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Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film
For generations, members of the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood needed to be discreet about their lives but—make no mistake—they were everywhere, both in front of and behind the camera.
On the eve of the twentieth century, in Thomas Edison’s laboratory, one of the earliest attempts at a sound film depicted two men dancing together as a third plays the violin. It’s only a few minutes long, but this cornerstone of early cinema captured a queer moment on film. It would not be the last.
With Hollywood Pride, renowned film critic Alonso Duralde presents a history spanning from the dawn of cinema through the “pansy craze” of the 1930s and the New Queer Cinema of the 1990s, all the way up to today. He showcases the hard-working actors, writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, art directors, and choreographers whose achievements defined the American film industry and charts the evolution of LGBTQ+ storytelling itself—the way mainstream Hollywood decided it would portray (or erase) their lives and the narratives created by queer filmmakers who fought to tell those stories themselves.
Along the way, readers will encounter a fascinating cast of characters, such as the first generation of queer actors, including J. Warren Kerrigan, Ramon Novarro, and William Haines. Early cinema pioneers like Alla Nazimova and F. W. Murnau helped shape the new medium of moving pictures. The sex symbols, both male (Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, and Anthony Perkins) and female (Lizabeth Scott and Greta Garbo), lived under the threat of their private lives undermining their public personas. Underground filmmakers Kenneth Anger and John Waters made huge strides in LGBTQ+ representation with their off-off-Hollywood productions in the 1960s and ’70s. These screen legends paved the way for every openly queer figure in Hollywood today.
Illustrated with more than 175 full-color and black-and-white images, Hollywood Pride points to the bright future of LGBTQ+ representation in cinema by revealing the story of the community’s inclusion and erasure, its visibility and invisibility, and its triumphs and tragedies.
On the eve of the twentieth century, in Thomas Edison’s laboratory, one of the earliest attempts at a sound film depicted two men dancing together as a third plays the violin. It’s only a few minutes long, but this cornerstone of early cinema captured a queer moment on film. It would not be the last.
With Hollywood Pride, renowned film critic Alonso Duralde presents a history spanning from the dawn of cinema through the “pansy craze” of the 1930s and the New Queer Cinema of the 1990s, all the way up to today. He showcases the hard-working actors, writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, art directors, and choreographers whose achievements defined the American film industry and charts the evolution of LGBTQ+ storytelling itself—the way mainstream Hollywood decided it would portray (or erase) their lives and the narratives created by queer filmmakers who fought to tell those stories themselves.
Along the way, readers will encounter a fascinating cast of characters, such as the first generation of queer actors, including J. Warren Kerrigan, Ramon Novarro, and William Haines. Early cinema pioneers like Alla Nazimova and F. W. Murnau helped shape the new medium of moving pictures. The sex symbols, both male (Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, and Anthony Perkins) and female (Lizabeth Scott and Greta Garbo), lived under the threat of their private lives undermining their public personas. Underground filmmakers Kenneth Anger and John Waters made huge strides in LGBTQ+ representation with their off-off-Hollywood productions in the 1960s and ’70s. These screen legends paved the way for every openly queer figure in Hollywood today.
Illustrated with more than 175 full-color and black-and-white images, Hollywood Pride points to the bright future of LGBTQ+ representation in cinema by revealing the story of the community’s inclusion and erasure, its visibility and invisibility, and its triumphs and tragedies.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2024
36 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Alonso Duralde
7 books33 followersAlonso Duralde is reviews editor at TheWrap, as well as the author of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas and 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men; he is also the co-author of I'll Be Home for Christmas Movies with the hosts of the Deck the Hallmark Podcast. He is the co-host of the Linoleum Knife; A Film and a Movie; The Untitled Ify, Drea, and Alonso Project; and Breakfast All Day podcasts, and has discussed film on CNN, PBS, TCM, ABC and FilmStruck, as well as in numerous documentaries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 12, 2024
Pardon my French, but Holy SH*T, wow!
Alonso Duralde jam packs the LGBTQ history, representation, Queer coded films, Queer icons, and Hollywood backstories of some of the biggest and least known stars and films in History, going ALL the way back to the beginning of Cinema.
While I was mainly familiar with the 1950s and forward and knew of some of the stars and films from before then, I never knew just how intrenched queer stories, characters, and performers were in Hollywood.
If you are LGBTQ+, love Hollywood, love history, then this is for you.
There is so much crammed into this book, including tons of photos (and not just of the stars either), that I re-read it twice already just to get as much of the information as possible.
By far, one of my favorite non-fiction LGBTQ Arts related books of all time.
*This is going on my personal forever shelf!
Alonso Duralde jam packs the LGBTQ history, representation, Queer coded films, Queer icons, and Hollywood backstories of some of the biggest and least known stars and films in History, going ALL the way back to the beginning of Cinema.
While I was mainly familiar with the 1950s and forward and knew of some of the stars and films from before then, I never knew just how intrenched queer stories, characters, and performers were in Hollywood.
If you are LGBTQ+, love Hollywood, love history, then this is for you.
There is so much crammed into this book, including tons of photos (and not just of the stars either), that I re-read it twice already just to get as much of the information as possible.
By far, one of my favorite non-fiction LGBTQ Arts related books of all time.
*This is going on my personal forever shelf!
June 5, 2024
Expecting nothing less from Duralde, this rapid-fire collection of snapshots from the people and the films that create the tapestry of LGBTQIA+ representation of (primarily) Hollywood/American film since the inception of the medium is essential. I listened to the audio vs reading the print; I now intend to use the print to come up with my own list of films I may have missed or need to see again.
Indispensable.
Indispensable.
June 2, 2024
Alonso Duralde writes the best and most fun LGBTQ+ film books. This one's a beaut—I read it cover to cover in like 2 days and now have a ton of titles to visit (and revisit). A particularly perfect read for the month of June, for obvious reasons.
March 13, 2025
This was an easy read about the history and evolution of queer movies and queer actors and other creatives working behind the scenes. This isn't a book full of in-depth analysis, it's more of quick overviews of people's histories, plot summaries, and different trends and tropes over the years. The author did cover some movies and people I wasn't familiar with beforehand, so that was great.
However, because all of the different people/movies being covered only get a short paragraph (if that), it ends up feeling very rushed and surface level. Also, there were some things that were covered that felt like they were taking up space that could've been better spent on other topics. Like, was it necessary to dedicate the page space to talking about how people feel like The Mummy is a bisexual movie because it has hot stars and bi people love it? I would've preferred to read about another movie from the New Queer Cinema movement or another undersung queer actor.
However, because all of the different people/movies being covered only get a short paragraph (if that), it ends up feeling very rushed and surface level. Also, there were some things that were covered that felt like they were taking up space that could've been better spent on other topics. Like, was it necessary to dedicate the page space to talking about how people feel like The Mummy is a bisexual movie because it has hot stars and bi people love it? I would've preferred to read about another movie from the New Queer Cinema movement or another undersung queer actor.
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July 8, 2024Endlessly fascinating - wish it was 1000 pages longer.
December 18, 2024
An excellent book that would make a perfect holiday gift. Writer Alonso Duralde digs deep into Hollywood's past to highlight the films, the stars, the directors, writers, and other influential queer artists who helped create some of cinema's best treasures. Comprehensive and worth a place in your home library. This one is a keeper!
June 23, 2024
As a lifelong cinephile, this was the perfect book to read during LGBTQ+ Pride Month and I had a great time reading this book. However, a disclaimer. No one book can truly cover the entire breadth of LGBTQ+ talent and movies throughout the history of cinema. People and movies will invariably be omitted and I don't think it is intentional. There are people who I love that don't appear in this book such as actor/writer/ director Matthew Montgomery or director Rob Williams or documentarian PJ Raval. This book is only 309 pages long. Alonso Duralde would have had to write a much longer tome to truly cover everything, and that is one monumental undertaking. But what is here in this book, I greatly and truly appreciate. And, it's given me a great list of movies that I have not seen to add to my Letterbox'd watchlist.
Broken down into eight chapters, this book details the history of LGBTQ+ representation in movies from the very beginning of the medium, citing numerous movies and their importance at the time and now in 2024. Duralde also highlights important LGBTQ+ actors, actresses, directors, writers, and crew members in all fields. This I really liked because it spotlights talent who deserve recognition for their contributions. At the end of each chapter, he also lists a number of movies from that period that also deserve to be noted. That's where my list for movies to watch really comes from.
I am so glad I was able to read this book as a way to celebrate Pride month. Interesting, informative, and inspiring.
Broken down into eight chapters, this book details the history of LGBTQ+ representation in movies from the very beginning of the medium, citing numerous movies and their importance at the time and now in 2024. Duralde also highlights important LGBTQ+ actors, actresses, directors, writers, and crew members in all fields. This I really liked because it spotlights talent who deserve recognition for their contributions. At the end of each chapter, he also lists a number of movies from that period that also deserve to be noted. That's where my list for movies to watch really comes from.
I am so glad I was able to read this book as a way to celebrate Pride month. Interesting, informative, and inspiring.
May 10, 2025
Back in the 1980s or 1990s I read a book called something like Gay in Hollywood which basically outed celebrities from the first two thirds of the twentieth century. It was eye opening.
I thought the audiobook of HOLLYWOOD PRIDE might be similar. Instead the writer interspersed a lot of supposition with some known facts. Did he know that during Shakespearean times, men often performed both male and female parts which didn’t make them transgender? Women wearing pants before their time doesn’t make them trans. Cross dressing can be kink, it’s not automatically trans. Maybe some were, maybe some were not. Stating supposition as fact is dishonest.
Did someone pay the writer to speed talk his way through his narration? It sure sounded that way.
I thought the audiobook of HOLLYWOOD PRIDE might be similar. Instead the writer interspersed a lot of supposition with some known facts. Did he know that during Shakespearean times, men often performed both male and female parts which didn’t make them transgender? Women wearing pants before their time doesn’t make them trans. Cross dressing can be kink, it’s not automatically trans. Maybe some were, maybe some were not. Stating supposition as fact is dishonest.
Did someone pay the writer to speed talk his way through his narration? It sure sounded that way.
August 21, 2025
Very interesting. Some individuals I was aware of but others were eye-openers. I enjoyed the earlier part of the book. From middle on it seemed to lump people or movies together. I didn't care for that. I liked each person getting their own recognition.
September 20, 2024
Watchlist updated!
February 26, 2025
This made me want to watch a lot of movies. And I was able to appreciate the ones that I've seen. Duralde seems to have done his homework on both film history and LGBTQ history.
One complaint: some of the entries discuss two or more movies back-to-back, and it takes some concentration to notice which one is being discussed.
One complaint: some of the entries discuss two or more movies back-to-back, and it takes some concentration to notice which one is being discussed.
March 3, 2025
Truly one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. Plus, I added a bunch of movies to my watchlist :)
August 8, 2024
On first impression this looks like a visually stunning, coffee-table book— but it’s so much more than that!
Alonso Duralde is a masterful writer and storyteller that has documented and woven the history of LGBTQ cinema throughout the decades. I learned so much about some of my favorite iconic actors and the societal and studio pressures they needed to navigate in order to work.
It’s beautifully written, with each chapter showcasing the deep research Duralde has done to bring these important profiles/stories to life. Names are named without being gossipy.
Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in FilmIt’s a compelling read. Highly recommend.
Alonso Duralde is a masterful writer and storyteller that has documented and woven the history of LGBTQ cinema throughout the decades. I learned so much about some of my favorite iconic actors and the societal and studio pressures they needed to navigate in order to work.
It’s beautifully written, with each chapter showcasing the deep research Duralde has done to bring these important profiles/stories to life. Names are named without being gossipy.
Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in FilmIt’s a compelling read. Highly recommend.
June 26, 2024
Alonso Duralde's survey of LGBTQ+ Hollywood succeeds as a rapid-fire assessment of decades of queer cinema. Broad in its scope, the chronological narrative looks not only at films with an LGBTQ+ sensibility, audience, or appreciative fans, but highlights actors, directors, screenwriters, and craftspersons behind the scenes.
It's not an in-depth read, but with such a broad array of notables to discuss, the book's primarily intended to pique one's interest in new faces and titles, or to send an interested reader like myself down several Wikipedia rabbit holes. The necessary brevity of some entries can leave some unfilled gaps in what Duralde sometimes intends to convey—an entry on 1999's The Mummy, as one example, declares that the film was declared as 'specifically bisexual,' without explaining what that might convey. I had to spend more time than was worth the answer on my web browser to discover that it means audiences found both male and female leads to be...hotties? I mean, sure. They are hotties. But is that really all it takes to be canonized as a classic of bisexual film?
Rare moments like this aside, Hollywood Pride is a worthwhile sourcebook sure to double or triple your watchlist.
It's not an in-depth read, but with such a broad array of notables to discuss, the book's primarily intended to pique one's interest in new faces and titles, or to send an interested reader like myself down several Wikipedia rabbit holes. The necessary brevity of some entries can leave some unfilled gaps in what Duralde sometimes intends to convey—an entry on 1999's The Mummy, as one example, declares that the film was declared as 'specifically bisexual,' without explaining what that might convey. I had to spend more time than was worth the answer on my web browser to discover that it means audiences found both male and female leads to be...hotties? I mean, sure. They are hotties. But is that really all it takes to be canonized as a classic of bisexual film?
Rare moments like this aside, Hollywood Pride is a worthwhile sourcebook sure to double or triple your watchlist.
September 24, 2024
Hollywood Pride written by Alonso Duralde is a routine recap of LGBTQ+ films. Rehashing what any member of that community already knows. No new insights.
October 3, 2025
When I came out in the early 1990s and began to participate in Pride parades and other rallies in support of LGBTQ+ rights, I became familiar with the chant, “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it!”
At the time, it had not occurred to me that this chant perhaps deserved a different final line: “And we always have been.”
For as long as there have been homo sapiens, a fair number of those sapiens have also been homo in the sexual sense.
And, when it comes to entertainment, noted film critic Alonso Duralde proves that with the research he conducted to write Hollywood Pride, with takes readers on a queer journey in front of the camera, as well as behind the scenes, from the very first image ever recorded – an experimental film made in Thomas Edison’s laboratory of two men dancing together while a third played the violin – to the present day.
I listened to Hollywood Pride as an audiobook, which, considering the sheer amount of information Duralde presents in his rapid narration, may not be the best way to consume it. Since the print version also includes a number of photos, in addition to letting the reader enjoy a slower pace, it may be the best version for most.
Regardless, as Duralde covers a century or so of filmmaking, he includes names we’ve all likely heard, from Vincente Minnelli, Greta Garbo and Tab Hunter to Rock Hudson and Anthony Perkins, but he also shares information on others in the industry who are less likely to be known by modern audiences, such as early cinema pioneers Alla Nazimova and F.W. Murnau.
In his coverage, Duralde pays attention to the changes of portrayals of queer characters on screen, from early erasure and “coded” appearances to later, more nuanced and realistic performances such as Cher’s depiction of Karen Silkwood’s lesbian roommate in Silkwood and depictions such as that given by Julie Andrews in a mainstream film like Victor/Victoria.
All in all, this volume is a valuable addition to the history of queer cinema that may include a few surprises, even for those readers who might already consider themselves well informed.
At the time, it had not occurred to me that this chant perhaps deserved a different final line: “And we always have been.”
For as long as there have been homo sapiens, a fair number of those sapiens have also been homo in the sexual sense.
And, when it comes to entertainment, noted film critic Alonso Duralde proves that with the research he conducted to write Hollywood Pride, with takes readers on a queer journey in front of the camera, as well as behind the scenes, from the very first image ever recorded – an experimental film made in Thomas Edison’s laboratory of two men dancing together while a third played the violin – to the present day.
I listened to Hollywood Pride as an audiobook, which, considering the sheer amount of information Duralde presents in his rapid narration, may not be the best way to consume it. Since the print version also includes a number of photos, in addition to letting the reader enjoy a slower pace, it may be the best version for most.
Regardless, as Duralde covers a century or so of filmmaking, he includes names we’ve all likely heard, from Vincente Minnelli, Greta Garbo and Tab Hunter to Rock Hudson and Anthony Perkins, but he also shares information on others in the industry who are less likely to be known by modern audiences, such as early cinema pioneers Alla Nazimova and F.W. Murnau.
In his coverage, Duralde pays attention to the changes of portrayals of queer characters on screen, from early erasure and “coded” appearances to later, more nuanced and realistic performances such as Cher’s depiction of Karen Silkwood’s lesbian roommate in Silkwood and depictions such as that given by Julie Andrews in a mainstream film like Victor/Victoria.
All in all, this volume is a valuable addition to the history of queer cinema that may include a few surprises, even for those readers who might already consider themselves well informed.
October 12, 2024
Alonso Duralde’s Hollywood Pride: a Celebration of LBGTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film is a wonderful book for film lovers and for the LBGTQ+ community. Duralde covers LBGTQ+ participation in the film industry from the industry’s inception. He spotlights actors, directors, producers, writers, and tech wizards. Since the list is too numerous to write of each individually, he peppers the book with lists of “honorable mentions.” We learn two things: people we never knew were gay or Lesbian or other are indeed just that, and that they are so numerous that there may not have ever been a film industry as we know it without their contributions. This book is not a tell-all, gossip-filled tome. It is relatively scholarly while being an easy read. And for the casual reader, it is episodic enough that it can be read over several days. I was thoroughly entertained and educated by this landmark book.
May 16, 2024
This is more of an archive (or roadmap) of should-watch queer films from throughout cinema history, than a critique of the individual films (there are too many here 😁).
I really shouldn't have expected anything else from an organiser of Outfest, advocate for physical media and author of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas.
A lot of these names and titles are familiar to me from Duralde's podcast (Linoleum Knife) and various video essayists on YouTube. But, if you prefer reading on the page or want a one-stop-shop, this is an excellent compendium.
I really shouldn't have expected anything else from an organiser of Outfest, advocate for physical media and author of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas.
A lot of these names and titles are familiar to me from Duralde's podcast (Linoleum Knife) and various video essayists on YouTube. But, if you prefer reading on the page or want a one-stop-shop, this is an excellent compendium.
December 24, 2024
A very insightful book on queer media over the years. It shows how queer media in film was impacted via multiple film codes, the AIDS crisis, and the police raids of gay bars and the speculation some people had of actors and actresses. While focusing primarily on movies, I do think that TV shows should’ve been included as well. Queerbaiting is nothing if not a prime example as to how the LGBTQ+ is being used not as representation but as a screen grab to draw viewers in. My Letterboxd is going to look quite interesting next year.
May 13, 2025
An Excellent Overview
For someone just getting into the history of LGBTQ+ cinema, this is a great place to start. It offers an excellent overview, highlighting films, actors, directors and craftspeople from the 1930s to the 2020s. There’s a lot of info here, but not much depth, which the writer often acknowledges. He gives you a map, but it’s up to you to find your own specific areas of interest and seek out the parts of LGBTQ+ cinema history that really intrigue or fascinate you. Happy hunting!
For someone just getting into the history of LGBTQ+ cinema, this is a great place to start. It offers an excellent overview, highlighting films, actors, directors and craftspeople from the 1930s to the 2020s. There’s a lot of info here, but not much depth, which the writer often acknowledges. He gives you a map, but it’s up to you to find your own specific areas of interest and seek out the parts of LGBTQ+ cinema history that really intrigue or fascinate you. Happy hunting!
June 2, 2025
Hollywood Pride is like the ultimate VIP backstage pass to queer cinema history — from sneaky early film moments (two dudes dancing in Edison’s lab, anyone?) to glittery stars hiding in plain sight. Alonso Duralde serves up a fabulous walk down Hollywood’s rainbow runway, spotlighting pioneers who worked hard to make sure LGBTQ+ stories didn’t get edited out. Packed with juicy tales and over 175 gorgeous photos, this book proves Hollywood’s been fabulous and queer long before it was cool. Warning: may cause sudden urges to binge queer classics and throw glitter at your screen.
June 24, 2025
Perfect Pride Month read! Ya’ll know I love films and gay stuff, so this was a great read for me. Assembled by the good folks at Turner Classic Movies as this book chronicles the history of gay filmmakers and films, it is no coincidence that it also chronicles the history of the LGBTQ community to fight for its rights. I was happy that I knew most of the people and films mentioned in this collection, but I did create a list of movies I now need to try to track down and watch.
Strongly recommend with 5 out of 5 stars.
Strongly recommend with 5 out of 5 stars.
June 3, 2024
This is much more than just a list of LGBTQ+ films. This book outlines the history of LGBTQ+ representation in film. It educates and informs the reader. And it IS also a great source of films to check out. You'll find yourself writing down notes of movies you may have never heard of and now want to see. This book is an excellent resource for film enthusiasts who may wish to broaden their horizons or just find out some behind-the-scenes information on some of their favorite films and filmmakers.
June 2, 2024
Very readable and fun (happy June!), and added a few more films to my to-watch list. There was a biopic of Siegfried Sassoon, and neither I nor my WWI buff husband was informed? There's a post-murder mystery starring James Coburn, Dyan Cannon, and a very young and trashy-sexy Ian McShane that Rian Johnson has acknowledged as an influence on "Knives Out", and I DIDN'T KNOW?
June 23, 2024
This is an essential addition to any queer cinephile's library but should also be a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of film and the importance of representation. Incredibly detailed, the author, Alonso Duralde, clearly has a passion for the subject matter. It's well written and a great reference guide when you're scrolling Netflix, Max or Prime.
October 5, 2024
This is a nice summary compilation of films with LGTB content or creatives from the dawn of film to the current day. The book is not scholarly but kind of combines TCM commentary with a bit more scholarship and film reviewing. It greatly adds to Vito Russos classic” The Celluloid Closet” in coffee table book style!
June 5, 2024
If ever a book was written just for me, it is this one! A look at the history of queer representation in film, this book is thorough and well researched. And it gave me a whole bunch of titles to add to my watchlist. Loved this and it made for the perfect start to Pride Month!
June 8, 2024
An absolutely ENCYCLOPEDIC listing of every gay, lesbian and trans actor, writer, director and producer who has ever worked on a film which was released commercially. Nobody surprised me, but it was excellent to understand how many of them there have been. Yes, PRIDE.
July 4, 2024
This is an excellent resource! I look forward to exploring some of the films (mostly from the 60s and 70s) with which I’m unfamiliar. It couldn’t possibly be exhaustive but there are a handful of odd omissions.
July 11, 2024
A true joyride down the side roads of queer Hollywood. Eminently readable series of notes and essays from a seasoned film critic and expert on queer media history. Great for anyone interested in film or lgbtq history.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews