During the month of Pride, it can sometimes be difficult to find the joy in Queer media. So many tropes emphasize the pain, suffering and angst of Queer existence—and while these stories do reflect many aspects of Queer culture, we are not a monolith. Many members of the LGBTQIA+ family have uplifting moments of life that they wish to express with the world. Queer joy is as hard-won as our rights and it should be celebrated, too.
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s Pride 2024 comes to an end, we encourage you to check out this selection of books and films for adults that embrace the lighter side of queerness, as well as an upbeat soundtrack of disco, pop, hip-hop and other music in a rainbow of languages.
Some queer films and shorts that celebrate life’s joys and sorrows and have happy endings include:
- Go Fish – This low-budget indie film is a classic of lesbian cinema. Max is trying to figure out her life, spend time with friends, and find her happily ever after.
- Beautiful Thing – Two teens from working-class London explore a relationship together. Although things aren’t always easy, they have each other and they have their upbeat Mama Cass-loving best friend who’s there for them too.
- Short films to check out – In a Heartbeat, about two middle school boys with a crush; Bloom, about two high schoolers and flowers; Asexual Story, about connecting and dating as an ace person.
Indulge in some fun nonfiction:
It is something truly wonderful to have queer elders who can share wisdom from their years of being out. The Old Gays Guide To The Good Life: Lessons Learned About Love And Death, Sex and Sin, and Saving The Best For Last tackles how they’ve lived, loved, and thrived. Want a bigger burst of joy? Check out their fun videos where they play with music, dress-up, and drag!
Sometimes there is joy in surviving, thriving, and getting older, especially in a world that can often be hostile to queer folks. To Survive on This Shore: Photographs and Interviews With Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Older Adults contains portraits and interviews with trans elders.
For stories with happily-ever-afters:
Noah blogs about happy trans couples in his blog, Meet Cute Diary, but when someone reveals that the stories are made up, Noah is on the hook to prove that those happy couples are real after all. All it will take is a bit of fake dating that turns into real feelings...
Sometimes hitting the right note in love can be tough, but when you give karaoke and love a chance, you might just end the night in a beautiful duet! Be bold, be brave, and Sing Anyway!
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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