6 Movies Every Gay Man Should Watch

I've been working with a baby gay on how to come to terms with his sexuality. He asked for a list of gay themed movies that would be good to watch. This list was generated by me and my best friend Philip. There are certainly other movies that probably belong on the list but these are the ones we came up with. In no particular order:

1) Latter Days

This is a romantic drama about the what happens when two worlds collide. Aaron, a closeted Mormon missionary gets put into a house next to openly gay partyboy Christian. Betting a coworker that he can land the quiet but adorable Aaron, Christian attempts to seduce him. The attempt backfires, with Aaron accusing him of being shallow. The two eventually fall for each other, with drastic consequences for them both.

This film examines how religion and guilt influence our lives as well as the superficial nature of much of gay culture. The film stars Steve Sandvoss, Wes Ramsey, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

2) To Wong foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar

This is one movie that you need to see to believe. Patric Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo are drag queens traveling cross country. Vida Bohem (Swayze) and Noxeema Jackson (Snipes) tie for first place in a New York drag queen pageant. Given round trip airfare to Hollywood for a national pageant, they trade their tickets for a convertable, taking a road trip in order to teach lessons to naive and inexperienced drag queen Chi-Chi Rodriguez (John Leguizamo). Their car ends up breaking down in a small town in the middle of the country. The three give the town hell and do it in heels, showing the sheltered natives what style and class are all about.

Now before any of you hate on these ladies, this is bigger than a movie about drag queens. It's a movie that shows what acceptance in small town America really means. They may be in heels but they walk the walk better than most straight-acting men. So if these guys can show some flair, so can you.

3) Funny Girl

This is the story of comedienne Fanny Brice (Barbra Streisand), from her days in the Jewish slums, to working as one of the Ziegfeld Follies. The movie begins with her awaiting the return of husband Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif) from prison, and then moves into an extended flashback focusing on their meeting and marriage. The movie follows the rise and falls of their carriers and marriage.

A reprise of her broadway hit, the musical is one of the best examples of Streisand's talent and vocal prowess. While not gay-themed per-say this one makes the list for shear raw energy and power.

4) Milk

Starring the amazing Sean Penn, this movie biopic on the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to public office. Milk was elected in San Francisco and was one of the loudest voices for gay rights. In a time when gay bars and clubs were being raided and any patrons arrested he rose up and showed the world what a gay man could do.

This movie shows the great strides that generations before have made so that we may express ourselves as individuals, regardless of sexual orientation. If we forget the mistakes of the past we are doomed to repeat them; so watch this movie and see the battles that were fought and won. Also starring James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, and Diego Luna

5) Angels In America

Okay it's really a miniseries but you should watch it anyway! Based on the play by Tony Kushner of the same name, the HBO miniseries is set in 1985 amidst the background of the AIDS epidemic sweeping the nation. It follows the lives of several people, straight and gay, as they struggle to come to terms with the world around them.

Starring Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson, Jeffrey Wright, and many many more. This movie is both history and fantasy but it shows the struggles the growth and growing pains of our country. One of the weirdest and most powerful movies I've seen in a long time.

6) Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Another movie featuring famous actors in drag. Two drag queens and a transexual travel across the Australian outback to perform a gig in the middle of the dessert. Including the talents of Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith from The Matrix) and Guy Pearce (Leonard Shelby from Momento). The crew travel in a tour bus they name "Priscilla" which accompanies them through their journey.

This movie has become a cult classic (though Hugo Weaving makes the ugliest drag queen I've ever seen). In much the same way as Too Wong Fu, this film deals with homophobic and transphobic ideals in places that might otherwise have never seen such flair and style.

Here are some other movies that are great but didn't make this list. Feel free to research your own and leave comments on other movies that should be on the list. (Much thanks to afterelton.com for many of these titles)

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