It also doubles as a timeline of the evolution of queer horror: How LGBTQA themes and characters went from hiding between the lines in movies with “gay sensibilities” in the 1930s to breaking out as Pride memes almost a century later - going from invisible (lesbian ghosts!) to closeted (literally, in the case of Dorian Gray) to fabulously out (who wouldn’t have given in to Catherine Deneuve’s Miriam Blaylock?), before finally being allowed to exist as multidimensional characters onscreen.įrom the coded abominations of James Whale’s taboo-skirting films of the 1930s to the Pride reign of The Babadook, here’s our guide to queer horror cinema. Below is a beginner’s guide to the most essential queer horror of the past 90 years.
Horror films in particular have made for a fascinating case study in the evolving perceptions of queer presence queer-horror filmmakers and actors were often forced to lean into the trope of the “predatory queer” or the “monstrous queer” to claim some sense of power through visibility and blatant expressions of sexuality. In order to get queer stories onscreen, filmmakers had to find creative ways to subvert the system. In other words, for a long time, cinematic queers were pushed underground, relegated to existing only in subtext - and most often as villains. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin.” It was also codified that only “correct standards of life” should be presented,” and that “sex perversion or any inference to it is forbidden.” While homosexuality was not explicitly banned in the Hays’ text, it was mandated that “no picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it.
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Given that homosexuality was considered either a physical or psychological malady in the early 20th century, the code effectively legislated any limited queer presence out of existence. Written in 1930, but not implemented until four years later, this set of rules was generally intended to keep movies from “corrupting” the people who watched them. While we recognize there are many iconic films throughout the decades on the subject of homosexuality and bisexuality, we made a conscious choice in selecting films that end on somewhat positive notes.Photo: Sandrew Metronome Distribution/Miramax/Paramount Pictures/Getty Imagesįrom 1934 until 1967, Hollywood movies were shaped by the Production Code, otherwise known as the Hays Code. To celebrate Taiwan’s legalization of same-sex marriage and Pride Month, we made a list of the 10 best Asian LGBTQ films to celebrate and recognize stories of love.
Still, Taiwan’s legalization of same-sex marriage has brought forth a wave of relief and hope for many LGBTQ communities in Asia. However, in many Asian countries homosexuality is still criminalized - Brunei recently passed a law that would see individuals convicted of gay sex stoned to death. However they still cannot adopt non-biological children or have transnational marriages.Īcross Asia, Thailand is also close to passing a law that would allow same-sex unions.
Same-sex couples are allowed to adopt the biological children of their partner and are entitled to inheritance rights. Though a 2018 referendum led to voters rejecting same-sex marriage, the government unveiled a “permanent union” bill to sidestep the referendum vote. Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage on May 24th, 2019, after a landmark ruling from Taiwan’s constitutional court stating that prohibiting same-sex couples from becoming legally married is unconstitutional.