WATCH with PRIDE

Films about LGBTQ experiences to watch for Pride Month

Any time is a good time to watch a good movie. ● But Pride Month is a particularly good time to watch films with LGBTQ+ themes — and there are a lot of really good ones to choose from. These 10 are among the best. ● They run the gamut from small indie films with tiny budgets — one was shot entirely on an iphone — to larger productions. There’s even an Oscar winner among the bunch. ● Pride themes, such as inclusion, discovery and acceptance, run through some of the films more strongly than others. But they are there in all of them. Each one celebrates at least some of those themes in some way. ● And yes, “celebrates” is the operative word. Each of

these films, while not ignoring struggle, is ultimately empowering, whether that is explicit or implied.

‘Moonlight’ (2016)

Barry Jenkins’ brilliant film tells the story of Chiron (played by three different actors throughout the course of the film) as he comes of age in Miami. Chiron works to find acceptance as a gay Black man in circumstances that are both difficult and dangerous. By the end of the film he is still working on his own acceptance. Mahershala Ali won an Oscar for playing a drug dealer who takes Chiron in and the film won best picture, famously after “La La Land” was declared the winner. How to watch: Streaming on Showtime.

‘Fire Island’ (2022)

The work of Jane Austen, endlessly adaptable, provides the story — “Pride and Prejudice” — here for a group of gay men who make their annual jaunt to Fire Island. Noah (Joel Kim Booster, who wrote the film) wants to get his best friend Howie (Bowen Yang) hooked up with someone, anyone. Howie has other ideas. It’s a lot of fun, and the unapologetic out-and-proud joyousness — still not exactly common in films — is a thrill to behold. Well worth watching.

How to watch: Streaming on

Hulu.

See PRIDE, Page 7B

TOP: Conrad Ricamora and

Joel Kim Booster in “Fire

Island”; BOTTOM LEFT:

“Scotty and the Secret

History of Hollywood” examines the life of Scotty Bowers, who connected his pals with some of the biggest names in Tinseltown; BOTTOM RIGHT: Mahershala

Ali won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in “Moonlight,” now on Blu-ray and DVD. JEONG PARK; GREENWICH ENTERTAINMENT; LIONSGATE; PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL VAN BLANKENSHIP/USA TODAY NETWORK; AND GETTY IMAGES