Homosexuality: One Child's Point of View

Homosexuality: One Child's Point of View

One child's understanding of homosexuality.

Juanita Mohammed Szczepanski was a community video artist and activist. She uses inexpensive camcorder video technology to respond to the needs of those who matter to her. Jahanara Zzaman is her daughter. In her work at GMHC in New York City, Mohammed Szczepanski makes educational videos for and about the AIDS community. In her personal video work, she looks to her friends and neighbors to find stories that are not typically represented in the media. This tape also has some footage of NY school children. Her tribute page with Visual AIDS, Remembering Juanita Mohammed Szczepanski (1957–2022), has most of her videos and writing collected, with tributes from friends, family, and fellow activists.

Jahanara Zzaman
Juanita Mohammed Szczepanski

Mother Daughter Productions

1990

Love is you,
Love is me,
Love is everyone,
Love is not hate,
But love is friends loving friends,
Love is brotherhood,
Love is women loving women,
Love is men loving men,
Love is women and men loving each other,
Love is NOT hate.”
– Jazzy's poem in Homosexuality: One Child’s Point Of View, 1993

In HOMOSEXUALS: ONE CHILD’S POV (1991), it is clear from the name of the production company, Mother Daughter Productions, that Juanita is collaborating with her daughter, Jazzy. Indeed, Juanita facilitates her daughter’s cris de coeur on homosexuality and acceptance. As the title indicates, this is Jazzy’s POV, and she is the director, as well. At one point, Jazzy interviews a friend on how he feels about homosexuals. “I hate them,” he replies, and devolves into a homophobic riff. Jazzy cringes, looking at the camera in disgust. “Mother,” says Jazzy, “please turn off the camera.” Even though the interview is over, Jazzy and Juanita leave the exchange in and thus lay bare the bald face of the casual homophobia that so many of us have come to experience with family and friends. The collaborative intimacy of this mother/daughter team is palpable. --Jean Carlomusto

Women of Vision: Histories in Feminist Film and Video

Two Women, Juanita Mohammed Szczepanski and Pharaoh "Pharah" Diaz, Feminist Media Histories

Juanita Mohammed Szczepanski, Center for the Humanities, CUNY

This video was digitized and used in the VHS Archives class inspiring a public art performance and action about children's views of sexuality, called Dear J.

10 mins

Juanita Mohammed Szczepanski and Jahanara Zzaman

http://stor.artstor.org/stor//5d302b6c-3e00-4019-a25f-1dfff96b1673

Play Streaming Video Homosexuality: One Child's Point of View

https://brooklyn-cuny.yuja.com/V/Video?v=10592032&node=46256633&a=141406543