Queer Actors and Film

Queer Actors and Film

Author: Al Preston February 13, 2026 Duration: 14:04

Films and the actors the perform in them have hidden and pulled into the spotlight queerness for decades. For good and for bad.

Richard Burton

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Burton#Personal_views

Jon-Erik Hexum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon-Erik_Hexum

Tim Curry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Curry

Judy Garland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Garland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend_of_Dorothy

Rock Hudson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Hudson

Liberace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberace

David Bowie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie

Prince

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)

Laverne Cox

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laverne_Cox

The Gay Book of Lists by Leigh Rutledge (copyright1987) pages: 24-28, 27, 96, 98-99, 107-108, 109-110


Al Preston hosts The Holiday Pride: A Pittsburgh LGBT+ Community Museum Podcast, a series that explores the rich and often overlooked history of the local queer community. This isn't a broad overview, but a deep, personal look at the stories, people, and places that have shaped Pittsburgh's unique LGBT+ identity. Each episode functions like an audio exhibit, drawing from the museum's archives and featuring conversations with community elders, activists, artists, and historians. You'll hear firsthand accounts of pivotal moments, from the early gathering places and the fight for civil rights to the vibrant cultural expressions that define the community today. The podcast aims to preserve these narratives, ensuring they are passed on with the nuance and dignity they deserve. It’s an educational journey that connects the past's struggles and triumphs directly to the present, offering listeners a profound sense of place and legacy. Tune in for a thoughtfully produced history podcast that honors where this community has been, providing essential context for understanding its ongoing story.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Holiday Pride: A Pittsburgh LGBT+ Community Museum Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Gay in the Digital Age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:42
This episode is a bit more personal, as I have grown up alongside the internet for the most part. Being LGBT+ has always been hard, but the internet has certainly changed how we all live.*Apologies for no transcript righ…
Queer Theatre Productions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:00
There are many theatre shows that involve queer folks.Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:LGBTQ-related_musicalshttps://playbill.com/article/queer-musicals-from-boy-meets-boy-to-jagged-little-pill-traces-lgbtq…
Queer Children's Media [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:00
Kid shows and other forms of media have an important role in teaching kids about the world and also normalizing things like queerness. This episode also covers censorship of kids media and features the noises of our cat…
Is Superman Gay: Queerness and Comic Books [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:57
For so long as there have been new kinds of media, there have been queer people appearing within it. Comic books are no different, but their relationship to queerness, fans, creators, and even specific countries is a bit…
Queer Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:24
Music has a lot of power in the world and gay anthems are everywhere. What makes a good queer anthem and why does it matter?Songs mentioned in this episode:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp1mlMQLZzqRHSBTB3qlCqcL7DT6V…
Queer Literature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:01
Books have entertained humans since written language was invented, it only makes sense that just about everyone would write stories about themselves.Sources:https://bookriot.com/most-influential-queer-books/https://poets…
Oral History: Clare Joyce [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:27
Clare Joyce is a born and raised Pittsburgher who is currently studying in Philiadelphia. They love the city and hope to return once their schooling is done. Their identity is new in comparison to the queer elders we've…
Magazines, Zines, and Chapbooks! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:01
Sharing information has been much easier since the invention of the printing press. Magazines and Chapbooks have a long history. Zines, while not as old, have been as fundimental to the LGBT+ community. Images from Pitts…
Queer Theatre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:06
Theatre has been a welcoming space for queerness for some time. Check out our sources to know more about the different theatres we talked about. Head to our Pirate DND page to learn more about pirates.Female theatrehttps…
Spotlight on ReelQ! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:52
Reel Q is a great orgnization that showcases queer films with the goal to make all presepctives and lives. You can learn more about them on their website.Sources:https://reelq.org/https://reelq.eventive.org/films