.

In the TV movie, Stranger Inside, her crime-drama has a juvenile delinquent, Treasure, trying to find her biological mother in the prison system. We also see the talented singer face issues of homophobia with some shocking scenes having happened to Lee Daniels during his childhood in real life, like getting thrown in the trash for being gay.

In one of drag queen legend Divine’s best performances, Female Trouble, hehas its female protagonist committing disturbing crimes that will leave you horrified. With their unique perspectives and creativity, talented filmmakers helped make queer cinema widespread and celebrated. For example, Divine confidently embraces his body even though he doesn’t have a typical Hollywood slim build.

Known for his bold storytelling and vibrant cinematography, Almodóvar explores themes of desire, sexuality, and gender identity with unapologetic audacity. Given his lifestyle, Cukor had to cope with the constant threat of being arrested on “vice charges” – but the power of his presence in Hollywood never changed.

Born in England and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Charles Laughton was known in  both theater and film as a brilliant actor, his film roles ranging from Captain Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty to Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Inspector Maigret in The Man on the Eiffel Tower.

Laughton only directed one film but it was a powerful one: The Night of the Hunter, in 1955.

Anger produced and directed 37 films, many of which were banned by the authorities – films portraying homosexual sex were illegal in the United States before the tide began to turn around 1961.

Anger’s short films – especially Lucifer Rising, Hollywood Babylon, and Invocation to My Demon Brother – have influenced a generation of filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, David Lynch and John Waters.

Anger died on May 11 of this year, at the age of 96.

A partner and friend of Kenneth Anger, Curtis Harrington, also born in Los Angeles, began as a writer and film critic, switching to director in 1948.

The word was mentioned rarely and only in private, but the entertainment machine was constantly affected by smart and daring gay filmmakers, creating hit pictures and beginning significant conversations between the story on the screen and the audience in the dark.

From the 1930s to the early years of the 60s, Hollywood had filmmakers capable of enthralling, entertaining and sometimes scaring the audience.

Murphy's work often centers on LGBTQ+ characters and explores their journeys with compassion and authenticity. We celebrate these modern gay directors who are making significant contributions to the industry, using their artistry to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences around the world.

“Hollywood has made major improvements in its representation of marginalized groups, but there's still work to be done,” according to a recent article in E!

Online. With their extraordinary talent and passion, these filmmakers serve as beacons of inspiration, bringing about change and influencing the direction of cinema.

8 Ryan Murphy

Known for his groundbreaking television series like Glee, American Horror Story, and Pose, Ryan Murphy has become a driving force in modern queer storytelling.

One of cinema’s most impactful fictional teachers, Ms. Blu Rain in Precious, is a lesbian. Born in 1899, he directed 50 films – most of them, from A Star is Born to My Fair Ladyto Gaslight destined to become recognized as classics.

Born in New York, Cukor started in the theater as a stage manager.

This character reflected the lives of closeted men of that era having secret affairs, visiting underground gay bars, and even taking part in therapy to “cure” his homosexuality.

Haynes’ best quality is staying away from the clichés and tragic endings commonly found in queer films. Experiences of the LGBTQ+ were reflected through queer characters or points of view different from anything we’ve ever seen before.

We’re also introduced to another transgender character, Lola, who was the father of Manuela’s son before transitioning.