Movies
- CODA: An Oscar-winning drama movie about Ruby, the only hearing member in her deaf family. Extremely heartwarming.
- Little Miss Sunshine: An Oscar-winning drama movie about a family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus
- Crip Camp: The Beginning of a Revolution: An Oscar-winning documentary. Down the road from Woodstock, a revolution blossomed at a ramshackle summer camp for teenagers with disabilities, transforming their lives and igniting a landmark movement.
Pride – Movies edition
The first list is a collection of movies which have won an Oscar, Golden Globe or equivalent. Those can be a bit serious, so there’s another list of fun light-hearted content.
The title is followed by the movie’s score on Rotten Tomatoes, a website dedicated to the aggregated scoring of movies based on the opinions of hundreds of film and television critics. I opted for Rotten Tomatoes because it felt like the most comprehensive and least biased system, but what do I know, I’m not a scientist.
Awesome and a lot of award-winning movies – on the serious side:
- Moonlight – 98 %. A story about a young black man discovering his true self in a coming-of-age story.
- Portrait of a Lady on Fire – 97 %. On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the 18th century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman. It’s French and it won 59 awards.
- Black Swan – 79 %. A psychological thriller about a ballerina slipping into insanity as she competes for a role.
- The Imitation Game – 89 %. The story of Alan Turing.
- The Favourite – 93 %. A period black comedy about the life of Queen Anne of England and two women in her service vying for the spot as her…favourite.
- Carol – 94 %. An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York. It’s lesbian Cate Blanchett, you’re welcome.
- Green Book – 91 %. A biographical comedy-drama about a black violinist’s tour through 1960s America’s deep South.
- A Fantastic Woman – 94 %. A Spanish drama movie about a transgender woman working as a waitress and singer, and the aftermath of the death of her older boyfriend.
- The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson – 97 %. An amazing documentary on Marsha “Pay no mind” Johnson, where her death in 1992 is re-examined. It was initially ruled a suicide despite suspicious circumstances, but many in the community believe she was murdered. (Many deaths of transgender people are ruled as suicides though they are obviously murders, US police famously ignores these issues.)
- Boys Don’t Cry – 89 %. This harrowing late 90s classic of Hilary Swank portraying a young trans man navigating love and life in rural Nebraska.
- Brokeback Mountain – 88 %. Gay cowboys. Absolute classic.
- Tangerine – 96 %. A comedy-drama of a transgender sex worker recently released from jail and on a mission with her best friend to teach a cheating ex-boyfriend and his new lover a lesson.
- Disclosure (2020) – 98 %. A fantastic documentary following an in-depth look at Hollywood’s perception of transgender people. It’s an eye-opening direct conversation between transgender people and Hollywood, showcasing both sides of the conversation.
- Call me by your Name – 94 %. An incredibly sweet and picturesque movie set in summer-y Italy about Timothy Chamalamamet and Armie “100% a cannibal” Hammer.
- Disobedience – 84 %. A shunned Orthodox Jewish woman shunned for her attraction to women returns to her community, and ends up igniting passions for her childhood friend. ‘Tis intense.
- Pain and Glory – 96 %. An ageing Spanish film director in the middle of a creative crisis revisits memorable events of his past.
- Blue Is the Warmest Colour – 89 %. A beautiful love story between Adele and Emma.
- MILK. The story of Harvey Milk and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly gay elected official
- RENT Musical about the Bohemians in the East Village of New York City struggling with life, love and AIDS, and the impact they have on America.
- Philadelphia. When a man with HIV is fired by his law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small-time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.
- The Hours. The Story of how the novel “Mrs Dalloway” affects three generation of women, all of whom, in one way or another, had to deal with suicide in their lives.
- A Single Man. An English professor, one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with typical days in Los Angeles.
Movies on the fun side:
- Bohemian Rhapsody – 60 %. Biopic about Queen and Freddie Mercury.
- Cabaret 98 %. A classic Fosse cabaret musical with Liza Minnelli set in Berlin in 1931.
- Atomic Blonde – 79 %. Action hero Charlize Theron as a bisexual James Bond in 1989 Berlin.
- Jennifer’s Body – 45 %. A campy bisexual horror comedy movie for the female gaze.
- Rocky Horror Picture Show – 78 %. Incredibly fun spooky high camp comedy horror musical. Yes, that’s about it.
- Paris Is Burning – 98 %. Documentary of 80s NYC drag queens who laid the foundation for drag house culture as we see it today.
- Tom of Finland – 83 %. The life of one of the most influential and celebrated figures of 20th-century gay culture. Also, it’s Finnish!
- I Care a Lot – 78 %. A satirical dark comedy thriller about a crooked legal guardian who drains the savings of her elderly wards, when she meets her match as one of the wards turns out to have ties to a mafia man – Tyrion Lannister.
- Imagine Me and You – 35 %. Cersei Lannister as a lesbian florist in a romantic comedy. Yep.
- But I’m a Cheerleader – 42 %. A satirical cult classic rom-com about a naive teenager whose parents suspect is a lesbian and is sent to a conversion camp.
- Pride – 92 %. A historical comedy-drama about a group of lesbians and gays who help raise money for families affected by the British miners’ strike in the 80s.
- Patrik, Age 1.5 – 72 %. Skarsgård and his partner are trying to adopt a child, but there is a typo.
- Tove – 90 %. A biopic of Tove Jansson, creator of Moomins.
- The New Girlfriend – 80 %. While flirting with camp, François Ozon’s The New Girlfriend offers thoughtful – and humorous – commentary on sexual and gender identity.
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – 94 %. Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce in Drag. Need I say more?
- The Birdcage. A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen companion agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiance’s right-wing moralistic parents.
TV-shows
PRIDE – TV edition:
- Modern Family – 85 %. Three families and their lives over the course of 10-ish years.
- Pose – 98 %. A drama series about the New York drag ball culture set in the late 80s. Featured characters are dancers and models, who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture and who support one another in a network of chosen families known as Houses.
- Feel Good – 100% (wow). A gut-wrenching comedy-drama following a recovering addict, and the addictive behaviours and intense romanticism that permeate every facet of her life.
- Tales of the City (1993) – 100% (wow). A comforting show about a naive woman who moves to San Francisco, makes friends and a new life.
- Gentleman Jack – 95 %. English period drama about a gentlewoman who loves women. Based on the true life stories of an absolute trailblazer of a woman.
- Grace and Frankie – 90 %. Two old couples, both married for 40+ years. The women (who never liked each other) have to move in together as the men divorce them as they come out as gay having had affairs with each other, and they want to get married. Super funny, light and comforting.
- Schitt’s Creek – 93 %. A bankrupt former millionaire family has to move to a town called Schitt’s Creek. Genius writing.
- Brooklyn Nine Nine – 95 %. A sit-com about a Brooklyn police precinct. NINE NINE!
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – 96 %. Rescued from an underground bunker after 15 years in a cult, a woman decides to reclaim her life by venturing to NYC where she experiences everyday life with wide-eyed enthusiasm. The premise is dark, but it’s super light and funny.
- Broad City – 99 %. Broad City follows two women throughout their daily lives in New York City, making the smallest and mundane events hysterical and disturbing to watch all at the same time.
- Special – 98 %. A semi-autobiographical series about a gay man with cerebral palsy living his best life.
- Dear White People – 86 %. Black Ivy League College students in a comedy/drama that touches on sensitive topics.
- Sex Education – 95 %. A John Hughes-esque coming-of-age series about British high school students.
- Bonding – 71 %. A dark comedy about a grad student moonlighting as a dominatrix in NYC.
- Will and Grace – 74 %. An OG New York absolute classic sitcom about life and friendship.
- Looking – 90 %. Like Friends, but gay and in San Fransisco. Absolutely brilliantly written dialogue.
- Our Flag Means Death – 91 %. A romantic comedy about a pampered aristocrat who abandons his life of privilege to become a pirate in the early 18th century. Gay pirates!!
- Orange is the New Black – 90 %. A comedy-drama about a women’s prison.
- Killing Eve – 89 %. An absolutely thrilling series about an assassin and the woman trying to kill her. They become increasingly obsessed and attracted to each other, and the series is just…wow.
- Euphoria – 88 %. A slightly terrifying look into the life of teenagers dealing with life as they grapple with drugs, sex, and violence. It’s Zendaya and Hunter Schafer, ‘nuff said. Amazing stuff.
- Sense8 – 86 %. An exciting sci-fi drama by the Wachowskis (Matrix) about eight strangers across the globe who share a mysterious psychic connection.
PRIDE – reality show edition:
- RuPaul’s Drag Race
- Dancing Queen
- We Are Here
- Queer Eye
- Are you the one? (Season 8 specifically)
- Legendary
- The Bi Life
- Dating Around
- Ex on the Beach
- Fire Island
Non-fiction Readings
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men – Caroline Criado Perez
Mismatch By Design – Kat Holmes (Digital Inclusion & Accessibility)
Weapons of Math Destruction: Justice in the age of Big Data – Cathy O’Neil (Digital Inclusion & Accessibility)
Why I am no longer talking to white people about race – Reni Eddo-Lodge (Race)
Why do so many incompetent men become leaders? – Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic (Gender)
Being Heuman – Judith Heumann, Kristen Joiner (Accessibility & Disability Rights)
What can a body do? – Sara Hendren (Accessibility & Disability Rights)
Accessibility for Everyone – Laura Kalbag (Digital Inclusion & Accessibility)
Change by Design – Tim Brown (Digital Inclusion & Accessibility)
Arguments against women – Birgitte Possing (Gender – In Danish Only)
Diversity in the Workplace: Eye-Opening Interviews to Jumpstart Conversations about Identity, Privilege, and Bias – Bärí A. Williams
The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business – Erin Meyer
The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace – Lindsey Pollak
Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions – Tiffany Jana and Michael Baran