But with no significant LGBT+ representation, why aren't queer films and actors gaining the recognition they deserve? ๐ณ๏ธโ๐
Letโs look back at pivotal moments in the long history of LGBT+ representation in cinema ๐๏ธ
Thread ๐
๐ Manslaughter (1922)
Although not an LGBT-themed film, Cecil B DeMille's American silent drama broke new ground in gay representation.
During a fantasy orgy scene in ancient Rome, two women can be seen kissing โ the first same-sex romantic kiss in cinema ๐ฉโโค๏ธโ๐โ๐ฉ
๐จโโค๏ธโ๐จ Victim (1961)
Groundbreaking in its own way, Basil Dearden's survey of gay life in '60s London was the first English-language film to use the word 'homosexual'.
Censored at the time, it was later credited with helping to decriminalise gay sex in the UK a few years later ๐งโโ๏ธ
๐น Funeral Parade of Roses (1969)
Loosely adapted from Sophoclesโ Oedipus Rex, Toshio Matsumoto's trans-centric underground classic examined queer subcultures in '60s Tokyo ๐ฏ๐ต
๐ฅ Paris is Burning (1990)
Filmed over seven years, this intimate portrait of New York's voguing scene shone a spotlight on a subculture that influences pop culture to this day
In the midst of the AIDS crisis, the film was a triumphant statement of freedom, love and creativity
๐ฉโโค๏ธโ๐ฉ Fire (1996)
One of the first mainstream films in Bollywood ๐ฎ๐ณ to explore homosexuality โ and the first with a lesbian relationship โ Deepa Mehta sparked conversations and controversy when she put intimacy between two women front and centre in her landmark film
๐งโโ๏ธ Philadelphia (1993)
@tomhanks won the first of his two #Oscars for his portrayal of a gay lawyer fired for being HIV+, making it the one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to tackle the HIV/AIDS crisis
๐จ๐ณ Farewell My Concubine (1993)
A Chinese classic, Chen Kaige's epic explored gender, performance and homosexuality in ways unseen before in Chinese film
The first Chinese movie to win the Palme d'Or in Cannes, it helped bring China's contemporary cinema to the world stage
โง๏ธ Boys Donโt Cry (1999)
Based on the real life, and tragic death, of Brandon Teena, Kimberly Peirce's film was the first mainstream film to focus on a trans man
Recently, it has faced criticism for casting cisgender actors, sparking a debate over trans representation in cinema
๐ฆ๐ท XXY (2007)
A rare depiction of intersex life in cinema ๐ฝ๏ธ, Lucia Puenzo's Spanish-language film tells the story of the challenges and decisions facing a teenager navigating gender binaries
๐ฉโโค๏ธโ๐โ๐ฉ Rafiki (2018)
@wanuri Kahiu tells the tale of two teenage girls' secret relationship, torn between love and the fear of being found out in anti-LGBT+ Kenya ๐ฐ๐ช
The film was banned in its native country due to its gay themes and "intent to promote lesbianism"
#OscarsSoWhite trended in 2015 after the academy nominated white actors to all 20 acting categories
With no LGBT+ actors nominated and no recognition for films like @Disclosure_Doc, should there be another shake-up to recognise the work of Hollywood's queer community? ๐ณ๏ธโ๐
There are so many other great LGBT+ ๐ films that deserve to be mentioned ๐ฝ๏ธ
Which are your favourites?
Tell us below ๐
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๐บ๐ธ Around 1 in 200 Americans aged 65 and over are trans.
๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ As the first generation of trans people reaches old age, healthcare systems are unprepared.
๐ For #TransAwarenessWeek, we spoke to trans people about growing old. ๐งต
๐ด Social isolation
๐ด Housing discrimination
๐ด Lack of safe medical spaces
๐ด ...and much more.
๐ต The challenges trans elders face are often similar to those faced by trans people of all ages, but exacerbated as they get older, says Kylie Madhav, senior director at @sageusa.
๐ฝ๏ธ Elizabeth Coffey was a star in the early films of cult film-maker John Waters.
๐ฅ While breaking ground for trans representation on screen, she faced rejection when seeking medical care.
๐ Later in life, hormone replacement therapy has caused issues, she told @Openly.
๐ถ Let's take a look at some of this year's queer nominations. ๐งต
๐ต @brandicarlile is one of the most nominated artists this year โ coming in just behind @Beyonce and @kendricklamar, and being tied with @Adele on seven nominations.
๐ฟ For the second time, she might snap up the coveted 'Album of the Year'.
๐ @RandyRainbow has been nominated for his first-ever Grammy.
๐ง The comedian and songwriter is up for the 'Best Comedy Album' award for 'A Little Brains, a Little Talent'.
๐๏ธ From the Iliad to the Odyssey, Lesbos has had a central part in Ancient Greek history.
โ๏ธ One of its most famous inhabitants was the 6th century B.C. poet Sappho, whose lyrical poems explored her love of women and their beauty โ sometimes even venturing into the erotic.
๐ฉ Sappho was regarded as one of the greatest poets of her time.
๐ Today, not much is known about her life, and much of her work has been lost over the centuries.
๐ฉโโค๏ธโ๐โ๐ฉ But Sappho's homoerotic writing โ and possible personal life โ has been discussed since Hellenistic times.
โ๐ฟ Black, British and queer โ but often overlooked.
๐ฌ๐ง It's #BlackHistoryMonth in the UK and we're looking at those who shaped Black British queer history - and those still changing the world today.
๐ Here are some of the Black #LGBTQ+ pioneers you should know. ๐งต
Ken "Snakehips" Johnson (1914-1941)
๐ท A jazz bandleader and dancer, Johnson was a leading figure in Black British music in the '30s and '40s.
๐๏ธ Part of the first Black British band in residency at the infamous Cafรฉ de Paris, he died when the club got bombed during the Blitz.
Demi Stokes (b.1991)
โฝ๏ธ The @ManCity and England player was part of the Euro 2022 winning team, which has been credited with spiking interest in women's football.
๐ Stokes came out publicly last year by announcing she was expecting a child with her partner Katie.