Movie Review

A Secret Love illuminates love and history of aging gay couple

When stories are told about the LGBTQ+ segment of society, they rarely focus on older people. Yes, historical films go back in time to illuminate events like the Stonewall Riots and other touchpoints in the fight for gay civil rights, but those films tend to show the people when they were young and vibrant, not as they’re aging.

A subversion of that norm is just one of the notable things about the new Netflix documentary, A Secret Love. Written and directed by Chris Bolan, the film chronicles the lifelong love of Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, two women who waited until they were well into their eighties to tell their family the truth about their relationship.

The bulk of the film takes place in the 2010s, with Terry and Pat struggling to maintain their longtime Chicago home as they age. They're trying to figure out their next step with the help of Terry’s niece, Diana Bolan. They’re also trying to come to an agreement on whether getting married is worthwhile at this stage in their lives.

Bolan and co-writers Alexa L. Fogel and Brendan Mason blend in photos and videos from throughout Terry and Pat’s life together, including Terry’s stint as a member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The league, which was famously featured in the 1992 film A League of Their Own, proved a boon for the athletic Terry, and it also put her in the orbit of the equally athletic Pat, who was a hockey player in Canada.

This is not strictly a film about the prejudice that they encountered throughout their lives, although the undertone of discrimination is present throughout. Bolan makes sure to include details about the efforts Terry and Pat went through to assimilate into “normal” society, including dating men in their twenties and dressing like a woman “should” dress. But the film is mostly a celebration of their devotion to one another, one that appears to have rarely wavered since they found each other in the 1940s.

In fact, the film is as much about their aging as it is about their sexual orientation. The process of them finding a suitable retirement facility to move into and the ability of each woman to take care of the other — or herself — are the foci of much of the film. It’s such a familiar story that you have to take a step back to understand how different the process is for two unmarried lesbians who, until recently, couldn’t even fathom the idea of being able to get married.

There are multiple touching moments in the film, including a dinner with an older gay male couple that only touches the surface of what is obviously a long and meaningful friendship for Terry and Pat. Other seemingly ordinary things that heterosexual couples likely take for granted take on a different light when viewed through the prism of the life led by the two women.

A Secret Love is a refreshing film in that it doesn’t deal in the tropes that usually accompany stories about LGBTQ+ people. Instead, it simply makes the case that love is love, and the beauty is in a life well lived, no matter who’s doing the living.

Pat Henschel, Terry Donahue, and Diana Bolan in A Secret Love.

Pat Henschel, Terry Donahue, and Diana Bolan in A Secret Love

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Pat Henschel, Terry Donahue, and Diana Bolan in A Secret Love.

Weekend Event Planner

These are the 12 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

MOMIX: Botanica

Photo courtesy of MOMIX

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This weekend in and around Dallas serves as both the introduction to June and the last one before the monthlong extravaganza that will be the World Cup. Choices include five local theater productions, a music festival, two concerts, an opera, a dance production, a big-name comedian, and the final days of a fun charity event.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out our calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, June 4

Kitchen Dog Theater presents Venus
Breakups are never fun. It’s easy to romanticize all of the good times: stargazing, waxing poetic about literature, that instant spark the first time your hands brushed. It’s even easier to forget about all of the bad times, like when they ghosted you after the perfect first date, or that one time you woke up in a shallow grave. Venus is a pitch-black comedy in which two women learn that true love isn’t the only thing that bonds two people together … forever. The production runs through June 28 at Kitchen Dog Theater.

Rover Dramawerks presents Laura
When Mark McPherson first falls in love with Laura, he knows he’s in love with a phantom — for Laura is dead, and he’s in charge of her murder investigation. When she appears in the midst of a thunderstorm, very much alive after all, it is revealed that Laura’s best friend (and rival) was the true victim of the crime. But now, all the evidence seems to point to Laura’s guilt. Is Mark going to have to pin the crime on the woman he’s falling in love with? The production runs through June 20 at Cox Playhouse in Plano.

Friday, June 5

KHYI 95.3 The Range Radio presents Texas Music Revolution
The 30th annual Texas Music Revolution will feature over 75 bands on 15 stages throughout downtown McKinney. Performers will include Shane Smith & The Saints, Randall King, Ray Wylie Hubbard, William Beckmann, Shelby Stone, Austin Meade, Matt Hillyer, The O's, Katrina Cain, Jake Ryan, and more. The music festival takes place on Friday and Saturday.

Yellowcard in concert
Rock band Yellowcard is sneaking up on its 30th anniversary, having formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997. Their breakthrough didn't come until 2003 with their fourth album, Ocean Avenue, setting up a run of four straight top 20 albums on the Billboard 200. They'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in support of their 2025 album, Better Days, their first new release in nine years.

Opera Arlington presents Carmen
Inspired by the upcoming World Cup, Opera Arlington’s production of Carmen will reimagine Bizet’s classic in the vibrant atmosphere of 1920s Spain during the euphoric aftermath of the Spanish national soccer team’s historic Olympic medal victory. Escamillo, a dashing star footballer, has charisma and bravado as formidable on the stage as on the pitch. Carmen, an itinerant Romani worker as spirited as she is free, entrances the rigid and tradition-bound soldier Don José, and their connection ignites like a match struck in the dark. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington.

Theatre Arlington presents The Wiz
A beloved Broadway gem, The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, and soul music. The timeless tale of Dorothy’s adventures through the Land of Oz is a fun, family-friendly, modern musical. The production runs through June 21 at Theatre Arlington.

Richardson Theatre Centre presents Kong's Night Out
Kong's Night Out is the story of what happened in the hotel room next to the hotel room where Ann (played in the 1933 movie by Fay Wray) was whisked out of the bed and into the Manhattan night by King Kong. There's always a backstory. Myron Siegel is a low-end Broadway producer who desperately wants to be high end. Trouble is, he has, for his entire career, been sabotaged by his arch-rival, who is ultra-famous for making movies about scary jungle creatures. The production runs through June 28 at Richardson Theatre Centre.

Saturday, June 6

Junior Players presents PUP Fest
The 2026 edition of PUP Fest will highlight six plays written and performed by teenagers from across North Texas. A component of the Dallas Playwriting Arts Collective, a partnership between Junior Players, Kitchen Dog Theater, and the Dallas Independent School District, provides innovative programs and opportunities for high school playwrights. There will be two performances on Saturday at Dallas College Richland Campus.

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents MOMIX: Botanica
MOMIX is always a wild ride — trippy, magical, and downright unforgettable. Botanica is a stunning journey through the rhythms of the seasons, the ever-changing shapes of life on Earth in the magic of a single day unfolding. The show features jaw-dropping costumes, breathtaking projections, and larger-than-life puppets designed by the legendary Michael Curry. There will be two performances on Saturday at Winspear Opera House.

Martin Lawrence: Y’all Know What It Is! Tour
Comedy legend Martin Lawrence comes to Grand Prairie as part of The Y’all Know What It Is! tour, featuring an all-new stand-up show and fresh one hour set where Lawrence brings the real talk and finds the funny in everything from family to culture as only he can. Lawrence's career dates back to 1989, with his heyday coming in the 1990s with the TV show Martin and the start of the Bad Boys franchise. He'll perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre.

Sunday, June 7

Dallas CASA presents Parade of Playhouses closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view the Parade of Playhouses at NorthPark Center. The annual fundraiser for Dallas CASA features a colorful display of imaginative, one-of-a-kind children’s playhouses designed and built by architects, builders, local companies, and talented community members. Visitors can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one; tickets are sold both onsite at NorthPark Center and online.

Liverpool Legends: The Complete Beatles Experience
The Liverpool Legends are four musicians and actors handpicked by Louise Harrison, sister of George Harrison, to honor her brother’s legacy and re-create the band that changed the world forever. The audience will experience the complete history of the Beatles, from the early mop-top hits, to the Magical Mystery Tour, through the psychedelic era, and other classics. The concert takes place at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.

MOMIX: Botanica

Photo courtesy of MOMIX

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents MOMIX: Botanica at Winspear Opera House on June 6.

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