Stand By Your Man 1998
In this raw and audacious 11-minute documentary from 1998, director Stefan St. Laurent crafts a visually striking portrait of an anxious drag queen pouring heart and drama into Tammy Wynette's legendary "Stand By Your Man.
Director: Stefan St. Laurent
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Stand By Your Man (1998) about?
This 1998 documentary follows an anxious drag queen preparing to lip-sync Tammy Wynette's iconic song, capturing the raw nerves and unexpected passion behind the performance. The short film also explores the cultural fascination—and sometimes exploitation—of transvestites in entertainment.
Who directed Stand By Your Man?
Stand By Your Man was directed by Stefan St. Laurent, known for his evocative and intimate storytelling in documentary and underground film circles.
Who stars in Stand By Your Man?
The film centers on an unnamed drag queen whose emotional and theatrical journey forms its core, with no major credited cast members listed.
Is Stand By Your Man (1998) worth watching?
While it's a niche 11-minute short, the film's unfiltered authenticity and tribute to Tammy Wynette make it a compelling watch for fans of drag culture and raw, unpolished storytelling. Its brevity and intensity work in its favor, though it's not for everyone.
How long is Stand By Your Man?
Stand By Your Man runs for 11 minutes.
Stand By Your Man (1998): The Drag Queen's Heartfelt Homage to Tammy Wynette
In this raw and audacious 11-minute documentary from 1998, director Stefan St. Laurent crafts a visually striking portrait of an anxious drag queen pouring heart and drama into Tammy Wynette's legendary "Stand By Your Man." The film captures every stumble and triumph of a lip-sync performance that feels as much like a confession as it does a tribute, blending vulnerability with theatrical flair. While the camera lingers on the unsteady confidence of its subject, it also interrogates the allure and exoticism often projected onto transvestites in pop culture, all while paying homage to Wynette's timeless ballad of devotion and resilience.
Woven through this short but potent film are themes of identity, spectacle, and the boundaries between performer and audience, all set against the gritty backdrop of underground drag culture. St. Laurent's lens lingers not just on the faltering lip-sync but on the quiet moments that reveal the raw humanity behind the glitter and glamour. It's a tight, intimate snapshot of an art form that thrives on honesty, even when the performance isn't perfect.