Film and LGBTQ+ Issues

The Boys in the Band, released in 1970, was the first mainstream Hollywood film to feature a gay character, played by Kenneth Nelson.

Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017 and featured a gay protagonist, Chiron, played by Trevante Rhodes.

Ellen Page came out as lesbian in 2018 and has since become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She has starred in films such as Juno, Inception, and The Umbrella Academy.

The Frameline Film Festival, held annually in San Francisco, is dedicated to showcasing LGBTQ+ films and is considered one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Gregg Araki is known for his groundbreaking work in the New Queer Cinema movement of the 1990s, with films such as The Living End, The Doom Generation, and Nowhere.

Boys Don't Cry, directed by Kimberly Peirce, is considered to be a landmark in the representation of transgender people in film, with Hilary Swank's performance as Brandon Teena earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Pose, created by Ryan Murphy, features a diverse cast of LGBTQ+ characters and has been praised for its groundbreaking representation, particularly of transgender people of color.

Carol, directed by Todd Haynes, tells the story of a lesbian couple, played by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, who fight for the right to marry in the 1950s.

Call Me by Your Name, directed by Luca Guadagnino, features a gay protagonist, Elio Perlman, played by Timothée Chalamet, who falls in love with a closeted man, Oliver, played by Armie Hammer.

The Danish Girl, directed by Tom Hooper, tells the story of Einar Wegener, a Danish artist who transitioned to become Lili Elbe, one of the first people to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

Insecure, created by Lena Waithe, features a black lesbian protagonist, Issa Dee, played by Issa Rae, and has been praised for its honest and nuanced portrayal of LGBTQ+ life.

Rocketman, directed by Dexter Fletcher, tells the story of Elton John, a gay musician, and his relationship with his manager, John Reid.

Ammonite, directed by Francis Lee, features a lesbian protagonist, Mary Anning, played by Kate Winslet, who falls in love with a woman who is struggling with addiction, Charlotte Murchison, played by Saoirse Ronan.

Pose, created by Steven Canals, features a diverse cast of LGBTQ+ characters and is set in the ballroom culture of 1980s New York City.

Benedetta, directed by Paul Verhoeven, tells the story of Benedetta Carlini, a 17th-century Italian nun who is discriminated against by her family and community because of her sexuality.