Get a LicenseDedication
This film is dedicated in memory of Mary Lou Lemon and Patricia Van Kirk.
Mary Lou Lemon
1927 - 2002
Mary Lou Lemon was a humanitarian and a champion of gay and lesbian rights in Oklahoma and Texas.
A woman of great integrity and faith, Mary Lou was deeply involved with her church community, a supporter of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation of Oklahoma, and an active member of the Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats. She was a firm believer in equality amongst all people and worked to make that idea a reality for everyone in her community. The Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats honored her legacy through creating the Mary Lou Lemon Humanitarian Award to honor other progressive leaders in Oklahoma.
Bob Lemon, Mary Lou's husband of 52 years and longtime oil rights lawyer in Oklahoma City and the Texas Panhandle, became introduced to Inlaws & Outlaws during a screening at his local church. He fell in love with the stories profiled and recognized the film's potential to create change. Bob's unparalleled support for the film is in loving memory of his late wife.
When Bob Lemon became Executive Producer of Inlaws & Outlaws, he shared with us two pieces of writing from his late wife, Mary Lou. Bob added, proudly, "As far as I know, these were the only two things of consequence she's ever written."
Living in the small town of Perryton, Texas, Bob and Mary Lou were very active in their church. Read the letter Mary Lou wrote to her pastor on February 25, 1996.
Later, as Mary Lou became more outspoken, she joined the Texas Toastmasters Club. She delivered this speech on May 31, 1996.
Patricia Van Kirk
1951 - 2005
Patricia Van Kirk was a longtime Seattle resident, director of plays and active member of the LGBT community.
Patricia valued diversity and was gifted at helping people see their own worth. She touched many lives through her work as the director of Front Room Theater Company. She collaborated with playwright Drew Emery to create Hidden History: True Stories of Seattle's Lesbian and Gay Elders.
A breast cancer survivor, Patricia was also an avid photographer, gardener and world traveler who had a unique ability to see the beauty in the things and people around her and to draw all those who knew her into her compassionate vision.
Patricia died unexpectedly March 23, 2005 at the age of 54. She is survived by her life partner, Nikki Coyote, and a large family of friends who will miss her deeply and honor her memory through their own good works.
"I will always be indebted to Patricia for igniting in me a passion for oral history. She had a love for people, in general, and elders in particular that carried through beautifully in her work. She understood intuitively that the act of storytelling was a gift for both storyteller and audience, and that each of us contained a treasure trove of humanity waiting to be unleashed through our own narrative." — Drew Emery
