Yes, Virginia, There Are Good Lesbian Movies

A week late with my best-of watch list for 2025? Yeah, seems about right. I mean if the United States can roll back its policies to 1939 Germany, I can be a little late on my pop culture calendar, right? Just so we’re all clear, we’re the bad guys this time around. By a lot.

So I actually saw more movies this year, and liked more of those movies. (But not Marty Supreme, I did not like Marty Supreme and would like those two-and-a-half hours back.) Here’s a look, in no particular order, at the movies that moved me in 2025. Oh, and they also had to be gay, because it’s my blog and I make the rules. And, again, none for you, Marty Supreme.

Come See Me In the Good Light

Can a movie about someone dying make you fall in love with life? Well, if it’s a movie about queer poet Andrea Gibson and their life with a terminal diagnosis, it just might. Lyrical in expected and unexpected ways, this movie produced by Tig Notaro follows Andrea and their wife Megan Falley as they navigate the end of their life. And even though we all know how this story ends, you will feel better for having watched – I promise.

Hedda

Yes, I found a screener and was able to watch (suck it, Amazon Prime). And what a ride this movie is thanks to the kinetic energy caused by gender-swapping the lover from male to female in this adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen play. Tessa Thompson is magnetic as the titular ambitious socialite lead, alongside Nina Hoss (who we last saw as Cate Blanchett’s long-suffering wife in “Tár”) as her former lover. Let’s just say the party does not go well for pretty much anyone.

Sorry, Baby

Eva Victor’s directorial debut is a quiet yet arresting story about a young woman dealing with her sexual assault by a trusted mentor. That does not sound like something fun to watch, I know. Yet “Sorry, Baby” manages to be both gripping and moving – while purposely not showing the actual assault. Instead, the movie is about how we move on with our lives, in both mundane and profound ways, after trauma. Victor, who uses she/them pronouns, also makes her best friend in the film queer with a nonbinary partner. Also there’s a cat, which defacto makes it gay.

Lesbian Space Princess

You should watch this movie for its name alone. But, it’s also a sweet, funny, topical, empowering and all-together fun ride through space and time. The chronically anxious Princess Saira of Planet Clitopolis gets dumped by her girlfriend who then gets captured by Straight White Maliens and then must summon her labrys to rescue her. Yes, everything I just typed happens in the movie, and more. Honestly, just go watch and enjoy this weird and wonderful super gay little Aussie animated gem.

Shoulda, Woulda, Hedda

Right, as I was saying, who has a Prime account and wants to invite me over to watch “Hedda?” The Tessa Thompson-starring adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen about a charismatic chaos agent gender-flips the past love. See how Tessa manipulates/bullies the marvelous Nina Hoss (also Cate Blanchett’s wife in Tár) with such ease. The film has received raves, but darnit if I still don’t want to give Jeff Bezos more of my money. So, as I was saying, who wants to invite me over?

Hedda Betta

Yes, more reason to look forward to fall. But, dammit, I’m going to have to borrow someone’s Prime Video account for a couple hours. I’ve been trying to give Jeff less of my money because fuck billionaires. But now I fear my lack of access will keep me from seeing Tess Thompson yearning over Nina Hoss in Nia DaCosta’s “Hedda.” The film is billed as a “provocative, modern reimagining” of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play “Hedda Gabler” and comes out Oct. 29.

Now Nia is the director behind the truly underrated (fuck incels) “The Marvels” – which made her the highest-grossing Black female director of all time. And you of course remember Nina as Cate Blanchett’s character’s long-suffering wife in “Tár.” I don’t think I need to re-introduce Valkyrie. I have to say, that’s some mighty convincing chemistry in just a few quick seconds of screen time between Tessa and Nina. And in case you were wondering, the “provocative, modern reimagining”-part is them having been in lesbian with each other in the past, apparently (since old Henrik didn’t exactly write that into the original). All I know is, damn, that’s hot.

Thanks, universe. We needed this. We deserve this.

Gender Fuck Thursday: Met with Suits

First things first, the Met Gala is ridiculous. It is the most bready of circuses, feeding us with literally nothing but sparkly celebrity sparkling. But, I can also not resist attractive women in suits. And this year’s theme of dandyism and Black tailoring which brought out SO MANY SUITS. Granted, some outfits were suit adjacent. And there were so many jackets over gowns. Or, um, hotpants. But, still, I love a strong shoulder in a smart lapel. I can’t help it! If we’re gonna eat the rich, they might as well look delicious beforehand. Just saying. Anyway, here are some of the tastiest looks of the gala. Like, Zendaya in that white three-piece? Hot damn. And I do not mean that respectfully. (Sorry, Tom Holland.) Oh and also – yeah, tax the rich.

Janelle Monae

This. Is. Art. Periodt.

Tessa Thompson

This is also art, but possibly by Dr. Seuss.

Doechii

I’ve never been into the little pageboy look, until now.

Whoopi Goldberg

This is perhaps my favorite of her red carpet looks. Maybe even more than her Oscar-winning dress in 1991.

Lupita Nyong'o

Seafoam Mary Poppins is working for me.

Lauryn Hill

This is what people mean when they say “like butter.”

Jonquel Jones

The WNBA finals MVP defied gravity indeed.

Breanna Stewart

Now that’s a good teammate, dressing exactly to theme.

Madonna

Channeling Dietrich is never wrong.

Chappell Roan

Neither is channelling Bowie.

Anna Sawai

I mean, if you’re going to wear the same thing as someone, might as well be Zendaya. Amirite?

Angela Bassett

Just give the Queen her Oscar already.

Tank Top Tuesday

Look, it may well be full-on October and fall and spooky season and whatnot. But that doesn’t mean we can’t give tank tops one last nostalgic hurrah for the year. Especially if those tank tops are seasonally accessorized, à la Leisha here. I mean who doesn’t love keeping things a little corny? Bonus points because October is LGBTQ+ history month and every featured tank top belongs to a historic LGBTQ+ person. I mean, we’re all part of history technically, right?

Leisha Hailey

Sports bras count, you know this. Especially in California where it still very much feels like summer.

Emma Corrin

I used to have strong feelings about armpit hair but now honestly I can’t be arsed in the least bit over it. Also more hardcore gardening pics from celebrities, please. That’s exactly my kink.

Megan Thee Stallion

Scary long nails for spooky sapphic season? As long as they’re paired with a tank top. And, obviously, that tongue. Ahem.

Jenny Lyons

Suspenders also fall under the stapped-top-without-covered-arms tank top umbrella. Please make your fall fashion choices appropriately.

Hayley Kiyoko & Becca Tilley

Lesbian Jesus and Becca Tilley seem very happy and in love in adventurous places in tank tops. So good for them.

Laurie Hernandez

I wish the Olympics were on all the time so we could have Laurie’s wonderfully engaging gymnastic commentary all the time. Even if, uh, this top is probably not broadcast appropriate. But it is appreciated. Ahem again.

Tessa Thompson

Don’t get too excited, that’s her lil sister. But, still, you know – aesthetically, thank you to good genes.

Tank Top Tuesday

You know what always lifts my spirits? Hot women in tank tops, duh. And if all those women happen to be very, very queer? Even better. Now, I tend to have a liberal interpretation of…well, most everything – but especially what constitutes a tank top. So please enjoy my interpretation of some very hot, talented folks going sleeveless however they damn please. As it should be.

Ani DiFranco

This might be a muscle shirt. Still counts.

Tessa Thompson

This might be attached to the bottoms and definitely has a hole cut out of the side. Still counts.

Kristen Kish

This is a vest. You already know vests still count.

Towa Bird

So, it only tracks that leather vests clearly count.

Renee Rapp

Like I wasn’t gonna post Renee after posting Towa. Also, sports bras have counted since the beginning.

Kehlani

Whatever this is, yes. Count it.

Everything Oscars All At Once

I’ll admit, somewhere toward the middle of the more than three-and-a-half affair when the German War Movie was picking up technical award after technical award, I started to worry. But Everything Everywhere was All At Once Oscars. Asian Excellence for the win! And the show went off without a single case of on-stage millionaire-on-millionaire violence. So, uh, progress?

While I thought the telecast was overall a tad dull and none of the bits landed with much more than a sensible chuckle (well, other than when Hugh Grant — who had previously given one of the most intentionally caddish red carpet interviews I’ve ever seen— rightfully compared his face to a scrotum), I was generally pretty pleased with the winners. Michelle Yeoh! Ke Huy Quan! The Daniels! Yes, I was rooting for Angela Bassett to do the thing (or perhaps for Stephanie Hsu to pull off the dark bagel upset). Yes, I’m happy for Brendan Fraser even though “The Whale” ain’t it. And what did I tell you about Sarah Polley? (She also happened to be one of the only notable female stars at the Oscars in a tuxedo, so a grateful Lesbian Nation thanks her for her service.)

Other than that, the blah beige “champagne” carpet set the style tone. Given that I watch this show every year in sweatpants and a hoodie, I really don’t have anything substantive to say other than these folks sure are nice to look at. So here are the rest of my extremely queer observations from Hollywood’s biggest night. The Good, the Gay and the SGALGG from this year’s Academy Awards.

Angela Bassett & Michelle Yeoh

This is the moment that made the AP go Horny on Main.

And, honestly, can you blame them? Because *low whistle*

Cate Blanchett

Cate recycling her luxury hotel curtains to make an elegant drapey top for the Oscars feels like the ultimate admission that she was rooting for Michelle this whole time too.

Stephanie Hsu & Everyone Everywhere All At Once

getting hit on by Florence Pugh

getting armtime with Angela

making the edibles kick in with David Byrne

and finally getting a (loving) talking to from Mother Evelyn

Florence Pugh & Her Bed Sheets

I like Flo a lot. And I too would prefer to show up at formal events in my fitted sheet and shorts with pockets.

You also have to give her bonus points for changing into her duvet for the after party. Extra double bonus points for hitting on Daughter/Stephanie and Mother/Michelle in the same night, too.

Sarah Polley

Honestly, I would wear exactly the same thing if I ever went to the Oscars. So the Relatability Queen wins again.

Jessica Chastain

The only celebrity to wear a mask all evening.

Also, she got to hold hands with Halle Berry and hug Michelle Yeoh so who is the real winner here?

The Female Torso

If the blah carpet’s signature color was bridal white, the Vanity Fair afterparty’s theme was Gray’s Anatomy. Cause you got an anatomy lesson from all the exposed rib cages, upper abs, lower abs and bra-like offerings on display at the after parties.

And now, onto the GGALGG:

Ariane DeBose & someone’s upset husband

Janelle Monae & someone who isn’t Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson & Flo & the Duvet Cover

Cara Delevingne & Jamie Lee Curtis

Rebel Wilson & fiancée Ramona Agruma

Sarah Paulson & Queen Latifah

Don’t worry, Dana actually brought Eboni Nichols as her date.

Olivia Wilde, Sarah, Tracee Ellis Ross, Holland Taylor, The Queen

I don’t even know how to describe this other than some kind of Lesbian Moonie Wedding Ceremony.

Sharon Stone, Sarah, Holland, Sienna Miller & Patricia Clarkson

And then this is, obviously, the reception where they’re recruiting for more Queer Sister Wives, duh.

Still, I think the best moment from the whole night was Halle Berry, the first woman of color to ever win a Best Actress Oscar, handing the first Asian woman and second woman of color ever to win her Oscar. That and Michelle, Halle and Jessica walking off like this. Women. I sure do like us.