Here are my recommendations for the very best Gay-Themed Dramas.

Each of the movies upon this list tell an unique and meaningful story in regards to a different factor or common occurrence within the LGBT community. Whether it’s the struggles of a transgender girl, school boys falling in like, dealing with HIV or fighting for gay privileges, each movie carries a significant message and are sure to pull at your heart strings.

MILK

My name is Harvey Milk and I’m here to recruit you! Although my intentions because of this list were to call out films that are more “classic” rather than new-releases, no set of gay movies would be complete withouth mention of Milk- irrespective of when it was released. The movie may be the brilliant true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and how lead the combat for equality back in the 1970’s. The film is a beacon of expect our community as we find ourselves in the midst of another equality fight being waged across the country. Sean Penn is amazing as Harvey Milk and James Franco is normally excellent as his lover, Scott Smith. Emile Hersch & Josh Brolin should also get shout outs for great performances. Gus Van Sant directed a masterpiece with this one. All around, an incredible movie telling an amazing story that is both relevant and important for every gay person in the US today.

Get Real

When I was in the cubs there is this porn mag being passed around and the rest of the kids were deciding which girl they liked and stuff… which other kid, he whispers to me, “I don’t know what all of the fuss is approximately, I’d rather see another boy’s willy anytime!” so I said, “So would I!”
Released in 1998, COME ON is a brilliantly done tale of senior high school love between two males in the united kingdom. The film shows the difficulties associated with growing up gay and having no one to carefully turn to- and regarding one of the personas, the challenge of wanting to do what he adores (sports) and being who he really is (a homosexual). It’s a well told story which is completely feasible- from just how they meet, to the fag hag, to the pressures and issues they face.

Beautiful Thing

I wish I was the one that was going away. Nothing at all ever happens around right here. I gets up each morning, bake my face in half a ton of slap, tong my hair with yesterday’s lacquer, that’s it. It’s the same every bleeding day time. There’s fuck-all to anticipate.
Released in 1996 and also a British film, Gorgeous Thing tells an identical story compared to that of Get True- but different enough to make them both worth viewing. The characters are more youthful, but one is still a sports man and the other is even more of a typical gay-kid growing up. Surrounded by strange neighbors (one of whom is enthusiastic about Mama Cass from The Mamas & The Papas) and from broken homes, both struggle to deal with their growing attraction to each other before an excellent realization of their like for each other at the end of the film.

It’s My Party

You’re not too shiny. I like that in a man.
If you can help to make it through this movie without crying, you probably have no soul. Just kidding, but seriously- it’s an incredibly moving story. Eric Roberts plays Nick, an effective architect who finds out that he is usually HIV+ and eventually diagnosed with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). Having seen the disease take the lives of many other friends and understanding that he just had a few days left of awareness, Nick invites family and friends over to inform them that he has made a decision to end his own existence peacefully rather than allow the disease to render him unrecognizeable to them, and vice versa. It’s a devastating story, but absolutely worth it. (Plus it offers Marlee Matlin & Margaret Cho in it!)

Love! Valour! Compassion!

Just once I’d like to see a “West Side Story” where everybody gets it; the Jets and the Sharks, and Officer Krupke; or a “Sound of Music” where the entire Von Trapp family dies in an awful alpine avalanche; or “A Funny Thing Happened on the path to the Forum” where nothing at all happens, and it’s not funny.
This fim was released in 1997 with a cast like the likes of Jason Alexander & John Glover. It tells the tale of 7 close friends who spend a summer jointly in up-state NY and addresses issues ranging from HIV/AIDS to adultery, and also the complicated relationships the different characters share.

Philadelphia

We’re standing here in Philadelphia, the, uh, town of brotherly like, the birthplace of freedom, where the, uh, founding fathers authored the Declaration of Independence, and I don’t recall that glorious record saying anything about all straight men are created equal. I believe it says all males are created equal.
Tom Hanks won the 1994 Ocsar for Best Actor in a respected Role by using Andrew Beckett in this film. Andrew was fired from a conservative lawyer after being diagnosed with AIDS. As a last-attempt at peace, Andrew sues the lawfirm with the unlikely help of a homophobic lawyer, Joe Miller (played by Denzel Washington). Among the earliest movies to deal with the Helps epidemic, Philidelphia is a brilliant story full of heart.

Angels In America

I usually state, “Fuck the truth,” but mostly, the reality fucks you.
Okay, this one isn’t really a “movie” per se, but it still belongs about the list while a “made-for-TV movie”. Made by HBO and released in 2003, Angels In America is centered around a group of separate those who are intricately linked. Staged in 1985 through the height of the Helps epidemic, it tells the story of various gay men caught up in the issues of their lives. A man leaves his partner of 4 years after learning he’s HIV+, a religious (Mormon) man tries to handle being gay while his wife is definitely strung out on Valium, and another closeted man struggles to keep up his power and influence. With an all-superstar cast including Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Emma Thompson, Mary-Louise Parker, Patrick Wilson (lately in The Watchmen) and more, it’s a shifting and meaningful film.

Latter Days

I actually thought I’d rather die than be gay. I got a pretty good idea of what dying sensed like but lying there in the hands of that man, I thought if this is what becoming gay feels like… take it on.
I have a special link with this film, for obvious reasons. Released in 2003, Latter Days tells the story of a Mormon missionary, Aaron Davis, and shallow West Hollywood party boy, Christian Markelli. After relocating next door to Christian with his missionary companions, Aaron is definitely seduced by Christian- who includes a $50.00 bet along with his friends that he can’t get one of these in bed with him. However, Aaron falls deeply in love with Christian, and then be disappointed when he finds out about the debt. The tale goes on to show the problems faced by Aaron for being a homosexual when it comes to his religious beliefs and both he and Christian deal with the pain of reduction and regret. It’s a great movie.

Brokeback Mountain

I wish I knew how exactly to quit you.
Already a traditional though it’s less than 4 years aged, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two Wyoming cowboys during the 1960’s who fall in love while functioning up in the mountains collectively. Their story is one of conflict, love and connection that operates the course of their lives. With 3 Oscars and another 5 Oscar nominations, you truly can’t fail with this movie. Heath Ledger & Jake Gyllenhaal both provide excellent and heartfelt performances, as does Michelle Williams as the wife of Heath’s character, Ennis. The complete story is devastatingly beautiful.

Boys Don’t Cry

“Dear Lana, By enough time you read this I’ll be back in Lincoln. I’m scared of what’s ahead, however when I believe of you I know I’ll be able to continue. You were right, Memphis isn’t that remote. I’ll be taking that trip down the highway before too much time. I’ll be looking forward to you. Love always and forever, Brandon.”
This film tells the true story of a transgengered teenager, Brandon Teena, who lives lifestyle as a boy in a Falls City, Nebraska until it really is discovered that she was created a girl. Brandon struggles with the difficulties unique to being truly a transgender youth, has been around trouble with the law but still must deal with the normal biological needs to be born a female. When his close friends make the discovery, Brandon’s lifestyle is torn apart. Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena in this film is absolutely brilliant- in fact she won the Best Actress Oscar in 2000 for this along with Chloe Sevigny for Best Supporting Actress in the function of Lana, Brandon’s love interest.

TransAmerica

My body could be a work-in-progress, but there is nothing incorrect with my soul.
Felicity Huffman plays pre-operative male-to-female transsexual Bree Osbourne in this film about the struggles of one woman’s trip to becoming herself. Bree, who will save every cent from her two careers to cover her surgery, receives a contact seven days before her scheduled day from… her boy. Bree’s psychologist won’t enable Bree to move forward with the procedure until she has dealt with her relationship with her boy, and the film that comes after is a moving tale about self-discovery that’s a lot more than skin-deep.

And that wraps up my list of Top Gay-Themed Dramas. My apologies for the long-windedness… but every single movie on this list is completely worth seeing- whether or not you’re area of the GLBT community or a pal of it.