The best of best: 10 best LGBT documentaries

Written by Administrator Friday, 14 May 2010 00:00

Recently while surfing the blogs of our gay brothers, I saw that they had dissected some really cool feature movies, so since documentaries are our passion, we decided to make a list of 10 best LGBT documentaries. In the coming weeks, I might do a 10-best feature films as well, with a bit of a twist. By way of information, all these documentaries are kept as part of our films collection at the LGBT Centre.

1. Dangerous living: coming out in the developing world (2003)

One of our all-time favourites, a documentary delving into the level of development and the human rights in that country, and that focuses specifically on LGBT people’s less than proud existence in many developing nations. When I first saw this documentary, I got my idea that I would do the analysis on LGBT rights in the context of Mongolia’s democratisation, and wrote my 2006 article. Watch the trailer at YouTube.

2. Paragraph 175 (2000)

Not only the Jewish, but many thousands, if not millions LGBT people fell victims of the holocaust, the unspeakable crimes against the humanity, at the hands of the Nazi Germans during the World War II. Our pride symbols, pink and black triangles, originate from these times as a promise to keep the memory alive, a promise on our part to ensure nothing of the sorts repeats ever again. Watch the trailer at YouTube.

3. Tying the Knot (2004)

A documentary about the ongoing struggle in the USA for the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Human drama, tragedies and triumphs – you will find it all in “Tying the Knot”. Watch the trailer at YouTube.

4. A Jihad for Love (2007)

What’s it like being a Muslim and gay? Find out from our all-time most favourite documentary by Parvez Sharma, a beautifully crafted tale spanning nearly all countries with significant Muslim population (which is why we were really surprised not to see Indonesia or Bangladesh stories in the documentary). A moving tale of how religious tenets interpreted rigidly affect people’s lives. Watch the trailer at YouTube.

5. For the Bible Tells Me So (2007)

A similar documentary, but from the Christian perspective. If you are gay and you’re Christian, a must-see. Watch the trailer at YouTube.

6. Be like Others (2008)

The Islamic Republic of Iran imposes capital punishment in the most horrendous ways to people found to be gay or lesbian. However, if your gender identity does not conform to your birth gender, the Iranian government will pay for your surgical gender reassignment, and even provide you with the small loan to start your own business afterward. Every queer person around the world remembers how Mr. Ahmedinejad, during his visit to one of the Ivy League universities in the US, said that there were no homosexuals in Iran, and how he was simply laughed at. Well, if this is what they do in Iran, that is, forcibly change their sex, of course, he was right to claim so, however barbaric that is... Watch the trailer at YouTube.

7. Gendernauts (1999)

A really cool, groundbreaking documentary on gender identity, and transgenderism. It is highly recommended to people who are unable to make a distinction between sexual orientation and gender identity. Watch the trailer at YouTube.

8. Paris is Burning (1990)

We have been searching and searching for this one for more years that I remember now and were able to get it only recently. A documentary that goes into the heart of the New York drag queens’ community, their ‘voguing’ dance, etc, circa late 1980s, early 1990s. Watch the trailer at YouTube.

9. Boy I Am (2006)

A journey of claiming and becoming what one is. A must-see politically for all the LGBT activists. Watch the trailer at YouTube.

10. The Aggressives (2005/I)

A recognition and celebration of kindred souls: respect, aggressive sistahs! A documentary focusing on the identity and lives of a sub-set of New York butches, who identify as “the aggressive”, which is more than an attitude, but perhaps, a way of life. Watch the trailer at YouTube.