Top reads and TV you should see this Pride Month
Happy Pride Month everyone!
Pride Month is a time to celebrate diversity. While celebrating together at live parades isn’t an option this year, there are multiple other ways to celebrate and reflect during this important month for the global LGBTQ+ community. One of the many options is attending this online event with 24 hours of content, organized by Global Pride 2020. Another great way to explore the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community is reading books and watching movies or series.
To help you get started, Unit4’s proud LGBTQ+ community selected 16 very good books, movies and series to read and watch. Enjoy!
Books to read this summer:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A classic tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Raped repeatedly by the man she calls 'father' and trapped in an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves. This book is also available as a movie.
This story was first published on 11 October 1928. The book describes the adventures of a poet who changes sex from man to woman and lives for centuries, meeting the key figures of English literary history. Considered a feminist classic, the book has been written about extensively by scholars of women's writing and gender and transgender studies.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
A lasting gem. Dorian Gray is having his picture painted by Basil Hallward, who is charmed by his looks. But when Sir Henry Wotton visits, and seduces Dorian into the worship of youthful beauty with an intoxicating speech, Dorian makes a wish he will live to regret. A masterful tale about appearance, reality, art, life, truth, fiction and the ultimate burden of conscience.
Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
A love story that follows the life of one woman, from the chaos of Nigeria's 1968 civil war through forbidden first love, marriage and motherhood
Movies to watch:
Based on a true story, this movie depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners' strike in 1984, at the outset of what would become the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign.
Milk is an American biographical film based on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California. The movie received great reviews and prestigious nominations when it was released in 2008.
Carol is a 2015 romantic drama film that’s based on the 1952 romance novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith (republished as Carol in 1990). Set in New York City during the early 1950s, Carol tells the story of a forbidden affair between an aspiring female photographer and an older woman going through a difficult divorce.
The Portrait of a Lady on Fire
This French historical drama movie from 2019 tells the story of a forbidden affair between an aristocrat and a painter commissioned to paint her portrait.
Series to bingewatch:
POSE is an American drama television series about New York City's African-American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming ballroom culture scene in the 1980s and, in the second season, early 1990s. Featured characters are dancers and models who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture.
One Day at a Time is an American sitcom. The show revolves around a Cuban-American family living in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Echo Park, focusing on a single mother who is an Army veteran dealing with PTSD, her kids and her Cuban mother. The re-imagination of the original CBS sitcom tackles issues like mental illness, immigration, sexism, homophobia, and racism that Latinos living in the United States face. One Day at a Time was listed as one of the best television shows of 2017, with numerous critics ranking it as one of the top ten shows of the year.
Please Like Me is an Australian television comedy-drama series.The show explores realistic issues with humorous tones. Four seasons of the show have been broadcast, and writer, creator and actor Thomas has stated that he has no plans to make any further episodes. The show has attracted praise from critics and has garnered numerous nominations, winning a number of awards.
Grab some tissues! Queer Eye is an American Netflix original series and a reboot of the Bravo series of the same name, featuring a Fab Five that specializes in: food and wine, fashion, culture, design and grooming. This all-new "Fab Five" serves up hip tips, emotionally charged makeovers and heartfelt reveals that bring out all the feels. Season five just premiered this month and the series has been renewed for a sixth season already.
We encourage everyone to give back in their LGBTQ+ communities. This can be done by investing time or money or through organizations, like GLAAD, It Gets Better Project and others.
