We’ve put together a list of suggested films to watch and some discussions questions to help make movie night a space to interrogate LGBTQ issues.

We did not pick these movies because they are all positive representations of LGBTQ people. We believe there is value in interrogating complicated and/or negative representations of LGBTQ people, as well. Below you will find some general questions that could be applied to any movie that has an LGBTQ character. Feel free to use these as a way to start a discussion about the film, either during or after watching it. Also, if you come up with questions of your own, please email them to us at so we can include them in our grassroots GSA project for other people to benefit from.

Movies to Consider
Boys Don’t Cry
Orlando
Brokeback Mountain
A Single Man
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Kids Are Alright
Philadelphia
Birdcage
Transamerica
Rent
Milk
Monster
Chasing Amy

General questions:

• How does the film construct the genders of its characters?
• Are LGBTQ people presented in a positive light? A negative light? Somewhere in between?
• Does an LGBTQ character befall some sort of tragedy? Is it related to their sexuality? How do representations like this affect the LGBTQ community and how others view it?
• Is sexuality presented as fixed or fluid? Do the characters fit neatly into one conception of gender identity?
• How do the non-LGBTQ characters relate to and interact with the LGBTQ character(s) in the film?
• What would you have changed about this film to make it a better representation of the LGBTQ community?
• Do you believe the representation of the LGBTQ community in this film was realistic?