LGBT+ Filmmaking that Matters

This year is the 50th year since the Stonewall riots. Considering nearly half a century has passed it's more than a little depressing that many LGBT+ people still face discrimination across the world and that in recent times the community has become a mess of in-fighting and strongly held politics.

People part of ethnic and religious minorities are still some of the most at-risk of the LGBT community. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are still penalised as attention seekers and Trans, Ace and Bi-phobia are still huge issues within LGBT+ communities.

Amongst all this noise it can be very hard to obtain a sense of self. Figuring out what sexuality is and where on the spectrum you fall is difficult enough as a young person nevermind trying to make sense of the new politics you're going to be faced with as soon as you come out. When I realised I was gay I was met with a similar self-inflicted confusion. Why was I gay? Why was I only realising it after half a year of already being in college? Why did I identify as bi up to this point? Why does every lesbian in the media look like they want to beat someone up? What's this whole butch/femme thing? Where do I fit on that? Do I fit on that? Am I really a lesbian if I don't fit on that? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!!

I made sense of it through the way I make sense out of most things. I watched a lot of films. Specifically LGBT+ films and documentaries that helped me get a grip on who I was and understand the history of the community I was about to end up in. Seeing a character that you recognise in yourself really matters when trying to make sense of all this. So, today I'm going to take a look at some of my favourite LGBT+ films that helped me through the most confusing and frustrating times in my life.

I will point out that this list isn't all-inclusive. There are many LGBT+ films I still need to see and sadly there is a lack of films about transgender and non-binary people. Maybe one day I'll get to rectify that. Who knows?

1. Pride

One of my favourite films of all time. This film not only encompasses what pride is and what it means to individuals but it is also an inspiring true story from LGBT+ history in this country. It's funny, heartwarming and a brilliant feel-good film that I try to watch at least once every year on LGBT+ history month.

2. Saving Face

Us lesbians don't usually get the on-screen treatment we deserve. We're usually either reduced to stereotypes or made out to be something "sexy" for a male audience. Saving Face is the first film I ever saw about women in love that was romantic and funny... ya know... a rom-com. Something else that makes this film special is its emphasis on Chinese culture in modern America and the inter-generational fighting that powers a deeply emotional story at times.

3. Kinky Boots

Ok, so this might not be the musical version that everybody knows but before Kinky Boots was a broadway hit it was a relatively small budget indie-flick. The story is about a young shoemaker whose business is about to go down. He's made many of his employees redundant and feels like he's let his family down. That is until a fabulous drag queen comes into his life and introduces him to a whole new customer demographic for his shoes. The drag community. While it might not be as well polished as the broadway version this film has some fantastic performances all round and is a great popcorn flick.

4. Moonlight

Moonlight is a film I find hard to recommend to people. Mostly because people only remember it as the film that won the oscar in the biggest academy cock-up of the century. But also because this film isn't conventional. There isn't really a beginning middle and end here, this is the story of a person's life. More importantly the story of a young black man discovering who he is and trying to find ways to cope with it in an increasingly hostile environment. It's not a "fun" watch but it's important and poignant and an amazing achievement in filmmaking. This film is gorgeous and well worth a watch.

5. Milk

Milk is another one of those bio-pic films that did well at the oscars and then kind of faded into obscurity. It tells the true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay American politician who was assassinated in office. Part of the enduring nature of this film is Sean Penn's performance which is incredible and the intimate way they show his life and loves, not shying away from their own subject matter like so many of these films do.

6. Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Not many people seem to know about this late 90's jem. Which is a shame because the songs are brilliant. Hedwig is also the first film I've seen with a character who has a more fluid sense of gender, or at least that was my interpretation. Hedwig is a transgender woman in Berlin during the time of the Berlin wall. In order to cross the wall with her sugar-daddy boyfriend she has to go through illegal surgery which ends up going horribly wrong. To hide her insecurities Hedwig puts on a bold, raunchy, rock star diva persona until even that is taken from her when her songs are stolen by another artist. While some may read this film differently the ending for me pointed towards Hedwig stripping herself of gender altogether, taking away the costumes and letting her be herself. It's a curious film but even if it doesn't sound like it's for you at least check out the musical numbers.

7. The Celluloid Closet

The LGBT+ community didn't just arrive with the birth of the internet. We've always been here and this groundbreaking documentary goes back into the archives and finds some of the first ever instances of LGBT+ representation in cinema.

8. Do I Sound Gay?

Internalised homophobia is not discussed as much as its more visible cousin. Many gay men dislike the way they sound, that they sound too feminine or nasally. This documentary follows one man's relationship with his voice as he tries to go through speech therapy to solve it while also exploring why his voice is that way and why he shouldn't be ashamed if it. This documentary is really fascinating and made me examine some of the things I dislike myself and ask why.

9. But I'm a Cheerleader

Want to see a film where RuPaul plays someone teaching in a gay conversion camp? Yeah it gets weirder too. So this is the first lesbian film I ever saw, starring Natasha Lyonne from American Pie as the very picture of a straight highschool teen. She's a cheerleader with a boyfriend in the football team but for some reason everybody seems to think she's gay. Her distraught parents send her to a bizarre conversion camp which is a mix between willy wonka's chocolate factory and a wes-anderson movie.

In many ways this film is a product of its time. We could only wish that gay conversion camps were like this as the truth is much more damaging but this film is a nice satire and provides some interesting commentary. What I liked most was that the conversion camp actually contributed to the cheerleader accepting and understanding her own sexuality. It's a fun film just watch through rose-tinted 90's goggles.

10. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

An absolute classic. Not much to say about this one that hasn't already been said. It's here, it's queer, it's gory, messy, bizzare and tremendous fun. If you haven't watched it... do yourself a favour.

11. The Birdcage

Pretty much every LGBT+ person will tell you this film has its problems. It stereotypes its own characters, pokes fun out of femininity and sometimes doesn't even know what it's trying to say about it. But at heart I truly believe there is a good message trying to get out about self acceptance, family and love. I completely understand if this film is too outdated for you and sometimes outright offensive but there are moments of real importance in this film that should not be ignored.

12. Stephen Fry- Out There

Last one I promise! Technically this is not a film, it's a documentary TV series but I have to include it because of how important it feels to me as a piece of media. Out There follows Stephen Fry on his travels to some of the most homophobic countries in the world, talking to world leaders and trying to break down barriers. This series is incredible and important.

Still with me? Great thank you! So, those of my picks for 12 LGBT+ films you should consider watching as an LGBT+ person or as an ally who wants to know more. Seeing yourself represented in the media is more important than I think anyone will realise because it tells you that you're not alone. It's ok to make mistakes and even if it takes a lifetime, you'll figure it out.

I hope everybody had a happy Pride month!