Released in 2022, Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud is a poignant and personal documentary directed by Pete Grant. Premiering on BBC Three and later available on WOW Presents Plus, the film explores the life and journey of George Ward, a member of the English Traveller community in Darlington. The documentary reveals how George's coming out as gay led to his estrangement from his family and community, and how this rejection sparked a powerful transformation. Embracing his drag alter ego, Cherry Valentine, Ward sets out to navigate the complexities of being both a Gypsy and a queer individual. Through this exploration, the film becomes a celebration of identity, belonging, and self-discovery.
At the heart of Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud lies George Ward’s personal journey from rejection to acceptance. Growing up within the tight-knit, traditional Traveller community, Ward’s life was shaped by deep cultural roots. However, when he came out as gay, his community did not accept his sexuality, leading to his departure from his home. Ward’s transformation into Cherry Valentine, his drag persona, became a form of empowerment and liberation, allowing him to embrace his true self. In the documentary, Ward returns to his roots, revisiting his family’s camp and confronting the difficult intersection of his queer identity and Traveller heritage. This emotional exploration allows him to grapple with questions of family, identity, and belonging. It is a journey of reconnection, but also of painful distance, as Ward seeks to understand how he can be both a proud Gypsy and a proud queer individual.
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One of the most significant aspects of the documentary is its focus on visibility. As a drag queen and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Cherry Valentine represents a rare and powerful form of representation. For many viewers, especially those within the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) communities, the documentary offers an unprecedented glimpse into a life that has often been obscured by stereotypes and prejudice. For Ward, visibility has always been a central part of his mission. When he first discussed his Traveller background on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, it was an intimate and emotional moment that resonated with many, especially those from the GRT community. His fear of backlash was palpable, as revealing such personal details in a public setting could easily have led to further rejection. However, the overwhelmingly positive response showed that his story was needed, and it paved the way for Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud to further explore this theme. In an interview for Dazed, Ward explained that after his appearance on Drag Race, he feared the judgment of his community. Despite this, he found that the visibility he gained through the show allowed him to become a voice for those who felt silenced.
The documentary gave him the opportunity to deepen this visibility, providing space for others like him to see themselves reflected on screen. In a particularly powerful segment of the documentary, Ward participates in the Drive 2 Survive protest, a significant demonstration held in Parliament Square, London. This protest was organized by the GRT community to resist the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, a piece of legislation that has raised concerns about the criminalization of trespassing and other offenses that disproportionately affect GRT people. The protest was a significant moment for Ward, who, as a member of both the queer and GRT communities, felt deeply moved by the solidarity and activism surrounding him.
For Ward, attending the protest was not just an act of political engagement; it was a moment of personal reconnection with the GRT community. Speaking about the experience, he described it as cathartic and eye-opening. Surrounded by others who shared his heritage, Ward began to feel a renewed sense of pride in his community. The sight of the LGBTQ+ flag at the rally was especially meaningful to him, symbolizing a space where both queer and GRT identities could coexist and be celebrated. A major theme throughout the documentary is the tension between Ward’s queer identity and his Traveller heritage. GRT communities have long been subject to negative stereotypes, often portrayed as closed-off, conservative, and hostile toward outsiders, especially LGBTQ+ individuals.
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This difficult intersection is something Ward discusses openly in the documentary, acknowledging the challenges he faced both within his community and as a part of the broader queer world. Ward’s experience of being rejected by his family after coming out is emblematic of the broader struggles faced by many GRT people who identify as LGBTQ+. For many in these communities, the pressure to conform to traditional roles and expectations can be overwhelming. As a result, many queer GRT individuals are forced to make difficult choices about whether to embrace their queerness at the cost of their cultural identity, or to suppress it to maintain acceptance in their communities. This is a theme that Ward addresses head-on in the documentary, emphasizing that the journey of self-acceptance is not linear and often involves confronting painful truths. Yet, through the process of filming, Ward found empowerment. His candid reflections on his personal experiences provided a platform for broader conversations about the complexities of identity, and how the experiences of queer GRT people have often been marginalized or erased.
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One of the most emotionally charged moments in the documentary comes when Ward visits the camp where he spent the first years of his life. Originally, the filmmakers had planned to film at a traditional horse fair where Ward’s family had gathered, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they decided to visit the camp where many of Ward’s relatives still live. As Ward explains, returning to the camp was a deeply unsettling experience. Despite his desire to reconnect with his roots, the emotional weight of the moment proved overwhelming. At that point, he wasn’t sure if he was ready to revisit the space, much less film within it. The difficulty of navigating these personal boundaries is evident in the documentary, as Ward confronts the reality that returning to his past isn’t always as simple as it seems. Since the release of the documentary, Ward has received a positive response from both the queer and GRT communities. He has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and the opportunities it has created for him to become more involved in advocacy work.
Through his participation in the film, Ward has connected with other GRT activists, such as Tyler Hatwell, founder of Traveller Pride, and has begun to actively engage with the community through marches, Pride events, and monthly meet-ups. When asked about the impact of the documentary, Ward emphasized that his primary goal was to provide visibility and comfort to others. He wants to ensure that young people, whether from the GRT community or the LGBTQ+ community, don’t feel alone. He hopes that by sharing his story, others will feel empowered to embrace their identities and find strength in their unique experiences. George Ward tragically passed away by suicide in September 2022. This fact adds an additional layer of poignancy to the film, as it underscores the importance of mental health and the ongoing challenges faced by individuals struggling with isolation, self-acceptance, and the pressures of societal expectations.
Ultimately, Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud serves as both a personal journey and a call to action for greater understanding, representation, and acceptance. By sharing his story, Ward has opened up important conversations about the intersection of queerness and GRT identity, and the power of embracing one’s true self, no matter the cost. Through his visibility and activism, he has left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and empower others in the GRT and LGBTQ+ communities. This documentary stands as a testament to the importance of community, identity, and the courage it takes to live authentically. For Ward, and for many others, the journey of self-discovery is ongoing - but with love, visibility, and pride, it becomes a path toward greater connection and understanding.
Image credits: YouTube
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