacked spaces where they could truly be themselves. For those then labelled as transvestites and cross-dressers, Rose’s House became a sanctuary and community meeting space that enabled those attending to connect, grow and build confidence through monthly social evenings, with many only attending during the winter months when the streets were dark, and people wouldn’t notice their arrival. Rose’s House was about solidarity, community, support and connection, but it was just the start for Martine Rose.
Martine’s landline would become a one-person helpline, and she would launch a magazine called ‘Repartee’ that would become a go-to resource for many transgender people in Sheffield and beyond. Then, building on the need for social spaces, Martine would create Harmony Weekend getaways in Scarborough before expanding this into a range of hotel-based social events that enabled people to spend a weekend being themselves in the company of others who, like them, often lived two lives. It’s a social network that continues today, with Martine still dedicating her time and energy to support, care, and community. However, as she reflects, ‘most of us are old now, the younger people don’t come anymore.’
Martine Rose not only furthered equality, diversity, and inclusion but also touched the hearts of everyone she welcomed into her chosen-family embrace, and likely saved the lives of many. Yet, Martine remains humble in her conversations and reflections in Naomi Abel-Hirsch’s documentary, never seeking the limelight or external validation of her gift to the transgender community over forty-plus years. As she watches archival videos, looks through photos and articles, and meets the people whose lives have been transformed, she is happy to sip a gin and tonic and celebrate all those who attended her community rather than herself.
Abel-Hirsch beautifully dovetails the past and the present in telling Martine’s extraordinary story, celebrating her spirit, reflecting on her bravery and commitment, and tracing the lasting impact of her work. The result is a stunning and timely portrait of a community leader, activist, and friend to hundreds who quietly advanced transgender equality and inclusion without celebration or acknowledgement outside the loving and caring circle of support, celebration, and community she created. Historical and contemporary in its discussions, Rose’s House is a love letter to the power, ingenuity and care of all those LGBTQ+ community leaders who have transformed our society by dedicating their energy and their lives to inclusion, transformation and change.
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