When you conjure images of Amish country, what do you see? Horse-drawn buggies? Golden cornfields? How about drag queens spinning under neon lights? A dazzling queer community thriving in the heart of Lancaster, Pennsylvania? It’s an image that upends expectations, and it’s the story we want to tell. It’s about those who stay in small towns and create community in a world that doesn’t always know what to do with them.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania: known for its rolling hills, fluffy clouds, and deeply conservative values. But there's more than what's on the tourist guides—if you know where to look. Meet Brady Pappas, a celebrated artist documenting the local drag and queer scenes, while navigating their own transformation—embracing their trans identity and stepping into the world of drag. Amish Country Queer follows Brady’s journey as they come out to their family in a politically charged environment, offering a raw, powerful look at the resilience of a community that refuses to be erased, and a celebration of queer joy where you’d least expect it.

Because visibility matters, and too often, rural queer communities are left out of the narrative. Because queer and trans people are being pushed further into the margins, especially in rural America. Because stories like Amish Country Queer can be lifelines. Because the kids growing up in Lancaster, and small towns everywhere, need to know they’re not alone.

Amish Country Queer is about what happens when LGBTQ+ folks choose to stay, not leave. It’s about building community when there isn’t a blueprint and finding family where there once was fear.

At a time when drag bans and anti-trans legislation are sweeping through statehouses, this story isn’t just relevant—it’s urgent. We’re fighting erasure with joy, resistance with beauty, and silence with celebration.

We’ve already captured so many beautiful, powerful moments. But now we need your help to finish the film and bring it to communities that need it most. This isn’t just a documentary. It’s a declaration: We are here. We are thriving. And we’re not going anywhere.

We’ve already poured our hearts into this project, in fact, we've already created a proof of concept, which most recently, won Best Documentary at Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival 2025.

And now we need your help to keep the momentum going. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to fund the ongoing filming and production costs. Your support will make sure we capture the powerful stories, intimate moments, and dazzling performances that will give voice to our queer icons.

We’re in the thick of production for Amish Country Queer, and the footage we’ve captured so far is nothing short of magic. Lancaster’s drag and queer scenes are bursting with color, resilience, and joy—now we just need your help to finish the story. This campaign will fund the final phase of production, and help us do justice to the powerful lives and voices we’re documenting.

Where is the Money Going?

Here’s exactly how your contributions will be used:

Food & Lodging – $3,000

• Keeps our crew fed, housed, and human—because queer stories deserve more than granola bars and couch surfing.

Equipment Rentals – $3,500

• Lights, cameras, actual action—this covers the gear we need to make Lancaster’s queer magic look as cinematic as it feels.

Permits, Location Rentals & Insurance – $1,500

• Not sexy, but necessary. These keep us legal, safe, and not getting kicked out mid-drag number.

Additional Crew – $5,000

• We’ve been a skeleton crew pulling off full glam. This helps us bring on extra hands to carry gear, run sound, and maybe even eat lunch.

Stretch Goals: Beyond 100% Funded

If we surpass our goal, every additional dollar will help fund post-production—including editing, sound mixing, color correction, and music licensing. More funding means a more polished, powerful final film, and a greater reach for these underrepresented voices.

We aim to complete the film by Summer of 2026. Once finished, we’ll submit to festivals and organize grassroots screenings, starting right here in Lancaster.

With your contribution, Amish Country Queer will challenge perceptions, celebrate queer joy, and bring a much-needed narrative of resilience to the screen. Back us now, share the campaign, and help us prove that queer stories everywhere deserve to shine.

Colleen C Brady (Director) is recognized for their award-winning documentary filmmaking and evocative photography, delving into themes of transformation and community identity. Their first feature documentary, Firebird: Built to Burn (2023), has been awarded Best Director from Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, Atlanta Docufest and Northeast Pennsylvania Film Festival, and is now on Prime Video and AppleTV. Outside of documentaries, Brady is a commercial editor and adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Mariam Bakashvili (Producer) is a producer and filmmaker known for her award-winning short film Woman With Violin, which explores immigrant and women’s issues. She moved to the U.S. in 2010 and studied filmmaking at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mariam is passionate about storytelling that highlights LGBTQ+ and immigrant experiences. Outside of filmmaking, she enjoys tennis and spending time with her cat, Honey.

Nicholas Richter (Director of Photography) is an award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer whose work has been featured in festivals like TriBeCa and HBO’s Catalyst. His projects have streamed on Netflix, ESPN, and PBS. With a background in documentary filmmaking and a cinematic style, Nicholas is dedicated to telling meaningful stories and capturing stunning imagery.

Featured Drag Artists & Organizations Include:

Nevaeha Le'Vixenn- IG: @Nevaehalvxn

Charlize Angelz - IG: @Candidlyaustin

Nes - IG: @Nes.phl

Sible Stackhouse - IG: @Definitely_Sible

Tragedy Ann Stackhouse - IG: @Tragedystackhouse

High Fever - IG: @hi_ghfever

DreamWrights Center - IG: @dreamwrightstheatre

York County History Center - IG: @YorkHistory

West Art - IG: @WestArtLanc