Cherry Grove Stories

In an era when it was illegal for two men to hold hands in public, the pristine beachfront hamlet of Cherry Grove on Fire Island, N.Y. was a safe haven for gays who were often targeted for arrest and prosecution. Through interviews with residents and new and archival footage, Michael Fisher's oral history of the enclave uncovers long-hidden secrets and exposes little-known stories that are more relevant than ever today. Fisher, who has been going to Cherry Grove for 32 years, was inspired to make the film by long-time resident Michael Delisio. Michael was one of the first men to go to Cherry Grove in the 1950s, Fisher says. He is a great storyteller, and his tales of the early gays of Cherry Grove inspired me to capture the many anecdotes about the community before all the old-timers are gone. In Cherry Grove Stories, residents recount the history of the hamlet, starting in the 1940s when gay men first began congregating in a place that offered a rare refuge from the pervasive homophobia of the time.