Hollywood’s attempt to address the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s only furthered these depictions of LGTBQ people as tragic figures-take Longtime Companion and Philadelphia, for example. It's time we take Hollywood to task for not properly producing gay stories. While certainly a benchmark in gay cinema, it was widely criticized for reinforcing the idea that we’re all bitter, lonely people who rely on bitchy clapbacks as a defense mechanism. The 1970s film adaptation of the off-Broadway play Boys in the Band is considered one of the first mainstream Hollywood movies to target a gay audience by depicting the gay male experience. In the late '60s and early '70s, we finally started to see a little more representation.but not exactly in the way many of us would’ve liked.
GAY MOVIES 2019 LCHAT MOVIE
If a movie did include a queer character, it was mostly just alluded to. To get to the bottom of that, first, we need to understand where we started in Hollywood.įrom 1930 to 1968, the depiction of homosexuality was banned from films under the Hays Code-a set of moral guidelines that all major studies had to follow. Seeing those scenarios play out exclusively in heterosexual relationships can make a gay person question whether they're worthy of that kind of earth-shattering Say Anything-style love. They inspire you to hold out hope for someone worthy of a grand romantic gesture (though slightly less creepy than standing outside their window with a boombox).
That's why romantic comedies are more important than ever, because they keep romance alive. It's hard to find that spark in a seemingly endless cycle of swipe matches and casual coffee or cocktail dates.
Get Real plays off of every queer high school fantasy (or maybe even every high school fantasy) where a boy who feels like an outsider suddenly gets attention from one of the popular kids. Both involve teens coming to terms with their same-sex attraction in ways that I found relatable. It wasn't until I was 16 that I finally discovered two rom-coms that helped me realize my own gay identity.įirst was the British film Get Real, and then there was the conversion therapy comedy But I’m a Cheerleader.
Drive Me Crazy, Never Been Kissed, 10 Things I Hate About You.it was a good time to be a young romantic, even if that meant I had to see myself through the eyes of Drew Barrymore.
GAY MOVIES 2019 LCHAT SERIES
" In Our O-pinion" is an series where we share our unsolicited takes on everything from bathroom etiquette to whether or not you should split the bill at group dinners.