This October, LGBTQ+ stories are everywhere, from film festivals to streaming platforms, making it a month of celebration, reflection, and resilience. Queer cinema has always been about more than entertainment—it’s a defiant reclaiming of space and voice. This month’s selections, from gritty documentaries to nostalgic cult classics, give us a chance to honor the diversity and spirit of queer identities. Here’s why these stories matter, and why you won’t want to miss a single one.
NewFest: The Heartbeat of Queer Storytelling
At NewFest, New York’s premier LGBTQ+ film festival, over 140 films take the stage, telling stories of joy, struggle, and unapologetic self-expression. Held from October 10-22, the festival’s must-see documentary Every Body explores intersex experiences through the lives of three individuals. With a world spotlighting restrictive gender laws and identity politics, this film is a powerful reminder of the humanity that transcends labels. For many viewers, it will be the first introduction to these crucial perspectives, making it a vital watch.
NewFest’s lineup spans all genres, from love stories to tales of resilience. And for those unable to attend in person, the festival offers streaming access, so anyone can experience these powerful narratives. Dive into the full lineup at NewFest.
Streaming Platforms Champion LGBTQ+ Stories
October’s streaming releases bring diversity to the screen like never before. On Tubi, Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain and Glory tells a beautifully introspective story about love, identity, and aging through the eyes of a filmmaker. Meanwhile, Paramount’s Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 brings a bold level of fun animated queer representation to the sci-fi genre, exploring identity and exploring the universe’s far reaches with the crew of the USS Cerritos.
By offering these narratives, streaming platforms are helping make LGBTQ+ stories accessible to audiences who crave authentic representation from the comfort of home. Each title is a testament to the power of seeing our experiences reflected on screen.
Queer Classics for a Halloween Reclaiming Tradition
And for Hallowe’en, nothing beats revisiting campy, queer-coded classics like The Craft and Death Becomes Her. These films, which have been beloved in queer circles for years, are back on streaming, offering dark humor and subversive twists that resonate with LGBTQ+ audiences. Watching them today feels like joining a shared cultural experience, a reminder of how queer viewers have always found themselves reflected in these quirky, outsider narratives1 2 3.
Why This October Matters
Amid increasing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, celebrating queer stories is an act of defiance and affirmation. When queer narratives are removed from classrooms and legislative bans threaten our identities, seeing these stories brought to life on screen matters even more. This October, each film and series represents a stand—a way of insisting that queer lives, voices, and histories are here to stay. So let’s not just watch; let’s engage, discuss, and celebrate them as a community.
- https://newfest.org/festival-2024/ ↩︎
- https://www.out.com/gay-entertainment/newfest-returns-to-nyc-on-thursday-with-over-140-queer-titles-for-its-36th-film-festival ↩︎
- https://gaycitynews.com/newfest-2024-watch-new-york-lgbtq-film-festival/ ↩︎