Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2018 and has been updated in light of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak situation.
Normally, we wouldn’t condone holing up in your house and watching movies, but we all need to do our part to #flattenthecurve and #stayhome. So, grab your favorite PJs and maybe your favorite bottle of wine since we compiled the perfect list of LGBTQ film and series that are worth exploring, or binging again.
Queer as Folk
The first television show all about the life we always wanted and were too afraid to embrace. It was considered well before its time and it might be a great time to pull that box set out or favorite it on Netflix to reminisce about the lives of our favorite Philadelphia fictional characters
Brokeback Mountain
The silver screen film that romanticized the closet and made us all want to go camping again is worth another time around. Grab the box of tissues and snuggle as we watch the lives of Jack and Ennis unfold. Remember to watch for Anne Hathaway’s hair steal the screen at times.
Paris is Burning
If you haven’t, you MUST! This is an inside look at the underground House music scene in New York. This telling documentary shows the community that was built on creativity and love while delving underground in a cast-away culture.
Carol
A story of closeted lesbians in 1950s couldn’t be more revealing as we watch Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara characterize a relationship that goes beyond physical and could sand the true test of time.
Milk
One of our modern day community heads that every generation should know about. Harvey Milk was a trailblazer in the San Francisco community becoming the first openly gay elected official in the U.S.A. This touching movie chronicles his struggles, life, and death.
Birdcage
Grab your cocktails and get ready to laugh! A home of South Beach gays couldn’t be funnier when Nathan Lane and Robin Williams are involved. It’s not all laughs as we struggle with a bit of a coming out, but we can’t be held responsible for sore belly from laughing all night.
The L Word
Similar to QaF, this series focuses on the lives of a group of lesbian women in modern day Los Angeles. The interwoven lives and the compelling storyline is only highlighted by some stellar acting and big names like Jennifer Beals, Pam Grier, and Marlee Matlin. This also might be a good time to catch up before a new season gets released in the next few years.
Transamerica
This comedy-drama follows Felicity Huffman’s character through the trials and tribulations of her life after gender reassignment surgery, even finding out she is the parent of a young boy and navigating through her family’s relationship. A touching story that pulls back the curtain on a part of our community.
The Boys in the Band
Almost 50 years ago, this movie debuted as a story of gay lives and was met with much fanfare and even a Golden Globe nomination. The film follows a ‘one-night-only’ premise when a heterosexual man is invited to a homosexual birthday party and the intertwining of the men begins to unravel. For the record, this might be the move that every gay man needs to watch at least once.