As June approaches, you might be scrambling to spice up your library’s Pride Month offerings. Look no further! I have a long history watching queer film, from my gay and lesbian roommates in college sharing their favorite flicks with me to my current career writing film course curriculum focused on sexuality in cinema, and I’m here to share a few movies I think don’t receive enough attention. A bunch of these might already be on your library shelves and just need to be highlighted this June.
Maurice (1987)
This period drama has the accolade of being the first feature film focused on a gay romance directed by a gay man. James Ivory’s adaptation of E.M. Forester’s novel of the same name shook the film world with its themes of devotion, betrayal, and societal bias. We watch as middle-class Maurice falls for upper-class Clive, but their societal positions create a wedge between them, leading them to different expressions of their sexuality. While it might be a bit dry for some audiences, the attention to period detail and a number of historic locations make Maurice a big draw for people who love dramas set in the Edwardian period.
Click here to get your copy of Maurice on DVD.
Bound (1996)
Now famous for works like The Matrix trilogy and Sense8, the Wachowskis made their directorial debut in 1996 with Bound. Corky is a construction contractor hired by a mob-connected ex-con who wants her to spruce up an apartment for his lover, Violet. From right under his nose, Corky steals Violet away, and they plan to fund their escape with his ill-gotten gains. As an example of 90s indie filmmaking and cinematography, you’d be hard pressed to find a better specimen, and as a lesbian romance, it is an absolute powerhouse of a film. Whether your viewers like edgy 90s crime flicks, scream queen Jennifer Tilly, or compelling butch/femme relationship dynamics, they’ll be completely captivated by Bound.
Click here to get your copy of Bound on DVD.
Grasshopper Film
Anhell69 (2022)
Somber and ethereal, Anhell69 might best be described as a wake for an unfinished film and a lost friend. Filming in Medellín, Colombia, writer and director Theo Montoya narrates as the community comes together to mourn 21-year-old Camilo Naja who died from an overdose. A former muse to Montoya, Camilo had starred in the director’s previous short, Son of Sodom (2020). Using footage from the strange vampire movie they had been working on, past footage from Son of Sodom, and documentary footage from others in the community who knew and loved Camilo, Montoya crafts a stunning narrative about the so-called “no-future” generation. While it’s certainly darker than some other films shown during Pride, it helps to highlight the struggles faced by queer communities in South America today and would be a valuable addition to Pride Month programming.
Click here to stream Anhell69 on Prime Video.
Gun Hill Road (2011)
This drama has gone underappreciated since its release. The film follows Enrique, a man just returning from prison, as he struggles to adapt to life on the outside and reconnect with his estranged family. The film itself is fairly typical, but where it stands out is the way it addresses the issues that come with the family’s daughter, Vanessa, transitioning. Harmony Santana would win an award for Best Supporting Actress in her role as Vanessa, making her the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a major acting award in the United States. As a powerful narrative about teenage transition and a piece of queer cinematic history, Gun Hill Road is a fantastic choice for Pride Month offerings.
Click here to stream Gun Hill Road on Prime Video.
Pou (2022)
Following a young woman named Anna Pohl, Pou (Or Peacock in English) is a deeply psychosexual story. A sort of Afrikaner play on The Handmaid’s Tale, this movie takes place in punitive isolation forced on a young woman who displayed lesbian attraction to another student while in school. After a period of “re-education,” Anna is given a special task: she is to care for the country’s enigmatic theocratic political party founder in his rural, barely electrified house. The enigmatic mystery Anna encounters leads her on a dark journey reckoning with South Africa’s apartheid history and the forced conversion therapy her country’s political regime put her through. Toward the film’s end is a charming and sensitive portrayal of a young trans woman discovering herself. Often cast aside as snooty film festival fodder, Pou delivers a dark and moody story that will appeal to both horror fans and lovers of queer drama.
Click here to stream Pou on Prime Video.
Asog (2023)
I’ve been unable to stop thinking about this film since first reviewing it in 2025. Asog has so much style and attitude that will present massive appeal to people most excited about the coming Pride parades. Rey “Jaya” Aclao plays a fictionalized version of herself, blending documentary and fantasy into a unique film about family, community, and self-acceptance. She and a former student of hers make their way across the string of islands that make up the Philippines, he to get away from an abusive household and she to make enough money at a drag competition to win back the man she loves. This fantastic title hasn’t received enough attention, but you can help fix that by featuring it this Pride Month in your library.
Click here to stream Asog on Prime Video.
Pariah (2011)
Many critics in recent years have described Pariah as “criminally underviewed.” In their 2020 retrospective, Rotten Tomatoes calls Pariah " a powerful coming out/coming-of-age film that signals the arrival of a fresh new talent in writer/director Dee Rees." There’s not a better way to put it, I’d say. Oduye plays 17-year-old Alike who struggles through what a lot of young queer people go through: identity crisis, rejection, and unrequited love. You probably haven’t thought about this movie since it was winning awards over a decade ago, but it’s high time it got some continued recognition.
Click here to buy your copy of Pariah on DVD.
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