Pride Month movie recommendations for Canadian MDs

While I have worked with the LGBTQ+ population for more than 20 years, there is still so much for me to understand about queer culture. As much as Pride month is a time for celebration, it is also a time for reflection and learning. As a cis white straight physician, here are some of some movies that I have personally found most enlightening in my own personal journey of understanding and acceptance of sexual and gender diversity. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Truth be told, I absolutely love “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” I can’t believe that it came out in 1975! Over the top, highly entertaining camp at its finest. I remember the audience participation/dress up midnight showings at the Epic Theatre on Main Street in Winnipeg when I was a university student. It felt like “living on the edge” for all of us at the time. Let’s do the time warp again! PLOT SYNOPSIS: “The story centres on a young, engaged couple whose car breaks down in the rain near a castle, where they seek a telephone to call for help. The castle or country home is occupied by strangers in elaborate costumes celebrating an annual convention. They discover the head of the house is Dr. Frank N. Furter, an apparently mad scientist who actually is an alien transvestite from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania, who creates a living muscle man named Rocky in his laboratory.” Hedwig and the Angry Inch An emotional and expressive film released in 2001. Referencing Rotten Tomatoes website “It's Rocky Horror for a new millennium; a post-punk odyssey of love and longing filled with wit and surprisingly poignant observations on the human condition.” I fully agree. it is funny and touching and has become a classic in queer culture. This is a must-see film for all cis-gender folks. PLOT SYNOPSIS: “A German emigrant living in a trailer in Kansas is the victim of a botched sex-change operation. Adapted from the critically acclaimed off-Broadway rock theater hit, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" tells the story of the "internationally ignored" rock singer, Hedwig, and her search for stardom and love.” C.R.A.Z.Y The lesser-known epic Canadian movie came out in 2005. This is a wonderful and powerful film. I remember watching this movie with my nephew who was just coming out himself and this formed a special bond between us at the time. PLOT SYNOPSIS: French Canadian teenager Zachary Beaulieu is confused about his sexuality and is in conflict with his Canadian-Catholic upbringing which alienates his father Gervais and confuses his mother, Laurianne. Forcing himself to like girls, Zachary also must cope with his older brothers, who don't make his life any easier but when he finally accepts his true feelings, will his family still accept him? (Very) Honorable Mentions / not to be missed: The Crying Game, 1992 “A British soldier kidnapped by the IRA soon befriends one of his captors, who then becomes drawn into the soldier's world.” Philadelphia, 1993 “When a man with HIV is fired by his law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small-time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.” Rent, 2005 “The film version of the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical about Bohemians in the East Village of New York City struggling with life, love and AIDS, and the impacts they have on America.” Dallas Buyers Club, 2013 “The powerful true story of Texas electrician Ron Woodroof, who was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1986, and subsequently devoted his life to providing unapproved drugs and supplements to fellow HIV patients during an era when doctors were still struggling to understand the virus.” The Danish Girl, 2015 “A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's ground-breaking journey as a transgender pioneer.” Bohemian Rhapsody 2018 “The story of the legendary British rock band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid (1985).” These are some of the movies that have touched me deeply. In some of the cases, literally changed my life. Perhaps there are others that you have found equally powerful. Love to hear what’s on your list for Pride Month and beyond. Dr. Ted Jablonski is a singer-songwriter, emerging playwright and neophyte poet who has retired his family practice to focus on sexual medicine and transgender health in Southern Alberta. He finds himself advising medical students at the Cumming School of Medicine and still on the front-line trenches of acute primary care.

Pride Month movie recommendations for Canadian MDs

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