LGBT Media Recommendations

Welcome back to Culture Mondays! It’s also now Pride Month, so I thought it would be nice to celebrate some LGBT+ content. So here’s a list with some music, some TV, some films and some books for you to sink your teeth into!

Music
Expectations – Hayley Kiyoko. A celebration of sapphic love! Hayley’s music is so relatable for sapphic women. A great mix of more upbeat love songs and songs for that unrequited crush on your straight best friend.
You – dodie. Dodie is a bisexual singer-songwriter. More of her music can be found on her YouTube channel, doddleoddle!
Dirty Computer – Janelle Monae. “Pynk” is an absolute anthem! The “Make Me Feel” music video also features a lot of bisexual lighting which I greatly appreciate!
Chris – Chris. Previously known as Christine and the Queens, Chris explores a new side of Chris. As an extra bonus: it’s available in both French and English!
Cuz I Love You – Lizzo. Lizzo has chosen not to label her sexuality or gender, and Cuz I Love You is an amazing celebration of body positivity and feminism.
Palo Santo – Years & Years. This list needed a bit more LGBT rep for the men out there! And I’m always a fan of some electropop.

TV Shows
Sense8 (Netflix). Sense8 has some of the best LGBT+ representation I’ve seen on TV. The story is really gripping, and it has a really diverse cast as well. I was so sad when it was cancelled, but I’m glad it’s up on Netflix for me to rewatch over and over.
Gentleman Jack (BBC). Based on the diaries of Anne Lister, this historical drama follows Anne and her relationship with Ann Walker.
Sex Education (Netflix). This one doesn’t have an LGBT protagonist, but the protagonist’s best friend is a gay man, and his story features prominently throughout the series. A great coming-of-age show — and you might just learn something about sex and relationships while you’re watching!
Anne with an E (Netflix). This is one that’s on my Watch List on Netflix, but I’ve been promised gay content by a friend who loves the series. I love historical series, so this one’s up high on the list.

Films
Carol (2015). Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, Carol explores the relationship between young shop assistant Therese Belivet, and the glamorous Carol Aird.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018). Based on the book of the same name by E.M. Forster, this film follows a young woman sent to a conversion camp when her relationship with a girl is discovered by her family.
Moonlight (2016). The story of a young, gay African American man, addressing the challenges he faces. Also the first film with an all-Black cast to win the Oscar for Best Picture, and considered one of the greatest films of the 21st Century!
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985). A great film, exploring inter-racial queer British relations and relationships in the 1980s under Margaret Thatcher. I really enjoyed the slight surrealist nature of this film.
A Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019). This is one I’ve not seen yet, but I can’t wait to get the chance to. Period clothing? Lesbians? In French? Hell yes on all fronts.

Books
Carol/The Price of Salt – Patricia Highsmith. The film is great, and so is the book! I reviewed this book a while ago, so you can go read me gushing about it!
The Color Purple – Alice Walker. As well as a great exploration of African American experiences, this book also addresses gender and sexuality. TW: violence and abuse, including sexual.
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic – Alison Bechdel. A memoir of Bechdel’s childhood. Her experiences of growing up and coming out, and realising her father is a gay man. TW: relations with underage boys, suicide.
Night Sky with Exit Wounds – Ocean Vuong. I wanted to put some poetry in here! I’ve seen Vuong mentioned a lot recently for his novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, but his poetry deserves some love too!
Sister Outsider – Audre Lorde. I wanted to end this with a nonfiction book! Lorde is a famous essayist who I’ve been talking about a LOT recently. If you’re looking for someone who can address race, gender, and sexuality in one, Lorde is the person to read.