DVDS: LGBTQA and Social Justice Center
Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert
1994
Actors: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce
Key Words: Gay, Transsexual, Drag Queen, Comedy, Musical
The usually menacing British actor, Terence Stamp, does a complete
turnaround as Bernadette, an aging transsexual who tours the backwaters of
Australia with her stage partners, Mitzi (Hugo Weaving) and Adam/Felicia
(Guy Pearce). Their act, well-known in Sydney, involves wearing lots of
makeup and gowns and lip-synching to records, but Bernadette is getting a bit
tired of it all and is also haunted by the bizarre death of an old loved one. Nevertheless, when Mitzi and
Felicia get an offer to perform in the remote town of Alice Springs at a casino, Bernadette decides to tag
along. The threesome ventures into the outback with Priscilla, a lavender-colored school bus that
doubles as dressing room and home on the road. Along the way, the act encounters any number of
strange characters, as well as incidents of homophobia, while Bernadette becomes increasingly
concerned about the path her life has taken.
The Best of a Conversation with…
2010
Documentary: Kathleen Turner, Julianne Moore, Edward Albee
Keywords: LGBTQA, Civil Rights, Documentary
Documentary stories from the gay experience. Among those championing LGBT civil rights are some of
the great thinkers, entertainers and activists of our time. This month on In The Life, we take a look back
at the best of our ongoing series, A Conversation With… featuring provocative discussion among
celebrated actors, writers and activists speaking out about LGBT equality, politics and culture.
Birdcage, the
1996
Actors: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne West
Keywords: Gay, Comedy, Drag Queen
Val Goldman and Barbara Keeley are engaged to be married, and wish to have
their families meet. Val's father, Armand, owns The Birdcage, a South
Beach drag club. His domestic partner is Albert, who appears regularly as
"Starina," the show's star drag queen. Barbara's father is
ultraconservative Republican Ohio Senator Kevin Keeley, who is seeking re-election as the co-founder of
the "Coalition for Moral Order". Fearing their reaction if they learn the truth about Val's parents,
Barbara tells her parents that Armand is a cultural attaché to Greece, that Albert is a housewife, and
that they divide their time between Greece and Florida; she also changes the family's last name from
Goldman to Coleman to hide their Jewish background.
Boy Culture
2006
Actors: Derek Magyar, George Jonson, Patrick Bauchau, Darryl Stephens
Keywords: Gay, Drama, Romance
Boy Culture is the candid confession of X, a wildly successful male escort. After
ten years of sex for pay, X gets romantically entangled with his two hot
roommates and a reclusive elderly client, Gregory. But before Gregory will
agree to sex, he tells an unsettling love story spanning fifty years and dares X to
try something he hasn’t felt in years, emotion.
Boys Don't Cry
1999
Actors: Hilary Swank, Chloe Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard
Keywords: Crime, Drama, Romance, Transgender, True Story
The film is a based on the real-life story of Brandon Teena, a biologically born
female who identified as a man, who pursues a relationship with a young
woman. When people in the town he lives in discover he was born female he is
not accepted, bullied, beaten, raped and murdered by his male acquaintances.
The picture explores the themes of freedom, courage, identity and
empowerment.
Brandon Teena Story, the
1998
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, Drama, True Story
This film is a documentary about Brandon Teena, a transgender man, who was
murdered along with two others in 1993 in rural Nebraska. The story is told
through interviews with people who knew Brandon, recorded interrogation,
trial transcripts, photographs, and filed film footage.
Brokeback Mountain
2005
Actors: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams
Keywords: Gay, Romance, Drama
Brokeback Mountain is a sweeping epic that explores the lives of two young
men, a ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy, who meet in the summer of 1963 and
unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection. The film depicts the complex
romantic and sexual relationship between two men in the American West from
1963 to 1983.
Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
2003
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, Gay, Civil Rights, Activism
Brother Outsider: the Life of Bayard Rustin combines rare archival footage —
some of it never before broadcast in the U.S. — with provocative interviews to
illuminate the life and work of a forgotten prophet of social change. During his
60-year career as an activist, organizer and "troublemaker," Bayard Rustin
formulated many of the strategies that propelled the American civil rights
movement. His passionate belief in Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence drew Martin Luther King Jr. and
other leaders to him in the 1940's and 50's; his practice of those beliefs drew the attention of
the FBI and police. In 1963, Rustin brought his unique skills to the crowning glory of his civil rights
career: his work organizing the March on Washington, the biggest protest America had ever seen. But
his open homosexuality forced him to remain in the background, marking him again and again as a
"brother outsider."
Bully
2001
Actors: Brad Renfro, Bijou Phillips, Rachel Miner
Keywords: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Bullying, True Story
After finding himself at the constant abuse of his best friend, Bobby, Marty has
become fed up with his friend's twisted ways. He and his girlfriend, a victim of
Bobby's often cruel ways, strategize murdering Bobby, with a group of willing
and unwilling participants in a small Florida town. In the midst of their plotting,
they find themselves contemplating with the possible aftermath of what could
happen.
Damned if You Don’t: Su Friedrich
1984
Documentary
Keywords: Religion, Lesbian, Documentary
Damned if You Don’t is Friedrich’s subversive and ecstatic response to her
Catholic upbringing. Blending conventional narrative technique with
impressionistic camerawork, symbols and voice-overs, the film creates an
intimate study of sexual expression and repression. Featuring Peggy Healey as a
young nun tormented by her desire for the sultry and irresistible Ela Troyano.
Desert Hearts
1985
Starring: Helen Shaver, Patricia Charbonneau, Audra Lindley
Keywords: Lesbian, Romance, Drama, Western
It’s 1959, and New York English professor Vivian Bell has come to Reno for a
quickie divorce. Staying at a dude ranch, she meets the proprietor’s step
daughter, the sexy casino change-girl Cay Rivvers. Despite their differences,
sparks fly as free-spirited Cay introduces strait-laced Vivian to the wild-west
casino scene and the haunting beauty of the desert. No one is angrier that the
dude ranch proprietor. And no one is more surprised than the beautiful-but-repressed Vivian when the
friendship evolves into unexpected, hot passion.
Fire
1997
Actors: Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das
Keywords: Lesbian, Foreign, Controversial, Romance, Drama
Banned in India, Fire is the first film to confront lesbianism in a culture
adamantly denying such a love could ever exist. Shabana Azmi Shines as Radha
Kapur in this taboo-breaking portrayal of contemporary India and the hidden
desires that threaten to defy traditional expectations. In a barren, arranged
marriage to an amateur swami who seeks enlightenment through celibacy,
Radha’s life takes an irresistible turn when her beautiful young sister-in-law seeks to free herself from
the confines of her own loveless marriage and into the supple embrace of Radha.
For the Bible Tells Me So
2007
Documentary
Keywords: Gay and Lesbian, Religion, Documentary
Does God really condemn loving homosexual relationships? Is the chasm
separating Christianity from gays and lesbians too wide to cross? Is the Bible an
excuse to hate? These questions and more are answered in this award-winning
documentary, which brilliantly reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scriptureand reveals that religious anti-gay bias is based almost solely upon a misinterpretation of the Bible.
Gay Weddings (2 copies)
2002
Reality Docu-Drama
Keywords: Gay, Lesbian, Marriage, Documentary, Reality
Reality-series following the lives of gay and lesbian couples as they prepare for
their weddings, dealing with family reactions, homophobia and the logistical headaches of planning a wedding ceremony.
Hide and Seek: Su Friedrich
1996
Documentary
Keywords: Lesbian, Autobiographical, Documentary
Hide and Seek is a daring exploration into wild, uncharted territory—lesbian
adolescence in the 1960’s. Lou is a twelve year old girl who day dreams in a tree
house, tries not to watch a sex education film, wins a rock throwing contest, and
is horrified to discover that her best friend is taking an interest in earrings and
boys. Interwoven with Lou’s story are the mostly hilarious, sometimes painful recollections of adult
lesbians who try to figure out how they ever got from there to here. Hide and Seek is for every woman
who’s been to a slumber party and every man who wonders what went on at one.
How Do I Look: From Fantasy to Reality
2005
Starring: Pepper Labeija, Kevin Aviance, Jose Xtravaganza
Keywords: Documentary, HIV/AIDS, Art, Outreach
How Do I Look captures for the past 10 years the natural artistic voguing & fashion progression of this
over 30 year old Harlem tradition and its showcasing their talents on the runway. How Do I Look is an
arts in education program created by Wolfgang Busch for Art from the Heart. The goal of this artistic
empowerment and HIV/AIDS awareness community project, is to build a national LGBT artistic
infrastructure and to empower the “Ball” community artistically, spiritually & financially.
I Exist: Voices from the Lesbian and Gay Middle Eastern Community in the U.S.
2003
Documentary
Keywords: Reality, Documentary, Gay, Lesbian, Drama
Gay and Lesbian Middle Easterners who live in the United States must
frequently combat the negative stereotypes revolving around both their
sexuality and their race. This award-winning film features interviews with a
variety of young men, women and their family members who share with viewers
some of the experiences, joys and sorrows of this diverse community.
I Love You Phillip Morris
2010
Actors: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann
Keywords: Gay, Comedy, Romance, Drama
Steven Russell is happily married to Debbie and a member of the local police
force when a car accident provokes a dramatic reassessment of his life. Steven
becomes open about his homosexuality and decides to live life to the fullest even if it means breaking the law. Steven's new, extravagant lifestyle involves
cons and fraud and eventually, a stay in the State Penitentiary where he meets
sensitive, soft-spoken Phillip Morris. His devotion to freeing Phillip from jail and building the perfect life
together prompts Steven to attempt and often succeed at one impossible con after another.
If these walls could talk 2
2000
Actors: Vanessa Redgrave, Marian Seldes, Ellen DeGeneres
Keywords: Lesbian, Romance, Drama
This film follows three separate lesbian couples, in three separate decades; an
elderly couple in 1961, a younger couple in 1972, and a couple hoping to have a
child in 2000. The three stories take place within the same house in different
time periods.
In the Life: Pride in Action: Episode 1509
2006
Documentary
Keywords: Activism, LGBTQ, Documentary, Short Stories
This June, In the Life features three remarkable members of the LGBT community- a young doctor, a
high school student, and a veteran actor- each of whom is making unique contributions to social
activism.
Jitters
2010
Actors: Atli Oskar Fjalarsson, Hreindis Ylva Gardarsdottir, Gisli Orn Gardarsson
Keywords: Gay, Drama, Foreign, Teen
Subtitles
An Icelandic teen struggles to find his place in the world following a trip to
Manchester, England, but finds his future looking bleak after his best friend
commits suicide, and his close-knit group of friends begin drifting apart. 16
year old Gabriel has just returned home following two weeks in England when
his friends and family notice some subtle changes in his behavior. Perhaps it's a result of his burgeoning
friendship with Marcus, a rebellious teen he met on his recent trip. But when Gabriel learns that his best
friend Stella has taken her own life, his downward spiral begins to accelerate, threatening devastating
repercussions for both himself, and all those around him.
Kinky Boots
2005
Actors: Joel Edgerton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sarah-Jane Potts
Keywords: Musical, Comedy, Drama, Drag Queen
Inspired by a hilarious true story, this refreshing, feel-good comedy comes from
the hit-making team that brought you CALENDAR GIRLS! For generations, the
Price family has made very sensible, very conservative shoes for men. But to
save the business from imminent bankruptcy, young Charlie Price turns to an
unlikely new creative consultant: a sassy cross-dressing cabaret singer whose
outrageous style and wild designs are a breath of fresh air in the stuffy old factory! Fun and original, it's
a must-have movie that proves the best way to fit in is to stand out!
L Word, the: Season 1 (2 Copies)
2004
Actors: Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey
Keywords: Drama, Romance, TV Show, Lesbian
Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humor-laced dramatic series explores
the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbors, The series
take a smart, sexy and fun look at hopes, dreams and lives of these people as
they deal with things like career struggles, relationships issues and the pressures
of tying to start at family. The show provides a fresh look at everyday life, told
with passion, frankness and humor.
L Word, the: Season 2 (2 Copies)
2005
Actors: Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey
Keywords: Drama, Romance, TV Show, Lesbian
Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humor-laced dramatic series explores
the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbors, The series
take a smart, sexy and fun look at hopes, dreams and lives of these people as
they deal with things like career struggles, relationships issues and the pressures
of tying to start at family. The show provides a fresh look at everyday life, told
with passion, frankness and humor.
L Word, the: Season 3
2006
Actors: Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey
Keywords: Drama, Romance, TV Show, Lesbian
Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humor-laced dramatic series explores
the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbors, The series
take a smart, sexy and fun look at hopes, dreams and lives of these people as
they deal with things like career struggles, relationships issues and the
pressures of tying to start at family. The show provides a fresh look at everyday
life, told with passion, frankness and humor.
L Word, the: Season 4
2007
Actors: Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey
Keywords: Drama, Romance, TV Show, Lesbian
Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humor-laced dramatic series explores
the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbors, The series
take a smart, sexy and fun look at hopes, dreams and lives of these people as
they deal with things like career struggles, relationships issues and the pressures
of tying to start at family. The show provides a fresh look at everyday life, told
with passion, frankness and humor.
L Word, the: Season 5
2008
Actors: Jennifer Beals, Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey
Keywords: Drama, Romance, TV Show, Lesbian
Set in the chic world of Los Angeles, this humor-laced dramatic series explores
the lives of a group of lesbians, their friends, family and neighbors, The series
take a smart, sexy and fun look at hopes, dreams and lives of these people as
they deal with things like career struggles, relationships issues and the pressures
of tying to start at family. The show provides a fresh look at everyday life, told
with passion, frankness and humor.
Matthew Shepard Story, the
2010
Actors: Stockard Channing, Shane Meier, Wendy Crewson, Sam Waterston
Keywords: Gay, Drama, True Story
Killed in a senseless act of hatred, openly gay college student Matthew Shepard
was murdered in 1998. In this critically-acclaimed, moving film, the final days of
Matthew's killers' trial and the weeks leading to Matthew's death, are
recounted with unnerving detail. Stockard Channing delivers an unforgettable,
Emmy Award winning performance as Matthew's grieving mother, Judy, in a
story of a murder that moved a nation to action.
Milk
2008
Actors: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco
Keywords: Gay, Biography, Drama, Romance, Political
His life changed history. His courage changed lives. Academy Award winner
Sean Penn stars in this stirring celebration of Harvey Milk, a true man of the
people. Based on the inspiring true story of the first openly gay man elected to
major public office, this compelling film follows Milk’s powerful journey to
inspire hope for equal rights during one of the least tolerant times in our
nation’s history. With a stunning all-star cast, this is the emotionally charged story that was proclaimed
the Winner of the New York Film Critics Circle Best Picture Award.
My Mother Likes Women
2005
Starring: Rosa Maria Sarda, Leonor Watling, Maria Pujalte
Keywords: Spanish, Lesbian, Comedy, Family
In this uproarious comedy, three sisters’ lives are thrown off-kilter by their
mother’s sudden sexual awakening. Sophia, a concert pianist, has long been
divorced, but the sisters are shocked when she announces her new love- a
young woman and fellow pianist. The daughters quickly label Eliska a golddigger and concoct a hilarious plot to break the couple up. Later, they realize
the folly of their plan, and must conspire to clean up the mess they’ve created.
The Odds of Recovery: Su Friedrich
2002
Documentary
Keywords: Humor, Autobiographical, Lesbian
After a twenty-year period of multiple illnesses and injuries, filmmaker Su
Friedrich turns the camera on herself as a way to analyze her chances for a
happier, healthier life. In the process, she captures the frustration, tedium and
petty annoyances of a revolving-door relationship with the medical
establishment, while portraying the complicated web of emotions that
accompany any medical problem. With humor and honesty, The odds of Recovery uses the filmmaker’s
medical hiostry as a means to address a perennial human problem: the desire to avoid conflict and deny
the need for radical change.
Pariah
2011
Actors: Adepero Oduye, Pernell Walker, Aasha Davis
Keywords: Lesbian, Drama
A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship,
heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression. Seventeenyear-old Alike strives to get through adolescence embracing her identity as a
lesbian, with grace, humor, and tenacity- sometimes succeeding, sometimes
not, but always moving forward.
Paris is Burning
1990
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, New York, Drag Queens
A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing
and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and
vitality.
Queer as Folk Season 1
2000
Actors: Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, Hal Sparks, Sharon Gless
Keywords: TV Show, Drama, Romance, Gay
Following the lives of five gay men in Pittsburgh, 'Queer as Folk' is a riveting
drama full of sex, drugs, adventure, friendship and love. Although the creators
of 'Queer as Folk' wanted to present an honest depiction of gay life, it is by no
means a comprehensive depiction. In addition to the usual sexual escapades
and relationships of the five friends, the show explores critical gay political and
health issues.
Seeing Red: Su Friedrich
2005
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, Lesbian, Autobiography
In Seeing Red, one of her most deeply personal films to date, Su Friedrich takes
a look back at her evolution both as a woman and as an artist, tackling her own
insecurities via several on-camera diary entries. While seeing Red is a film about
the existential crises of the individual, it is also a film about what united all
humanity and what unites humanity with all the matter surrounding us. Friedrich accomplishes these
two objectives using three elements: monologue, montage, and music.
Shortbus
2006
Actor: Sook-Yun Lee, Paul Dawson, Lindsay Beamish
Keywords: Comedy, Drama, Romance
A group of New Yorkers caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu
converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music,
politics, and carnality.
Sink or Swim: Su Friedrich
1990
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, Lesbian, Family, Shorts, Classic, Autobiographical
A Contemporary classic and a landmark in autobiographical filmmaking, Sink or
Swim is an unflinching account of the highly charged relationship etween a
daughter and her father. Through a series of twenty-six short stories, a young girl
chronicles the childhood events that shaped her ideas about fatherhood, family
relations, work and play. This formally complex and emotionally intense film is fraught with tension,
ambivalence and love.
Soldier's Girl
2003
Actors: Troy Garity, Lee Pace
Keywords: Drama, Gay, Transgender, True Story, Romance
The true story of Soldier’s Girl, which takes place in Fort Campbell, KY, tells the
heart-wrenching story of the life and tragic death of soldier Barry Winchell. His
love for Calpernia Addams, a beautiful transgendered nightclub performer was
misunderstood by fellow soldiers and eventually leads to his brutal death. The
outstanding performances by Lee Pace and Troy Garity will draw you into this
emotional and powerful film.
Touch of Pink
2004
Starring: Jimi Mistry, Kyle Maclachlan, Suleka Mathew
Keywords: Comedy, Gay, Drama
A comic clash of cultures, values and sexuality. Alim seems to have it all: a great
career, a handsome boyfriend, and a personal guide in the spirit of Cary Grant.
And living thousands of miles from his mother, Nuru, and his family in Toronto,
he can keep his lifestyle hidden. But when Alim’s conservative mom pays an
impromptu visit, with the intention of dragging her son to a big fat monsoon
wedding and getting him matched up with a “nice girl,” the spirit of Cary Grant
suddenly becomes indispensable.
Transamerica
2005
Actors: Andrea James, Felicity Huffman, Danny Burstein
Keywords: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Transgender
A pre-operative male-to-female transsexual takes an unexpected journey when
she learns that she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the
streets of New York.
Wallowitch & Ross: This Moment
1999
Documentary
Keywords: Gay, Documentary, Music, Theater
Bertram Ross is a former star dancer for the Martha Graham Company. John
Wallowitch is a New York Cabaret pianist and songwriter. Together they are
WALLOWITCH & ROSS singing duo and life partners.
World Unseen, the
2007
Actors: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Parvin Dabas
Keywords: Drama, Lesbian, Foreign
Subtitles
In 1950's apartheid South Africa, free-spirited cafe-owner Amina meets
introverted wife Miriam and their unexpected attraction pushes them to
question the rules that bind them. In a system that divides white from black and
women from men, what chance is there for an unexpected love to survive?
VHS Videos: LGBTQA and Social Justice Center
Absolutely Positive PBS Special
Directed by: Peter Adair
Keywords: Documentary, History, AIDS, Health, Gay, Lesbian, Special
Men and women affected by the AIDS crisis and AIDS are interviewed and
featured to show the expansive effect AIDS had on the United States. A look
at how 11 men and women are living with being HIV positive.
After Stonewall
1999
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, History, Activism
A 1999 documentary film directed by John Scagliotti about the 30 years of gay
rights activism since the 1969 Stonewall riots. It is the sequel to the Scagliottiproduced 1986 film Before Stonewall
Allen Ginsberg
Biography
Keywords: Documentary, Biography, Gay, Poetry, History
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of
the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism,
economic materialism and sexual repression. Ginsberg is best known for his
epic poem "Howl", in which he celebrated his fellow "angel-headed hipsters"
and harshly denounced what he saw as the destructive forces of capitalism
and conformity in the United States.
Anna Deavere Smith
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, Biography, Women
Anna Deavere Smith is an American actress, playwright, and professor. She is
currently the artist in residence at the Center for American Progress
Before Stonewall
1984
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, History, Activism
On June 27, 1969, police raided The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York
City's Greenwich Village. In a spontaneous show of support and frustration,
the city's gay community rioted for three nights in the streets, an event that is
considered the birth of the modern Gay Rights Movement. The award winning
film Before Stonewall pries open the closet door, setting free the dramatic
story of the sometimes horrifying public and private existences experienced
by gay and lesbian Americans since the 1920s. Revealing and often humorous,
this widely acclaimed film relives the emotionally-charged sparking of today's gay rights movement,
from the events that led to the fevered 1969 riots to many other milestones in the brave fight for
acceptance.
Black is, Black Ain’t
1994
Documentary
Keywords: Race, Documentary
A powerful and intelligent critique of racism, sexism, and homophobia, the film
trains a bright spotlight on the exclusiveness and rigidity of the black
institutions of family, church, and community. Incisive storytelling and
commentary from prominent black intellectuals, including Angela Davis, bell
hooks, and Cornel West, as well as Riggs’ own hospital bed insights stir
provocative debate and add reinforcement to Riggs’ bold vision for a humanity
that embraces all people.
Boy meets Boy
2003
Reality TV
Keywords: Gay, Reality, Romance
Boy Meets Boy is an American reality television show in which a gay man
meets and chooses a mate from a group of 15 potential male suitors. The show
was made more novel by the fact that the "leading man" did not know that the
mix of suitors included both gay and hetero men.
Brandon Teena Story (VHS)
1998
Documentary
Keywords: Transsexual, Documentary, Drama, True Story
This film is a documentary about Brandon Teena, a transgender man, who was
murdered along with two others in 1993 in rural Nebraska. The story is told
through interviews with people who knew Brandon, recorded interrogation, trial
transcripts, photographs, and filed film footage. (On Cockettes VHS)
Cockettes, The
2002
Documentary
Keywords: Biographical, Gender Bending
As the psychedelic San Francisco of the '60's began evolving into the gay San
Francisco of the '70's, The Cockettes, a flamboyant ensemble of hippies
(women, gay men, and babies) decked themselves out in gender-bending drag
and tons of glitter for a series of legendary midnight musicals at the Palace
Theater in North Beach. With titles like "Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma" and "Pearls
over Shanghai", these all singing, all dancing extravaganzas featured elaborate
costumes, rebellious sexuality, and exuberant chaos. Documentary about the gender-bending San
Francisco performance group who became a pop culture phenomenon in the early 1970s.
Different from the Others
1919
Actors: Conrad Veidt, Fritz Schul, Reinhold Schunzel
Keywords: Political, Gay, German
A German film produced during the Weimar Republic. It was first released in
1919. The film had the aim of presenting the story as a polemic against the thencurrent laws under Germany's Paragraph 175, which made homosexuality a
criminal offense.
Entre Nous
1983
Actors: Miou-Miou, Isabelle Huppert, Guy Marchand
Keywords: Biographical, Lesbian, Romance, Drama, Foreign
Subtitles
In 1942, in occupied France, a Jewish refugee marries a soldier to escape
deportation to Germany. Meanwhile a wealthy art student loses her first
husband to a stray Resistance bullet; at the Liberation she meets an actor, gets
pregnant, and marries him. Lena and Madeleine meet at their children's school
in Lyon in 1952 and the intensity of their relationship strains both their
marriages to the breaking point.
Ernestine: Peak Experiences
2000
Author: Lily Tomlin
Keywords: Shorts, Comedy
Three classic bits of Tomlin's acerbic phone operator Ernestine, including her
first performance on "Laugh-In" and the infamous "Saturday Night Live" phone
company commercial parody.
Gay Shorts
Keywords: Shorts, Gay, Lesbian, Fiction
Flesh and Paper
1990
Lyrical Exploration
Keywords: Poetry, Indian, Lesbian
FLESH AND PAPER is a lyrical exploration of the sense and sensibilities
of Indian lesbian poet and writer, Suniti Bamjoshi. This moving and
powerful portrait of a unique and brave woman weaves Namjoshi’s life and writings into a sensual
tapestry. (on Gay Pride Weed VHS).
Go Fish
1994
Actor: V.S. Brodie, Guinevere Turner, T. Wendy McMillan
Keywords: Lesbian, Romance, Drama
The film tells the story of the interrelationships of a small group of lesbian
friends in Chicago. The narrative is broken up by a number of discussions on
lesbian issues, dream sequences, commentary that breaks the fourth wall and
moments of free verse poetry. Max is a young lesbian student in Chicago who
has gone ten months without having sex. She and her roommate and college
professor Kia are in a coffee shop when they run into Ely, a hippy woman with
long braided hair, whom Max initially dismisses. Max and Ely do end up going
to a movie together. After the movie they return to Ely's place and, after some flirtatious conversation,
they kiss. Suddenly a call comes in from Ely's (unseen on-screen) partner Kate, with whom Ely has been
in a long-distance relationship for more than two years, which puts a bit of a damper on things.
Hand on the Pulse
2002
Documentary
Keywords: Lesbian, Biography, Documentary
Using interviews, photos and archival footage, Hand on the Pulse is the
poignant story of Joan Nestle, political and sexual "bad girl." It traces Joan's
life; finding her community in Greenwich Village in the 1950's, celebrating the body in her writings and
in her public readings in her black slip, having a lesbian archives in her home for 25 years, teaching
students from colonized backgrounds, participating in the Black civil rights movement as a freedom
rider, becoming a feminist, and helping to forge a new lesbian and gay consciousness through grass
roots organizing. Now in her 60's, Joan continues to celebrate the body as an aging woman and as a
woman with cancer.
Hate.com: Extremists on the internet
2000
Documentary Special
Keywords: Bullying, Documentary, Internet, Hate
This HBO program examines how hate groups are disseminating their violent messages and reaching
new converts around the world via the Internet. Morris Dees, founder and director of the Southern
Poverty Law Center in Alabama, narrates this penetrating video as it also looks at why the Internet is the
perfect medium for those who thrive when operating within dark and shadowy places like cyberspace.
As a lawyer and popular speaker on the subject of hate crimes, Dees is personally familiar with the farreaching damage these groups are inflicting with their incendiary websites
Irma Vep
1996
Actor: Maggie Cheung
Keywords: Short Film, French
Irma Vep is a 1996 film directed by the French director Olivier Assayas, starring
Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung (playing herself) in a story about the disasters
that ensue as a middle-aged French film director (played by Jean-Pierre Léaud)
attempts to remake Louis Feuillade's classicsilent film serial Les vampires. Taking
place as it does largely through the eyes of a foreigner (Cheung), it also a
meditation upon the then-current state of the French film industry.
K.D. Lang: Harvest of Seven Years
1991
Documentary
Keywords: Biography, Music, Concert
This live musical performance features some candid moments at home with
singer/songwriter K.D.Lang. Tunes include "Crying" with the late Roy Orbison,
"Turn Me Around" and others.
Kissing Jessica Stein
2001
Actors: Jennifer Westfeldt, Tovah Feldshuh, Heather Juergensen
Keywords: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Lesbian
Jessica Stein is a woman with a solid career as a copy editor, but her love life isn't
much to write home about; she's been through a long series of disastrous first
dates that refuse to evolve into second dates, and the well-intended advice of
her best friend Joan and former boyfriend Josh isn't helping a bit. One day,
Jessica is scanning personal ads in the newspaper with her friends, and she sees
one with a quote from her favorite poet. Jessica reads on to discover that she
has a lot in common with the person who placed the ad -- too much so, since it turns out the notice is
from a woman, Helen Cooper, who manages an art gallery.
Licensed to Kill
1997
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, Crime, Drama, Murder
"Licensed to Kill" goes behind the media headlines of recent high-profile anti-gay
murders to investigate their causes. Attacked by gay bashers in 1977, filmmaker
Arthur Dong probes the hearts and minds of murderers convicted of killing gay
men he faces them in one-on-one cell block interviews and asks them directly: "Why did you do it?"
Probing on-camera interviews with seven convicted killers behind bars propel the narrative drive of
"Licensed To Kill." These inmates include a wide range of distinct profiles: a young man who claims he
justifiably killed as protection from his victim's sexual advances - a defense known as "homosexual
panic"; a self-loathing, religious gay man who killed because of his own homosexual tendencies; a victim
of child abuse who feared losing his manhood; an army sergeant angry over the gays in the military
debate; and a self-described homeboy looking for easy prey.
Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg, The
1993
Documentary
Keywords: Biography, History, Gay, Poetry
The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg is a 1993 film by Jerry Aronson chronicling
the poet Allen Ginsberg's life from his birth and early childhood to his thoughts
about death at the age of 66.
Lily Tomlin. “Appearing Nitely”
1990
Actors: Lily Tomlin
Keywords: Comedy, Broadway, Stand-up
Tomlin was the first woman to appear solo in a Broadway show with her premiere
of Appearing Nitely. This is a collection of monologues, the enactment of
characters, the performance of difference. Tomlin appeared on stage alone, with
no props and no set, in simple black slacks and a gray blouse. Using her body, her
face, and her voice, she enacted 15 characters, sometimes two or three on the
stage at the same time.
Lily Tomlin. For President?
1982
Actors: Lily Tomlin
Keywords: Comedy, Special, Stand-up
Lily Tomlin creates many different characters to create one interesting funny
special. In addition to familiar characters such as Tess, the irrepressible shoppingbag lady; Judith Beasley, the ultra-efficient housewife, and the lounge singer
Tommy Velour, Miss Tomlin has added Agnes Angst, a punk-rocker, and her 60's
folk-singing counterpart, Holly Oneness. Miss Tomlin retains a remarkable ability to
bring her characters alive by balancing a deft sense of parody with a genuine
affection for them. In addition to Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Regis Philbin, Sally Field
and many other comedy stars enter the stage to create one funny show.
Lily Tomlin. Sold Out!
1981
Actors: Lily Tomlin
Keywords: Comedy, Stand-up
After years of performing some of the most intelligent and perceptive comedy in
America, Lily Tomlin decides to start aiming for the lowest common denominator
in this made-for-TV comedy. Tomlin is invited to bring her one-woman show The
Seven Ages Of Woman to Las Vegas in exchange for a very lucrative paycheck, but
once she arrives she's strongly encouraged to spruce up the show to make it
"more commercial." By the time she's done taking advice, Lily is singing "Born
Free", being shot out of a cannon, performing a dance routine, and being dunked
in a tank of water, all in the name of bringing her art to a larger audience. Lily Tomlin: Lily Sold Out
features cameo appearances from Joan Rivers, Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Paul Anka, Harvey
Lembeck, Liberace, and Audrey Meadows.
Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde
1995
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, Biography, History, Activism
An epic portrait of the eloquent, award-winning Black, lesbian, poet,
mother, teacher and activist, Audre Lorde, whose writings - spanning five
decades - articulated some of the most important social and political visions of
the century. From Lorde's childhood roots in NYC's Harlem to her battle with
breast cancer, this moving film explores a life and a body of work that
embodied the connections between the Civil Rights movement, the Women's
movement, and the struggle for lesbian and gay rights. At the heart of this documentary is Lorde's own
challenge to "envision what has not been and work with every fiber of who we are to make the reality
and pursuit of that vision irresistible."
Lt. Margarethe Cammermeyer
Keywords: Documentary, Biography, Lesbian, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
No Secret Anymore
The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lloyd
Documentary: Del Martin and Phyllis Lloyd
Keywords: Documentary, Biography, Lesbian
No Secret Anymore shows Del and Phyllis creating coalitions that took on the
prevailing belief that lesbians were illegal, immoral and sick. Phyllis and Del did
the groundbreaking work on lesbian mothers, sex education, family violence,
and more. Always working both from within and outside the institutions they
sought to change, Del and Phyllis were able to advance the rights of women,
lesbians, gay, bisexual, and transgender (lgbt) people. Today these unapologetic
and unstoppable activists are educating both the lgbt and aging movements on
the needs of old lesbians. (On children of gay parents VHS)
Noah’s Ark
Keywords: Comedy, Drama, Fiction, Gay, Men
Our House
HBO Special Documentary
Keywords: Gay, Family, Children, Special
A very real documentary about kids of gay and lesbian parents. Gay parents and
their children are featured.
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit
1989
Actors: Charlotte Coleman, Mark Aspinall, Cathryn Bradshaw
Keywords: Lesbian, Drama
Jessica's extraordinarily strong will and heart enables her to rebel against her
fanatical, cult-like upbringing. From seven to seventeen, Jess is brainwashed to
be one of the 'saved', to devote her life to Jesus, to follow the discriminatory
teachings of Pastor Finch and his understanding of Revelations. As her warm
personality dictates she succeeds in fitting into this regime and spreads the word
of Jesus in a fairly content manner. When her friendship with Melanie develops
into something a little more 'unnatural' she easily realizes the error of the Pastors teachings. The girls
are subjected to terrible treatment to convince them to repent.
Orlando
1992
Actors:
Keywords: Drama, Romance, Sex, Gender
Orlando, a man of ideal nobility starts his search for love, poetry, a place in
society and a meaning in life, in and around the court of historical England in the
late 16th century. The blessing of eternal life from Queen Elizabeth I enables
him a long and deep philosophical quest, accompanied by the features of
"noble" English life with a good taste for irony. Both sides of the coin are shown
when Orlando, partly fed up and disgusted with how men think and act, returns
from his ambassadorship in the Far East as exactly the same person, let alone his sex. Orlando, a woman
of ideal nobility continues her journey to realize the truth about life, love, and approaching one's own
sex in the late 18th century England. For one who lived four hundred years and haven't aged a day,
finding humanity's forgotten need for androgyny as the key to the happiness of her own as well as her
daughter's. Sally Potter's adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Orlando not only tells the story on film with
brilliant visual design, but also tries to extend the plot as Woolf would have, had she lived to the end of
the twentieth century.
Out There 2: Hosted by Amanda Bearse
1994
Comedy: Amanda Bearse, John McGivern, Kate Clinton, Mark Davis, Elvira Kurt
Keywords: Gay, Lesbian, Comedy, Stand-up
Lesbian comedienne, Amanda Bearse ("Marcy" from TV's "Married With Children")
hosts this second helping of gay comedy, held at the New York comedy mecca
Caroline's in honor of the 1994 Gay Games. This time the comedy is peppered with
an even greater mix of sketches, music and the bold performances.
Out There in Hollywood: Hosted by Scott Thompson
1995
Comedy: Scott Thompson, Margaret Cho, Lea DeLaria, Jason Stuart, Shelly Mars
Keywords: Gay, Lesbian, Comedy, Stand-up
Kids in the Hall star Scott Thompson hosts the third installment of the Out There
series, national television's first-ever gay and lesbian comedy specials.
Out There: Hosted by Lea DeLaria
1993
Comedy: Bea Arthur, Mark Davis, Lea DeLaria, Melissa Etheridge, Ian McKellen
Keywords:
The first of a three part comedy central special, gay and lesbian comedians light up
the stage with outrageous, bold comedic performances hosted by Lea DeLaria. A
positive mix of stand-up and sketch comedy by some of today's funniest gay and
lesbian comedians.
Queer as Folk: The Complete First Season
2000
Actors: Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, Hal Sparks, Sharon Gless
Keywords: TV Show, Drama, Romance, Gay
Following the lives of five gay men in Pittsburgh, 'Queer as Folk' is a riveting
drama full of sex, drugs, adventure, friendship and love. Although the creators of
'Queer as Folk' wanted to present an honest depiction of gay life, it is by no
means a comprehensive depiction. In addition to the usual sexual escapades and
relationships of the five friends, the show explores critical gay political and health issues.
Salmonberries
1991
Actors: Rosel Zech, K.D. Lang, Angayuqaq Oscar
Keywords: Drama
It stars K.D. Lang as Kotzebue, a young woman of androgynous appearance who
works as a (male) miner in Alaska, and Rosel Zech as Roswitha, an East German
immigrant and librarian. A woman who grew up in a small town in Alaska goes to
the public library to try and find out who her parents were. She was brought to
town as a baby in a cardboard box with "Kotzebue" on it, which is the name of
the town and also the name of the family that founded the town. She eventually
befriends the librarian, an East German immigrant who lost her husband while escaping from behind the
Iron Curtain. They help each other try to find closure to the events in their past.
Seatle Gay Mens Choir
Keywords: Choir, Singing, Gay, Music
A concert of the Seatle gay men’s choir singing.
Second Serve I-750
1986
Actors: Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Balsam
Keywords: Political, Transsexual, Drama
Fact-based story about tennis pro Renee Richards, whose player status was
challenged in 1976 when it was revealed that she was a transsexual. Flashback to
1964 and meet Richard Radley, a successful New York doctor with a great
lifestyle, a flashy girlfriend, and a secret life. Seems like the good doctor likes to
dress up in women's clothes and visit Manhattan. His psychiatrist mother refuses
to deal with him and sends him to a colleague who diagnoses him with a
psychotic gender confusion, which he says can be unlearned.
Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammerymeyer Story
1995
Actors: Glen Close, Judy Davis, Jan Rubes
Keywords: Biography, Drama, Lesbian
The true story of a decorated officer's legal challenge to her involuntary
discharge when she admitted she was homosexual. Col. Margarethe
Cammermeyer a highly-decorated, career military women, is instantly
discharged when she admits to being a lesbian in an interview for a promotion.
But she challenges the termination in court and spotlights the highly
controversial issue of gays in the military.
Some Ground to Stand On
1998
Documentary
Keywords: Lesbian, Activism, Biography
This compelling documentary tells the life story of Blue Lunden, a working class
lesbian activist whose odyssey of personal transformation parallels lesbians’
changing roles over the past 40 years. Starting with Blue’s experience of being
run out of the 1950’s New Orleans gay bar scene for wearing men’s clothing, this
documentary combines interviews, rare photos, and archival footage to trace her experiences: giving up
her child for adoption and getting her back; getting sober; and coming into her own as a lesbian rights,
feminist, and anti-nuclear activist. Now 61 and living in Sugarloaf Women’s Village, Blue reflects on
aging, activism, and a life spent “doing what she wanted” in this touching, inspiring look at a
generation’s struggle for a lesbian identity and consciousness.\
Suzanne Westenhoefer
Documentary
Keywords: Documentary, Lesbian, Non-fiction
Trembling Before G-D
2001
Documentary
Keywords: Gay, Lesbian, Documentary, Political, Jewish
A documentary film about gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews trying to reconcile
their sexuality with their faith. The film follows the lives of several gay and
lesbian Orthodox Jews and includes interviews with rabbis and psychotherapists
about Orthodox attitudes towards homosexuality. During the film's six-year
production, DuBowski met hundreds of homosexual Jews, but only a handful
agreed to be filmed due to fear of being ostracized from their communities.
Trevor
1994
Actors: Brett Barsky, Judy Kain, John Lizzi
Keywords: Drama, Short, Gay
Upon hitting puberty, a high school boy realizes that he is homosexual and faces
prejudice from his homophobic parents and friends. Trevor is an exuberant,
happy 13-year old who has a crush on the most popular boy in school, Pinky
Faraday. When Trevor's classmates discover his true feelings for Pinky, they
tease and mock him mercilessly. Sad and friendless, Trevor decides the world
would be better off without him and tries to take his own life. By the end of the
film, it's clear he is developing sense of self and undeniable enthusiasm for life
will always see him through.
Very Natural Thing, A
1973
Actors: Robert Joel, Curt Gareth, Bo White
Keywords: Romance, Gay
Considered the first feature film on the gay experience made by an out of the
closet gay man to receive commercial distribution, this simple but insightful
story involves a 26 year old gay man, Jason, who leaves the priesthood and
moves to New York City in hopes of finding a meaningful gay relationship. Now
a school teacher, he soon falls in love with a handsome young advertising
executive, David. Together they discover passion and romance while learning
to respect each other.
Victim
1961
Actors: Dirk Bogarde, Sylvia Syms
Keywords: Gay, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
A successful barrister, Melville Farr has a thriving London practice. He is on
course to become a Queen's Counsel and people are already talking of him being
appointed a judge. He is apparently happily married to his wife, Laura. Farr is
approached by "Boy" Barrett, a younger working class man with whom Farr
shared a romantic but asexual relationship. Farr rebuffs the approach, thinking
Barrett wants to blackmail him about their relationship. What Farr does not know is that Barrett himself
has fallen prey to blackmailers who know of their relationship. The blackmailers have a picture of Farr
and Barrett in a vehicle together, in which Barrett is crying. Barrett has been trying to reach Farr to
appeal for help since Barrett (a construction site wages clerk) has stolen £2,000 from his employers to
pay the blackmail and the police are now onto him. With Farr intentionally avoiding him, Barrett is soon
picked up by the police, who in turn discover why he was being blackmailed. Knowing it will be only a
matter of time before he is forced to reveal Farr's identity as the other man, Barrett hangs himself in a
police cell. (On VHS that says Gay Pride Week).
What if I’m Gay?
1987
Actors: Richard Joseph Paul, Evan Handler, Manfred Melcher
Keywords: Gay, Special, Bullying
The popular and macho captain of the high-school soccer team is forced to
confront his homosexuality, after his buddies discover a male-pornography
magazine in his bedroom.
What Makes a Family?
2001
Actors: Brooke Shields, Cherry Jones, Whoopi Goldberg
Keywords: Lesbian, Family, Political, True-Story, Drama,
A lesbian, artificially inseminated, gives birth, and then dies; her partner must
fight to regain custody of the child from the dead woman's grandparents. Based
on a true story, the movie involves a lesbian couple living in Florida who chose
to have a child. Janine Nielsen and her partner, Sandy Cataldi, elect to conceive
a baby via artificial insemination with Sandy as the biological mother. After the
birth of their daughter Heather, Sandy is diagnosed with systemic lupus when
she collapses at the baby's christening. The couple handles the disease for several years until Sandy dies.
Following her death, Sandy's parents sue to gain custody of the child. Addressing moral, legal and ethical
issues, Janine must fight to gain custody of her child.
Audio Tapes: LGBTQA and Social Justice Center
Above All, Honor
2004
Author: Radclyffe
Keywords: Lesbian, Romance, Drama, Thriller
Above All, Honor introduces single-minded Secret Service Agent Cameron
Roberts and the woman she is sworn to protect- Blair Powell, the daughter of
the President of the United States. Cam’s duty is her life and the only thing that
keeps her from self-destructing under the unbearable weight of her own deep
personal tragedy. However, she hasn’t counted on the fact that her reluctant
protectee will do anything in her power to escape the watchful eyes of her
protectors, including seducing the agent in charge. Both women struggle with long-hidden secrets and
dark passions as they are forced to confront their growing attraction amidst the escalating danger
drawing ever closer to Blair.
Breaking the Ice
2010
Author: Kim Baldwin
Keywords: Lesbian, Romance
Nothing is easy about life above the Arctic Circle. Except perhaps, falling in love.
Bryson Faulkner embraces the challenges that come with making a bhome in
one of the most beautiful but unforgiving places on earth: the isolation of the
endless wilderness, the harsh and unpredictable climate, the predators that
luck about her remote cabin. And even the most perilous dangers of all- those
that await her when she takes to the skies as one of Alaska’s most daring bush
pilots. The only thing missing is a special woman to share it all with, but she’s resigned herself to the fact
that few people can thrive in such an extreme environment.
Cooper’s Deale
2009
Author: Ki Thompson
Keywords: Audio Book, Lesbian, Romance, Crime, Drama
Nothing ever seems to go right in Addy Cooper’s life. She loses her job in
California when her job in California when her boss is arrested for importing
Russian brides and exporting bootleg copies of yet-to-be released movies. Her
partner, upon hearing that Addy is unemployed dumps her for the butch UPS
delivery driver. And to top it all off, the grandmother who raised Addy and
Tommy, her mentally disabled brother, dies suddenly when a piece of space
debris the size of a Kenmore dishwasher lands on her, killing her instantly. Returning to the small town
she grew up in, Addy is forced to support herself and Tommy by taking on boarders. Her life appears to
be returning to normal until she finds herself caught between two love interests, both of whom suspect
her of murder.
Gift of Time
2008
Author: Robin Alexander
Keywords: Lesbian, Romance, Fantasy
Leah Marks has no idea what is missing from her quiet, uneventful life until a
simple change in her daily routine alters her existence. From the moment she
meets antique dealer, Reagan Montgomery, Leah’s world is turned upside
down. A unique gift given to her by Reagan leads them on a journey that defies
logic and the laws of time.
Middle of Somewhere, the
2009
Author: Clifford Henderson
Keywords: Lesbian, Romance, Adventure
Eadie T. Pratt sets out on a road trip in search of a new life and ends up in the
middle of somewhere she never expected. Start with one independent, urban
lesbian who cashes out her life in San Francisco for the secondhand travel trailer
and sets off to the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival in search of a new life. Add
to this a broken-down ’66 T-bird, a bunch of small-town Texas Baptists, a ton of
fried food and a church scandal. Pepper with a hot love interest and a das of
greed, and what you get is Eadie T. Pratt’s road trip gone awry.
Pirates Heart, A
2010
Author: Catherine Friend
Keywords: Audio Book, Lesbian, Romance, Adventure
Four women, a long-lost treasure and more than one “thief of hearts” shard a
destiny beyond time. To foil a map thief, librarian Emma Boyd searches for a
pirate’s long-lost treasure map. She is aided in her search by investigator Randi
Marx, who proves to be as frustrating as she is beautiful. The treasure map
Emma and Randi seek belonged to Thomasina Farris, a pirate who disappeared
from the Caribbean in 1715. Did Captain Tommy steal an entire treasure from a
Spanish galleon and escape? Was she convicted of piracy and hanged by her neck? Did she die of a
broken heart when she lost the woman she loved?