TV

7 Films and TV Shows to Celebrate Pride Month

Queer representation means more than just a queer character plopped in a plot line.

Pride

Photo by Margaux Bellott on Unsplash

Pride month is here and Drag Race is over, and unfortunately, it's hard to find many other shows for queer people by queer people. Supporting and celebrating pride month isn't just buying a rainbow shirt from Target; it's buying directly from queer artists and giving back to the culture. With representation more important than ever, these TV shows and films place queer characters right in the center where they belong. Here are some to look out for and catch up on.

Now Apocalypse(Starz)

Gregg Araki, known for his great contributions to the New Queer Cinema Movement, is at it again with this bizarre new show. Avan Jogia (of Victorious and Twisted fame) stars as Ulysses, a gay man who has disturbing, premonitory dreams that the world is ending. Ulysses's romantic and platonic relationships are explored with consideration for sexuality and fame in Los Angeles. Now Apocalypse takes LGBTQIA representation to the absurd and it couldn't be more fun. All episodes are now available for streaming on Starz.

Pose (FX)

Ryan Murphy's latest phenomenon is back for its second season on June 10th. The show centers on POC queer, cis and trans men and women as they navigate different NYC scenes and find purpose through the African American and Latinx ball culture. The show also investigates each character's place in society during the AIDs crisis, reclaiming the narrative and the hysteria of the era. If you're not caught up yet, the FX show is now on Netflix.

Rocketman

Executive produced by Elton John himself, Rocketman was released last weekend to a surprisingly solid first weekend. Bohemian Rhapsody's fill-in director, Dexter Fletcher, captures the life of a queer icon. Besides Rocketman being the first major Hollywood studio production to show a gay sex scene, the film does what Bohemian Rhapsody wanted to do but Queen would not allow: put a global icon's sexuality on display, explore the creative depths of a genius, and feature a lead actor that actually sings. Sing along and enjoy the breadth of great performances and direction.

Queer Eye(Netflix)

Ok, this is an obvious one, but season 3 only premiered in March! If you haven't already watched the fantastic makeovers and heart-warming stories that have come out of the reboot, you're missing out. Celebrate love and life by embracing those who are transformed by the Fab Five. While you're at it, preorder Tan France's book, Naturally Tan: A Memoir

Euphoria(HBO)

Not many know what this show is actually about, but the trailer seems to center on the complicated lives of youth today. Sexual and gender identities are at the forefront of conversation today, especially from adolescents aware of their pertinence in a way previous generations were not. LGBTQ activist and trans woman, Hunter Shafer, will star as a trans girl who befriends Zendaya's character and their relationship potentially becomes something more. Down the rabbit hole viewers will go! Premiering on June 16th, Euphoria gives everyone a reason to keep their HBO subscription.

Booksmart

White feminism aside, Booksmart is an important film because of its lesbian representation. Beanie Feldstein, break-out star of Lady Bird, explained how important her co-star's character is to her and society, "For me in my life, it is a part of who I am but it is not at all my defining feature. It doesn't mean I don't love my girlfriend, it's just part of who I am. And [the character]'s the same way. To see that in Amy and how beautifully Kaitlyn plays her and how beautifully Katie [Silberman, screenwriter] and Olivia [Wilde, director] crafted her, it's gonna change a lot of people's lives." Booksmart is still in theaters nationwide.

One Day at A Time (Netflix, for now)

The 70s sitcom reboot came with reevaluations. The showrunners, Kellet and Royce, decided to change the two daughters to a daughter and son. One of the main characters, the daughter Elena, did not start off as a gay character. It wasn't until Royce's real-life daughter came out that he realized he needed to tell this story. His writer's room invested their own experiences to shape a character and an on-going storyline that provided insight into a coming-out story and its realities in a fresh, familial context. It's done beautifully and truthfully. While Netflix has canceled the show, the creators are fighting to revive it on another platform or channel. #SaveODAT!

TV

Everything Coming To Netflix in June

Including Season 5 of Black Mirror, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and The Dark Knight.

Summertime always means great new movies, and this year has not disappointed.

So far, we've found even more love in our hearts for Keanu Reeves thanks to John Wick 3, Disney's Aladdin took us to a whole new world, Booksmart confirmed that high school comedies are still hilarious and charming, and Avenger's: Endgame was expectedly sensational.

Another month has come and gone, and that means Netflix is also welcoming a new wave of titles to contribute to your choice fatigue.

It wouldn't be a Netflix rollout without some Netflix originals. This June, the techno-dystopian Black Mirror (Season 5) is coming back in three new episodes, one of which features Miley Cyrus. Jennifer Anniston and Adam Sandler also teamed up for the new Netflix original movie, Murder Mystery. Plus, the Amanda Bynes early aughts flick, What a Girl Wants, that's canon to some (me), is coming to the streaming platform this June. We're also getting Carrie, Magic Mike, Cabaret, 20th Century Women, and 50/50.

If you're looking for something a little more real and raw, Martin Scorsese is releasing his Bob Dylan documentary, Rolling Thunder Revue, straight to Netflix in June, too. If that isn't your style, and you didn't get your superhero fix with Avengers: Endgame, then Netflix's June selection might still be up your alley. This month brings Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on June 26th, plus the third and final season of Marvel's Jessica Jones. If you're craving the classics, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are also both coming this month.

It's not a massive month for comedy releases, but Documentary Now: Season 3 is coming to Netflix, as well as Jo Koy's comedy special, Comin' In Hot, and season 5 of Girlfriends' Guide To Divorce.

Here's everything coming to Netflix in June 2019.

Available June 1

Arthdal Chronicles

Oh, Ramona! (Netflix Film)

50/50

A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Batman Begins

Cabaret

Carrie

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Dynasty, Season 2

Good Night, and Good Luck

Gran Torino

Life in the Doghouse

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Magic Mike

Network

Platoon

Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz

Satan & Adam

Small Soldiers

The Dark Knight

The Phantom of the Opera

The Space Between Us

What a Girl Wants

Available June 3

Documentary Now, Season 3

Malibu Rescue: The Series (Netflix Family)

Available June 4

Miranda Sings Live…Your Welcome (Netflix Original)

Available June 5

A Silent Voice

Black Mirror, Season 5 (Netflix Original)

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

Available June 6

Alles Ist Gut (Netflix Film)

Todos lo Saben

Available June 7

3%, Season 3 (Netflix Original)

Belmonte

The Black Godfather (Netflix Film)

The Chef Show (Netflix Original)

Designated Survivor, Season 3 (Netflix Original)

Elisa & Marcela (Netflix Film)

I Am Mother (Netflix Film)

Pachamama (Netflix Family)

Rock My Heart (Netflix Film)

Super Monsters Monster Pets (Netflix Family)

Tales of the City (Netflix Original)

Available June 8

Berlin, I Love You

Available June 11

Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet

Available June 12

Jo Koy: Comin' In Hot (Netflix Original)

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (Netflix Film)

Available June 13

The 3rd Eye 2 (Netflix Film)

Jinn (Netflix Original)

Kakegurui xx (Netflix Anime)

Available June 14

Aggretsuko, season 2 (Netflix Anime)

The Alcàsser Murders (Netflix Original)

Awake: The Million Dollar Game (Netflix Original)

Charité at War (Netflix Original)

Cinderella Pop (Netflix Film)

Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, Season 5

Leila (Netflix Original)

Life Overtakes Me (Netflix Original)

Marlon, Season 2

Murder Mystery (Netflix Film)

Unité 42 (Netflix Original)

Available June 15

Grey's Anatomy, Season 15

Available June 16

Cop Car

Available June 17

The Missing, Season 3 (Netflix Original)

Available June 18

Adam Devine: Best Time of Our Lives (Netflix Original)

Big Kill

Available June 19

Beats (Netflix Film)

The Edge of Democracy (Netflix Film)

Available June 20

Le Chant du Loup (Netflix Film)

Available June 21

Ad Vitam (Netflix Original)

Bolívar (Netflix Original)

The Casketeers, Season 2 (Netflix Original)

The Confession Tapes, Season 2 (Netflix Original)

Dark, Season 2 (Netflix Original)

The End of Evangelion

Evangelion: Death (True)²

Girls Incarcerated, Season 2 (Netflix Original)

Go! Live Your Way, Season 2 (Netflix Family)

Jaoon Kahan Bata Ae Dil (Netflix Film)

La Misma Sangre (Netflix Film)

Mr. Iglesias (Netflix Original)

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Shooter, Season 3

Available June 24

Forest of Piano, Season 2 (Netflix Anime)

Available June 25

Mike Epps: Only One Mike (Netflix Original)

Available June 26

The Golem

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

The Zookeeper

Available June 27

Answer for Heaven (Netflix Original)

Available June 28

20th Century Women

7SEEDS (Netflix Anime)

Dope, Season 3 (Netflix Original)

Exhibit A (Netflix Original)

Instant Hotel, Season 2 (Netflix Original)

Motown Magic, Season 2 (Netflix Original)

Paquita Salas, Season 3 (Netflix Original)

The Chosen One (Netflix Original)

Available June 29

Scare Tactics, Seasons 4 and 5

Available June 30

Madam Secretary, Season 5

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