LGBTQ on Film

"The Same Difference" shines a light on the all-too-often ignored problem of homophobia and gender discrimination within the black lesbian community. Onuorah's fascinating and original documentary examines what happens when lesbians discriminate against each other over violations of the strict code that separates butches from femmes.

The story of a Latina struggling to thrive at the intersection of her transgender and immigrant identities, this short narrative film debuted at the Los Angeles Film Festival and screened throughout the U.S.

Where Justice Ends is at the intersection of two important and timely topics of social justice - conditions within the U.S. prison system and the injustices that befall transgender people encountering the law.

Celebrates the life and artistic endeavors of Breanna Sinclaire, an African American opera singer and the first openly transgender woman to study at a major conservatory, while reflecting back on memories of her childhood self-discovery.

The true-life story of Michael Glatze (Franco), a high profile queer youth activist who created a national controversy when he claimed to no longer be gay and became a straight Christian pastor.

A lesbian couple tries to get out of town for the weekend but are thwarted by their concern over a friend's abusive relationship.

Filmmaker Jessica Devaney grew up in Florida deeply involved with Evangelical Christianity. She eventually left Florida and came into her lesbian identity. Following the shootings at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando she returned to Florida to explore the connection between Evangelical Christiantiy and homophobia.

As Kwanda defiantly negotiates his queer identity within this masculine environment, he quickly recognizes the nature of Xolani'e relationship with fellow guide Vija. The three men commence a dangerous dance with each other and their own desires and, soon, the threat of exposure elevates the tension to breaking point.

The first feature documentary entirely focused on people who are neither male nor female. Agender, gender queer, non-binary and more, they're redefining gender, challenging the ways we think about masculinity and femininity. This insightful documentary takes the viewer deeply into a provocatively new gender frontier.

Dome Karukoski's stirring biopic Tom of Finland follows his life from the trenches of WWII and repressive Finnish society of the 1950s, through his struggle to get his work published in California, where he and his art were finally embraced amid the sexual revolution of the 1970s. Tom's story is one of love, courage and perseverance, mirroring the gay liberation movement for which his leather-clad studs served as a defiant emblem.

The story of a Latina struggling to thrive at the intersection of her transgender and immigrant identities.

On her way to the store with a group of friends, Chrishaun Reed "CeCe" McDonald was brutally attacked. While defending her life, a man was killed. After a coercive interrogation, CeCe was incarcerated in a men's prison in Minnesota. An international campaign to free CeCe garnered significant support from media and activists, including actress Laverne Cox. Cox signed on as executive producer of FREE CECE!, committed to exploring the role race, class, and gender played in CeCe's case. In the end, CeCe emerged not only as a survivor, but also as a leader. Documentarian Jac Gares pushed past the everyday narratives of victimhood surrounding the lives of transgender people, to spotlight the way CeCe and other trans people are leading a growing movement fighting for the rights of transgender people everywhere. CeCe's powerful story highlights the groundswell of voices questioning the prison industrial complex and calling for its disassembly.

Where Justice Ends is at the intersection of two important and timely topics of social justice - conditions within the U.S. prison system and the injustices that befall transgender people encountering the law. The staggering conditions at the center of this film are largely invisible, but perhaps nowhere else do the inequalities of our criminal incarceration fall more heavily than on the transgender community. In the late 1980s, one transgener woman refused to endure continual abuse, assault and rape in prison. As explored by Where Justice Ends, her struggle led to the most significant ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, requiring humane treatment of all prisoners. As the film reveals, little has improved in the almost-intervening years up to today. Told through the words of transgender inmates and experts, Where Justice Ends casts a light on one of the most hidden social injustices in our country.

Through the compelling stories of eight performers in the thriving drag scene in the unlikely location of Columbus, Ohio, the film dives into the often misunderstood topic of 'gender' itself. Giving rare insight into an underground scene, KQIB captures how an unlikely midwestern city full of vibrant performers tackles complexities of gender expression, personal identity, and human rights, all with humor, great music, big hair, and duct tape.

It's Christmas Eve in Tinseltown and Sin-Dee is back on the block. Upon hearing that her pimp boyfriend hasn't been faithful during the 28 days she was locked up, the working girl and her best friend, Alexandra, embark on a mission to get to the bottom of the scandalous rumor. Their rip-roaring odyssey leads them through various subcultures of Los Angeles.

Passionate Pursuits is a window into the life of Angela Bowen, who grew up in inner-city Boston during the Jim Crow era, went on to become a classical ballerina, legendary dance teacher, a black lesbian feminist activist, writer and professor.

Seventy-five year old Darcelle comforts and confronts her audiences, from the brides gone wild and their nervous male companions, to gays and lesbians celebrating a step in coming out. The documentary takes viewers behind the scenes, showing how the work of drag requires a deep understanding of human psychology. Located in the Old Town district of Portland, Oregon, Darcelle XV and Company is the longest surviving drag club in the United States. Since 1967, the venue has provided a social space where people from all walks of life in the community have come to celebrate, mourn, heal, or simply to have fun. Following the proud tradition of Stonewall, where drag queens fought New York police in the early gay rights uprising, Darcelle XV's has served as a hub for political activism.

Aidan Gillen stars as an unrepentant rake, wreaking havoc in Manchester's gay scene in a groundbreaking series created and written by Russell T. Davies of Doctor Who. Witty, daring, and unapologetic, Queer as Folk celebrates gay culture while tackling universal themes of friendship, love, and self-acceptance.

What is a drag king? What is the Drag King Conference? Simply speaking, a drag king is a woman who dresses in a male persona for theatrical purposes. A Drag King Extravaganza, however, reveals that being a drag king is not so simple. During the last ten years this performance art has exploded into a complex and fascinating movement which centralizes around an annual drag king conference called the International Drag King Community Extravaganza (IDKE). Within this conference, gender, sexuality, race and ability are explored through in-depth discussions and provocative performances. This documentary provides a reflexive look at "what is a drag king" and a personal journey inside their conference. Interviewees include Christopher Noe, Kentucky Fried Woman, Mel Corn, Deb "Dirk" Pearce, Flare, Julie "Jake" Applegate, Toe B, Sile Luster / Lustivious Dela Virgion, Erin Tarr, Big Papa, Ken Vegas, Dante DiFranco and many more.

Sensitively explores the controversial subject of the blurring of gender as well as the serious social and family problems--even dangers--often faced by those whose gender may fall somewhere in between male and female.

Alike is a 17-year-old African-American woman who lives with her parents and younger sister in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood. She has a flair for poetry, and is a good student at her local high school. Alike is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, Alike strives to get through adolescence with grace, humor, and tenacity--sometimes succeeding, sometimes not, but always moving forward.

Deep in the heart of the 'Bible Belt', homosexuals still face intolerance and adversity. Several spirited bar owners, however, have shown the courage to create places for people to call home. Small town gay bar ... presents an intimate portrait of establishments that provide much more than an evening of entertainment.

Examines the role of two-spirit people in the Navajo culture in the context of the story of a gay youth named Fred Martinez. Martinez was a nádleehí or a male-bodied person with a feminine essence, who was murdered in a hate crime at the age of sixteen. Discusses the traditional Native American perspective on gender and sexuality and the need for a balanced interrelationship between the feminine and masculine.