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Pride Month 2023

IT’S FINALLY PRIDE MONTH! In celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and progress, we are thrilled to honor Gregg Araki, a true icon of queer cinema. Araki’s groundbreaking films fearlessly explored queer narratives, challenging societal norms and amplifying marginalized voices. Join us as we delve into his inspiring body of work and discover the lasting impact he has made on the world of cinema. We’VE also curated a list of local Pride events happening in and around Los Angeles, so you can fully embrace the joy and spirit of Pride Month. Let’s come together to celebrate love, diversity, and the journey towards acceptance!

"Thirty years ago, queer filmmaker Gregg Araki unveiled his fourth feature, Totally F***ed Up, at the Sundance Film Festival.

Rebellious, independent, and fearlessly queer, Araki’s radical spin on the coming-of-age genre would later be recognized as the first of his “Teenage Apocalypse” trilogy, which also included the dark road-trip romance The Doom Generation (’95) and sci-fi-twinged black comedy Nowhere (’97).

Nearly three decades on, one might expect these films to feel tame in retrospect, that maybe they—like many thirty-somethings—have lost some of their edge.

But that’s the thing about Araki: No matter how much the world changes (or does’t), his oeuvre is always on the bleeding edge—sexy, funny, shocking, punk, and unabashedly queer.

Timelessly transgressive, Araki is, without a doubt, one of the most important directors to come out of the ’90s, whose influential work will surely continue to inspire the independent filmmaking landscape for another 30 years, at least!"

- Queer Punk Cinema for Queerty, May 31 2023
Click Here to Read the Full Article on Queerty

Totally F***ed Up (1993)

Six queer teenagers struggle to get along with each other and with life in the face of varying obstacles.
Where To Watch

The Doom Generation (1995)

Jordan White and Amy Blue, two troubled teens, pick up an adolescent drifter, Xavier Red. Together, the threesome embark on a sex-and-violence-filled journey through an America of psychos and quickie marts.
Where To Watch

Nowhere (1997)

Follows a day in the lives of a group of Los Angeles high school students and the strange lives they lead.
Where To Watch
"THE RESURGANCE OF GREGG ARAKI'S TEEN APOCALYPSE TRILOGY IN THE COVID-19 ERA"
- KAMIKAZE JONES FOR WUSSY
Click Here to Read the Full Article on Wussy
"Gregg Araki’s 1997 Cult Film ‘Nowhere’ Gets 4K Restoration (EXCLUSIVE)"
- Sophia Scorziello for Variety
Click Here to Read the Full Article on Variety

WHERE TO WATCH
WHERE TO WATCH
WHERE TO WATCH

The LAFS Library proudly stands as an ally with the LGBTQ+ community, embracing diversity and acknowledging the ongoing journey towards acceptance and positive change. In light of the current political and societal climate surrounding queer identities, we want to affirm our unwavering support and will commit to providing a safe and inclusive space for all individuals. We will always strive to amplify queer voices, stories, and resources. May this month be a reminder that every individual deserves to be respected and celebrated for who they are. Together, let’s foster understanding, acceptance, and love!

June 11th, 2023
330 South Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013
FREE
RSVP
June 11th, 2023
4522 West Jefferson Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90016
$7.77
GET TICKETS
June 15th, 2023
4522 West Jefferson Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90016
$7.77
GET TICKETS
June 17th, 2023
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Gates – 7:15pm / Movie – 9pm
$22
GET TICKETS
June 17th, 2023
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles 90027
$22
GET TICKETS
June 24th, 2023
Los Angeles State Historic Park
Gates at 7:30pm / Show at 9pm
$22
GET TICKETS
PRIDE MONTH AT THE FRIDA

305 E 4th St #100, Santa Ana, CA 92701
All Month Long!
CHECK THE CALENDAR

*Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to any of the photos used in this blog post.

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LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2022

Matthew Castillo
(he/they)

It’s Pride Month again! That time of year for rainbow flags, extravagant parades and a plethora of queer slogans plastered around your local Target®. But how do you, as a cis-het* person, fit in to the celebration? If you’ve ever found yourself asking how you can be a better ally to the LGBTQ+ community, then this post is for you.

*cis-het = cisgender + heterosexual; a term used to describe those who do not identify with the queer community in anyway other than as an ally.

The past ten years have been a huge step forward for representation of marginalized communities in mainstream media. From CODA and Love On The Spectrum to Ru Paul’s Drag Race and Everything Everywhere All At Once– we’re seeing just how hungry people are for diversity in story-telling. We all want to see ourselves represented in the media we consume, and we all want to feel like our voices are being heard. The LGBTQ+ community is no exception, which brings me to my first point: a great and easy way to be a good ally is to support queer voices. Support us when we’re sharing our lived experiences, our perspectives and our talents with the world. That means watching our movies, listening to our music and reading what we write. It also means incorporating those stories into your discussions about media and entertainment with your friends, family and colleagues (even when it’s uncomfortable to do so). One of the easiest ways to hurt our community is to leave us out of the conversation; to pretend we don’t exist. But not to worry! I’ve put together a few lists of different queer media to get you started.

Believed to be the first pro-gay film in history, “Different From the Others” is a German film that was first released in 1919. Richard Oswald and Magnus Hirschfeld made the film as a criticism of the criminalization of homosexuality.

For the most part, queer movies tend to fly under the radar. But that isn’t to say they’re not worth watching. In fact, I would argue that they’re integral to one’s film education. Queer movies have been around almost as long as cinema has been around, and though we’ve been censored in various ways throughout history, we’ve fought to maintain a presence. As a gift to you, here are some of my favorite queer movies.

Legacy Movies

There will always be those movies– the ones everyone has seen, and if you haven’t what the hell is wrong with you?? Right? Movies like Titanic, Star Wars, Apocalypse Now and The Wizard of Oz. But in the Queer World, our list of legacy movies is a little different. So here’s a crash course on important queer movies that you absolutely must watch.

Paris Is Burning is a documentary that everyone should be make themselves familiar with. So much of today's popular culture has its roots in the Ballroom Scene, and Paris Is Burning takes you straight to the floor. Are you ready to battle for your life?
Based on the real life of Gay Rights Advocate and Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Harvey Milk. This biopic is not only spectacularly made, but it'll serve has a history lesson in queer rights for many years to come.
If you have any friends who are lesbians, then you've probably heard this movie referenced in conversation at least once. This French Romance from 2013 is both critically acclaimed and loved by The Gays™.
If you're a Millennial, then you probably remember the controversy this movie caused. And though it's been the butt of many pop culture jokes, it remains an important movie in queer cinema. If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you have some tissues nearby!
This 1999 drama broke some serious ground and some serious hearts. Based on the true story of Transgender man Brandon Teena, Boys Don't Cry will leave you wondering how humanity can be so cruel.
Just watch it. Trust me.
This Gregg Araki film features an outstanding performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The sad life of a young male prostitute spirals out of control and leaves you feeling gutted by the end of the movie.
Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his performance in this boundary pushing feature film. Philadelphia was the first mainstream Hollywood movie to feature a homosexual main character suffering from AIDS.
If you're not familiar with The Rocky Horror Picture Show, then you need to remedy that expeditiously! Deliciously campy with fun sing-a-long numbers, this movie will rock your socks off. Give yourself over to absolute pleasure!
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Coming of Age

Coming of Age movies are a staple in cinematic history. Everyone has at least one in their list of favorite films. And there definitely are some classics: Goonies, Stand By Me, Now and Then. They helped us to feel seen and understood when we were at our most vulnerable, and sometimes they even taught us some valuable life lessons. Unfortunately, queer kids aren’t quite so fortunate to have as many coming of age movies dedicated to their experiences. But there are definitely some treasures to be found! So if you’re interested in coming of age films and how they intersect with the queer experience, I’ve got a list for you.

Regarded as one of the best films of the 21st Century by both The New York Times and The Guardian, this bleak but powerful coming of age famously won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2017.
Spa Night is a very unique coming of age movie about a first generation Korean-American struggling with his sexuality and the pressure to be successful and help his family out of poverty. A truly insightful look at a very real experience amongst queer POC living in The United States.
This movie broke the internet when it released. People who've watched it will never look at peaches the same way again. But regardless, it's a fantastic watch for those looking for a queer coming of age with a bit of heat.
Another fantastic movie centering a young person dealing with the uncertainty of their own sexuality and also with the hardships of being blind.
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Cult Classics

Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What about those films that you probably wouldn’t watch with your mom, but you love nonetheless; those dark but lovable movies that stick in your mind for the rest of your life; the movies that connect you to all the other weirdos who love the same movie for the same reasons. As you may have guessed, there is an ABUNDANCE of cult films that appeal to the queer community. So grab some popcorn, ’cause you’re definitely not gonna wanna pass these up.

This punk rock indie centers a group of queer friends navigating the end of their teen years in 1990s Los Angeles. Another Gregg Araki masterpiece.
This campy comedy takes the sad truth of conversion therapy and turns it into a raunchy good time. Natasha Lyonne stars as the titular Cheerleader being forced to acknowledge her gayness and told she has to fix it. Will she?
"An Exercise in Bad Taste" is probably the most accurate description of this movie. John Waters' Pink Flamingos is not only outrageously campy, it's disgusting in all the best ways. Transgression to max-- make sure you're mentally prepared for this one.
This movie is definitely one of my personal favorites. Based on a true story, Beautiful Boxer follows one Thailand's most famous Muy Thai Fighters Parinya Charoenphol as she discovers her truth and pursues a career in boxing to help her parents and to help fund her transition into womanhood.
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Television has played an enormous role in helping to shape American culture. Where would be be today if not for the life lessons courtesy of The Facts of Life or The Brady Bunch? And American television is no stranger to queerness. Of course, sometimes we have to move in stealth mode. But no matter what, we always find a way to be seen and to be heard. Here are some of my favorite queer television shows!

The critically acclaimed television show Orange is the New Black (2013) helped to push the boundaries of what kinds of stories can find mainstream success. Winner of four Primetime Emmy Awards, one GLAAD Media Award and countless other accolades, Orange is the New Black cemented itself in Queer Television History.

Queer Eye

Before the series was rebooted in 2018 for Netflix, Queer Eye was an Emmy Award Winning series on Bravo that featured five gay men using their expertise in fashion, decor, grooming, cooking and pop culture to help the world find their inner slay.
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The L Word

Debuting in 2004 to critical acclaim, The L Word was monumental in the portrayal of queer women in the mainstream. It's success later spawned a reality show, a documentary and a reboot!
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Queer As Folk

Based on a British television show of the same name, Queer As Folk proved to be an enormous success for the tv network Showtime. It ran for five seasons and left an undeniable impact on queer pop culture.
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POSE

Queer media is not only still going strong, it now sometimes dominates the airwaves. POSE is an outstanding example of that feat. Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk (creators of Glee and American Horror Story) and Steven Canals, POSE explores the drag ball scene of the 80s/90s in New York City. Be sure to check this Emmy Award nominated series!
Click Here

Lil Nas X has shaken the music industry with his brazen persona and his unabashed openness about his sexuality. The two-time Grammy Award winner is breaking boundaries and changing the world’s perspective of what “gay music” is and can be.

If you were wondering when we’d get to the tunes, then wait no longer. Gay culture is rich with great music by great artists. From House to Rap to Disco to Rock; queer musicians have always been there. To help you get yourself immersed, we’ve made some playlists for you! 

Who doesn’t love cartoons? Some may think that at a certain age you become too old for ’em. Others say to heck with that! Regardless of how you may feel, it’s undeniable that cartoons play a big role in our lives as we grow and learn. They teach us life lessons by way of colorful palettes, funny voices and lovable characters. They show us that it’s okay to be human and to have flaws. They can even have the power to make us feel like we belong. It’s so important for young queer people to see themselves represented in the shows that are made specifically for children. It’s equally important for young straight children to see the diversity of the real world represented in the shows they watch. With that, here are some amazing cartoons that have broken boundaries with their representation of queer characters.

Haruka and Michiru are iconic symbols of queer love for fans of anime. The strength of their relationship is portrayed throughout season three of Sailor Moon, although they are never explicitly shown to be intimate. Even so, their relationship is confirmed to be canon in both the manga and the television show.

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