Surviving the Silence

Years before the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Col. Patsy Thompson had to discharge Army hero Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer for being a lesbian, despite secretly being a lesbian herself. Thompson’s handling of the military trial ultimately led to Cammermeyer’s reinstatement through a federal court decision and a shift in military policy. While Cammermeyer’s memoir was turned into a TV movie by Barbra Streisand in 1995, Thompson’s story remained untold until now. “Surviving the Silence” not only uncovers this hidden history but also delves into Thompson’s life with her now-wife, Barbara Brass. Together, they openly discuss the difficult decisions they faced both publicly and privately, the need to conceal their relationship, and the struggle to safeguard their love while maintaining Patsy’s career. They also share how they later became passionate activists.