top of page
EIwebsitegradientLGBTQIA+.png

Top 5 from our top 5

Ash

Ash

VCE Student, writer and youtuber
She/they, Non-binary, pansexual, autistic
What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ films?

I know Cockblockers may only feature a lesbian and may not be seen as a film for queer love, however, I watch it mainly for Sam who is supported for what she loves. If you watch the movie from her perspective, you will understand the struggles she goes through and the expectations that make her feel better. By the end of the film, it will help you realise how if you actually speak openly about yourself, it won’t be as scary as you would have thought.

What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ tv shows?

Anna Whateley’s ‘Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal'.

This book is about Peta Lyre and the majority of it is her searching for herself and her love life. When she meets Sam, she discovers her love and falls for Sam. I really enjoyed this book as the main protagonist, Peta, is not only queer but also autistic. If you read this book, you will fall for the love of Sam and Peta and you will connect with Peta in your own way.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

It was only just a couple of months after my last break up when I was 16. There was a girl who I was becoming really close friends with. One Valentine's day I couldn’t keep my emotions for her anymore and so I wrote her a Valentine’s card. Even though we have broken up, I still think I might have feelings for her but I think she hates me for breaking up her heart.

James

James

 
Introduce yourself!

I am a 54 year old human and am a week away from my 4th birthday with the right lyric, at long last.

My pronouns are He/Him/Your Excellency - the latter one is saved for eejits like the last three Prime Ministers, whom I have sadly had to meet (and be polite to) as part of my career as a Commonwealth Public Servant.

 
What do you do?

I'm retired now, so I "do" lots of great fun stuff - I am a part time (voluntary) ambassador for The Black Dog Institute and The Blood Bank (now called Life Blood); I am a gardener, a singer, a potter, and best of all, a good friend who has time to make cups of tea for people who need someone to chat to.  

What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ recommendations?

Hmm.  A bit mixed here, but I recommend Sex Education (British TV series) because it shows lots of people learning that love can be for everyone and the more ourselves we actually are, the more love we have for ourselves and everyone around us.
 

The best podcast is Come Out Wherever You Are, because there are so many stories showing just how marvellous we humans are when we are ourselves.

 

I can't choose the best books... I'm reading as many autobiographies of transfolk as I can - I'm only 4 years old and have a lot of life to squeeze into whatever number of years I have left! 

What is your fondest childhood memory?

Sorry, my human childhood wasn't so brilliant, but my New Boy childhood this time around is proving to be brilliant!  

What is your fondest memory of being apart of the LGBTIQA+ community?

Every minute of all fourteen Mardi Gras marches.  In particular, my first MardiGras with my name legally James, where one of my friends made me.a shirt tbat said "Hi, my name is James" and as I marched along Oxford Street the crowd shouted "We Love James" in a big chant, and it was unbelievably Brilliant.

Describe your LGBTIQA+ community in 5 words.

Joy-filled, colour-filled,  embracing, aggressively adorable, loving.
 

Megan

Meagan

Introduce yourself!

My name is Meagan Stearn, and I’m just another queer living in Melbourne. I’m also an ADHDer studying Auslan because I believe that accessibility is an everyone problem, and shouldn’t be left to the minority to fix. Representation, in my opinion, goes hand in hand with accessibility, so queer media is something that I really enjoy, whether that's tv shows, movies, books, and especially video games. But here are my (current) top 5 lists., because I know none of us have enough time to watch all of them in the main lists.

What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ films?

“Boy Meets Girl”

Having a trans actress play a trans character is, unfortunately, still a big deal, but this film does that. It feels genuine in a way that something like “The Danish Girl” doesn’t. Her struggles are never invalidated, and it captures other people’s struggles with her gender without being problematic.

 

“But I’m a Cheerleader”

Classic film in the queer community, nearly all of us have seen this. It captures the absurdity of gender roles and how they are used to identify gay people. 

 

“Girltrash, All Night Long”

One of those terrible movies that you just love to bits. It doesn’t actually go into what it’s like to be gay at all, it just shows people who are. Fun, quirky, and isn’t heavy on the deep themes.

 

“The Intervention”

The lesbian couple in this are played by the same people who are the main lesbian couple in “But I’m a Cheerleader,” making us all flock to this film. We follow our ships hard. This is one of those movies that just has a queer couple there as part of a bigger group, making them normal. We always have coming out stories, teens figuring out their sexuality, and all those stories are great. But we do get to a point where we don’t want to be seen as other all the time, and this movie does a great job of  not doing that.

 

“Imagine Me and You”

Classic British rom com. Except with lesbians. Love triangle where the girl needs to make a choice. Slightly more complicated with the addition of having to come out as well, but it's the kind of movie we all wanted; a movie that the straight community got thousands of.

What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ tv shows?

“The Dragon Prince”

Made by the same people responsible for Avatar the Last Airbender (the animated show, not the atrocious movie). Many queer characters, as parents, military leaders, and just regular folk. Also has the AMAZING addition of having a Deaf character who gets all of their signing correctly animated.

 

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”

Probably something that most people have seen, but it’s still going on my list. Rosa Diaz is a bi-con, and her struggle on screen felt super real. It didn’t just tackle her queerness, but also her bi erasure, which is something almost every bi person experiences.

 

“Wynonna Earp”

Look, I’m not going to lie, this gets massive points for everyone being so stupidly attractive. Gay, straight, who cares, there is something for everyone here. Besides that though, I’m big into supernatural horror and strong women characters, and this has both.

 

“Sense8”

I honestly don’t know how to explain this TV show. All I can say is that it was written by the same people who wrote The Matrix (who have come out as trans between then and now), so that should hopefully give you a rough idea of what this show feels like. If you like Sci-Fi, give it a watch.

 

“Sex Education” and “Atypical”

I couldn’t decide who should get the last spot, so they are sharing it. Sex Education dives really deep on some heavy themes that all teenagers go through, and some that are exclusive to queer kids. It doesn’t really pull its punches either, so get ready for some hard core feels. Atypical, while focusing on the main straight character, does go into some queer themes with queer characters. The general vibe from the show is about being more accepting of people and their struggles, so it handles them well.

James 2
Sara

James

Bi, He/Him
Introduce yourself!

Parent, Consultant, Nerd, Beach lover, Home owner, Team leader

What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ films?

Rocky Horror Picture Show  - A sexual musical Sci-Fi adventure.

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women - The story of psychologist William Marston, and his polyamorous relationship with his wife and their mistress who would inspire his creation of the superheroine, Wonder Woman.

 

De-Lovely - Bio-pic about the life of Cole Porter

My Own Private Idaho - Love, relationships and self-discovery

What about LGBTIQA+ tv shows?

Star Trek Discovery - The latest installment of the Trek universe are more diverse, inclusive and open minded than ever before.

Sense-8 - A group of physically linked strangers around the world trying to survive their gift and growing to love and respect each other and themselves in the process.

Torchwood - A spin off from Doctor Who, the hero is a gay immortal.

Skins - The confusing relationships between school friends and their inner and outer circles.

Sex Education - A teenage boy with a sex-therapist mother learns he knows nothing about sex by helping others learn about sex

Do you have any other LGBTIQA+ recommendations?

Podcasts:

- Normalizing Non-Manogamy

- Multiamory

- Amory

- Making polyamory work
- OK 2 B LGBT

- Bisexual Brunch

They tend to avoid the kink (mostly) and go with the reality of it all.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

Being taken to the Soviet Space exhibit at the museum of Victoria with my grandparents, and being handed a cosmonaut pin by a visiting Russian scientist speaking at the exhibit. Cementing my love of science, space and all things nerdy!

What is your fondest memory of being apart of the LGBTIQA+ community?

I first realised that I could have emotional attachments to people of both sexes pretty late in life. I always knew the physical attraction was there from a very young age, but assumed it was just that… physical, because, you know - it’s nice. Turns out it can be very much deeper with the right person.

Describe your LGBTIQA+ community in 5 words.

Open minded, accepting, supportive, loving, all spectrums.

Sara

they/them
👦🏻 Mum to AJ. ♿️ Wheelchair and Stroke Warrior Advocate and past Disability Support Worker. Pansexual.

What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ movies?

The Danish Girl (2015)

For older teens to adults. A truly beautiful movie. Heartbreaking but beautiful. It’s based on real life events about the first transition. Someone had to be the first and here is her story.

Rent (2005)

For mid teens to adults. I love Rent! I love a good musical! This movie is just about life and all it’s glory and mess.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

For adults as it’s rated R. Another biographical movie set in the 1980’s when HIV/AIDS had just broken out. I think it’s so important we have these movies recorded for future generations. The lengths they had to go to, to receive the medication that made a difference. I may have a movie crush on Matthew McConaughey but you gotta watch this. AIDS affected straight people too and this story tells this and his attitude towards Queer people changes.

 

Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

This is another one that is told from true life events and it has been 20 years since I watched it. It’s been 20 years because it’s real, visceral and gritty. It’s the story of Brandon Teena. With the climate in the States this could happen.

 

Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

I think all ages have watched this! I would let my boy watch it at about 10-12. This is fun and it has received a cult following over the years.

What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ tv shows?

Heartbreak High (2023- )

I was pleasantly surprised by this treasure. Not only did they face teenage drama but there was two gay couples! One who is autistic putting her accurately in the gay box. There was also a gay asexual teen and the boys manage that. I can’t wait for series 2 and see how they manage life and see how their characters develop. As the title describes this is for teenagers possibly older teenagers.

Sense 8 (2015-2018)

For older teens/adults. this had a Trans Woman and a Woman partnership in it. I LOVED their relationship because it was just so normal. It’s been a while since I watched it but it takes a fair bit of concentration.

The 100 (2014-2020)

For young teens to young adults. I really like the way they showed a lead female character not settle down with someone after she lost her female love-person.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2020)

For young teens - adults. This is a comedy, figured I needed some light stuff in here. I just love Titus who shares an “apartment” with Kimmy. It’s a rather small apartment. Titus and his escapades are hilarious and Kimmy gets herself into all sorts of strife.

Orange is the New Black (2013-2019) 

For late teens - adults. This drama is exactly that, a drama with some comedy thrown in for kicks. Don’t go showing this to your kids to scare them, you won’t. It is great at the character development, the storytelling and the laughs. One of many favourites!

What are your top 5 LGBTIQA+ literature recommendations?

Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer.

Sweet little children's book that I read to my son. It’s not overtly discussing the Queerness but the pictures show all types of families.

My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart.

This is a fantastic little book because it doesn’t box us in. Which is what we all want isn’t it?

Under My Love Umbrella by Davina Bell.

I love this one for so many reasons. It’s about loving the kids in every situation.

It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn.

It by Stephen King

Now just hear me out. I was wracking my broken brain for book titles that were more age appropriate. Most of mine are picture books and there’s nothing wrong with that. I have a brain injury and I’m sloooooowly working on It. I am determined to read like I used to. So I found it, It! The LGBTQIA+ community is represented. Near the start of the the book he’s one of many that is taken and murdered. Stephen King is a straight man writing a gay character. He was also writing in the 1980’s so the treatment of the gay man was somewhat ‘normal’. When being questioned in the police station, I found the character endearing and the Police Officer a boorish old man. He was a bully. It was a small part the LGBTQIA+ played, but I thought a significant one.

bottom of page