Media featuring LGBT content
People in the Summer Night (aka Ihmiset suviyössä) follows the members of a farming community. A mix of rich and poor, young lovers and old cynics. The storylines address class and sexuality with a frankness that would make the Hollywood … Continue reading LGBT Movies: People in the Summer Night (1948)
William Lee (Daniel Craig) is an American ex-pat living in Mexico City. He spends his time indulging in alcohol, heroin and hustlers. One day he spots Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey), a slim young lad, and becomes obsessed. Where Lee is … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Queer (2024)
Hallmark continues their commitment to queer representation with The Groomsmen: Second Chances. Jonathan Bennett plays Danny, a flaky baseball coach. He leaves his finances to Zack, his stuffy business manager (a charming Alexander Lincoln). When Zack gets engaged, Danny’s friends … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Groomsmen: Second Chances (2024)
Every year Susan organizes a birthday camping trip. She’s dated, and broken up with, all of her friends. Yet they somehow still show up. This time things go wrong. A killer is picking the women off, one by one. Is … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Make a Wish (2002)
I attended the Queer Fear film festival in Winston-Salem and thought it would be a neat idea to do a write-up of the films. Three blocks of shorts in the horror or weird genre, then one feature length film. My … Continue reading LGBT Media: Queer Fear 2024
In 1989 the show thirtysomething caused a scandal for ABC. A gay couple were shown lying in bed together having a conversation. The men did not touch but the implication was enough to upset corporate America. Sponsors pulled their commercials … Continue reading LGBT Media: Homoerotic Commercials
Heartstopper’s first season followed the romance between timid Charlie Spring and bubbly Nick Nelson. Season two focused on Nick’s coming out journey. The show was praised for its kid-friendly queer utopia. Readers of Alice Oseman’s graphic novel knew that things … Continue reading LGBT Media: Heartstopper. Season Three
Chicago’s 42nd International LGBTQ+ Film Festival screened over 40 features this month. I focused on mlm narratives and noticed some recurring themes. Struggling Artists The privileged protagonists despair that modern life hasn’t handed them their dreams. Remember when people turned … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Reeling Festival 2024
Judas Kiss tells a queer sci fi tale. A failed film maker travels back in time to mentor (and bang) his younger self. Only he’s vaguely still in the present day. Sadly, J.T. Tepnapa’s movie wastes the premise with endless … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Judas Kiss (2011)
In 1992 Dirk Shafer was voted Playgirl magazine’s Man of the Year. He struggled to promote the company while hiding his homosexuality. Afterwards he produced a mockumentary about the experience, combining archival footage with comic re-enactments. We get insight into … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Man of the Year (1995)
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE BOYS. INCLUDES DESCRIPTIONS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. I’m always fascinated by how a certain work of art can arrive at seemingly the right moment in a person’s life. I think of how Skins was there … Continue reading Queen Maeve, Queer Rage, and How ‘The Boys’ Helped Me Find Closure (LGBT+ Media)
I’ve often cited 1995’s Jeffrey as the first gay romcom. Queer men have long been comic figures on film, but Jeffrey fit the classic “boy meets boy” template. This weekend Letterboxd steered me towards Summer Kiss; an obscure short film … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Summer Kiss (1987)
I enjoyed the first season of Elite. A Spanish soap which mixed murder mysteries with class commentary and queer romance. Subsequent seasons grew repetitive. The new students seemed pale copies of the old. The writers relied heavily on the Idiot … Continue reading Elite. Season 8. (Spoiler Space)
Rykter (aka Rumors) premiered on the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) in 2022. We follow Erik, a mopey teen, as he transfers to a high school on a small island. Three local students see him from across the classroom and really … Continue reading LGBT Media: Rykter (2022)
Prisma is a coming-of-age series set in Latina, Italy. The talented Mattia Carrano plays identical siblings Andrea and Marco. Andrea is a confident drug dealer exploring their gender identity. Marco is a depressed straight guy clashing with the members of … Continue reading LGBT Media: Prisma (2022)
Maël doesn’t want to sleep with his girlfriend. He’s not sure why. She worries he’s gay. His friends think he’s impotent. In truth he’s asexual, though he’s never heard the word. Asexual representation is still rare in media. It’s a … Continue reading Ace Media: Skam France. Season 12
Fathers get a bad rap in queer cinema. Fictional dads tend to antagonize, reject or straight up abuse their queer sons. Good dads are rare enough that a moment of compassion can bring an audience to tears. David Stevens’ 1990 … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Sum of Us (1994)
A glamorous con woman (Ayako Wakao) manipulates a wealthy housewife (Kyôko Kishida). The affair is intense and surprisingly frank for the era. Then the con artist turns her attention to men and the film grows less interesting. Manji was adapted … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Manji (1964)
Ned Roche (Fionn O’Shea) hates the rugby obsessed bullies at his Irish boarding school. When he’s forced to room with rugby champ Conor Masters (Nicholas Galitzine) he readies himself for war. Their eccentric teacher (Andrew Scott) forces them to work … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Handsome Devil (2016)
In Staircase Rex Harrison and Richard Burton play Charles and Harry, a squabbling gay couple. They run a barber shop in East London and care for Harry’s ailing mother. Charles is summoned to court for performing in drag, putting their … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Staircase (1969)
A married Highschool School Secretary falls for the Girl’s Basketball Coach/Geometry Teacher in this quirky and low-key Romantic Dramedy. Written by Gretchen Dyer, and Directed by her sister Julia Dyer this 1996 movie is a real hidden gem. Read on … Continue reading LGBTMovies: Late Bloomers (1996)
