You likely don’t need to hear it from me, but 2020 has been a trying year to be LGBTQIA+. With the violent killings of many Black trans women in this year alone and the possibility of losing some of the rights we do have with the recent supreme court nomination, consuming content of the same nature can be jarring. Below, I’ve provided a few suggestions to watch or read when you need a bit of a break. We too deserve media that is both representative and enjoyable. With that said, these stories are not without some difficult moments and I don’t want to give anything away, but I can at least guarantee that the endings will leave you in high spirits!
Saving Face (2004) My partner and I first saw this film in our Intercultural Communications course a couple of years ago, and we loved it. It was used to illustrate the concept in some Asian cultures of “face” and I did find it to be a very helpful learning experience in that regard. Though the film is 16 years old, I felt like it has aged very well and the romance between the protagonist, Wil, and her first girlfriend, Vivian, is very refreshing to watch. This film is available on Amazon to rent or buy, but if I can find anywhere it is free for students (it used to be on Kanopy), I will definitely update this! Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation by Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman (2010) This compilation of works from LGBTQIA+ contributors doesn’t pull any punches when confronting both cis- and heteronormative expectations that are upheld by much of society. However, there are also many stories of euphoria and joy shared in it. One of my favorite pieces included is a comic called “transcension” by Katie Diamond and Johnny Blazes. The introduction, intermission, and epilogue by Bornstein and Bergman also made me belly laugh from time to time. I would say that this work has also aged well a decade later and that some improvements can be observed in the society we live in now. The book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Google Books, but I would recommend checking the LGBTQ+ section of your local library as well. (I purchased my copy at a thrift shop.) Derry Girls (2018- present) I thought for awhile before including this one on this list, but I think it very much applies. Derry Girls is a sitcom that centers around a group of teenagers in Northern Ireland during the 1990s. LGBTQIA+ themes are not really all that present until the end of the first season, but carries throughout the second and presumably through the third when it comes out. Despite the tumultuous times the friends are living through, the show as a whole is very lighthearted and hilarious and often very relevant to today. The series is available to stream on Netflix. I may make recommendation posts a monthly occurrence, especially ones of positive content to help through this long period of change and multiple hardships. I hope that this will be helpful and that all reading can find something to enjoy during this time. - Bek
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January 2024
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