It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror

Book

It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror

Vallese, Joe
Published Date: 2022
ISBN: 9781952177798
Page Count: 400

Through the lens of horror—from "Halloween" to "Hereditary"—queer and trans writers consider the films that deepened, amplified, and illuminated their own experiences.

Horror movies hold a complicated space in the hearts of the queer community: historically misogynist, and often homo- and transphobic, the genre has also been inadvertently feminist and open to subversive readings. Common tropes—such as the circumspect and resilient “final girl,” body possession, costumed villains, secret identities, and things that lurk in the closet—spark moments of eerie familiarity and affective connection. Still, viewers often remain tasked with reading themselves into beloved films, seeking out characters and set pieces that speak to, mirror, and parallel the unique ways queerness encounters the world.

"It Came from the Closet" features twenty-five original essays by writers speaking to this relationship, through connections both empowering and oppressive. From Carmen Maria Machado on "Jennifer’s Body", Jude Ellison S. Doyle on "In My Skin", Addie Tsai on "Dead Ringers", and many more, these conversations convey the rich reciprocity between queerness and horror.

Language

English

Representation

Genre

Essays, Horror, Sociology

Other Info

None

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Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States

Book

Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States

Allen, Samantha
Published Date: 2019
ISBN: 0316516031
Page Count: 320

A transgender reporter's narrative tour through the surprisingly vibrant queer communities sprouting up in red states, offering a vision of a stronger, more humane America.

Ten years ago, Samantha Allen was a suit-and-tie-wearing Mormon missionary. Now she's a senior Daily Beast reporter happily married to another woman. A lot in her life has changed, but what hasn't changed is her deep love of Red State America, and of queer people who stay in so-called "flyover country" rather than moving to the liberal coasts.

In Real Queer America, Allen takes us on a cross-country road-trip stretching all the way from Provo, Utah to the Rio Grande Valley to the Bible Belt to the Deep South. Her motto for the trip: "Something gay every day." Making pit stops at drag shows, political rallies, and hubs of queer life across the heartland, she introduces us to scores of extraordinary LGBT people working for change, from the first openly transgender mayor in Texas history to the manager of the only queer night club in Bloomington, Indiana, and many more.

Capturing profound cultural shifts underway in unexpected places and revealing a national network of chosen family fighting for a better world, Real Queer America is a treasure trove of uplifting stories and a much-needed source of hope and inspiration in these divided times.

Language

English

Representation

Genre

Memoir

Other Info

None

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Middle School’s a Drag: You Better Werk

Book

Middle School's a Drag, You Better Werk!

Howard, Greg
Published Date: 2020
ISBN: 0525517529
Page Count: 304

In this heartfelt and hilarious new novel from Greg Howard, an enterprising boy starts his own junior talent agency and signs a thirteen-year-old aspiring drag queen as his first client.

Twelve-year-old Mikey Pruitt--president, founder, and CEO of Anything, Inc.--has always been an entrepreneur at heart. Inspired by his grandfather Pap Pruitt, who successfully ran all sorts of businesses from a car wash to a roadside peanut stand, Mikey is still looking for his million-dollar idea. Unfortunately, most of his ideas so far have failed. A baby tornado ran off with his general store, and the kids in his neighborhood never did come back for their second croquet lesson. But Mikey is determined to keep at it.

It isn't until kid drag queen Coco Caliente, Mistress of Madness and Mayhem (aka eighth grader Julian Vasquez) walks into his office (aka his family's storage/laundry room) looking for an agent that Mikey thinks he's finally found his million-dollar idea, and the Anything Talent and Pizzazz Agency is born!

Soon, Mikey has a whole roster of kid clients looking to hit it big or at least win the middle school talent show's hundred-dollar prize. As newly out Mikey prepares Julian for the gig of a lifetime, he realizes there's no rulebook for being gay--and if Julian can be openly gay at school, maybe Mikey can, too, and tell his crush, dreamy Colton Sanford, how he feels.

Full of laughs, sass, and hijinks, this hilarious, heartfelt story shows that with a little effort and a lot of love, anything is possible.

Language

English

Representation

Genre

Middle Grade, Contemporary, Self-Discovery

Other Info

None

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Martin McLean, Middle School Queen

Book

Martin McLean, Middle School Queen

Zaczek, Alyssa
Published Date: 2020
ISBN: 1454935707
Page Count: 272

In this bighearted middle-grade debut, Martin McLean struggles to find his voice—and his inner diva—as he navigates friendship, family, first crushes, and a whole lot of glitter.

Seventh-grader Martin McLean has always been surrounded by people who can express themselves. His mother is an artist, his colorful Tío Billy works in theater, and his best friends Carmen and Pickle are outgoing and don’t care what other people think. But Martin can only find the right words when he’s answering a problem at a Mathletes competition—until his tío introduces him to the world of drag. In a swirl of sequins and stilettos, Martin creates his fabulous drag queen alter ego, Lottie León.

As Lottie, he is braver than he’s ever been; but as Martin, he doesn’t have the guts to tell anyone outside of his family about her. Not Carmen and Pickle, not his Mathletes teammates, and definitely not Chris, an eighth-grader who gives Martin butterflies. When Martin discovers that his first-ever drag show is the same night as the most important Mathletes tournament, he realizes that he can only pull off both appearances by revealing his true self to his friends—and channeling his inner drag superstar.

Language

English

Representation

Genre

Middle Grade, Contemporary, Self-Discovery

Other Info

None

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The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Movie
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | August 10, 1994 (United States) 7.5
Director: Stephan ElliottWriter: Stephan ElliottStars: Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence StampSummary: Two drag-queens (Anthony/Mitzi and Adam/Felicia) and a transgender woman contract to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs, a resort town in the remote Australian desert. They head west from Sydney aboard their lavender bus, Priscilla. En route, it is discovered that the woman they've contracted with is Anthony's wife. Their bus breaks down, and is repaired by Bob, who travels on with them.

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Alcohol, Homophobia, Transphobia

Age Rating

Rated R

Representation

Country and Language

Australia (English, Filipino)

Main, Supporting, or Side

Main

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Stonewall

Movie
Stonewall | September 25, 2015 (United States) 5.3
Director: Roland EmmerichWriter: Jon Robin BaitzStars: Jeremy Irvine, Jonny Beauchamp, Joey KingSummary: The plot revolves around the 1969 Stonewall Riots, the violent clash that kicked off the gay rights movement in New York City. The drama centers on Danny Winters, who flees to New York, leaving behind his sister. He finds his way to the Stonewall Inn, where he meets Trevor before catching the eye of Ed Murphy, manager of the Stonewall. He colludes with corrupt police and exploits homeless youth.

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We don’t have information for this category yet. If you have some, let us know and we’ll add it right away!

Abuse, Alcohol, Homophobia, Nudity, Transphobia, Violence

Age Rating

Rated R

Representation

Country and Language

United States (English)

Main, Supporting, or Side

Main

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Alaska Is a Drag

Movie
Alaska Is a Drag | June 23, 2017 (United States) 6.6
Director: Shaz BennettWriter: Shaz BennettStars: Martin L. Washington Jr., Maya Washington, Matt DallasSummary: Tough, but diva fabulous, Leo, an aspiring drag superstar, is stuck working in a fish cannery in Alaska. He and his twin sister are trapped in the monotony of fist fights and fish guts. Out of necessity, Leo learned to fight back, which catches the attention of the local boxing coach. When a new boy moves to town and wants to be his sparring partner, Leo has to face the real reason he's stuck in Alaska.

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Age Rating

Not Rated

Representation

Country and Language

United States (English)

Main, Supporting, or Side

Main

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Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Movie
Everybody's Talking About Jamie | September 17, 2021 (United States) 6.5
Director: Jonathan Butterell, Dan Gillespie Sells, Tom MacRaeWriter: Tom MacRae, Jonathan Butterell, Dan Gillespie SellsStars: Max Harwood, Lauren Patel, Sarah LancashireSummary: Feature film adaptation of the musical about a teenager from Sheffield, England who wants to be a drag queen.

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Age Rating

Rated PG-13

Representation

Country and Language

United Kingdom (English)

Main, Supporting, or Side

Main

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Queer Japan

Movie
Queer Japan | December 11, 2020 (United States) 6.6
Director: Graham KolbeinsWriter: Anne Ishii, Graham KolbeinsStars: Hiroshi Hasegawa, Tomato Hatakeno, Leslie KeeSummary: Trailblazing artists, activists, and everyday people from across the spectrum of gender and sexuality defy social norms and dare to live unconventional lives in this kaleidoscopic view of LGBTQ+ culture in contemporary Japan. From shiny pride parades to playfully perverse underground parties, Queer Japan pictures people living brazenly unconventional lives in the sunlight, the shadows, and everywhere in between. Dazzling, iconoclastic drag queen Vivienne Sato peels back the layers of language and identity. Maverick manga artist Gengoroh Tagame tours the world with his unapologetically erotic gay comics. Councilwoman Aya Kamikawa recounts her rocky path to becoming the first transgender elected official in Japan. At legendary kink-positive hentai party Department H, non-binary performance artist Saeborg uses rubber to create a second skin. Culled from 100+ interviews conducted over 3 years in locations across Japan, Queer Japan features dozens of individuals sharing their experiences in their own words.

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Age Rating

Not Rated

Representation

Country and Language

Japan (Japanese)

Main, Supporting, or Side

Main

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Smiley

TV Show
Smiley | December 7, 2022 (United States) 7.8
Stars: Miki Esparbé, Carlos Cuevas, Brian McGovernSummary: Álex has just fallen out of love. He had his hopes up with a guy who, after a few weeks, has given him a textbook ghosting. And that doesn't sit well with him. He picks up the phone and sets out to ask for explanations with a voice message that will have the most unexpected consequences... because he ends up sending it by mistake to Bruno, whom he doesn't know at all. This innocent first mistake is the first in a chain of events that will change Álex and Bruno's lives forever.

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Alcohol, Nudity, Explicit Sexual Content

Age Rating

Rated TV-MA

Representation

Country and Language

Spain (Spanish)

Main, Supporting, or Side

Main, Supporting

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