Written by AMULYA MISRA for THE DESIGN COLLECTIVE
We all know and love the parade, parties and absolute explosion of colours that is June’s Pride Month. Unfortunately, this year (much like last year) Pride Month will have to be celebrated a little differently. With many restrictions still being placed upon the country, the parties and parades may not happen.
However, there is absolutely no reason to hold back on the cheer. This is a great time to catch up to all the best LGBTQ+ shows and movies. Here are our recommendations you should add to your watch list!
Fire (1996)
Starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das, Fire was one of the first movies in India to showcase a homosexual relationship. This romantic drama was directed by Deepa Mehta and was the first feature in the Elements trilogy.
Steven Universe (2013)
This series has been a topic of much appreciation as it opened the door to diversity and inclusion in kids’ shows. If you’re looking for something cute, animated and inclusive, we couldn’t recommend anything better than this Cartoon Network show!
Loev (2015)
At the Tel Aviv International Film Awards, Loev won the Audience Award for the Best Feature Film. This movie follows the life of a young Mumbai-based musician who goes on a hiking trip with his New York-based friend.
Moonlight (2016)
This award-winning film by Barry Jenkins is about the life of a young queer black man going through three different stages in his life–childhood, teenage years and adulthood. Set in Miami, Chiron struggles with his identity in different ways, aptly representing the journey of the LGBTQ community.
Pose (2018)
Paying a tribute to queer ball culture in 1980s New York City, Pose is about a young, gay man who leaves his abusive home to start over in the city as a dancer. It’s a beautiful story told in an equally beautiful way making it a must-watch for everyone.
Howard (2018)
Many times, the amazing accomplishments of the queer community have been kept quiet. This original documentary by Disney+ gives us an insight on the gay man behind Disney’s magical era–Howard Ashman. He co-wrote some of the most powerful songs from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.
Euphoria (2019)
Adapted from an Israeli show, this show stars Zendaya as Rue Bennett. The show follows the life of Rue and her group of friends as they learn how to navigate high school.
A Secret Love (2020)
In the past 50 years, the rights of LGBTQ+ people have changed. This Netflix documentary about Pat Henschel and Terry Donahue highlights the progress made for many queer people.
Betty (2020)
This six-party series is based on Skate Kitchen by Crystal Moselle. Set in New York, it follows a group of youngsters who are attempting to stand out in the male dominated skateboard scene.
The Half Of It (2020)
This comedy-drama movie is set in the fictional town of Squahamish. The story is about a lovestruck high schooler who gets the help of the school’s smartest student to write letters to his crush, Aster.