Movies and positive messages about LGBT+ community

Movies or media in general always have a huge impact on people. In my previous blog post, I mentioned that some movies create wrong stereotypes of LGBT+ people. But of course, not all movies are like that. Here are some ways that movies can spread the positive messages about the LGBT+ community.

1. Showing that LGBT+ people can do the same things as others.

We cannot decline the fact that the only way LGBT+ people are different from others is their sexual orientation. Besides that, there is nothing preventing them from doing what others can do.

LGBT+ people, of course, can still have a job, can put effort to achieve their dreams, and can still be successful. You can learn more about some successful LGBT+ people here.

However, there are few movies that tell viewers about that equality. Showing does not mean that movie makers have to produce a lot of documentaries about LGBT+ people, but they can still have that type of character instead of the effeminate one.

Let Hoi Decide is a Vietnamese movie I did mention in my previous post. Although many people (including me) condemn that the movie makes fun of gay men, I still cannot negate that the movie actually tries to show that gay men can still have a dream.

Hoi, the main character, starts his own company. He never gives up even when his company is almost bankrupt. Although Hoi does not receive the love back from the guy he loves, Hoi is always willing to support him.

That kind of character has something totally different from what we are used to seeing in Vietnamese movies. I think there should be more movies showing the equal position of LGBT+ people.

2. Showing the beauty of love

There are many movies about love. However, most of them are about the love between males and females.

Brokeback Mountain is about the forbidden and secret love between two cowboys. Just by a few scenes, viewers can feel the love between the two main characters.

Are there any differences between LGBT+ love and “normal” love?

Another famous movie about LGBT+ people is Blue is the Warmest Color. Not only does it show the love between two lesbians, it also shows the journey of Adèle, the main character, to find and understand who she is and what she wants.

Movies do not have to tell, yell or repeat the messages. Just by showing the beauty of love, those movies spread meaningful messages about the LGBT+ community. It would let viewers understand that love is love and love knows no gender.

3. Showing the difficulties that LGBT+ people have to face

I believe that a part of the people who fight against LGBT+ rights are the ones who have never understood about the community (like some of my friends). If they actually understood, they would change their minds.

Besides showing love, Brokeback Mountain also explains why the two main characters cannot be together. In the 20th century, most people still discriminated LGBT+ people, and it even led those people to commit suicide. Ennis Del Ma, one main character, has to marry a woman in order not to be discriminated.

The Danish Girl is about one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery. It shows that although the transgender operation is really dangerous, many people still accept it in order to be who they are.

The movie also proves that LGBT+ is not a disease or psychology problem. In addition, one thing LGBT+ needs is the support of their family and friends.

If you are having some difficulties and seeking for support, here is a good site for you.

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Not only movies can use those ways to spread the messages, I think that any mean of media or any campaign can do so to raise awareness for LGBT+ community.

Here is the link