LGBTQ Movies For Youth and Teens
Love, Simon
The 2018 film (based off of Becky Albertalli’s young
adult novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda)
follows the story of typical, suburban high school
senior Simon Spier as he tries to navigate life after
being blackmailed and threatened with outing
by one of his classmates while also trying to
figure out the identity of his anonymous, romantic,
online pen pal named Blue.
Although there are serious themes and instances of
casual homophobia throughout the movie, like most
teen rom-coms, the ending is really sweet and gives
the audience a feeling of hope for the titular character
and his life as a newly-out, gay man.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Perks of Being a WallflowerThis 2014 coming-of-age drama based on the Stephen Chbosky novel of the same name follows Charlie (Logan Lerman), who is struggling with depression and uneasy about starting high school. Two seniors, Sam (Emma Watson), and her gay stepbrother Patrick (Ezra Miller) take him under their wing.
Blackbird
This 2014 drama tells the story of Randy Rousseau, a gay teen in a small Baptist town. His younger sister has been missing for years, and his family feels like it’s unraveling. Mo’Nique and Isaiah Washington star as Randy’s parents.
But I’m a Cheerleader
But I’m a Cheerleader
This 1999 satirical cult classic follows Megan Bloomfield (Natasha Lyonne), a high school cheerleader who is sent to a residential conversion camp to cure her lesbianism. At the camp, Megan falls in love with Graham (Clea Duvall) and embraces her sexual orientation. The supporting cast includes Melanie Lynskey, and RuPaul as the “ex-gay” Mike. The amazing soundtrack, camp set design, and awesome performances make this a must-see high school comedy.
G.B.F.
In this 2013 comedy, three high school cliques led by Fawcett (PLL’s Sasha Pieterse), Caprice (Xosha Roquemore), and ‘Shley (Andrea Bowen) are at war. When Tanner (Michael J. Willett) is outed, he finds himself cast as a potential Gay Best Friend to the clique queens, who force Tanner to choose between popularity or true friends. Natasha Lyonne appears in a supporting role as a teacher, Ms. Hoegel.
The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love
The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love
Before starring in The L Word as Tina Kennard, Laurel Holloman played 17-year-old Randy in this 1995 romantic drama. Randy is mocked by other students for her tomboyish appearance, works at a gas station, and lives with her lesbian aunt Rebecca and her girlfriend. Evie (Nicole Ari Parker) stops by in a Range Rover to get her tires serviced, and Randy recognizes her from school and talks to her. Evie lives with her cultured well-off mother, but despite their different circumstances, they fall in love.
Pariah
Pariah
This 2011 drama written and directed by Dee Rees follows 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye) who slowly comes to terms with her identity as a butch lesbian, and eventually comes out to her unaccepting parents.
The Way He Looks
Leonardo is gay and blind teenager dealing with an overprotective mother while trying to live a more independent life. To the disappointment of his best friend, Giovana, he plans to go on an exchange program abroad. When Gabriel, a new student in town, arrives at their classroom, new feelings blossom in Leonardo making him question his plans.
Geography Club
This comedy-drama based on the Brent Hartinger novel of the same name follows 16-year-old Russell (Cameron Deane Stewart), who is going on dates with girls while having a secret relationship with football quarterback Kevin, and will do anything to keep his secret from his teammates. He falls in with other LGBT students who form a secret support group that they call the Geography Club.
The Curiosity of Chance
Chance Marquis, a confident, self-assured, quick-witted, perceptive, outspoken and clear-headed gay teenager, reflects back on his first year at an international high school. A confident, out-of-the-closet gay teenager has the support of an eclectic range of friends while dealing with a homophobic bully during his first year at an international high school. Chance Marquis, a confident, self-assured, quick-witted, perceptive, outspoken and clear-headed gay teenager, reflects back on his first year at an international high school. While meeting and making friends with an assortment of types, he also has the targeted attentions of a mirthless vice principal and a bullying, homophobic soccer jock out to make his life miserable. At home, Chance’s perceptive little sister openly shares all his confidential secrets with their widowed career-army father seeking common ground with his atypical children. Introduced to a drag club, Chance finds fun and success in a cross-dressing contest, but a photo of his participation makes life at a school a living hell. Time to find out the depths of your friendships.
Edge of Seventeen
This 1998 high school dramedy is set in Sandusky, Ohio in 1984. Eric is a Eurythmics-obsessed teenager who is coming to terms with his sexual orientation, and dreams of moving to New York after graduation.
Booksmart
Booksmart is a 2019 American coming-of-age buddy comedy film directed by Olivia Wilde (in her feature directorial debut), from a screenplay by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman. It stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as two graduating high school girls who set out to finally break the rules and party on their last day of classes; Jessica Williams, Will Forte, Lisa Kudrow, and Jason Sudeikis also star.
When I Grow Up (2019)
A montage scene from Tyler Reeves’ “When I Grow Up.” In the scene we see the imagined past (in reverse) of a couple through the eyes of a young boy, who has yet to come out to his family. To capture the bittersweet nature of the story I sought to create a “Disney animation-esque” score as emotionally diverse as the scene it accompanies. The dreamlike percussive introduction accompanies the happy married life, the Gershwin style jazz orchestra brings some fun to the bar scene, the love theme first brings joy and romance to the boy’s first kiss, but reappears with a more distorted and tortured harmony when he finds out his friend’s secret. Finally, the piece ends unresolved as the camera returns to the restaurant revealing the still closeted protagonist. Like the music, his struggle is still unresolved, but there is a tinge of hope in the air.
Gay Short 2016 (Ben & Ethan)
Gay Short 2016 (Ben & Ethan)
Episode 1 (Pilot) Sixteen year old Ben is anxious to meet his mystery online boy-crush while best friend Evie agonises over her body image and crippling desires. Their foil Karly, a rambunctious tomboy, reveals her singing talents with an all-too-appropriate cover of Missy Higgins’ “Secret”. Hedley High newcomer Ethan intrigues them all. An Australian first, this made for TV drama features teen LGBT characters at the core of its storytelling. Through a coming-of-age narrative, witness the harsh difficulties faced in suburban Australia by following these young adults as they deal with their complex and conflicting emotions. It will be a rocky road to love and inclusion through their final years of high school.
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