New documentary explores little-known KC neighborhood originally developed exclusively for lesbians

Womontown was a neighborhood formed by two women

Womontown was a neighborhood formed by two women

FILMMAKER SANDY WOODSON IS SHOWING US COMMUNITY MANY LONGTIME KANSAS CITY AND MAY NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT WOMAN TOWN. THE START OF SANDY WOODSON’S DOCUMENTARY WOMAN TOWN SHOWS THE START OF A MOVEMENT AND WOODSON’S MISSION TO SHARE IT. AND MAKE SURE IT ISN’T FORGOTTEN W O M O N O W N THEY WANTED TO KEEP THE WORD MAN OUT OF IT THIS GROUP OF WOMEN AGAINST ALL ODDS HONESTLY IN A PLACE. THAT WAS NOT SAFE FOR ANYBODY THEY CAME IN AND FOUND THEY WERE MORE LIKE WE WANT TO LIVE HERE AND WE’RE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK HERE A POCKET OF KANSAS CITY BETWEEN LONGFELLOW AND MIDTOWN IT GOES FROM TROOST. TO GILLAM AND FROM 28TH. ALL THE WAY TO 31ST STREET SUE MORENO AND HER PARTNER BEVERLY. THIS IS BEVERLY’S HOUSE. USED TO LIVE HERE. THIS IS WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO WOMAN TOWN. WE’RE AMONG THE FIRST RESIDENTS OF WOMAN TOWN. WE HAD TRIED GETTING LOANS AND EVERYTHING AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AS A WOMAN OF COLOR TO QUALIFY FOR A LOAN BACK THERE IN THE LATE 80S IN THE EARLY 90S ON TOP OF THAT BEING A LESBIAN WASN’T EASY FOR SO MANY OF THESE STORIES THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN’T EVEN TELL PEOPLE YOU WERE GAY UNTIL 10 15 YEARS AGO WITHOUT BEING IN FEAR OF LOSING YOUR JOB. I STILL TALK TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOBS IF THEY TALK ABOUT BEING GAY BUT IN WOMAN TOWN, THEY FOUND SAFETY. THEY FOUND FAMILY IF WE NEEDED A WRENCH. WE KNEW JUST CALLED. HEY, DO YOU GOT THIS WRENCH FOR FIXING THIS PLUMBING? HEY, CAN YOU COME OVER AND HELP ME PAINT THE KITCHEN PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP IN HELP EACH OTHER REHAB THEIR HOUSES FOR ALL. GAINED HERE. SHE RECENTLY LOST THE VACCINATION HAD NOT COME OUT YET. SO WE COULDN’T EVEN HAVE A FUNERAL BEV DIED FROM COVID IN 2020. THAT WAS ROUGH. THAT WAS MY BEST FRIEND. MY WE WERE TOGETHER FOR 25 YEARS STILL STANDING ON GROUND. SHE’S PROUD BEV HELPED LAY WITH LOVE KINDNESS AND GREAT FOOD. WE GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY. I MEAN, IT’S LIKE WE DESERVE THAT PLACE. TO OWN A HOUSE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE NO MATTER WHAT CRACKS ARE IN THE CONCRETE SIGNS OF WHAT THEY STARTED WILL ALWAYS BE HERE MAK

New documentary explores little-known KC neighborhood originally developed exclusively for lesbians

Womontown was a neighborhood formed by two women

A Kansas City neighborhood filled with 100-year-old homes and towering trees is full of history extending far beyond the houses themselves.Nearly 30 years ago, between Longfellow and Midtown, Kansas City was home to a community developed exclusively for lesbians. It's a history not known to even longtime city residents. Filmmaker Sandy Woodson is on a mission to change that. “This group of women, against all odds, in a place that was not safe for anybody when they came in," Woodson said. "They were more like, we want to live here, and we’re going to make this work!” The filmmaker sees beauty in the community nearly three decades after the neighborhood known as "Womontown" was in its heyday. “W-O-M-O-N-T-O-W-N. They wanted to keep the word ‘man’ out of it,” Woodson said. Womontown was a neighborhood formed by two women who wanted to own a home and feel safe and seen in a time much less accepting for lesbians. In her film by the same name, Woodson reminds viewers how different things were thirty years ago. “You couldn't tell people you were gay without fear of losing your jobs,” Woodson said. Word got out, and within a few years, there were 80 homes owned by and lived in by women who came from all over the country to live in a place they could feel accepted and safe.Sue Moreno and her partner Beverly were among the first women to buy a home in Womontown. "If we needed a wrench, we'd call (and ask,) ‘Do you got this wrench for fixing this? Could you help me paint the kitchen?’ People would show up and help each other rehab their houses," Moreno said. Their joy, achievements, heartaches and journeys are documented and shared in the film. Woodson is determined to make sure what was once a neighborhood that, by design, was kept hidden will forever hold its spot in history. It’s a history Moreno says is worth telling. “It makes me real proud,” Moreno said. Click here to watch Womontown.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

A Kansas City neighborhood filled with 100-year-old homes and towering trees is full of history extending far beyond the houses themselves.

Nearly 30 years ago, between Longfellow and Midtown, Kansas City was home to a community developed exclusively for lesbians. It's a history not known to even longtime city residents.

Filmmaker Sandy Woodson is on a mission to change that.

“This group of women, against all odds, in a place that was not safe for anybody when they came in," Woodson said. "They were more like, we want to live here, and we’re going to make this work!”

The filmmaker sees beauty in the community nearly three decades after the neighborhood known as "Womontown" was in its heyday.

“W-O-M-O-N-T-O-W-N. They wanted to keep the word ‘man’ out of it,” Woodson said.

Womontown was a neighborhood formed by two women who wanted to own a home and feel safe and seen in a time much less accepting for lesbians. In her film by the same name, Woodson reminds viewers how different things were thirty years ago.

“You couldn't tell people you were gay without fear of losing your jobs,” Woodson said.

Word got out, and within a few years, there were 80 homes owned by and lived in by women who came from all over the country to live in a place they could feel accepted and safe.

Sue Moreno and her partner Beverly were among the first women to buy a home in Womontown.

"If we needed a wrench, we'd call (and ask,) ‘Do you got this wrench for fixing this? Could you help me paint the kitchen?’ People would show up and help each other rehab their houses," Moreno said.

Their joy, achievements, heartaches and journeys are documented and shared in the film. Woodson is determined to make sure what was once a neighborhood that, by design, was kept hidden will forever hold its spot in history.

It’s a history Moreno says is worth telling.

“It makes me real proud,” Moreno said.

Click here to watch Womontown.

New documentary explores little-known KC neighborhood originally developed exclusively for lesbians

Womontown was a neighborhood formed by two women

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