films with gay black main characters
Blackbird - (2014, dir. Patrick-Ian Polk) Drama adpatation of the novel by Larry Duplechan. It follows Randy, a devoutely Baptist gay teenager struggling with his sexuality and religion.
Moonlight - (2016, dir. Barry Jenkins) coming of age drama film telling the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami, told in three stages; his youth, adolescence, and early adult life. It explores his sexuality, identity, and the ramifications of the abuse he endured growing up. Janelle Monae made her film debut in this and it also became both the first film with an all black cast & the first lgbt film to win the oscar for best picture.
Naz & Maalik - (2015, dir. Jay Dockendorf) drama film following two closeted muslim teenage boys in Brooklyn during one summer afternoon as their secretive (read: closeted gay) behavior sets a FBI agent on their trail. After both boys give her two different excuses for their behavior, they worry about being outed to their families.
Noah’s Arc: Jumping the broom - (2008, dir. Patrick-Ian Polk) Comedy based off the tv series “Noah’s Arc” follows Noah and Wade as they invite their friends along for an insane weekend before they marry at Martha’s Vineyard.
Pariah - (2011, dir. Dee Rees) art drama film telling the story of Alike, a 17 year old black girl as she slowly but surely comes to terms with being a butch lesbian while her parents relationship is falling apart. As her mother begins to grow suspicious about her daughter’s sexuality, she forces Alike into feminine clothing and pushes her to make friends with a respectable young girl from her church.
Rafiki - (2018, dir. Wanuri Kahiu) Kenyan romantic drama film centering on two Kenyan lesbian teenagers, Ziki and Kena. It explores their blossoming love and friendship as they face poltical and familial pressure to follow a path of life they arent really suited for. The film has mostly been premiering in festivals and isnt available for streaming in the US/UK yet but once its out this is a very important, groundbreaking film that we all need to be supporting!
Set it Off - (1996, dir. F. Gary Gray) Crime action film about four close friends who decide to rob a bank for different reasons, but all with the goal to better life for themselves and the ones they love. The character Queen Latifah plays is a butch lesbian!
The Happy Sad - (2013, dir. Rodney Evans) Drama film following the lives of two very different couples in New York City. The first, two gay black men who’ve been together for awhile and decided to try to turn their relationship into an open one. The second, a het white couple who decide to take a break and end up experimenting with same-sex sexual encounters.
The Skinny - (2012, dir. Patrick-Ian Polk) Rom-com telling the story of five Brown University classmates as they reunite in NYC for gay pride weekend. Four are gay men, and one is a lesbian woman. Magnus is a medical student in a happy relationship with his boyfriend, Langston is a Yale PhD student, Sebastian just came back from a year in Paris, Kyle is uh…slutty, and Joey’s witty as hell.
The Wound - (2017, dir. John Trengove) Alternatively titled Inxeba, The Wound is a South African drama film following the secret relationship between two men during the Xhosa ritual of Ulwaluko, an initiation into manhood.
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