Now more than ever, we should honor the enduring presence of queer culture throughout history. This June, celebrate Pride Month with Kanopy. The academic and library streaming platform offers a curated Pride Collection, as well as a wider selection of LGBTQ titles. These films highlight the joyous and celebratory qualities of the queer experience.
This collection is inclusive of all identities and backgrounds, while also inviting allies to join in the festivities and deepen their understanding of this remarkable community. The Pride Collection is divided into three categories: Current Affairs, LGBTQ Biographies, and History. There is also an LGBTQ Cinema category that includes a broader collection of both popular and hard-to-find queer films. These titles allow audiences to view historical and contemporary subjects through a queer lens.
Kanopy is a unique streaming service that allows students and library patrons to stream thousands of high-quality films through their school or library. They offer a wide-ranging selection of streaming options including award-winning films, independent cinema, acclaimed documentaries, and more. Kanopy also offers various collections honoring Earth Day, Black History Month, international films, and curated PLUS packs.
Explore the Pride Month Collection or visit the expansive LGBTQ Cinema collection!
Current Affairs
The Current Affairs category includes documentaries that focus on issues that different parts of the LGBTQ community are experiencing today. This diverse collection covers a variety of topics. For instance, in Trans in Trumpland, the trans filmmaker Tony Zosherafatain travels across the country to examine how the Trump administration’s policies have affected the trans community firsthand. For lighter fare, the witty documentary Do I Sound Gay? (2014) questions what qualities make a voice sound “gay." The title features interviews with comedians and personalities like David Sedaris, George Takei, and Margaret Cho.
The Current Affairs category also features explorations of queer experiences around the world. The documentary Campaign of Hate (2014) educates viewers on the anti-gay legislation in Russia that has criminalized any public discussion of gay equality. There are also more positive depictions of international pride, like, Queer Japan (2019) which celebrates queer artists and activists' unique forms of expression in contemporary Japan. Any of these films would be an excellent way to spark discussion at your school or library.
LGBTQ Biographies
LGBTQ Biographies honors trailblazers in the queer community, from historic icons to contemporary innovators. I Am Divine heralds one of the first drag superstars. The film illustrates how the drag persona of Harris Glenn Milstead rose to fame through his collaboration with off-beat filmmaker, John Waters. Interviews and clips demonstrate the bold and completely innovative style of Divine.
Additionally, the documentary Loving Highsmith (2022) takes an unprecedented look at the life of lesbian author, Patricia Highsmith. She is the author of Carol, the first lesbian story with a happy ending to be published in 1950s America. The film examines Highmore’s unpublished work that reflects on her private life that she was forced to keep secret.
Modern biographies include films like Kelet (2020), which follows a Somali trans woman and her quest to become a top-level runway model. All of these films feature varying perspectives that will inspire viewers.
History
Films on the Pride Month history shelf examine various historical movements that have heightened awareness for the LGBTQ community. Before Homosexuals (2018) examines the undercurrent same-sex desire throughout numerous time periods. The film explores early forms of queer expression from different parts of the world, like lesbian love spells in ancient Rome and Native American two-spirit rituals.
Dykes, Camera, Action! (2018) studies the distinctive lesbian filmmaking movement made possible by Stonewall, second-wave feminism, and 1970s experimental cinema. This documentary showcases lesbian filmmakers and critics like Barbara Hammer and Jenni Olson and how they have transformed queer visibility through film.
Strike a Pose (2016) takes a look at the young male dancers who joined Madonna on her controversial Truth or Dare tour in 1990. The film revisits the men 25 years later as they reflect on being ambassadors for the LGBTQ community at the height of the AIDS epidemic. These three drastically different films exemplify the assorted social movements that library patrons can learn about or teachers can include in their classrooms through Kanopy’s Pride Collection.
LGBTQ Cinema
The LGBTQ Cinema selection on Kanopy features an assortment of films that are broken into several sections to help viewers find exactly what they are looking for.
The collection begins with the Most Popular and Recently Added titles. These films include modern classics like Shortbus and Portrait of a Lady On Fire, as well as films many viewers may not be familiar with, like the landmark The Watermelon Woman (1996). Filmmaker Cheryl Dunye plays a character that acts as a version of herself, blurring the distinction between documentary and narrative. Cheryl becomes obsessed with a 1930s black movie star, known only as the “Watermelon Woman” and sets out to learn more about this actress and create a documentary.
The collection also features films organized by genre, including comedies, romance, and drama films. One recommended title in the drama category is The World to Come. In this queer subversion of the classic Western genre, a grieving wife embarks on a romantic journey with her new neighbor against the backdrop of 1856 rural New York.
In addition to genre, there are other subcategories for patrons to explore, like World Cinema, Biopics, and From Book to Screen. Films in these subcategories include titles like Blue is the Warmest Colour, Vita & Virginia, A Single Man, and more. These films show intimate portrayals of LGBTQ+ relationships based on the work and lives of queer authors. The collection also features both Oscar Winners and Nominees and Award-Winning LGBTQ Cinema, including easy-to-watch classics like The Birdcage and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. These award-winning titles would be an excellent introduction to mainstream queer cinema. There is also a range of short films that would be ideal to show in classrooms or other Pride library programming events.
Kanopy's curated collection reminds us that LGBTQ history, stories, and voices deserve to be heard and shared — even beyond the confines of a single month.
By embracing these films and documentaries, we can continue to educate ourselves, uplift the LGBTQ community, and foster a welcoming world where diversity and acceptance thrive. Join us in honoring the past, embracing the present, and shaping a brighter future for all with Kanopy's Pride Month Collection and LGBTQ Cinema collection!
Libraries that don't yet have Kanopy can find out more and join at lib.kanopy.com. Kanopy is also home to a wide variety of films suitable for all patrons, students, and audiences.