When O’Shaughnessy talks about an intimate dinner, we see two women in a kitchen dining by candlelight. Near the end, there is even a Sally stand-in a hospital bed.

Article by Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride’s partner, in HuffPost THE ANSWER Yes, Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, also holds the distinction of NASA’s first known gay astronaut.

“I was worried that the film might be too hard on Sally,” O’Shaughnessy admits. “Why couldn’t she come out and'oh, poor Tam’ and all that, you know?” she asks rhetorically.

Dr. Tam O’Shaughnessy Appointed to Advisory Board of Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum by SpaceRef November 22, 2016. Click to share on X (Opens in new window) ...

Tam O'Shaughnessy, an accomplished Professor Emerita of School Psychology at San Diego State University, is also Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Sally Ride's Foundation.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.

Article by Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride’s partner, in HuffPost THE ANSWER Yes, Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, also holds the distinction of NASA’s first known gay astronaut.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.

When Ride first entered space, she was in a relationship with fellow astronaut Steve Hawley, whom she married in 1982. But they divorced in 1987 and Ride entered a relationship with Tam O'Shaughnessy.