BloodSisters is noted as the subject of protests by the American Family Association in the context of their efforts to defund the National Endowment for the Arts, from which the film's distributor Women Make Movies received funding.

Director Michelle Handelman moved to San Francisco in 1986, where she was introduced to the city's lesbian leather subculture by Pat Califia and J.C. Collins, both of whom appear as subjects in the documentary.

[1] The film's soundtrack consists of music by Frightwig, Typhoon, Coil, Fred Giannelli, Chris and Cosey, and was initially distributed by Women Make Movies.

[3] Following its release, BloodSisters became the subject of protests by the American Family Association (AFA) in the context of their efforts to defund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), from which Women Make Movies received funding.

[1][5] In 2020, BloodSisters screened at Outfest,[6] NewFest,[7] and BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival[8] in commemoration of its 25th anniversary.