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10 LGBTQ Movies on Netflix That Don’t End in Tragic Murder

Celebrate Pride Month with stories of queer joy!
Screenshots courtesy of Netflix

This Pride Month, celebrate by reveling in stories about the LGBTQ community and all the multitudes it contains. Sadly, many films considered part of "classic queer cinema" (like Boys Don’t Cry and Brokeback Mountain) conclude with a murdered protagonist or a tragic romance. While many of us still like to watch things that are both sad and meaningful, it can be exhausting and even triggering to binge-watch tragedy—even if, or perhaps because, it’s true to life.

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So if you, like so many of us, are searching for a salve to the ever-burning dumpster fire of life, here’s a handy guide to uplifting LGBTQ stories on Netflix. Though these protagonists definitely endure their share of struggles, you can actually relax and enjoy their journeys that—spoiler alert!—don’t end in certain tragedy.

Tangerine

Directed by Sean Baker and shot entirely on an iPhone 5S, Tangerine depicts a Christmas Eve in the lives of two transgender sex workers, Alexandra and Sin-Dee Rella (played by IRL trans actresses). Fresh out of a brief stint in prison, Sin-Dee Rella learns that her boyfriend/pimp has been cheating on her with a cis-woman while she was away—so she’s out for revenge. The gorgeously shot film follows the pair of friends as they roam the streets of Los Angeles searching for the “fish” that “stole” Sin-Dee’s man. Though the story explores the economic hardship and transphobia that these women struggle with, it also showcases the power of friendship and family between Alexandra and Sin-Dee. Plus, it’s fucking hilarious.

Carol

Did you think there was a chance that Carol wouldn’t be on this list? The Todd Haynes-directed showstopper starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara is hard not to gush about—so if you’ve been avoiding it because of the hype, please just give it a watch. Based on Patricia Highsmith’s iconic lesbian novel The Price of Salt, the film follows Therese Belivet, an aspiring photographer working as a department store shopgirl in the 1950s. Therese is young and figuring her life out—until she’s bowled over when she meets an older woman named Carol Aird at the department store. The two embark on a tentative, hidden romance full of longing looks and shoulder grazes, until Carol’s bitter ex-husband gets in the way. It’s a story about the ways in which lesbians had to live in secret and faced persecution if found out, but it’s also a joyful testament to living life openly and being true to oneself, especially in the face of love.

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Blue Is the Warmest Color

The 179-minute lesbian epic, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2013, was met with controversy upon its release. The film’s graphic sex scenes divided critics and there were reports of unethical working conditions. The lead actresses, Lea Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos, said that working with director Abdellatif Kechiche was “horrible” and that they’d never do another film with him again. Still, Seydoux and Exarchopoulos say they’re proud of the finished product—and rightly so; Blue is the Warmest Color showcases acting at its finest.

When Adele (Exarchopoulos) spots a blue-haired woman on the street, she’s instantly attracted to her and sent into a spiral about her sexual identity. When the two have a chance meeting at a lesbian bar, Adele and Emma (with the blue hair) embark on a passionate relationship that spans years and goes through many ups and downs. It’s a film that captures the confusion of figuring out your sexual identity and the passion of a first relationship—but also the factors (like class) that might unravel a couple no matter how much love they have.

Princess Cyd

Princess Cyd is a lovely little slice-of-life, coming-of-age film that follows Cyd (played by the luminescent Jessie Pinnick) as she visits her novelist Aunt Miranda in Chicago for the summer. The two bond over religion, art, love, sex, and the death of Cyd’s mother. While Cyd is in Chicago, she falls for a charming barista named Katie, and explores what that means for her sexuality. It’s a movie where not much happens, but you’re still engulfed in a warm and charming exploration of family relationships and burgeoning sexuality. It’s a gem!

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G.B.F.

Directed by Darren Stein (of the cult classic Jawbreaker) and written by George Northy, G.B.F is an incredible parody of the gay man as an “accessory.” At a school ruled by vicious cliques, two closeted teens named Tanner (Michael J. Willett) and Brent (Paul Iacono), don’t even register on the popularity scale. But when a teen magazine declares that a gay best friend (or G.B.F.) is the hottest new accessory, Brent is determined to out himself to attain instant popularity—until Tanner is accidentally outed in front of the whole school first. Suddenly, the BFFs are at odds, with Tanner being made-over into the kind of gay man he’s “supposed” to be. It’s a sweetly subversive comedy about coming out and coming-of-age, and learning that your sexuality doesn’t fully define you.

“San Junipero”

It may not be a feature film, but “San Junipero” is a stand-out episode from season three of Black Mirror (the Twilight Zone for the tech age) that deserves a pass. (It’s practically feature length!) Set in a beach town called San Junipero, Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis) meets Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a vivacious and gorgeous lady who immediately catches her eye, but gets scared of her feelings and leaves. Yorkie and Kelly end up chasing each other through time, space, and of course, a twist. But ultimately, it’s a love story between two women who find each other in the most unexpected places—and a rare Black Mirror episode that will leave you feeling hopeful.

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Pariah

Pariah marks the the launch of powerhouse director Dee Rees, who wrote and directed the story of Alike (Adepero Oduye), a 17-year-old Black teenager who is exploring her lesbian identity. She does this by hanging out with her BFF Laura, who is out, and going to lesbian bars. Alike’s parents don’t approve of her friendship with Laura and push her to befriend a girl from their church, who Alike begins to have romantic feelings for. While Pariah surely has its share of rough emotional moments, it’s gobsmacking to watch Alike’s unwavering bravery on the path to embracing herself.

Alex Strangelove

Netflix has been killing it when it comes to giving the people what they want of late—and that means teen movies and romantic comedies. Alex Strangelove is follows Alex, a high school senior who has it all together—or so he thinks. He’s got the grades, the girl…and now the guys? Alex is confronted by the uncertainty of life when he meets Elliott, an out gay guy who has a crush on him. And Alex just might reciprocate those feelings, too! This is a supremely sweet queer love note to the teen genre that’ll leave you with a smile.

God’s Own Country

Set in the idyllic Yorkshire countryside, the directorial debut of Francis Lee gives major Brokeback Mountain vibes, but happier. After his father suffers a stroke, Johnny must step up to help run the family farm. In his spare time, he gets drunk and sleeps with random dudes to stave off his loneliness. With such a huge responsibility placed on Johnny’s shoulders, migrant worker Gheorghe is hired to help him with lambing season. The two embark on a rocky relationship that oscillates between hatred and, well, sex. Stunningly directed, with two incredible leads who are also very hot, God’s Own Country is a wonderful look at loneliness and the growing pains of learning to be intimate with someone.

Jewel’s Catch One

The only doc on this list is a wonderful look into Jewel’s Catch One, a Black-owned gay dance bar in Los Angeles that opened in 1973 and operated for about 40 years. Owner Jewel Thais Williams wanted to open the bar after experiencing discrimination as a Black lesbian trying to hit up clubs around LA. The doc, directed by C. Fitz, tells Jewel’s story through interviews with her as well as people like Sharon Stone and Rep. Maxine Waters. It’s a beautiful, informative dice into the importance of LGBTQ spaces and a hard look at how racism is perpetuated in the queer community.