LGBTQ+ History Month celebrates the achievements and history of the LGBTQ+ community along with the struggles the community has faced throughout history. Paying tribute to the path before me, I’ve chosen 5 films and documentaries that explore the experiences and lives of LGBTQ+ people. 

The Half Of It (2020)

A Netflix original movie, The Half Of It explores the life of high school student Ellie Chu.

Ellie helps her classmate Paul win over Aster, the girl of his dreams. The movie, directed and written by Alice Wu, shows the difficulties and complexities of love. 

The movie, set in the fictional town of Squahamish, explores Ellie coming to terms with her identity in a small religious town. 

Writer and director Alice Wu identifies as lesbian and tells a wonderful coming-of-age story that young LGBTQ+ people can relate to. From the movie’s opening, we learn that this is not a traditional coming-of-age story, made relatable by showing that there is not one right way to find yourself.

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

Trigger warning: dealing with graphic topics of violence and death.

This Netflix original documentary delves into the life of Marsha P. Johnson, a gay rights activist and one of the leading figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969, exploring heavy topics of violence and discrimination towards trans community members and the LGBTQ+ community. 

The film doesn’t shy away from the historical challenges that many gay rights activists faced while fighting for equality in the United States. 

Moonlight (2016)

The A24 film follows the story of Chiron, a young black boy who grows up during the height of the crack epidemic in Miami that began in the 1980s. 

The movie touches on issues of identity and the struggles of societal and cultural expectations of young black men as well as the juxtaposition of queer identity in a community where homosexuality is seen as taboo, sinful and problematic.

Chiron, a gay man of color, is harassed by his peers and his mother for his sexual orientation.

I picked Moonlight to be on this list because I believe this movie highlights the struggles many people of color face when exploring and finding their identity and sexuality. 

The Imitation Game (2014) 

This action-packed movie is based on the life of Alan Turing, who helped to decipher German-coded messages during World War 2.

During the 1940s, Turing was a mathematician now credited with creating the groundwork for modern-day computers. 

I picked this movie because, if you’re a history nerd, this a worthwhile movie to watch. Also because Alan Turing, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, was an important historical figure and a gay man. After his services, Turing was subjected to hormonal castration for being homosexual. 

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Tracing the timeline from the start to his death, Bohemian Rhapsody tells the story of the iconic and multi-talented Freddie Mercury and the band Queen.

This movie was enjoyable not just for the musical aspect, but for the storytelling of Mercury’s life, relationships and success. The movie highlights the struggles that Mercury faced as a gay man during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. 

These five films are just some of many in recent years that portray the lives of members of the LGBTQ+ community. There is still work to be done to achieve a better sense of acceptance and understanding.

I believe that allowing people to see the struggles and defining actions of LGBTQ+ members will allow people to have an open dialogue about what it means to be queer.