For this year’s LGBTQ+ History Month, we want to give you all the space and voice to express your thoughts on queer representation. At KCLSU, we always value your opinion, and we believe you should be at the forefront of the discussion of LGBTQ+ rights.
Books, movies, and popular media go a long way in this process: the way queer lives are portrayed on our larger and smaller screens plays a fundamental role towards inclusion and equality.
Art has the power to make you feel seen and appreciated: everyone deserves to have their feelings recognized and legitimized. This is why we have decided to ask you, and all students at King’s, to tell us about a film, poem, videogame, or any other kind of media that made you feel understood in your experience of queerness.
Julie, a third-year Chemistry student, told us about one of her favourite movies, And Then We Danced. This 2019 Georgian production sparked great controversy at the time: the director was inspired by the anti-homophobia rally protests in the country at the time, opposed by the Georgian Orthodox Church.
‘It’s a beautiful film aesthetically speaking, but I appreciated it more when I found out about why it was made’ said Julie. ‘It makes you think about how you can both love the traditions of your country and, at the same time, be critical of the negative consequences of a conservative culture.’ The movie is a constant dialogue with tradition, portraying the relationship of two male ballet dancers in the Georgian Ensemble. It received great critical acclaim internationally and became a turning point in the representation of homosexual relationships in the Georgian cultural climate.
Vicky, a Master’s student in International Management, told us about a videogame that changed her perspective on queer representation when she was younger. ‘I started playing Life is Strange when I was a teenager in high school, it came out in 2015.’ It was Vicky’s first introduction to a canonically bisexual character: ‘It was just unheard of at the time, to have an independent woman protagonist in WLW relationships’ she told us: ‘And it was also the first time I felt like a woman was not designed for the male gaze. It felt really liberating.’ This videogame has since then won multiple awards and added a sequel to its series. A great recommendation for a cozy gaming afternoon!
Lastly, we asked Luke and Manuel, who we met after their Psychology Monday class. Luke, who is passionate about Chinese cinema, gave us so many recommendations: ‘I got into Chinese movies when I was still very young, and there is definitely so much queer media in that respect.
I am thinking of Farewell my Concubine, about two lovers in Peking Opera. It’s a beautiful exploration of Chinese culture as well as of queer love. Also Happy Together, which is quite famous. I think these movies were so important to normalize queer relationships on the screen.’
Manuel told us about a British movie that he watched recently, and that completely struck him: ‘It’s called Weekend, and it’s about a gay relationship over the course of a weekend.’ He was particularly taken by the final message of the film: ‘I felt really represented because it’s so nuanced.
It touches on the real human need for deep connections, as well as the difficulties you can encounter as a queer man in LGBTQ+ spaces: you often feel alienated.’
We are so grateful that you guys shared your opinions with us! These examples are only some of many queer productions that can change our perspective on life, as well as be incredibly significant for their relevant cultural contexts.
This LGBTQ+ History Month, we have prepared so many events for you to engage in the discussion of LGBTQ+ rights and celebrate queer joy. From making queer badges to our long-awaited Pink Pony Club Night, make sure not to miss out on all KCLSU has to offer this February. Keep checking our Events page to see what we have in store for you!