‘The Queer Case for Individual Rights & Other Essays’ (2013–2020)

(Book will be Published in 2020)

6 min readFeb 6, 2020

School Letter of Admission, **Film Program at Los Angeles City College (1992).** Requirement for my 5-Year International Student Visa.

The Queer Case for Individual Rights & Other Essays

Brief Bio:

My name is Gabriella Bregman, I am a Writer-Filmmaker-Producer.

I identify as a Gender Nonconforming Lesbian, (“non-op”) Trans-Masculine, am Bi-Racial (white & Asian,) from the Netherlands, and Los Angeles-based.

My pronouns are: they/them/theirs.

I also go by Orlando, as in Gabriella Orlando Bregman, (in a nod to Virginia Woolf.)

I am currently in production of a Feature Documentary titled ‘The Queer Case for Individual Rights’ through Los Angeles-based Film Production Company Bregman Films.

The Documentary is about LGBTQ US-Immigration Exclusion-Policy, including my personal story of US immigration discrimination as International Film Student under DOMA (Defense Of Marriage Act, 1996–2015.)

It is based on the book ‘The Queer Case for Individual Rights & Other Essays’ (2020.)

Recording Filmmaking Notes for Documentary ‘**The Queer Case for Individual Rights**’ and for Film Organization **The Auteur** **(2019)**

John Cassavetes Film Retrospective **‘Gena and John: A Cassavetes Retrospective’ A Bregman Films Production (2001)**

The John Cassavetes Film Retrospective ‘Gena and John: A Cassavetes Retrospective’ at the Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles is a Bregman Films Production (2001.)

I am the Founder of a Nonprofit Film Organization The Auteur (2020)(theauteur.org) and an accompanying Film Theory & Film Criticism Publication The Auteur: An Independent Filmmakers Publication at medium.com/theauteur

A small book of Film Theory articles titled ‘Notes for a New Independent Film Movement’ will also be published in 2020, including a 4-Point Film Manifesto for a new Independent Film Movement.

And a related, untitled Feature Documentary project is in early development stages.

**Dennis Hopper Mural on my old street Horizon Ave. Venice, CA (2016)**

Below is a Complete List of Articles as they will appear in Book Format, titled: ‘The Queer Case for Individual Rights & Other Essays’

(‘Becoming Undocumented: Getting My Status and Identity Back After DOMA’s Demise’ has been republished in 5 Parts as ‘From International Film Student to Queer and Undocumented,’ along with the backstory ‘My Life in The Netherlands Before Immigrating to The US in 1992’ in 2 Parts.

Together the 7 Parts make up the Feature Narrative of ‘The Queer Case for Individual Rights: From International Film Student to Queer and Undocumented,’ and form the basis for a Feature Documentary by the same name. Click Here for a Brief Summary.

All other LGBTQ US Immigration- and Miscellaneous Articles, as well as the Film- and LGBTQ Film Articles were written as Supplemental Information.)

The Narrative Manuscript and Feature Documentary ‘The Queer Case for Individual Rights: From International Film Student to Queer and Undocumented,’ as well as my LGBTQ- and Immigration Articles and Novelette/Long Poem ‘Scenes of Idolatry and Resentment (2004),’ were Inspired by Zoe.

All my Writings are Dedicated to my Parents, Abraham (Bram) Bregman, (R.I.P. 1934–2015) and Gertrude (Truus) Bregman.

And to M. Luza.

And Zoe.

I also give Special Thanks to my great-aunt H. Van Der Sluis (1914–2010,) without whose money I would not have been able to maintain “a room of my own,” to paraphrase Virginia Woolf, and so privacy and time to write all these articles.

And to my great-uncle, famous Dutch gay cabaret artist and singer Wim Sonneveld (1917– 1974,) for creative inspiration in my family.

The theme of my all work could ultimately be summed up as the conviction in the right to self-ownership, of mind and body, and the fruits and labors thereof, based on our uniquely human capacity for rational thinking, enabled by our unique long-term memory.