Media featuring LGBT content
Lee (Will Poulter) introduces his girlfriend Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) to his brother Julius (Jacob Elordi). Julius recognizes a fellow queer person and tries to give advice. She panics and hastily accepts Lee’s proposal of marriage. It’s the 1950’s and Lee … Continue reading LGBT Movies: On Swift Horses (2024)
In Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet (1993) a surly gay New Yorker is pushed into a sham marriage by his Taiwanese parents. The first hour is a comedy about hypocrisy. Things take a dark turn in the third act. Roger … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Wedding Banquet (2025)
Bunny (Nathan Lane) reunites with his best friends Jerry (Matt Bomer) and Arthur (Nathan Lee Graham) at a funeral. He invites them to move in to his Palm Springs mansion with him and his mother Sybil (the late, great Linda … Continue reading LGBT Media: Mid-Century Modern (2025)
A Hollywood actress is outed as trans after her death. Her friends and lovers flash back to their time with her. Amateur actors and copious nudity branded Dinah East an exploitation picture. But it’s also a sympathetic look at closeted … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Dinah East (1970)
Odette has it rough. First a wizard turns her into a swan. Then an imposter seduces her lover. Finally, she’s cast into a watery grave. The origins of the tale are hazy. It is best remembered for Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky’s … Continue reading LGBT Media: Swan Lake (1995)
The curtain rises on Ncuti Gatwa (Dr. Who) wearing a bright pink gown. He mimes playing piano for a crowd of drag queens and kings. Then performs a strip tease. This scene does not exist in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance … Continue reading National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest
Owen and Maddy are depressed teens trapped in the suburbs. They bond over a TV show called The Pink Opaque. The series follows psychic girls battling horrifying monsters. Soon Maddy proposes an adventure of their own. Owen refuses. Without Maddy, … Continue reading LGBT Movies: I Saw the TV Glow (2024)
In 1993 Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his performance in Philadelphia. He thanked his gay drama teacher in his speech. A false rumor spread that he had outed him. Paul Rudnick used this as the premise for a comedy. … Continue reading LGBT Movies: In & Out (1997)
Anthony Mackie joined the Avengers in 2014. Ten years prior he starred in Brother to Brother. He plays a struggling artist who bonds with the poet Bruce Nugent (A gentle performance from Roger Robinson). Writer and director Rodney Evans has … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Brother to Brother (2004)
Oh dear. This one’s rough. A timid gay man survives a homophobic attack. He signs up for a brutal self-defense course. Comedian Judy Tenuta plays the foul-mouthed camp instructor. She beats and belittles her students to provoke their anger. Butch … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Butch Camp (1996)
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)
