Netflix has often been accused of click-baiting with its random and constant use of queer characters for content creation, but who can blame them, considering how poorly the community has been depicted in the media over the years! Finally, LGBTQ+ representation has begun steadily transitioning from being scandalous to the norm, and even non-heterosexual stars are getting their chance to shine!
Most people can testify that, particularly at a young age, being queer can be a very lonely experience, especially if one's sexual orientation is kept a closely guarded secret. Having poor representation in the media can only intensify this isolation, but thankfully, the LGBTQ+ community is beginning to steal the spotlight and the queer minority can witness themselves reflected on the big screens.
10 Jenny's Wedding: A Coming Out Story
A sweet and lighthearted view of lesbian relationships comes in the form of Jenny's Wedding, featuring Katherine Heigl and Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel. Now, these two women are madly in love and ready to take their relationship to the next level...But before marriage can be put on the table, the closet doors need to be unbolted first!
This romantic dramedy explores the impact that coming out can have on a person, regardless of their age. Acceptance is never guaranteed and can cause even the most beloved family member to live a lie, and this film seems more targeted at those trying to come to terms with a loved one's LGBTQ+ status by providing an empathetic viewpoint.
9 Disclosure: Questioning Misrepresentation
This powerful documentary gives insights into what it means to be transgender and how this community has been rejected and misrepresented in society for so many years. The infamous
Laverne Cox and other influential community members and supporters shed light on how poorly the media has handled transgender stories and the negative impact this has had on society overall.
Hollywood is called out for over-using the transgender trope, providing fans with numerous queer characters, played by cis actors for a cis audience, and leaving the appropriately queer talent as extras. Adding a transgender personality is often all for the sake of entertainment (and to be the butt of all jokes), and it's time to change the narrative!
8 Love Is Strange: Grey And Gay
Queer love is not exclusive to the younger generations, and the old-timers want some representation too! John Lithgow and Alfred Molina are happy to oblige with Love is Strange, following the story of two men who have shared the past 40 odd years together, but never wed. As luck would have it, as soon as the happy couple is allowed to tie the knot, they find themselves homeless and are forced to live apart.
Ben and George's commitment is put to the test as they are forced to find their individuality once again, after depending on each other for so many years. The major themes do not revolve around exploring queerness, but rather empathizing with an elderly couple trying to survive, oh! And they just happen to be gay.
7 Pariah: Leading Double Lives
Finally, the African-American lesbian community gets a voice in Pariah, the coming-of-age tale about a young high schooler in Brooklyn who finds herself in that all-too-familiar situation of being queer within an unsupportive family. Although she has not officially come out yet, Alike's sexuality is no secret, but this is apparently easier for her loved ones to ignore than acknowledge.
Alike's parents do not wish for their respectable family name to be tarnished, particularly considering this "problem" is supposedly just a phase (not!) This heartfelt film is a demonstration of how declaring one's sexual orientation is not always sunshine and daisies, but by staying true to thyself, it is still possible to find the perfect partner.
6 Boy Meets Girl: Transgender Love-Triangle
It is not surprising that a harrowing history would inspire many equally tragic tales, and although the transgender community is slowly getting adequate representation in Hollywood, they eagerly await their happy ending. Boy Meets Girl gives a fresh take on the story of finding oneself, but with more giggles than gore and more humor than heartache.
What is most refreshing about Ricky's story is that, not only is it told by trans actress, Michelle Hendley, but her character is also not victimized; a rom-com with a triumphant transgender twist! Instead, Ricky is a young girl looking for love and inadvertently finds herself the object of many admirers' affections.
5 Milk: Political Love Story
Milk provides an extraordinary narrative surrounding the political struggles that the LGBTQ+ community had to face in order to be accepted in society and the eyes of the law. Based on the true-life story of Harvey Milk, an openly gay political activist in 1972 San Francisco, this film emphasizes the discrimination that the queer minority has had to endure, with some relatable relationship dynamics thrown into the mix.
This multiple-award-winning biopic stars Sean Penn and James Franco and focuses more on the gay side of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, while still being inclusive of lesbian and transgender characters. It does not shy away from the impact that the AIDS pandemic has had on the community, with a story powerful enough to bring a tear to the toughest of eyes.
4 Rafiki: Legal Rammifications
Believe it or not, the LGBTQ+ community is still legally persecuted in this day and age, and unfortunately, same-sex relations are considered a criminal offense in some countries. Kenya is no exception, where victims face up to fourteen years of imprisonment (or worse), just for following their hearts.
Growing up in the streets of Nairobi, two young girls defy all odds by finding forbidden love and have to fight tooth and nail to keep it. Not only are their affections illegal, but the girls' fathers are political leaders running against each other in the County Assembly. Sadly, Rifiki remains banned in Kenya to this day, unable to touch the lives of those who need it the most.
3 Tangerine: Truth Be Told
This low-budget movie took the world by storm, presenting a refreshingly honest account of the contemporary transgender experience and reflecting the real-life stories of sex workers in the US. Producer Sean Baker did not only find inspiration for his content but also for his star performers, as Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor were plucked right from the streets to give an honest account of their struggles.
The tale of Tangerine prioritizes sincerity over sensationalization and, although dealing with a combination of controversial topics, still manages to find the funny bone to provoke a giggle or two. A gritty, tell-all tale of the aftermath of societal rejection, something that could be avoided if acceptance was more commonplace.
2 Moonlight: Redefining Masculinity
If the LGBTQ+ community has had to fight for representation, then people of color have had double the struggle, as the leading queer roles are regularly received by Caucasian stars, leaving the gay, black man sorely forgotten. The creation of Moonlight changed everything with the award-winning story that explores the struggles of the double stereotype, resulting in rejection from all sides.
Chiron goes through an insurmountable amount of character development as the young boy is forced to face his demons head-on. The hardest part for Chiron (and many others) is cementing his identity without the influence of societal expectations while desperately trying to find some kind of human connection in the process.
1 Everything Everywhere All At Once: Queer Identity
Now, this is something that viewers don't get to see often: a strong LGBTQ+ representative, but in a fantasy sci-fi setting; that's right, there's much more to this story than just homosexuality! The emphasis of Everything Everywhere All At Once is on generational gaps, culture shocks, and the difficulties of living as a Chinese (and gay) immigrant in America.
While some of Joy's family are accepting of her lesbian lifestyle, the older generation is more abrasive and, before her grandfather can be clued in on the situation, Joy is whisked away to an alternate dimension, left to fend for her life.