Behind the lens

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To mark LGBT+ History Month this February, the Staff Pride Network (SPN) has taken inspiration from this year’s theme, behind the lens. Looking to celebrate and showcase LBGT directors, screenwriters, producers and animators, the members of SPN share some of their favourite films with Bulletin.

Do Revenge

“This modern adaptation of Strangers on a Train is a loving exploration and send-up of gen Z, from their politics, fashion, cliques to their gender and sexual fluidity and view of the world.”

Bonnie Calderwood Aspinwall (they/them), Library Acquisitions Assistant

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

John Cameron Mitchell performs in a scene from the film ‘Hedwig And The Angry Inch’, 2001.

“This film reflects a lot of aspects of being a trans person and made me feel even more connected to the character of Hedwig because of that. The way she’s treated as an outcast, the attention that her cisgender ex-boyfriend gets when he steals her songs and the way she’s portrayed as an immoral character in comparison to Tommy Gnosis, who’s practically worshipped as a god, all make me think a lot about the trans experience. It’s also refreshing to see an LGBTQ+ movie set outside of the US/UK – it’s set in Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

SPN member

Rakifi

“It’s a wonderful film, beautiful and hopeful, and a Kenyan production which makes it stand out even more as it highlights love and LBGTQ solidarity in a context hostile to LGBTQ equality.”

Lena Wanggren

Homo Humour curated by Lee Campbell

“This film explores the history of comedy as a queer identity defence, a means of expression and storytelling and the subversive and surprising ways that humour can be used on screen.”

Chris Wells-Holland

Torch Song Trilogy (1983)

“Hugely important, gorgeous, daring, sensitive film released at the height of the AIDS crisis, yet doesn’t mention AIDS – working instead to depict loving gay relationships, as well as the violence gay men face. A loving and delightful experience – and it’s not available to stream! So a rarity too.”

SPN member

Everything Everywhere All at Once

“This movie immediately became one of my favourite films of all time. It is mind-bending, funny, philosophical and moving. It centres around a conflict between Joy, a young, queer, 2nd generation Chinese immigrant, and her middle-aged mother, who is leading a messy and unfulfilled life. It speaks to generational trauma, difficulty in opening up, mental health issues and familial love. It’s a beautiful story.”

Bonnie Calderwood Aspinwall (they/them), Library Acquisitions Assistant

Tangerine

“Several years ago the Staff Pride Network held a film screening of Tangerine for Trans Remembrance Day. I hadn’t seen it before and found it a powerful portrayal of life for Black, trans sexworkers. It was an education in the limited opportunities for trans people and trans people of colour in particular, in the form of a comedic, tragic fictional story. I’d recommend it to everyone, especially if transphobia isn’t your lived experience.”

Jonathan MacBride (he/him), Informatics Graduate School Administrative Assistant

The Staff Pride Network

The SPN is an inclusive network that serves as a resource for the rich diversity of LGBT+ employees across the institution, including PhD students who prefer to attend staff events.

They strive to take an intersectional approach to providing a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for all people who self-identify as part of LGBT+ communities, whether or not they are ‘out’ in the wider world, and to make LGBT+ issues more visible within the University environment.

To find out more about the SPN, visit the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.

You can read more about the SPN and their events on their blogsite.

Images: GettyImages; Tangerine images courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.