Cinema

Created from the treasure trove of the BFI archive, Queerama explores a century of gay British life on film, encompassing love and desire, persecution and prosecution, injustice and identity, sexual liberation and pride. Starting with the first gay relationship shown on film (1919), it takes in a wealth of early gay subtexts in cinema, prosecutions for ‘gross indecency’ in the 50s, the early gay rights marches and push for decriminalisation in the 60s and 70s, the fight back against section 28, birth of Pride and onset of AIDS in the 80s and 90s, and the sexual liberation of the 00s queer and transgender scene, as well as the chemsex, gay parenting and marriage campaigns of recent years.

Soundtracked by the music of John Grant and Hercules & Love Affair, Queerama guides us intimately through the lives, hopes and fears of gay men and women in a century of incredible change.