Hi! I'm Susan Berston.

I'm a San Francisco native, born in 1960, and I never left. I'm a Jewish lesbian mom to a son I adore — now living his own story in New York City's East Village. I teach in the School of Business at City College of San Francisco and co-executive produced Sally!, a documentary about radical lesbian feminist Sally Gearhart (Frameline 2024), a woman they tried to erase, but never could. That experience introduced me to the power of preserving our stories, and that is when I found my purpose.

Why do I do this?

These conversations inspire and empower me. The connection made during each interview—the human authenticity, the vulnerability—creates something that lasts long after the camera stops rolling. And because I survived the corporate world of finance and sales as a closeted lesbian in the 1980s, I know firsthand the isolation of constant vigilance - the fear of being found out that you might very well be treated differently. Or that they "wont like you." 

I gain tremendous fulfillment knowing that our stories matter, and that someone out there will learn and draw hope and inspiration from what we've preserved. We're creating a historical record that validates lives that were marginalized or made invisible. I get to witness brave truth-telling against orthodoxy—and I just never tire of that.

I thank my beloved (late) mother, Bertha Safina, for teaching me not only how to love, but to listen deeply — and to believe that one story has the power to make someone feel seen and less alone. Like many of the people who have participated in this project, she is one of the people who came before me. Thank you for leaving Santa Barbara to find your own truth in San Francisco. I love you exponentially, mama, and these stories are your legacy, too. 

What's your story? Or do you know someone with a great story?  I'd love to hear from you.
sberston@ccsf.edu