GLAAD released its annual report on diversity and representation in Hollywood. And the results were mixed.
The advocacy group found that of the 44 films released from major studios in 2020, ten (22.7 percent) contained LGBTQ characters including Like a Boss, The Broken Hearts Gallery, Fantasy Island, Valley Girl, Freaky, The New Mutants, and Birds of Prey.
This is an increase of 4.1 percent, but a decrease of 12 films from last year’s 18.6 percent (22 out of 118 films). The limited number of films released theatrically in 2020 is a direct result and consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down several theaters in the U.S. and globally for large portions of the year.
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Despite all this, some films still managed to cram in some complex and unique queer characters for our viewing pleasure.
The movies we’ve outlined here all pass the GLAAD founder Vito Russo test (named for the late, great, chronicler of queer cinema) when it comes to their LGBTQ characters.
To pass, a film must include an explicitly queer character; the character must have more personality traits beyond their gender and sexuality, and he must play a crucial role in the plot.
As such, the titles all include positive, complex characters, some of whom have incidental sexuality and gender identity, others of which have sexuality or gender that play a large role in the plot.
Hollywood still has a way to go when it comes to queers on screen. Still, it’s good to know and acknowledge: Some films get it right, even in a slow year for movies.
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WashDrySpin
What a shitty list…all this stereotypical whiteness…UCK!
Ronbo
What a great example of racism!
Cam
Hi right wing troll,
It’s cute you think we don’t see that this is you trying to blah blah blah. Anything with people who are out of the closet gets a negative from you.
Your troll game is still sad and weak.
Kangol2
A few more LGBTQ films that came in 2020 beyond the five listed above; all were pretty good to great too:
Twilight’s Kiss (about two older (60s-70s) gay married men, a scenario Hollywood seems incapable of dealing with, in Hong Kong);
I Carry You With Me (about gay couple split between Mexico and NYC):
Cicada (featuring LGBTQ 20-somethings in NYC); and
Dance of the 41 (a historical drama about a secret gay society in 19th century Mexico).
Monsoon (starring gorgeous Henry Golding and equally gorgeous Peter Sawyers) is a 2019 film but it debuted in a few different places in 2020.
littlwulf
Thanks for the great recommendations, haven’t been to the movies in over a year because of covid and have totally lost touch with what’s been happening in the movies.
IanHunter
I definitely agree with Monsoon.
lykeitiz
Monsoon was a certain type of gay movie I love, where the characters being gay was not the point of the story, yet still right there front & center the whole time.
MynameisSid
Uncle Frank… Why did it not win all the awards? That was a great movie full of great performances.
Hank31
I’m gay. I am interested in seeing well-developed gay characters.
Why would I care about “queer characters”, whatever that means?
PhillyProud
I recently watched “Breaking Fast”. I thought it was REALLY good. It gave us a Muslim character whose family was not only supportive, but accepting, and he was still observant and devout. It gave me a different perspective on Islam. The Egyptian best friend was the scene stealer. Just when you think he’s a party boy, his expression of what he deals with left me in tears.
Cam
A good start, I’ll agree with Philly that Breaking Fast was good.
Essie
“Uncle Frank” was amazing. I laughed and cried and that’s all I need in a movie. I was surprised it didn’t win any awards but then, I usually am when it comes to Emmys and Oscars.
I don’t know what the writer means saying that “Boys in the Band” was “vastly superior to the original” because it was EXACTLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL. It was even sat in 1968 (or whenever). Everything was the exact same as the original, even with whats-his-name being made up to look like Leonard Frey. The only real difference with the new one is that every actor is gay, which is wonderful, but seriously, this thing does not deserve to be called a great movie.
I’ve never heard of any of the other movies on this list.
Bmac
I “dare say” the original Boys in the Band film is streets ahead of the remake. Groundbreaking and so of-that-time. Many call it dated but if you were alive then and saw the original – you’d never think the remake is better. All but three of the actors – Laurence Luckinbill, Peter White and Cliff Gorman – were gay and sadly most died of AIDS.
Also, the character Alan’s sexuality, while in question, was not confirmed to be homosexual.
4greg
Ummm…. “Opining for the Joker…?” So she was sharing opinions for him? Or did you mean pining?
Kenny C
I agree about Boy’s in the Band. They didn’t add anything to evolve the remake. If your going to do a carbon copy of the original. An original that was fine in the first place. Than I will just continue enjoying the original.
This was a missed opportunity in my opinion. They could have re-made it as a lesbian story. They could have made it with all people of color and told the story from a queer, minority prospective in that time.
Long tory short. The re-make was fine. I don’t have strong feelings about it. I just didn’t need it.