August is turning out to be a solid month for LGBTQ+ entertainment. From the ending of a beloved fantasy show to the real-life adventures of a queer parent, here are LGBTQ+-centric options for everyone to enjoy this month.
Television
“A League of Their Own” (Prime Video)
Inspired by the 1992 film, the highly anticipated series is co-created by and stars queer actor Abbi Jacobson. Jacobson, most known for her star turn in “Broad City,” plays Rockford Peaches catcher Carson Shaw alongside an ensemble cast that includes D’Arcy Carden, Chanté Adams, Roberta Colindrez and Nick Offerman. The series turns the film’s queer subtext into main text and addresses critical issues like racism, misogyny and transphobia.
“Motherland: Fort Salem” (Freeform)
The final season of “Motherland: Fort Salem” is underway on Freeform and centering its queer love story as it bows. Created by gay showrunner Eliot Laurence, the series imagines a world where witches are conscripted into the U.S. Army and use their powers to defend the nation. In season one, Raelle Collar (Taylor Hickson) and Scylla Ramshorn (Amalia Holm) were set up as the romantic core of the show, and that connection has grown stronger through the three seasons. Catch Raelle, Scylla and their fellow witches take down a corrupt anti-witch government in the final episodes. now.
“The Sandman” (Netflix)
Dream and his Endless siblings have finally made their way to the screen. Based on Neil Gaiman’s popular “The Sandman” comic book series, the Netflix series follows Dream (Tom Sturridge), Lord of the Dreaming, as he attempts to rebuild his kingdom after being captured and subsequently imprisoned for 100 years. Many of Sandman’s key characters are LGBTQ+, including nonbinary Desire (Mason Alexander Park), suave nightmare Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook) and Johanna Constantine (Jenna Coleman).
Film
“They/Them” (Peacock)
A cast of veteran actors, including Kevin Bacon, Carrie Preston and Anna Clumpsky, join a team of newcomers in the conversion therapy horror movie “They/Them.” If the real-life horrors of conversion therapy weren’t bad enough, the campers, including nonbinary actor Theo Germain (“The Politician”), must also survive the machinations of a stalker in this modern slasher.
“Stay on Board: The Leo Baker Story” (Netflix)
This documentary follows Olympic skateboarder Leo Baker, who had to choose between his career and being authentic to himself as a transgender man. Once a leader in women’s skateboarding, Baker made the difficult decision to quit the U.S. Women’s Street Skateboarding team and live openly. Director of transgender representation at GLAAD, Alex Schmider, served as executive producer for the project.
Music
“You Might Not Like Her” EP by Maddie Zahm
TikTok has been buzzing over Maddie Zahm for quite some time, and her most recent queer-centric single, “You Might Not Like Her,” has inspired thousands of duets and reactions on the app. In her new EP, singer/songwriter Zahm writes about her experience as a former evangelical Christian and a previously closeted bisexual. Relatable lyrics like, “One day you’ll kiss a girl and you’ll panic, some guy will break your heart and you’ll feel manic,” have garnered Zahm nearly 1 million followers.
Brandi Carlile “Somewhere Over The Radio” SiriusXM Station
Lesbian singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile announced this week that she will be hosting a new station on SiriusXM called “Somewhere Over The Radio.” The monthly show will feature the “impact that LGBTQIA+ artists have made on the world, the spiritual realm, and certainly our family through the transcendence of music.” The show will air on The Spectrum on the first Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. ET.
Podcasts
“Food 4 Thot”
The team at the “Food 4 Thot” podcast is celebrating its 50th episode this month. The show is hosted by queer writers Denne Michele Norris, Joseph Osmundson, Tommy Pico and Fran Tirado and features funny and frank conversations about everything from sex and relationships to literature and identity. The show is part of the Stitcher Podcast Network and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.
Books
“This Is Why They Hate Us” by Aaron H. Aceves
Enrique “Quique” Luna is in love with his friend, Saleem. Unfortunately for the mostly closeted “Quique,” Saleem’s parents are sending him away for the summer to meet a girl. When “Quique” decides he needs to get over Saleem, he connects with a few different prospects, including bisexual stoner Tyler, who may have feelings for both “Quique” and his best friend, Fabiola.
“Knocking Myself Up: A Memoir of My (In)Fertility” by Michelle Tea
Writer and poet Michelle Tea has been baring it all since her days in the queer feminist collective, Sister Spit. Author of over a dozen books, Tea’s latest memoir is about her experience with fertility and pregnancy at age 40. Tea’s road to parenthood is a bumpy one, often humorous, sometimes tender and heartbreaking.
What LGBTQ+ media are you excited about this month? Let us know at newsisout@localmedia.org.