Sally Ride may have been the first American woman in space, but her most meaningful journey took place firmly on Earth—with the woman she loved. In a deeply personal new documentary streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, her longtime partner Tam O’Shaughnessy shares their hidden love story, finally granted permission by Ride herself… just 10 days before her death.
The film, Sally, unearths never-before-seen footage, interviews, and reenactments that reveal the fierce intellect and quiet strength behind the astronaut who shattered NASA’s glass ceiling. But it’s not just about rocket science—it’s about a woman navigating homophobia, sexism, and the silence imposed by a society not ready for a queer hero. O’Shaughnessy recounts that shortly before Ride succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2012, she asked her: “Who am I supposed to be to the world?” Ride’s response? “You decide what you want to say, how open you want to be.”
From the Tennis Court to the Stars
Their story started at a youth tennis camp where a certain Billie Jean King was also serving aces. But the sparks between Sally and Tam didn’t ignite until 1985. For decades, they lived discreetly, known to close friends and family but invisible to the wider public. Ride was briefly married to fellow astronaut Steve Hawley, who admits in the film he always had a hunch. When she died in 2012, O’Shaughnessy’s coming out confirmed what many had suspected—and rewrote the legacy of a national icon.
“We had a wonderful relationship from the time we were kids until we became lovers,” O’Shaughnessy says, with grace and clarity. “I think it’s something to be proud of.”
Queer Icons in Orbit
This film doesn’t just reclaim Ride as a queer icon—it also challenges the sanitized, hetero-hero narratives often assigned to space pioneers. Alongside O’Shaughnessy, we hear from Sally’s sister Bear Ride, her mother, and fellow astronauts from the NASA class of 1978. The documentary captures not just Ride’s science, but her silence—and the price of being both brilliant and closeted.
Ride’s posthumous coming out matters. In an era when queer youth still face astronomical challenges—from book bans to bathroom bills—seeing themselves reflected in the stars is more than symbolic. It’s revolutionary.
By finally telling their truth, Tam O’Shaughnessy and Sally the documentary launch a long-overdue mission: giving queer history the airtime it deserves. For LGBTQ viewers who grew up thinking the cosmos belonged only to straight heroes, this love story is a rocket-fueled reminder—our love is part of the universe too.