Straightlaced Press Kit

From girls confronting popular messages about culture and body image to boys who are sexually active just to prove they aren't gay, the students in Straightlaced illustrate the toll that deeply held stereotypes and rigid gender policing have on all of our lives.

Straightlaced is directed by Academy Award® -winning filmmaker Debra Chasnoff, and is the latest documentary film production from GroundSpark’s highly acclaimed Respect For All Project. The film will be coupled with an educational curriculum and professional development series to train both professionals and youth to challenge these stereotypes.

Straightlaced, which features unscripted high school youth from around the country speaking candidly about harmful pressures caused by rigid gender roles and homophobia is surprisingly uplifting and entertaining. From girls who dumb down so they don’t intimidate boys, to boys who are sexually active just to prove they aren’t gay, to non-conforming teens who face relentless bullying, the students in Straightlaced show how gender expectations are having unhealthy and often dangerous impact on the lives of today’s teens.