Happy Pride, everyone!! I know I should’ve started this series sooner, but sometimes my brain just doesn’t like to work. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite movie characters who are in the LGBTQIA+ community! These characters and their stories really stuck with me, so I’m celebrating them today. I hope you enjoy and let me know your favorite LGBTQIA+ movie character! (SPOILER ALERT!!!)

Edward D. Wood Jr. – Ed Wood

Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) was a struggling filmmaker who tried everything he could to bring his ideas to life. One of his films, Glen Or Glenda was a story taken from his own life and his desire to wear women’s clothing. He faced ridicule from his girlfriend and judgment from other people in the film industry. That didn’t stop him from supporting and working with other members of the community. He was very bold telling this story at a very dangerous time. What I wouldn’t give to be on one of those sets with those guys. They were so unapologetically themselves and supportive of each other.

Glen/Glenda – Seed Of Chucky

Glen (Billy Boyd) was a young doll who never knew who his parents were. When he spotted them on TV, he hightailed it to Hollywood to be with them. What he didn’t realize was he came from two famously psychotic, murderous dolls, Chucky (Brad Dourif) and Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). Once they reunited, they started to argue about whether Glen was a boy or a girl. Chucky wanted a boy and Tiffany wanted a girl. It got to the point where Glen finally snapped and hold them that sometimes he felt like a boy and sometimes he felt like a girl. Seed Of Chucky tackled the subject of gender fluidity over 20 years ago in the form of an adorable doll who struggled with their identity and their family.

Amber Williams – Wrong Turn 2: Dead End

Amber (Daniella Alonso) has faced a lot of hardship. After serving in the military, Amber was disowned by her father when he found out she was gay. Needing to get out from under his thumb, she joined a survival-type reality show to win a major cash prize. The show turned into an actual fight for survival after the cast and crew found themselves on the property of a backwoods cannibal family. Amber was a trained fighter who definitely should’ve survived. She was intelligent and she had good instincts. Not to mention she had to be partnered up with someone who had to be the funny man all the time. I loved that she didn’t put up with anyone’s crap.

Lenore & Susanne – Tammy

Lenore (Kathy Bates) and Susanne (Sandra Oh) were a wealthy power couple who owned a chain of pet stores. They lived a life of luxury and partied with their friends every chance they got. When Lenore’s cousin, Pearl’s (Susan Sarandon) granddaughter, Tammy (Melissa McCarthy) robbed a fast food place for Pearl’s bail, Lenore and Susanne helped them destroy evidence and gave them a place to lay low. Tammy and Pearl brought their issues to their house and almost ruined their special lesbian 4th Of July party. When Tammy ran off, Lenore found her and reminded her how cruel the world can be. It always breaks my heart when Lenore tells Tammy about how hard she and Susanne worked at being accepted in such an unaccepting time.

Isabel/Owen – I Saw The TV Glow

Isabel (Helena Howard) was a young girl who shared special abilities with her friend, Tara (Lindsey Jordan). Together, they defeated various monsters sent by the big bad, Mr. Melancholy. One night, they were captured and Mr. Melancholy put them in a trance. Isabel was now Owen (Justice Smith), a shy and timid boy who lived his life controlled by others. Isabel was an asexual girl literally trapped in a boy’s body, afraid to take the plunge and escape that world to be her true self. I think she perfectly represented transgender people afraid to be themselves due to bigotry in society, and how her inability to escape was slowly killing her.