In 2016, Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s stage play, examined how “in the moonlight, black boys look blue.” Showcasing the story of a Black gay man at three pivotal points of his life as he comes to terms with his identity and orientation, the story resonated with many seeking understanding and connection to their own identities and experiences.
Moonlight’s 2017 Best Picture win at the Oscars marked a breakthrough for Black queer storytelling in Hollywood. For Pride Month, here are nine more Black LGBTQ+ films that illuminate the community with humor, heart, and humanity.
Rafiki (2018)
Rafiki chronicles the romance between characters Kena and Ziki in Nairobi, Kenya. With two characters from different political backgrounds fighting for love in a conservative community, the movie tugs at one’s heartstrings and tells a love story that goes beyond its beautiful showcase of Kenyan culture.
Naz and Maalik (2015)
Naz and Maalik tells the story of the titular characters, both Black and Muslim closeted gay men navigating young adulthood in Brooklyn. Through their day in the city, their relationships, and how they find connection in it, the movie makes for a good coming-of-age exploration of Black LGBTQ+ first love.
Paris is Burning (1991)
This iconic documentary chronicles the roots and culture of BIPOC ballroom in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Featuring ballroom icons like Octavia St. Laurent, Pepper LaBeija, Willi Ninja, and more, the documentary explores the experience, the community, and the realities many people in the scene faced at the time. From conversations about the differences between shade and reading to the seeds planted to ballroom’s expansive culture, the documentary is an essential watch for every Pride season.
Kiki (2016)
With a modern look at the ballroom scene, this documentary showcases the lives of several members of the Kiki community. While mainstream ballroom is dominated by larger houses and more established figures in the community, the Kiki scene typically leans towards a younger collective. This documentary shows the lives of members transitioning, joining the Haus of Pucci, and the activism work that lies within the foundation of the ballroom world.
Noah’s Arc: The Movie (2025)
Reviving the spirit of a show can sometimes be a difficult task, but Noah’s Arc: The Movie brings the spirit of the famed Logo show right into the modern era. Picking up after the events of the show and subsequent content (spoiler alert for those who haven’t watched), the movie picks back up with Noah, Wade and their friends as they handle parenthood, love, grief, and life in their 40s. Featuring cameos from TS Madison, Jasmine Guy, Kennedy Davenport, and more, the movie is a love letter to the show and an open door for storytelling on LGBTQ+ life as we age.
Pariah (2011)
Pariah is a coming-of-age movie about teenager Alike and her exploration of identity and love in Brooklyn. Balancing family acceptance, self-acceptance, and outward acceptance, the story brings viewers into Alike’s world, showing how, for many LGBTQ+ people, creativity can be a haven for finding and expressing these feelings. Kim Wayans shows her dramatic side playing Alike’s mother.
The Stroll (2023)
The Stroll tells the story of the transgender community in New York City, discussing the realities of sex work, transitioning, and assimilating into culture for survival. Both intimate and personal, it provides more perspective for those unaware of the lives of people within the transgender community.
Tangerine (2015)
A whirlwind of a Christmas Eve, Tangerine follows two transgender sex workers as they track down a cheating boyfriend in Hollywood. A vibrant, quick-moving, energetic movie, Tangerine is a fresh-squeezed buddy comedy that finds light through dark humor.
Tongues Untied (1989)
Created by activist and filmmaker Marlon Riggs, Tongues Untied positions Black gay male love as an act of revolution. Using a mix of poetry, music, and pieces of Riggs’s personal upbringing, this documentary highlights Black LGBTQ+ experience and existence as something everyone should be proud of.