To celebrate another year of Pride Month, I have cherry-picked 20 of the best in LGBT+ content fresh for your viewing pleasure, along with a quick reason to watch! I tried to only pick selections available for streaming, and have included where to watch when available!
Films
BOOKSMART
HULU
Comedy
This lesbian comedy from Olivia Wilde is heavy on the raunchy hijinks, and the importance of friendship. Booksmart is the best high school comedy since Superbad, and possibly even better.
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
STARZ
Romance
One of the best gay romance films out there, with a star-making performance from Timothee Chalamet. Oscar Winner for best screenplay, and it was also nominated for Best Actor, Best Picture, and Best Original Song.
THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE
AMAZON PRIME
Comedy
This 2006 indie is an adorable coming-of-age movie with the equally adorable Tad Hilgenbrink front and center. It’s set in the 80s among new wave angst, and full of funny moments.
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
NETFLIX
Drama
I didn’t know a gay movie existed in the 90s that was this raw, entertaining, and explicit. With a banging soundtrack and the adorable naivety of coming out of the closet, this is an overlooked classic.
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
TUBI
Musical
A fascinating character study and flawless musical, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is engaging from beginning to end. If you’re a fan of rock musicals like Rocky Horror Picture Show, you’ll probably love Hedwig too.
KNIFE + HEART
SHUDDER
Horror
A gay giallo slasher with some truly gnarly kills, a trippy score from M83, and some gorgeous visuals—this is a very easy sell for any LGBT+ horror fan.
THE NORMAL HEART
HBO MAX
Drama
The definitive film about the AID’s crisis, with soul-crushing performances from Matt Bomer and Mark Ruffalo—the love story feels like one of the most realistic portrayals of a gay relationship I’ve ever seen brought to the screen. Bring tissues.
THE RETREAT
VOD
Horror
A lesbian slasher where the killers are only targeting members of the LGBT community? Sounds like a match made in horror heaven. Throw in notes of You’re Next and you have a fun film worth seeking out.
SEQUIN IN A BLUE ROOM
VOD
Thriller
Honing in on gay hookup culture, this searing and sexually-charged Australian flick joins gay-thriller greats like My Own Private Idaho, Mysterious Skin, and Closet Monster.
SPIRAL
SHUDDER
Horror
No, this isn’t the Saw sequel—it’s a genuinely great indie treat that gradually creeps its way into your veins with a believable performance from Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman.
Television
EUPHORIA
HBO MAX
Zendaya leads an all-star ensemble of flawed, complex characters. Dealing with heavy topics like emotional trauma and drug abuse, Euphoria isn’t exactly light watching, but it rewards the viewer with stunning realism.
GENERA+ION
HBO MAX
HBO Max’s version of a modern day high school-set Queer as Folk is over-the-top, sexually explicit, and deep on characters and drama. One of my favorite queer shows I’ve watched in ages.
GLEE
NETFLIX
It’s impossible to bring up LGBT+ entertainment without mentioning Glee, one of my top 5 favorite shows ever—a groundbreaking FOX musical. All 6 seasons are streaming on Netflix, so there’s no better time to catch up!
HOLLYWOOD
NETFLIX
Breezy escapism at its finest, this reimagines classic Hollywood’s resistance to change by embracing differences and pushing for change in racial and sexual equality. With lushly drawn characters and a vital message, this was one of the best shows I binged all pandemic.
IT’S A SIN
HBO MAX
Set in the 80s, It’s A Sin is a completely perfect series from beginning to end. It chronicles five friends during the rise of AIDS, and it’s a deeply emotional, heart-breaking masterpiece.
LOVE, VICTOR
HULU
With the second season arriving this month, this breezy 30-minute dramedy, a spin-off from Love, Simon, is light, fluffy, and fun.
POSE
NETFLIX
Superproducer Ryan Murphy’s third project on this list, Pose takes us back to a time when AIDS was just emerging, and the ballroom scene was booming in 80s NYC. With the biggest transgender cast ever assembled, Pose is simply fantastic television.
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE
PARAMOUNT+, HULU
Clocking in at 13 seasons and counting (and that’s not even including All Stars, Untucked, or the various foreign spin-offs), no reality show has made me laugh more than Drag Race. With stunning outfits and tons of drama, Drag Race needs to be seen to be believed.
SCHITT’S CREEK
NETFLIX
Winner of multiple Emmy Awards including Best Comedy Series, this Canadian gem is absolutely hilarious. It’s charming, relatable, silly, and fun. What more needs to be said?
SPECIAL
NETFLIX
Netflix’s 2-season show about a young gay man just trying to live a normal life with his cerebral palsy is cute and unexpected. At only 16 episodes, it’s short, sweet, and never overstays its welcome.
I hope I was able to give you some ideas for a cute movie night, or even a fun weekend binge! Please enjoy, and happy Pride Month 2021!