‘Sally’ explains why a trailblazing astronaut chose to stay in the closet
Sally Ride’s name echoes with quiet reverence, symbolizing great achievement. In 1983, she made history as the first American woman to journey into space, earning iconic status. Young girls who spotted her on the covers of Newsweek, People, and Ms. Magazine saw a universe of opportunities unfold before them.
For me, as a filmmaker like Cristina Costantini, my documentary titled “Sally” that made its debut at Sundance is a heartfelt tribute to my childhood idol. It will air on National Geographic at 9 p.m. this Monday, before becoming available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
The filmmaker expresses his admiration for Sally, stating, “I’ve been a fan of hers since I was just a child.” During a teleconference with Ride’s partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, he reminisced about his past. He had once painted a mural of her that remains on the wall of his old elementary school. For a school project, he wrote a report about her. His sentiment was straightforward: Witnessing a woman accomplish great feats that were considered unconventional for women at the time inspired him to believe that maybe he could achieve great things as well.
The film “Sally” isn’t merely the story of how a young Dodgers fan from Encino, full of dreams, navigated her path to NASA and was famously dubbed “the first Valley girl in space” by Costantini. It also weaves together this well-known narrative with a less known one: Ride hid her 28-year relationship with O’Shaughnessy from the public eye until her cancer-related death in 2012, when details of their relationship became known through her obituary.
Obituaries
Born in Los Angeles and holding a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Stanford University, Sally Ride was also the youngest American to travel in space, having flown on the Challenger spacecraft in June 1983.
Currently, “Sally’s” narrative primarily revolves around her love life. Theatrical reenactments, love correspondence, images, and personal videos create an image of a content couple who carved out a private life away from the limelight. Ride’s sexuality is given significant attention, not just as a side note, and the documentary invites viewers to comprehend why this accomplished astronaut chose to keep certain aspects of her life hidden and live in a self-made closet.
“I was worried that the film might be too hard on Sally,” O’Shaughnessy admits.
She queries in a rhetorical manner, “Why wouldn’t she join us, and then expressing sympathy for Tam, you understand? However, the impression given is quite different. The truth is, when Sally and I started associating back in the ’80s, it wasn’t safe to be open about our relationship. There was a risk of losing numerous opportunities in one’s career and projects one desired to participate in.
She remarks that, just as before, it seems risky to venture out today. However, she believes it’s beneficial for the younger audience of the movie to understand why Sally and she chose to keep their relationship private.
In this scenario, Sally presents two accounts of coming out during her time, one being Billie Jean King, a tennis player they knew, and Karen “Bear” Ride, Sally’s sister. Billie Jean lost sponsorship when her secretary revealed her sexuality at the peak of her tennis career, while Karen was an influential lesbian Presbyterian minister who supported the LGBTQ+ community. The film suggests that the struggles faced by King and Ride’s sister may have influenced Sally’s decision to marry a man (Steven Hawley) while working at NASA and later opt for a low-key, private life with O’Shaughnessy.
Throughout her professional journey, Ride faced sexism and misogyny not only from her colleagues but also from the media. An example is when she was asked at a press conference, “In your training, when there was a problem, how did you respond? Did you weep?” Such incidents might help viewers comprehend why the renowned astronaut opted to minimize further scrutiny and possibly prejudice, given her high-profile role as NASA’s symbol.
Although the documentary neither criticizes Sally (Ride) for her decisions nor excuses her from the challenging judgements she had to make in order to create the life she desired, “Sally” serves as a moving illustration that it’s often difficult to understand issues regarding exposure and representation.
In her absence, O’Shaughnessy attempts to clarify the facts. Constanitni highlights their relationship in “Sally” to underscore its significance in Ride’s remarkable history.
Constanitni clarifies, “The bravery Sally displayed was the kind of courage we children intuitively grasp. Flying up into space on what is essentially a bomb – that’s terrifyingly intense in the heat of the moment and frightening in a tangible way. As kids, we’re captivated and awestruck by such daring feats.
She mentions that true bravery, such as standing firm in your identity despite facing hatred, having the moral strength to remain true to yourself, and speaking the truth – these actions can be particularly challenging for grown individuals.
In Constantini’s movie, we see that trailblazers, like any other human beings, can have flaws. Discovering their human side and understanding the struggles they faced on their journey through life can be both thought-provoking and a valuable addition to their enduring legacy.
Constanitni says to O’Shaughnessy, struggling to hold back tears, “The film project aims to immortalize both of you together in history books due to your extraordinary life partnership.” He continues, “There’s something incredibly moving about witnessing the public celebration of the beautiful love story that you two shared, which never fails to touch me deeply.
In a statement, O’Shaughnessy shares that although Sally hadn’t openly declared her identity, she lived authentically according to her own desires. She pursued the activities she enjoyed, cherished the relationships she preferred, and remained sincere to herself.
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2025-06-16 13:31