My dissertation project blasted off in 2024 and since then I have interviewed over 35 people. I have traveled to NYC, Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, California, Florida, and Ohio with two big bags full of film equipment. I am so humbled by the people that have joined my study and film project – I’ve met many amazing, kind, fun, and inspiring fans on this journey. I've also had help from friends who have held a mic for me, helped me move equipment, and helped me coordinate spaces to conduct interviews in.
Over 15 fans have sat for on-camera interviews since March 2025. By the end of the summer, I will have 20 on-camera interviews!
I’ve interviewed fans at a variety of locations including at two different theaters in NYC, at an Airbnb in Philly, in their homes, places of work, and inside a sci-fi archive at City Tech (The City University of New York).
LGBTQ+ sci-fi fans tell their amazing stories of resilience, joy, and community. They reveal their reception practices, how they respond to market practices, and what it means to find belonging through community.