In-Between_short film

 

The Night Train_short film

The Night Train (Nattåget) is a precious Swedish short film directed by Jerry Carlsson, and first released at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, starring actors Khalil Ben Gharbia (Paris, 1999) and Erik Nilsson (Stockholm, 1993). 15 min.

Oskar is on the night train, heading home after an interview in Stockholm. With a long night ahead of him, he makes eye contact with Ahmad. For the first time, he meets the gaze of someone who feels the same desire as he does.

Berlin's Memorial to the Homosexual Victims of National Socialism

In Nazi Germany, homosexuality was persecuted to a degree unprecedented in history. In 1935, the National Socialists issued an order making all male homosexuality a crime; the provisions governing homosexual behaviour in Section 175 of the Criminal Code were significantly expanded and made stricter. A kiss was enough reason to  prosecute. There were more than 50,000 convictions. Under Section 175, the punishment was imprisonment; in some cases, convicted offenders were castrated. Thousands of men were sent to concentration camps for being gay; many of them died there. They died of hunger, disease and abuse or were the victims of targeted killings. 

The National Socialists destroyed the communities of gay men and women. Female homosexuality was not prosecuted, except in annexed Austria; the National Socialists did not find it as threatening as male homosexuality. However, lesbians who came into conflict with the regime were also subject to repressive measures. Under the Nazi regime, gay men and women lived in fear and under constant pressure to hide their sexuality.

For many years, the homosexual victims of National Socialism were not included in public commemorations –neither in the Federal Republic nor in the German Democratic Republic. In both East and West Germany, homosexuality continued to be prosecuted for many years. In the Federal Republic, Section 175 remained in force without amendment until 1969.

Because if its history, German has a special responsibility to actively oppose the violation of gay men’s and lesbians’ human rights. In many parts of the world, people continue to be persecuted for their sexuality, homosexual love remains illegal and a kiss can be dangerous.

With this memorial, the Federal Republic of Germany intends to honour the victims of persecution and murder, to keep alive the memory of this injustice, and to create a lasting symbol of opposition to enmity, intolerance and the exclusion of gay and lesbians.

The memorial sits on the edge of Berlin’s biggest park, Tiergarten, within view of the Brandenburg Gate, Peter Eisenman’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and the new, terror-proof American Embassy. It consists of a concrete stele, thirteen feet high, with a small window through which viewer’s can watch a looped video, shot by Robby Müller (Wim Wenders’s cinematographer) and directed by Dogma 95 cofounder Thomas Vinterberg, of two men and two women kissing. The memorial was designed by the Danish-Norwegian duo artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, and was inaugurated in 2008.

Homo Memorial in Tiergarten, Berlin

Hallelujah, a Queer Dance

Historic Montreal Church Is Backdrop for Queer Love Story Dance Video

June 3, 2019/by Francis DeBernardo, Editor

The dancers soar across the church aisles and the altar, embrace as they spin and cover each other in blue and red chalk. They do this after opening video clips of homophobic protests and violence have flashed across the screen. All of this accompanied by a recording of Jeff Buckley’s popular song, Hallelujah. Near the end the two men share a brief kiss.  The final image is a large banner they create that reads ‘Choose Love,’ raised high over a backdrop of stained glass.

This dance performance video, entitled Hallelujah, was set and filmed in Quebec’s historic Church of St. Pierre Apôtre. It is a queer love story produced by Matthew Richardson –and the church leaders were happy to host it.

A still from the video.

“They welcomed me, my message, and our creation with open arms,” said Richardson, the show’s creator and  a former Cirque Du Soleil performer. Hallelujah is one of five dances he will direct as part of his Circus Queer Project. The video is deeply intimate in a deeply Catholic setting.

There is much to praise in this project: Richardson’s work and vision, the stunning grace of the dance in this particular space, the warm welcome of the Catholic community in Montreal, and the attention that it is getting in multiple publications. Further projects like Hallelujah are necessary in continuing to emphasize the beauty found in LGBTQ+ relationships in a long-denied religious setting. These initiatives, and their visibility, are essential to fulfilling the love that Catholicism promises to support and provide.

Heartstopper_series

The story of two British teens, Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, at an all-boys grammar school. Charlie, a high-strung, openly gay overthinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, one day are made to sit together in class. Their friendship quickly becomes something more for Charlie, but he initially does not believe he has a chance with Nick. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realized. Based on Alice Oseman's bestselling graphic novel series Heartstopper. Eight 25-minute episodes on Netflix. (UK, 2022) You will want to binge-watch it in one sitting. Tenderness is the word. A must-see, feel-good story.

Man in an Orange Shirt_mini series

Two tales of love highlighting the very different challenges that face the couples, with Michael and Thomas just after World War II, and Adam and Steve in the present day. The drama follows two gay love stories set 60 years apart — linked by family, and by a painting that holds a secret that echoes down the generations. The 2-hour-long film (divided into two episodes) explores a forbidden relationship made impossible by illegality and societal pressure, and contrasts it with present-day romance as a minefield of internalized issues and temptations.

This BBC miniseries is one of the most beautiful, elegant pieces of fiction I have ever seen on screen. Novelist Patrick Gale's double love story will remain with viewers for ever.

The superb cast includes Vanessa Redgrave, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, James McArdle, Joanna Vanderham, Laura Carmichael, Julian Morris, David Gyasi, Julian Sands, and Frances De La Tour.

Proud Boys Kiss (A Canadian story)

Canadian Armed Forces Trolled The Proud Boys

A hashtag used by the far-right hate group Proud Boys has been hijacked by the LGBT+ community.

• By Léonie Chao-Fong HUFFPOST, 4/10/2020

TWITTER

"If you’re thinking about wearing our uniform, know what it means. Love is love," the message accompanying the image said.

A hashtag used by the far-right hate group, Proud Boys, has been hijacked by the LGBT+ community. 

The white supremacist group gained notoriety earlier this week when US President Donald Trump refused to publicly condemn them during the first presidential debate with Joe Biden.

Responding to a question from moderator Chris Wallace, who asked if he would condemn white supremacist and militia groups that have showed up at some protests, Trump said: “Sure, I’m willing to do that. But I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing.”

On the Proud Boys’ account on the messaging app Telegram, members of the group celebrated the apparent endorsement. 

“Trump basically said to go fuck them up,” said one of the Proud Boys’ leaders in a chat on the right-wing social media app Parler. “This makes me so happy.”

In response, gay men have taken to Twitter to reclaim the #ProudBoys hashtag, flooding it with photos of happy – and proud – gay couples.

Among those who have posted in support of the hashtag include the Canadian armed forces, who tweeted a photo of one of their members kissing another man.

Accompanying the photo was the message: “If you wear our uniform, know what it means. If you’re thinking about wearing our uniform, know what it means. 

“Love is love. Know what we mean?”

The tweet has been retweeted more than 7,000 times within hours of being posted.

The hijacking of the #ProudBoys hashtag has been partly attributed to actor and activist George Takei, who wrote: “What if gay guys took pictures of themselves making out with each other or doing very gay things, then tagged themselves with #ProudBoys.”

The LGBT+ community responded immediately with rainbow flags and messages and images of queer love and pride.

Love is love – and we’re 100% for it. 

Love, Simon_film

A must-see coming-of-age love story. Now showing nationwide. Love, Carlos

Portrait of two men with their son

A samesex couple posing with their son in Bristol, UK. Photo: MARTIN PARR / MAGNUM
HAPPY PRIDE