Your Pride Month Media Guide.
Issue 010: Toni's recs to celebrate the LBGTQIA+ community
Oh, how I've been waiting for this one. Happy June, and most importantly, Happy Pride Month! In tandem with LGBTQIA+ pride, this month we're celebrating summer making its way to us, and this 10th issue of Toni is Typing. Thank you for being on this journey with me; my newsletter has allowed me to let out things that otherwise stay within me, and I adore sharing finds that have bettered my life in hopes of doing the same for you all. June calls for observance and spreading love! I've taken great pleasure in creating themed media guides because they give me the extra push to look further and actively engage in more art I'm either familiar with or have been meaning to get into. It's always been a constant pursuit of mine to find more queer artists, cinema, and television, and this month naturally lit a fire in me. May passion and interest ignite within as you learn about the following selections and continue the joyride of inspired media consumption.
Meet Syd
Syd's involvement in the famed alt hip-hop collective, Odd Future, and R&B band, The Internet, has made her a familiar face with a distinctive voice. Syd's skills in production and songwriting have been rolling out hits for well over a decade now. Her tales about lovers as an openly gay woman affirm the existence of same-sex relationships, their successes, failures, muddiness, and thrill as patently customary in our incredibly heteronormative world. As someone intrigued by great romance and mess, Syd is a unique queer pioneer with an impressive catalog in the alternative R&B scene.
Toni's recommendation for new listeners is Syd's second studio album, Broken Hearts Club, and her favorite track is "No Way." Additionally, The Internet's fourth studio album, Hive Mind, has been in heavy rotation recently, so check that out too! With no skips present, Toni's favorite track is "Mood."
Meet Orion Sun
Jersey girls have an unwritten alliance; innately, I will shine a light on a fellow one. Three years ago, Orion Sun provided me with comfort music, "Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don't Leave Me)," which went triple platinum in my bedroom! I didn't explore her discography enough back then, and fast-forward to the present, her last EP has been on repeat, and I've found myself also revisiting the body of work I used to cherry-pick songs from and now enjoying in full. Guitar-heavy alt R&B with strong production, silky vocals, and a confident rapping flow are Orion's fortes. It's really cool that I can experience Orion through different stages of my life and identify with her mysterious lover girl aura. While I make my way through her catalog and discover gems, I'm extending an invitation to you guys to join me.
Toni's recommendation for new listeners is Orion Sun's EP, Getaway, and her favorite track is "intro."
Meet Durand Bernarr
A voice that leaves me overcome with a frisson of delight, Durand Bernarr is a genuinely stupefying talent. This entertainer has a dazzling vocal range that everyone should experience! Bernarr is a champion of exuberant self-expression, vulnerability, and inner transformation. A storyteller through imaginative spoken word and his jazz and gospel-accented R&B and soul sound, he is a vessel of creativity. He has his hand in many pots, having done background vocals for different acts (touring with Erykah Badu, "Girl" by The Internet, etc) and making a mark as a sought-after featured artist ("Freefall" by Kaytranada, "Facetime (Remix)" by Ari Lennox, etc). He is versatile and unapologetically himself; you can hear through his work that it is done essentially for his satisfaction first, and we're merely blessed to witness it all second.
Toni's recommendation for new listeners is Durand Bernarr's third studio album, Wanderlust, and her favorite track is "Leveled." Additionally, check out Bernarr's Tiny Desk Concert here, where he and his band dress up as characters from Disney Channel's series The Proud Family and give an unforgettable performance.
Watch Pariah (2011)
dir. Dee Rees
I’m not running, I’m choosing.
TW: Homophobia-related Hate Speech & Violence
Honestly, I put off my viewing of Pariah for quite some time to avoid yet another bleak gay story, but I connected with the narrative deeply. The film surrounds a Brooklyn teenager trying to become more in tune with her lesbian identity as she hides it from her family and slowly but surely puts herself out in the world. I love the authenticity of the dialogue and the depiction of shaky familial relationships. Alike, the lead, has a lesbian best friend that she can confide in despite their quarrels, and it emphasizes how important it is to be surrounded by people who see you for who you truly are and not what everyone else so desperately wants you to be. The film is a tough watch; it reflects many shared experiences of unacceptance and the notion that indifference is not support. Rooting for Alike's success in embracing herself drives the plotline and reveals the heart in such a heavy story as she lets herself flourish by any means.
Watch Paris Is Burning (1990)
dir. Jennie Livingston
Some of them say that we're sick, we're crazy. And some of them think that we are the most gorgeous, special things on Earth.
TW: Descriptions of Anti-Trans Violence & Murder and HIV/AIDS-related Death
An all-timer. An essential viewing for all and an even better rewatch, Paris Is Burning continues to age like fine wine. The seminal documentary centers on the Ballroom scene in New York in the 80s. Common phrases and words considered mainstream slang (such as slay, sickening, serving, mother, shade, etc.) derive from Ballroom culture. If you're one of the people who use these regularly without knowing the history, it's time to open your eyes and ears ASAP! The film shows a glimpse into the lives of famed performers, sex workers, and community members within this Black and Latino LGBTQIA+ subculture and a rundown of how it all functions. It's exceptionally beautiful to see beings inhumanely alienated by their loved ones and society come together, support each other through hardships and traumas, and provide a safe space and home. Lovely humans full of personality, unwavering pride, and life make this film a joy to experience, and every time I revisit, there's something new to take away.
Watch Tangerine (2015)
dir. Sean Baker
I've been told you this was gonna happen. All men cheat. That's why they're called trade. Do them just as dirty as they do us.
TW: Transphobia-related Hate Speech & Violence
A perfect pick for this month and an early Christmas-in-July treat, Tangerine is a chaotic revenge-driven pursuit following a transgender sex worker free from jail. After catching wind that her boyfriend (and pimp) has been cheating on her, Sin-Dee sets out to find him on Christmas Eve with the help of her friend, Alexandra. Tangerine shows the perspectives of both women and a client, a cab driver with a family at home. Their stories intertwine and make for a tension-riddled adventure where secrets come to light, and confrontation is ceaseless. I love how the film shows the experiences of everyday people of LA instead of the glitz and glam cast over productions in that region. Entirely shot on iPhones, Tangerine is an indie triumph with some of the funniest dialogue and crafty yet effective shots.
Watch Bound (1996)
dir. Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
We make our own choices, we pay our own prices.
I had to throw in a fun one, a lesbian neo-noir most pleasing to me: the Wachowski sisters' debut, Bound. After prison, Corky, a woman doing maintenance at an apartment building, finds a lover in Violet, the woman next door. Violet happens to be dating Caesar, a violent money launderer who works with the mafia, making their affair high-risk. They plan to run off together, but not without swindling Caesar first. Following my first binge of The Sopranos last year, this film is definitely my cup of tea. It features an actor known for his notorious character in the series, for those who also love the show. Bound is a stylish mob thriller with romance at the forefront, more comedy than I anticipated, and great suspense. Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon have chemistry off the bat, and in my head, it was a constant battle over which aesthetic I wanted to embody more during my viewing. Sometimes, you just need a fun crime movie with hot people; excellent cinematography is a plus.
Watch Sex Education (2019-2023)
created by Laurie Nunn
You are who you are. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.
TW: Sexual Assault
Popular and relatively new, but certainly a goodie, we have the series Sex Education. An introverted teenager named Otis extends the insight garnered through having a sex therapist as a mom to uneasy students at his high school amid challenges regarding understanding their relationships with sex and their bodies. He is not a know-it-all; just like his peers, he also needs guidance, and this reveals the holes in his advice as it may lack true expertise, but his empathy usually aids him in finding solutions. Otis's hustle to help people as head of the school's underground sex clinic introduces him to people of all backgrounds and highlights the experiences of lesser-known sexualities and non-conforming gender identities. Another noteworthy storyline: Otis's best friend, Eric, a Black gay male from a Ghanaian-Nigerian religious family, explores how to express himself in a community that isn't accepting of him and learns what's worth sacrificing for his peace of mind. Beware, there's a bully romance. I don't want to see any pitchforks and torches outside my apartment, so I warned you guys! Still, there are lots of better-executed plotlines, trust me.
Watch The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (2024)
created by Cirocco Dunlap
We're all a disaster. And working on it is a lifelong thing.
For adult animation lovers, I've stumbled on a show with high potential. The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy follows two alien best friends and surgeons with anxiety and intimacy issues who perform illegal procedures to save patients and work towards scientific advancements. It's a sci-fi buddy comedy set in a galaxy where the gender binary is nonexistent and sexuality is fluid. I appreciated the takes on mental health and healing, and the emphasis on shameless pleasure with lighthearted deliveries despite the scenarios lying on the darker side of the comedy spectrum. The series has familiar voices, such as Keke Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Natasha Lyonne, Kieran Culkin, and more. I love an easy watch that stimulates the brain, and The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy is an underrated but convenient choice.
Watch Generation (2021)
created by Zelda Barnz, Daniel Barnz
We hooked up. But he was a jerk, so I went home and signed him up for the Scientology mailing list.
Yes, I know, it's another show about high school, but bear with me. Generation is at the top for one of the more realistic depictions of teenage Gen Z, both impressively flattering and unflattering. We can be a lot, and this show leans into the messiness, which makes for insane and humorous lines. The lives of a group of teens in a conservative California suburb connect as they each tackle insecurities, sexuality, love, unexpected stressors, and survival. There's an array of personas: an openly gay male with charm, a timid lesbian trying to open up, a male exploring bisexuality, and curious teens working their way through their learned bigotry. Through the portrayal of these characters, I see people who have come in and out of my life, as well as past versions of myself. The stories of queer Gen Z youth are worthy of sharing, and it's necessary to see community arise from chaos in vulnerable times. Although there will only be one season of Generation due to its cancelation, it has left a mark on its target audience and could do so for those who want to understand the subjects more.
I'm looking forward to seeing more solid and thoughtful LBGTQIA+ representation as time goes on. Surrounding myself with media where my community is at the center has done wonders for understanding my place in this world. People of all sexualities and gender identities need to witness and celebrate livelihoods different from their own and hold space for each other. To my fellow community members, continue being yourselves, go where you are loved, let people experience you, and document your memories and stories. We're visible indefinitely. Happy Pride Month!
I've been postponing watching queer films coz of the grief(I'm still dealing with post Warrior Nun effects) but I'll try to get into these soon(even though Pride month is over). Also, I second every musician you've mentioned but I'd like to (highly) recommend Ambré
Great recs! I saw the new criterion 4K restoration of BOUND recently and thought it was so much fun! PARIS IS BURNING plays in NYC pretty frequently so I'm hoping to catch it on the big screen soon.