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Best LGBTQ+ Movies on Hulu
Are you always wondering what to watch right now? These are some of the best LGBTQ+ movies streaming on Hulu right now and for good reason. They range from LGBTQ historical settings to romance to LGBTQ+ documentaries.
If you're looking for more movies, check out what's playing on Netflix, Revry, Here TV, and Amazon Prime.
Happiest Season
hulu Original movie Happiest Season
Photo courtesy of Hulu
Abby has dated Harper for nearly a year when Harper invites Abby to her family’s home for Christmas, and Abby happily accepts taking it as the perfect opportunity to introduce herself to Harper’s parents and propose to her. Except that Harper is not out to her family yet, and begs Abby to play along, pretending they are just roommates. This movie is a great queer take on the holiday trope, it’s heartwarming and a happy ending like this one on a lesbian movie was overdue. It is directed by lesbian director Clea DuVall.
Duration: 102 minutes.
Year: 2020
Country: US
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The Miseducation of Cameron Post
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
Photo courtesy of Hulu
Cameron is caught with her secret girlfriend at homecoming in 1993 and is sent by her aunt to God’s Promise conversion therapy center. She becomes friends with Jane Fonda and Adam Red Eagle, two “disciples” who, like her, do not believe in the center’s message. But conversion therapy affects everyone differently, and it’s not easy for Cameron to adapt to her new reality. This movie is based on the great 2012 novel by Emily M. Danforth of the same name, and it is directed by bisexual director Desiree Akhavan. It is intense, dramatic, and emotional.
Duration: 90 minutes.
Year: 2018
Country: US
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Saving Face
Saving Face on Hulu
Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Wil is a young surgeon of Chinese descent living in New York; her mother, Gao, keeps playing match-maker at every party, trying to get her daughter the desirable son of one of her friends. It is at one of those parties that Wil meets Vivian, a professional dancer whose mother has gotten divorced and is pitied by the community and whose father is Wil’s boss at the hospital. As Wil and Vivian start dating, in secret since Wil’s closeted to her family, Wil’s mum moves in with her daughter, having been kicked out of her own father’s house for being pregnant at 48, and not married.
This movie is a great tool for challenging Chinese stereotypes, and a great love story with a happy ending. It was Alice Wu’s first movie as a director, and she has fought hard to have it bilingual, casting actors and actresses who are Asian and could speak both Mandarin and English.
Duration: 91 minutes.
Year: 2004
Country: US
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Portrait of a Lady On Fire
Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Marianne is a painter in the eighteenth century who is called to a remote island in Brittany to paint a portrait of Héloïse, a woman in an arranged marriage to a Milanese nobleman who was promised to her sister. Héloïse had previously refused to be painted, as she did not want to get married, so Marianne pretends she is there to accompany her on walks, memorizing her features and painting her in secret but soon enough their bond changes.
This movie is passionate, dramatic, and sensual. It is directed by Céline Sciamma and has won the 2019 Queer Palm in Cannes.
Duration: 120 minutes.
Year: 2019
Country: France
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The World to Come
Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Abigail lives on a farm with her husband, far from anyone else. She has recently buried her child, four-year-old Nellie, and is grieving when she sees Tallie, the wife of their neighbor. The two women start spending their time together, with Tallie visiting Abigail almost every day and helping her with her duties. Their relationship blossoms into a romance, with the two women finding relief from their solitude in each other’s company, until Tallie’s controlling husband gets in their way.
This movie is set in the late nineteenth century in the state of New York; it is historical, emotional, romantic yet sad, and tense. It is directed by Mona Fastvold and has won the Queer Lion at the 77thVenice Film Festival for best LGBTQ-themed film.
Duration: 98 minutes
Year: 2020
Country: US
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Flee
Flee by Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Photo courtesy of Hulu
Amin is being interviewed by a long-time friend, director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, who is making a documentary about Amin’s life, from fleeing Afghanistan to being a refugee in Denmark. Amin has not told the details of his story to anyone yet, including his fiancé Kasper. Amin then goes on to explore his trauma.
This movie is an adult animated documentary, truly directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, telling the story of a man under the alias of Amin Nawabi. It has won many awards, and it was nominated three times for an Academy Award.
Duration: 90 minutes.
Year: 2021
Country: Denmark
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God’s Own Country
God's Own Country
Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Johnny lives on a farm in Yorkshire with his father and grandmother. The keeping of the farm mainly falls on his shoulders, as his father has suffered a stroke; during his free time, Johnny likes to drink and engage in unattached sexual intercourse with other men. During lambing season, he hires Gheorghe, a Romanian migrant worker, as extra help. As they start spending more time together, Johnny lets go of the austerity he has always been used to.
This movie is inspiring, hopeful, and a bit tense; it was directed by Francis Lee and has won many awards, including the World Cinema Directing Award at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Duration: 106 minutes
Year: 2017
Country: UK
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Supernova
supernova
Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Sam and Tusker have been together for twenty years when they decide to take a trip across England to visit some friends and family. Tusker has been diagnosed with early dementia and is writing a book that he refuses to show to Sam. During the trip, Sam finds out that Tusker has been having trouble writing: the decline of his illness might not be the only thing his partner has been hiding. The movie is romantic, contemporary, and a bit sad; it features Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as main actors and it is directed by Harry Macqueen.
Duration: 93 minutes
Year: 2020
Country: UK
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Crush
Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Paige is an artist who is about to get into the art college of her dreams, when KingPun, a graffiti artist, starts smearing the school and frames her; being accused of tagging, Paige is almost suspended. She cuts herself a plea deal: she will join the track team in order to avoid suspension until she finds out who KingPun really is. Track team co-captains are twin sisters Gabby, for whom Paige has had a crush since elementary school, and AJ. Soon Paige will discover that her feelings have been orbiting around a different person, and her first love will come as easily as the inspiration she was looking for.
This movie is a great high school drama picture, in a school where everyone says gay and is full of queer characters. It is heartwarming and silly and important in a time when lots of queer kids cannot be themselves in their own realities. It is directed by Sammi Cohen, and the writers and main actresses all identify as queer.
Duration: 92 minutes
Year: 2022
Country: US
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Grandma
Grandma
Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Elle is a lesbian poet and a widow, a self-described misanthrope, who gets a visit from her granddaughter Sage asking her for help to come up with $630 by that afternoon to get an abortion. They get on a road trip across Los Angeles to collect the money from people who own them a favor. This movie is lighthearted and feminist. It is directed by Paul Weitz and features Lily Tomlin.
Duration: 79 minutes.
Year: 2015
Country: US
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Booksmart
booksmart
Photo courtesy of Hulu.
Amy and Molly are best friends, they are very smart and they are not popular among their peers. On their last day of high school, they decide to break all of the rules and enjoy their time as teenagers, so they head to Nick’s house party, where they both try different things for the first time, and hope to have a chance with their crushes, Amy’s a girl named Ryan and Molly’s Nick himself. It was directed by Olivia Wilde, and it was her first directed movie.
Duration: 105 minutes.
Year: 2019
Country: US
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Trixie Mattel and Kim Chi Makeup Collaboration
If you haven't heard of Kim Chi, she is the first Korean-American on RuPaul's Drag Race and was named one of the most powerful drag queens in America. Kim Chi was runner-up on Season 8 of RuPaul's Drag RaceRuPaul's Drag Race and was sent home by Bob The Drag Queen later in the season. Well, since then, she's been quite busy. She started her own makeup line and has been making appearances all over the place. Now, she's teamed up with none other than Trixie Mattel to do a limited edition makeup collaboration.
We got in a little chat with Kim Chi where she talks about life, love, the runway...nah, just kidding. She did take some time out to answer a few questions for us on what it was like being on RPDR, what one product she can't live without, and so much more.
All of the products are cruelty-free and 2% of all sales to The Trevor Project. If you haven't checked out Kim Chi's beauty line, you should, the KimChi Chic Beauty line is stocked with a ton of makeup products and that bowtie is pretty cute too.
Q: What brought you to the decision to start a makeup line?
WTHighlight Double Diamonds makeup
Photo courtesy of KimChi Chic Beauty
A: The options were very limited for good affordalbe makeup, so it was important to me to create quality makeup that every makeup lover could enjoy.
Q: What does the collaboration between you and Trixie Mattel look like?
A: Putrid. Pungent. Audacious. It is a perfect representation of both Trixie and my style!
Q: Where and how did the two of you meet and subsequently become BFFs?
A: She stalked me on Facebook and forced me to book her in Chicago. Haven’t been able to get away from her since!
Q: What makeup product can you NOT live without?
A: Definitely eyeliner. The KimChi Chic Beauty Stage Proof Liquid Liner and The Effin Liner never leaves my makeup kit.
Q: Can you give us some makeup tips?
A: Don’t be afraid to experiment. It's okay to wipe away mistakes and start over if needed.
Q: How has appearing on RuPaul shaped your lives, career, and outlook?
A: It has made me the 17th most powerful drag queen in the world according to some list by a famous publication. Kidding again! It gave me this really amazing platform to live out my wildest dreams, connect with people all around the world, and hopefully inspire others like myself. It showed me the importance of holding on to your passions and living life authentically.
Q: What are your top 3 charities to support?
A: Seniors Fight Back, The Trevor Project, Elton John Aids Foundation
Q: What 2 things would you say to an aspiring drag queen?
A: Success doesn't happen overnight, be patient and prepare to spend a lot of money!
Q: How big of a difference is it between your drag queen persona and non-drag queen persona? Or is there? Do you sometimes forget when you’re “on” or “off”?
A: It depends on whether I’m wearing a wig or not. Kim is a little louder, snarkier, and outgoing than Sang.
Q: What’s next? You have the appearances, the collaboration, the friendship…What is on the horizon?
A: Lots of touring, more KimChi Chic Beauty launches, and one day...hopefully, retirement!
Q: What would you be doing if you weren't a drag queen performer and makeup entrepreneur?
A: Before doing drag I was an art director, so probably something similar relating to fashion design, art, or something similar.
KimChi Chic Beauty
KimChi Chic Beauty and Trixie Mattel Makeup Line
Photo courtesy of KimChi Chic Beauty
You can see the limited edition Trixie x Kim Chi Collab BFF4EVR on KimChi's Chic Beauty site. It's a fun and whimsical product line. The limited edition includes 5 different products with various shades and colors to choose from as well as a KimChi and Trixie Girl Fan or purchase the entire line in one bundle.
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Rumble Boxing Gulch, Nashville
Rumble Boxing, the boxing-inspired group fitness studio, opened its doors for the first time in Nashville on June 20 at 609 Overton St, Nashville, TN. The hottest workout on the block is hosting its official grand opening from August 4th-7th with daily classes, membership specials, and prizes from local vendors. The new Rumble Boxing studio is currently offering a buy one class, get one free promotion for the Nashville community.
Rumble Boxing delivers 45-minute, 10-round, strength and conditioning group workouts, crafted around teardrop-style aqua boxing bags and high-intensity strength training circuits. This brings all fitness levels together to experience what Rumble is known for: combining the sweet science of boxing with high energy and positive vibes.
Boutique Fitness
Rumble Boxing Fitness Studio
Photo courtesy of Rumble Boxing Gulch Nashville
This boutique fitness brand offers serious benefits like increased stamina and strength, with cardio that’s actually fun. The seasoned trainers at the new studio are thrilled to serve their local community while offering this fun, new modern approach to boxing and welcome members of all fitness levels to the Rumble family.
The new Rumble Boxing studio is owned and operated by Blake Baskin and Antonio Compton. With their background in the fitness industry, this dynamic duo is excited to bring their passion for boxing and group fitness to Nashville. As business and life partners, Blake and Antonio aim to create a strong community within their new Rumble Boxing studio and share their message of non-apologetic inclusivity.
Black and Gay-Owned Business
Rumble Boxing Store with Dolly Parton Mural
Photo courtesy of Rumble Boxing Gulch Nashville
“We own who we are, and this brand aligns with that perfectly,” said Antonio. “This is what we want to create and bring to this community: a fitness class that is designed for anyone and a place for people to be who they are. As a Black and gay-owned business, we want to help lower the division we see in the world right now. Our goal is to bring people together through Rumble, set everything aside, and have fun.”
To echo their message of acceptance and inclusion, Blake and Antonio commissioned a local Nashville artist to paint an 11 X 6-ft. mural of Nashville icon and philanthropist, Dolly Parton. The massive portrait features the country star in Rumble Boxing gear in the lobby of the studio.
The excitement and buzz around Rumble allowed Blake and Antonio to recruit top-tier trainers to head up the new studio, including Head Trainer Oronde Jones, a well-known celebrity trainer in the Nashville market.
Rumble Boxing Fitness Studio
Photo courtesy of Rumble Boxing Gulch Nashville
“Compared to other fitness classes, Rumble is a class you can truly get lost in for 45 minutes. With the dark room, you don’t have to worry if anyone is paying attention to you. The music is awesome and inspiring, and the beat drops right when you need it the most. Also, with boxing being a sport you can never truly master, you’re always improving and crafting your skill. On the floor, you’re consistently doing something new, which prevents you from ever hitting a plateau.” Said Oronde Jones about his favorite part of Rumble.
Rumble has massive brand loyalty and widespread appeal, partly thanks to attracting top names like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Jason Derulo, David Beckham, and Kevin Hart to its studios.
About Rumble Boxing
Founded in New York City in 2017, Rumble is a group fitness concept delivering a mix (or combination) of boxing-inspired circuits and the transformative power of resistance training. Pro and amateur fighters glove up together, no matter their fitness level or skill, to reveal their inner fighter. The experience is a 45-minute, 10-round, full-body cardio and strength workout crafted around specially designed water-filled, teardrop-style boxing bags. Rumble was founded by Noah Neiman (former Barry’s Bootcamp Master Trainer, and cast member of Bravo’s Work Out New York), Eugene Remm (Co-Founder of Catch Hospitality Group (Catch Restaurants, CATCH STEAK, Lexington Brass), Andy Stenzler (Co-Founder Cosí, Kidville), and Anthony DiMarco (13-time IRONMAN, former Managing Director, Google).
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Mjolnir
Like many of the recent Marvel Cinematic Universe films, LGBTQ+ fans awaited the release of Thor: Love and Thunder in open anticipation of the inclusivity that both Marvel and Disney had promised. However, the fans were only setting themselves up for disappointment when the film was finally released.
Despite passionate assurances from studio heads to key actors, Thor: Love and Thunder was NOT spectacularly gay. It wasn’t even that good…Premiere Night Promises
Lightning bold across the sky
Photo by Bill D.
Standing on the red carpet at the London Premiere of the film, director and actor Taika Waititi and fellow cast members Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson were offered up the inevitable question: “How gay is the film?”
Amidst some laughter from the crowds, Waititi gestured towards Portman to respond. The actress (who plays Thor’s love interest, Jane Foster, throughout the franchise) raised the microphone to her lips and thought for a moment, before delivering a quiet yet fateful: “So gay!”
Barely a moment had passed before the gathered fans went wild and Taika Waititi gave his own verdict: “Super gay!”. Tessa Thompson made no statement on the ‘gayness’ of the film, instead opting to swing her microphone around suggestively. As more cheers erupted, a second round of “super gay” slipped out of Waititi’s mouth, before he urged the fans to enjoy the film.Thor: Love and Thunder’s LGBTQ+ Potential
Thor’s movie-goers were definitely hyped up for a gay extravaganza and they had a specific character in mind. The fan-favorite Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson, stumbled her way into the MCU during Thor’s third film, Ragnarok. The Asgardian warrior won many people over with her wit, sarcasm, and pure badassery.
After the events of Avengers: Endgame *spoilers*, Thor Odinson gives up his claim to the throne of Asgard and names Valkyrie as king in his stead. This left many fans excited to see what would become of the character, especially after certain revelations were made at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con:
“As a new king, she has to find her queen. So that’ll be her first order of business.”
With these words, Tessa Thompson threw her LGBTQ+ fans into a frenzy, with heavy expectations for the then-upcoming fourth installment of the Thor films. Indeed, in an interview with the LA Times, shortly before the film's release, Tessa Thompson was asked to comment on the sexuality of her character. She responded with several promising remarks, including “there’s a lot of folks that are righteously very hungry for that representation to exist in these movies, as am I”.
*Warning: spoilers ahead!*
So, How Gay Was Thor 4?
To put it simply: not gay at all. Not only did Valkyrie end up without a fabulous new queen, her non-heteronormative sexuality only got the barest mention (a brief line about a previous, now dead, girlfriend). Valkyrie may have made bedroom eyes at some pretty ladies before an action scene spoils the moment, but that’s about as much as we get.
The film does get some credit for introducing a trans character in a minor yet significant role. Thor returns to his people (after a brief stint as a Guardian of the Galaxy) only to find out that the daughter of one of his closest (and deceased) friends is now a boy. The issue is, whether due to personal prejudice or some alien inability to grasp the concept of being transgender, it does take Thor a frustrating few moments to come to terms with the change. And to stop deadnaming.
In fact, the only concession to the queer community was Taika Waititi’s extraterrestrial character Korg finding a husband in one of the closing scenes. This heartfelt moment was somewhat underscored by the revelation that Korg’s entire species is male, meaning he had no other choice but to be ‘gay’.This Is Not Marvel’s First Queerbaiting Attempt
Photo by Harry Q.
This is, by far, not the first time that LGBTQ+ fans have been sorely disappointed by the workings of Marvel and Disney. In fact, people across many social media platforms have been chiding expectant viewers for once again falling for classic queerbaiting tactics. “Being queerbaited by the MCU is like being a golden retriever with a human who always pretends to throw the ball”, one Tumblr user declared.
Captain Marvel, starring Brie Larson, was the perfect moment for the MCU to introduce its first lesbian lead. Larson’s character seemed to have an intense relationship with another woman, going so far as to help raise her child (before Larson’s Carol Danvers disappeared from Earth for 6 years). Despite leaning into several romantic tropes, the status of their relationship was never fully fleshed out. However, it was also the franchise’s first female-led superhero movie, so maybe they thought that introducing her as a lesbian would make the film too awesome.
The heavily anticipated Avengers: Endgame was also slated to introduce the MCU’s ‘first gay character'. While many fans were excited, particularly as this would be the second of Larson’s appearances on screen, the big gay build-up was a massive letdown. The film’s director Joe Russo made a cameo as a blip survivor mourning the loss of his husband. A five-second throw-away scene that had no impact on the outcome of the film. Big whoop...
Even when we did see a film with a gay lead, The Eternals, there were also ten other straight leads. At that point, it just seemed more like basic probability than an attempt at pushing LGBT+ superheroes into the spotlight.
Why Can’t Disney Let Marvel Be Gay?
The big problem with allowing a few characters to be anything other than cishet is that there are still many countries in the world that outlaw homosexuality. As much as we like to think that the MCU is being made for comic book fans, we all know the purpose of the films is to make money for Disney. And without certain markets in Asia and the Middle East, Disney wouldn’t be raking in up to (and over) one billion dollars per theatrical release.
Is There Any Hope For LGBTQ+ Fans In The MCU’s Future?
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the second in the much-loved Black Panther arc, will be released in cinemas this November. The studio has confirmed that the film will contain a queer character. Actress Michaela Coel will play Aneka, a warrior, and trainer of the king’s guard. Whether or not her diversity will stand out in the film (let alone endure for more than a 10-second scene that can be easily cut) remains to be seen.
Next year’s The Marvels film, starring Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Lashana Lynch may offer the MCU a chance to redeem itself in the eyes of its LGBT+ fans. The studios may feel it’s finally time to offer us the heartwarming lesbian relationship between Larson’s Carol Danvers and Lynch’s Maria Rambeau that seemed to be teased in the first Captain Marvel. Don’t raise your hopes too high, though, as you may yet end up as a stubborn golden retriever waiting for a cinematic universe to finally throw that rainbow ball.