Peter Metz
Self
Overview
On a fishing trip with Matthew Shepard's father, five disparate dads discuss their love, hopes and fears for their trans kids in this short documentary.
Cast
6 peopleReviews
5 min readFishing for Love: How The Dads Reels in a Quieter Kind of Masculinity
I didn’t expect to cry over a documentary about fishing. Not because fishing is inherently unemotional—though, let’s be honest, most fishing shows are about as stirring as a tax seminar—but because The Dads (2023) sneaks up on you. It’s only twelve minutes long, yet by the end, I was sitting with my laptop balanced on my knees, blinking back something suspiciously like tears.
Not the loud, cathartic kind. The quiet, stubborn kind that well up when you least expect them.
Luchina Fisher’s short film follows six fathers—five of transgender children, and Dennis Shepard, whose son Matthew’s murder in 1998 became a rallying cry for LGBTQ+ rights—as they spend a weekend fishing in rural Oklahoma. There’s no grand narrative arc here, no manufactured conflict. Just six men, a lake, and the unspoken weight of what it means to love a child in a world that doesn’t always love them back.
The Art of Doing Nothing (While Saying Everything)
Fisher’s approach is deceptively simple: she lets the camera linger. The film is shot in a fly-on-the-wall style, with long takes of the men baiting hooks, reeling in fish, and sitting in companionable silence. At first, it feels almost too quiet. Where’s the drama? The heart-to-hearts? But then you realize that’s the point. The fishing isn’t just a backdrop; it’s the whole metaphor. These men are casting lines into the unknown, just as they’ve had to cast aside old notions of masculinity, fatherhood, and what it means to protect their kids.
One of the most striking moments comes when Wayne Maines, father of activist Nicole Maines, talks about the fear of losing his daughter. Not to violence, not to rejection, but to the sheer exhaustion of fighting a world that refuses to see her. His voice cracks, just slightly, and the camera doesn’t cut away.
It’s uncomfortable in the best way—like eavesdropping on a conversation you weren’t meant to hear, but can’t look away from.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside The Dads: How a Fishing Trip Became a Touching Doc on Fatherhood and LGBTQ+ Love
The Dads (2023), the Netflix documentary short directed by Luchina Fisher, isn’t your typical tearjerker. Instead of scripted drama, it captures raw, unfiltered moments between six fathers—five of trans kids and one whose son’s legacy changed America—over a weekend fishing trip. The result? latestnetflix.com's read is that a surprisingly intimate look at masculinity, grief, and the unconditional love that transcends politics.
A Weekend of Fishing, Tears, and Unexpected Bonds
The film’s premise is simple: five fathers of transgender children—Peter Metz, Stephen Chukumba, Wayne Maines, Jose Trujillo, and Frank Gonzales—join Dennis Shepard, the father of Matthew Shepard, for a fishing trip in Oklahoma 
. What unfolds is anything but ordinary. Away from the public eye, these men, who come from different racial, geographical, and generational backgrounds, find common ground in their shared experiences: the fear, pride, and relentless advocacy for their kids .
Fisher’s documentary doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight of the trip. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the dads cry, laugh, and lean on each other in ways that challenge traditional notions of fatherhood . The fishing trip becomes a metaphor for the journey these men have taken—navigating uncharted waters with their children, often without a roadmap.
Dwyane Wade’s Personal Stake in the Story
NBA legend Dwyane Wade isn’t just a name attached to The Dads as an executive producer—his involvement adds a layer of star power and personal investment. Wade, whose daughter Zaya is transgender, has been vocal about his family’s journey, and this project feels like a natural extension of his advocacy . In an exclusive with People, Wade and Fisher describe the film as a "love letter" from fathers to their LGBTQ+ kids, a way to show that support isn’t just words but action .
Wade’s role behind the scenes likely helped amplify the film’s reach, but the real stars are the dads themselves. Their stories—ranging from Wayne Maines, whose daughter Nicole was at the center of a landmark transgender rights case, to Dennis Shepard, who has spent decades honoring his son’s memory—give the documentary its emotional core .
Why This Doc Stands Out in the Trans Rights Conversation
The Dads isn’t just another documentary about LGBTQ+ issues—it’s a rare focus on the fathers, a group often sidelined in these narratives. Fisher’s approach is observational rather than preachy, letting the men’s words and actions speak for themselves . The fishing trip setting, while seemingly casual, creates a space where vulnerability feels natural, not forced.
The film also arrives at a time when trans rights are under relentless attack in the U.S. By centering the voices of fathers—many of whom come from conservative or religious backgrounds—The Dads humanizes the debate in a way that statistics and politics can’t . It’s a reminder that love, not ideology, drives these men to fight for their kids.
The Verdict: A Small Film with a Big Heart
Critics have called The Dads "sweet" and "necessary," praising its ability to balance tenderness with urgency . It’s not a flashy documentary, but its power lies in its authenticity. These aren’t actors playing roles; they’re real fathers sharing their truths, and that rawness is what makes the film resonate.
For viewers, The Dads offers more than just a glimpse into the lives of trans kids and their families—it’s a testament to the quiet strength of fatherhood. And in a world where LGBTQ+ stories are often reduced to headlines, that’s a rare and precious thing.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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