My Favourite LGBTQ+ Films

Pride Month has been celebrated in June across the United States for decades. This is a time people within the LGBTQ+ community and allies have dedicated to honouring the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which began on June 27, 1969, and culminated with young gays, lesbians and transgender people in New York City clashing with the police which would later expand LGBTQ+ activism both in the States and abroad. 

Being a member of the community myself but having no other way to celebrate, or rather honour the people who fought and keep fighting for equal rights, I have decided to write a brief post about my favourite LGBTQ+ films — an alphabetical collection (I hate making lists) of moving, heartbreaking, but also heartwarming films. 

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

A film that broke me, this isn't just a great gay romance, it is a great romance as the relationship between Elio and Oliver is never depicted as a gay romance but simply like a romance. And it is a beautiful journey made of small gestures, glances, innocuous physical contacts like a pat on the back or more straightforward and erotic ones like a foot massage, and silences more revealing than words.

Dog Day Afternoon (1976)

This film by Sidney Lumet not only is a great crime drama, but it is also a great queer film as it features one of the first transgender characters in films. While it's a shame that Leon, a transgender woman still living in a man's body because she can't afford surgery, is addressed by male pronouns and her former name, and it's a weak character compared to Sonny, it is still very important as the character steers aways from transgender stereotypes.

The Handmaiden (2016)

Both a revenge thriller and a lesbian romance, this Korean film by Park Chan-wook sucks you in with its incredible structure, strong writing, and gorgeous visuals while exploring themes of love, lust, jealousy, betrayal, abuse, and more. What makes this film special is that the two main women who fall in love manage to enact their revenge without having to come out, being outed, or being outwitted by men. 

Happiest Season (2020)

Many people disliked it as it's a very cliched Christmas movie, it has quite an unlikeable main character and a happy ending that feels out of place. I acknowledge these flaws and I still love the film. It broke my heart to see Abby treated so poorly, but at the same time, I couldn't help but relate to Harper and feel sorry for her as I'm yet to come out to my quite homophobic family and I found that Mackenzie Davis really captures what it is like to constantly hide your true self. It also features a cliched and yet incredibly emotional speech by Dan Levy.

Love, Simon (2018)

While it doesn't come without its flaws and still has a straight actor as the lead — the fact that the director is openly gay and the romantic interest is played by a queer actor makes it different —, this coming-of-age is just delightful as it delivers a powerful message of love and acceptance while also showing that coming out can be challenging and life-changing even when you grow up in a supportive environment.

Moonlight (2016)

A coming-of-age divided into three parts, this films is a beautiful, tender portrait of a young boy feeling his sexuality while growing up. We see the protagonist transition from a nervous young boy to a sexually confused teenager to a grown and emotionally repressed man. It is a film that really conveys a sense of life and delivers hope and a heartfelt message towards queer kids, especially queer kids of colour.

Pride (2014)

Based on a true story — it depicts a group of queer activists as they raise money to help miners during the 1984 strike —, it is a beautiful, heartwarming film about pride, friendship and solidarity. It manages to keep a lighter tone despite the subject and shows the importance of minorities sticking together and helping each other out.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

One if not the first queer film I've ever seen, this musical comedy horror is crazy and lots of fun, and at the same time it delivers a message for queer people, or anyone really who feels like an outsider, a message saying to not worry, that you are not alone, there are other people like you and you can meet them in real life. 

Tomboy (2010)

It's been six months since I watched this French film and I cannot stop thinking about it. The way Celine Sciamma explores the barriers between gender at such a young age is simply astonishing. What makes this film special is that Sciamma takes a gentle approach to the subject and, rather than focusing on sexual exploration, she offers a study of social norms of gender types while also delivering how confusing it can be to move from childhood to adulthood.