By Beds SU
Monday, 5 February 2024
Please note, this article includes some language that many have reclaimed but may still cause offence to some.
To celebrate LGBT+ History Month, and the 2024 theme of Medicine, we’ve gathered a list of compelling and critically acclaimed TV shows, films and books.
In our list, we’ve gathered media that explore and celebrate queer people and campaigns. We’ve included resources that look at the traditional and modern history of the LGBT+ movement, as well as work that celebrate the everyday life of queer people today.
TV SHOWS
This Is Going to Hurt
Based on the gay British comedy writer Adam Kay’s diaries as a Junior Doctor, this medical comedy-drama focuses on Kay’s experience working for the National Health Service.
Available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
It’s a Sin
A drama from Russel T Davies, it’s a Sin follows the stories of five friends who grew up during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the UK.
Available to stream on Channel 4.
Heartstoppers
Heartstoppers is a British coming-of-age romantic d
rama following teens Charlie and Nick who discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Gentleman Jack
Set in the 1800s, Anne Lister shakes up her ancestral home as she is determined to restore its fortunes and find herself a wife.
Available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
FILMS
Tell It to the Bees
In 1950s Scotland, a village doctor (Anna Paquin) develops a secret relationship with a single mother (Holliday Grainer) that will scandalise the town.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime.
My Policeman
A tale of forbidden romance and changing social conventions. Harry Styles stars as Tom, a policeman in 1950s Britain, who falls in love with a schoolteacher on the Brighton coast. However, tension builds when he begins a passionate same-sex affair with museum curator Patrick, despite homosexuality being illegal.
Available to stream on Amazon Prime.
The Boys in the Band
At a birthday party in 1968 New York, a surprise guest and a drunken game leaves seven gay friends reckoning with unspoken feelings and buried truths. Stars Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto and Matt Bomer.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Carol
Set in 1950s New York, things take an unexpected turn when department store worker Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) develops strong feelings for Carol (Cate Blanchett).
Available to rent on Amazon Prime.
BOOKS
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Enjoyed the Heartstopper Netflix series? Why not check out the collection of graphic novels the show was based on with five volumes to dive into.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Set during the Greek heroic Age, The Song of Achilles is a reinterpretation of Homer’s Iliad as told from the perspective of Patroclus and follows his romantic relationship with Achilles.
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
65-year-old Albert Entwistle’s quiet life it turned upside down when forced to retire from his job as a Postman. Unsure what to do, Albert decides to search for the man he loved but lost many years ago.
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall
An international bestseller and once banned in England, The Well of Loneliness is a highly regarded lesbian novel. The story follows Stephen Gordon and her relationship with women against societal pressures of the late Victorian era.
Support is on hand
At Beds SU, we have an LGBTQ+ society and an LGBT+ Student Network. If you'd like more information about either of these groups contact us!
If you need support this LGBTQ+ History Month, there are plenty of resources you can use:
• Switchboard – Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBTQ+ people on the phone, by email and through instant messaging.
• Stonewall – Information and support for LGBTQ+ communities and their allies, and a free support phone line.
• Samaritans – A free listening and support service for anyone who needs to talk.
• Mermaids – Mermaids provide a helpline and web chat service for transgender and gender diverse people up to and including the age of 19, their families, and professionals working with them.