Happy Pride Month! This June, we recognize that Pride began as a much-needed movement for queer liberation. This fight continues today as many states threaten this liberation with anti-trans healthcare laws, “Don’t Say Gay” bills, and the like.
While this month is about making queer voices heard, we can celebrate by watching queer films. Now there’s often a debate among queer film critics that some queer films rely too much on trauma to tell their stories. While I personally think some queer trauma is essential in portraying the queer experience for many, I do understand that watching queer trauma can most certainly be triggering. I mean, it’s nice when queer people can just exist within films without having loads of trauma, right? I completely agree that more films showcasing the LGBTQIA+ experience should be highlighting queer joy.
This list has both types of films. Using Time’s LGBTQIA+ film list as a guide, here are 11 queer films to watch to celebrate Pride Month.
Some on the list like “Late Bloomers” from 1996 show queer love as a rebellious act, while at the same time posing the question “Is love a bad example?” Some of the newest films on the list focus much more on healing than the trauma itself. Without giving too much away in case you haven’t seen it yet, 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once” navigates healing and acceptance within the family.
Let me know which one is your favorite, and tell me the other ways you’re celebrating Pride. Email me at [email protected]. Happy watching!
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