“Missing Richard Simmons,” one of the country’s most obsessed-over podcasts, has come to an end after weeks of debate and mixed reviews. But there’s no denying the charms of podcast creator Dan Taberski’s previous project: a film about gay country music artist Patrick Haggerty called “These C—sucking Tears.”
The film — a finalist in TheWrap’s 2016 ShortList Film Festival — took its title from the name of a song on Haggerty’s 1973 album, “Lavender Country.” The independently produced record is known as the the first openly gay country music album.
“Lavender Country” was a daring push back against sexual repression at a time when few people were out — especially in the conservative culture of country music.