On Gender and Sexuality On The Big Screen

I’ve been on a bit of a binge recently. Between doomscrolling through Instagram and Twitter (X?), I usually take a moment to unwind on TikTok. Of course, funny skits and dance trends help get me through particularly long days of classes, but there’s one TikTok page in particular that I find myself spending hours lingering on: @queer.cinema.archive.

The page frequently uploads clips of both well-known and obscure films that highlight characters in the LGBTQ+ community. One video highlights a tender moment from the 1933 Hollywood film ‘Queen Christina’ between the titular Queen Christina, played by Greta Garbo, and her female love interest. Scroll down and there’s another video of several World War II soldiers performing in drag from the 1943 movie ‘This Is The Army.’ Scroll down even further and there’s footage from the 1969 Japanese film ‘Funeral Parade of Roses.’

It would be a mistake to assume that members of the LGBTQ+ community have only just begun to make their way onto the big screen. Filmmakers and actors alike have tackled LGBTQ+ representation in media across the globe, and have provided valuable representation for those looking to find a piece of themselves in the media they consume. Shows like ‘Orange Is the New Black,’ ‘Steven Universe,’ and Netflix’s ‘One Day At A Time’ reboot were formative in my early youth as I grappled with my own identity and where I fit in.

Gloria Calderón Kellett and Mike Royce's 'One Day at a Time' reboot is a reimagining of the 1975 series of the same title. The series covers topics of homophobia, sexism, gender identity, and racism. (Courtesy of Everett Collection)

Of course, that’s not to say that representation has been perfect. In many instances, representations of the LGBTQ+ community have perpetuated harmful stereotypes, often for the sake of comedic relief. Gay men have often been portrayed as flashy, flamboyant and promiscuous, while lesbian women are emasculated and demonized. Transgender individuals have similarly been portrayed as morally corrupt.

There’s still a long way to go in terms of positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community in media, but I’d like to remain optimistic and think we have a foot in the right direction. Across the United States, policymakers are pushing back against LGBTQ+ rights. According to the ACLU, 501 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across several states targeting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in 2023 alone. But despite how contested LGBTQ+ existence is in the political sphere, the stories of individuals and groups within the LGBTQ+ community remain and continue to be told.