Join Sustain Penn State for the final film in its 2025-26 Intersections film series themed around the idea of “What Else is Possible?“. This last film is Sally, a biographical look at pioneering astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. The film demonstrates Ride’s quiet drive and determination to earn her job through rigorous work and incredible skill, alongside the waves of discrimination she faced as a woman in engineering, space, and the public eye. Graciously, she withstood demeaning questions from reporters about whether she would cry if she faced any problems in space or cluelessness from NASA’s medical team who didn’t know if 100 tampons would be enough for a one-week trip to space. Over time, she became a beacon for American women everywhere about the potential for women to become leaders in STEM fields.

But despite her courage and willingness to be a pioneer for so many women, there was one thing Sally Ride felt she couldn’t do: tell the truth. As discussed by those who knew and loved her, Sally quietly tells an additional story that Ride felt she had to hide: that she had been in a committed relationship with another woman for more than two decades. An inspiring and sad tale at the same time, Sally is a celebration of an American hero and of the strides we’ve made to build more inclusive STEM fields, even as it’s a reminder of how far we still have to go as a society.

Screening as part of Penn State’s annual Pride Month, the film will be followed by a panel discussion about the efforts to build more inclusive STEM fields.

Free and open to all; pre-registration required at this registration link.