The joyful celebrations in the streets filled with rainbow flags, balloons, and people in all sorts of colorful outfits mark the much-awaited month for the LGBTQ+ community– Pride Month. To further celebrate Pride this month even when we’re comfortable on our couches at home, we could catch movies and shows that are diverse, inclusive, and touch on the issues that are relevant and relatable to the queer community. Below are such titles to consider watching this Pride Month!
LGBTQ Movies
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer star in this Academy Award-winning film by Luca Guadagnino. Set in 1983, it tells the story of 17-year-old Elio (Chalamet) and doctoral student Oliver (Hammer). When Oliver interns for Elio’s father, the two young men discover an awakening within them that sparks romance upon their encounters. Stream it on Netflix.
Moonlight (2016)
The coming-of-age drama film Moonlight follows the young African-American man Chiron in his journey from childhood to manhood. Chiron transforms from a young boy neglected by his mother, to a teenager discovering his identity and sexuality, into a young man who must face his past relationships. The film stars Ashton Sanders and Mahershala Ali.
Pain and Glory (2019)
In Pain and Glory, Antonio Banderas plays an aging, gay film director who has been reflecting on his life since his body and mind began to decline alongside his plummeting career. In this state, the director recalls the tender moments of his past, remembering his loving mother, the love and loss he experienced along the way, and his journey in art and cinema– and how these all tie in to his gay identity.
Carol (2015)
Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett star in Todd Haynes’ Carol. In 1952, aspiring photographer Therese Belivet (Mara) gets captivated by the beautiful Carol Aird (Blanchett) who is searching for a doll for her daughter. When both their respective relationships begin to crumble, unexpected romance buds between the two.
A Fantastic Woman (2017)
In Fantastic Woman, transgender woman Marina who works as a waitress and a singer is forced to face the harsh judgments and intense scrutiny of the people around her as she mourns for the death of her boyfriend. Starring Daniela Vega as Marina, the film bagged the Best Foreign Language Film award at the Oscars back in 2018.
Love, Simon (2018)
Seventeen-year-old Simon Spier has not yet told his family and friends that he’s gay and a mysterious blackmailer threatens to out him to his entire school. To make things more complicated, he has fallen in love with an anonymous classmate he got to talk to online and is trying to uncover that person’s identity. Love, Simon stars Nick Robinson as Simon, with the direction of Greg Berlanti.
The Half of It (2020)
Alice Wu’s comedy coming-of-age romance film revolves around the shy, Chinese-American teen Ellie Chu. After football jock Paul makes her write a love letter for Aster, the girl he likes, Ellie soon finds herself in a very complicated position. While helping Paul become his best self as he tries to court Aster, Ellie has secretly fallen in love with Aster herself. Stream it on Netflix.
The Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Last year, Netflix released this binge-worthy horror trilogy based on R.L. Stine’s bestselling book series. It revolves around the mysterious massacres that kept happening in the town of Shadyside. When Deena finds out that her former lover Sam, becomes involved in these killings, she tries to uncover the truth behind the crimes only to discover that a sinister force is tying all these tragedies across different generations. Stream it on Netflix.
LGBTQ Shows
Heartstopper
Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels of the same name, this TV series which Oseman also created revolves around the romance between the young men Charlie and Nick. Attending a British all-boys school, the openly-gay Charlie is seated beside the school’s rugby star Nick, which starts a friendship turned romance between them. Stream it on Netflix.
Queer Eye
Queer Eye is a reality show filled with positive vibes from its Fab Five– fashion expert Tan France, grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness, food and wine expert Antoni Porowski, culture expert Karamo Brown, and design expert Bobby Berk. Together, the Fab Five changes the lives of people from different walks of life, giving them a full life makeover! Stream it on Netflix.
RuPaul’s Drag Race
This reality competition centers on RuPaul’s search for the next drag superstar. The chosen participants will have to compete in different mini and maxi challenges where they must exhibit their skills in different areas of drag performance until one drag queen remains! Stream it on Netflix.
Euphoria
Euphoria is the hit HBO drama that won Zendaya an Emmy for Best Actress. Zendaya plays Rue Bennett, a drug addict fresh out of rehab who has no plans of staying clean. The show follows Rue and the other teens around her as they navigate life, explore their sexualities, and face the challenges in their substance-strewn lives. Stream it on HBO GO.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
The reboot of the 80s cartoon is widely recognized and appreciated by the LGBTQ+ community for its queer representation. The animated series centers around Adora, an orphan who was raised as a soldier for the tyrant Hordak. One fateful day, Adora finds a magic sword that transforms her into the Princess of Power She-Ra. Realizing how evil Hordak is, Adora joins the rebellion against him. Meanwhile, Adora’s close friend Catra felt betrayed when she left Hordak’s army, leading Catra to pursue the path of evil. Stream it on Netflix.
Sex Education
This popular series explores different topics about sex and sexuality through its rich roster of characters. The series starts off with the socially-awkward student, Otis, teaming up with the whip-smart Maeve to set up a secret sex therapy clinic. Soon, they find themselves creating a movement to produce a sex-positive environment in their school. Stream it on Netflix.
Elite
This Spanish YA series is also full of LGBTQ relationships viewers would love to see develop on the backdrop of its soapy drama and murder mystery. It begins with three working class students getting a scholarship at a school for the elites. On top of their struggles to fit in, things become more complicated when one of the students in their school turn up dead. Stream it on Netflix.
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