Written by our guest author: Natalya Brettle
Most of us grow up loving movies. Film is an immersive form of storytelling that engages our sense of sight, sound and sometimes even touch (vibrating seats, anyone?). These stories can be both an entertaining escape from daily life and a cultural touchstone that reflects our realities. On the other hand, popular film making hasn’t always widened its lens to offer up much variety when it comes to fair and vibrant representations of 2SLGBTQ+ communities. In recent years, however, this seems to be changing. We asked our library colleagues for their anonymous recommendations, and they did not disappoint. By no means an exhaustive list, these were the top 4 suggestions to get you started on your next binge-worthy movie marathon:
Boys (2014)
- “It’s a beautiful and simple coming-of-age story that ends happy and hopeful.”
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
- “It’s light-hearted, campy, and the writer and director are members of the LGBTQ2S+ community and provide the queer gaze that is often missing from films about queer characters. Some of the jokes don’t hold up in 2021, but if watched with the understanding that it is a more than 20-year-old satirical film, it can be a real delight to watch.”
- “Clea Duvall from “But I’m a Cheerleader” is the director of “Happiest Season”, and she is a lesbian in real life. They hired lesbian actors for the movie and several other actors were gay, lesbian or bisexual.”
Moonlight (2016)
- “A powerful look at toxic masculinity and the struggle to express identity within spheres of violence and fear, especially internalized ones.”
- “This film is truly moving and powerful. I continually think about it and recommend it. I see it as a classic and that it will continue to be relevant for years to come.”
Pride (2014)
- “Great and very entertaining based on true events British comedy! Film follows a story of a group of LGBT activists raising money to help families affected by the 1984 British miners’ strike through the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign.”
- “Intersectional approach to the issues of gender and class.”
Thank you to our colleagues for these awesome suggestions and comments! We have even more ideas for your next movie night… Click on the link below for the complete list, including films not in our collections.
BOYS 
BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER 
MOONLIGHT 
PRIDE 
BATTLE OF THE SEXES 
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 
BOY ERASED 
C.R.A.Z.Y. 
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME 
CLOSET MONSTER 
CLOUDBURST 
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH 
KISSING JESSICA STEIN 
LOVE, SIMON 
MILK 
THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST 
PARIS IS BURNING 
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE 
ROCKETMAN 
THE FAVOURITE 
THE HANDMAIDEN 
THE CELLULOID CLOSET 
THE WATERMELON WOMAN 
WHAN NIGHT IS FALLING 
WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY
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