From the earliest days of cinematography, the portrayal of homosexuality in the movies has often been described as shallow, one dimensional, often alien to accepted norms, if there are any, in society.

This guide does not claim to be definitive list of a gay film genre. Rather we seek to simply introduce a small number of interesting and varied films where gay or lesbian characters are portrayed. Most films are readily available to rent or purchase on VHS or DVD.

Vito Russo's highly acclaimed book "The Celluloid Closet" documents the portrayal of gay and lesbian characters in American films from the earliest of the 1920's and provides a comprehensive guide for the critical viewer.

(c) copyright for reviews and movie posters used in this guide are not claimed by the publisher of this site and rest variously with the original owners