GayTV

When I came out in the mid-1980s, Hollywood was just beginning to produce movies with gay themes in them. Many of them would be of interest only to art house audiences, but some of them had mainstream appeal. Even back then, some of them were really very good.

Here's my choice for the top 3 from the 1980s. Each film put a new film actor "on the map", resulting in a strong Hollywood career for each of them.

3. Parting Glances (1986)
   Actor Steve Buscemi, with his uncommon visual appearance, played a convincing role as a supporting character, an ex-boyfriend who expects to die of AIDS. That's only one complication to the main character's story of how to live and love in a complicated modern world. My favorite line, whose hilarity makes sense only when you know the scene: “Pesky little devils, aren't they?”
   
   
2. The Color Purple (1985)
   Actor Whoopi Goldberg made a big splash in this film, playing Celie, the woman we come to respect for every small victory she has to struggle so hard to achieve. My favorite line at the end of the film, “I’m poor, black, I might even be ugly, but dear God, I’m here. I’m here.”
   
   
1. Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
   Actor Harvey Fierstein with his uncommon gravel voice played the main character in this play he wrote. I figure most straight people may check out during the first act of the trilogy, but that's just the introduction to this character we learn to respect and encourage. My favorite line (and it's not even in the list of best quotes for that character) is delivered by the famous Anne Bancroft near the end of the film. “You must be Ed. How do you do? I'm the mother.” She cracks me up every single time with that line.

More recently, of course, is the Oscar-winning (and many other accolades) film "Brokeback Mountain" (2005). That one hit personally. I was an emotional mess after seeing it the first time. I very much like this Honest Trailers summary (YouTube, 6 minutes). Even when I disagree with their opinion, they always present well justified reasons for their opinion. Even if you skip the movie, that summary is worth a watch to understand the social impact that this movie generated.

I have thoughts about changes in the USA and the world, both socially and legally. That can wait for another day, though. For now, enjoy the progress and watch a few good films from the old days.