Sexual orientation is distinct from other components of sex and gender, including biological sex (the anatomical, physiological and genetic characteristics associated with being male or female), gender identity (the psychological sense of being male or female)* and social gender role (the cultural norms that define feminine and masculine behavior). However, some people may use different labels or none at all. In the United States the most frequent labels are lesbians (women attracted to women), gay men (men attracted to men), and bisexual people (men or women attracted to both sexes). Many cultures use identity labels to describe people who express these attractions. This range of behaviors and attractions has been described in various cultures and nations throughout the world. However, sexual orientation is usually discussed in terms of three categories: heterosexual (having emotional, romantic or sexual attractions to members of the other sex), gay/lesbian (having emotional, romantic or sexual attractions to members of one's own sex) and bisexual (having emotional, romantic or sexual attractions to both men and women).
Research over several decades has demonstrated that sexual orientation ranges along a continuum, from exclusive attraction to the other sex to exclusive attraction to the same sex. Sexual orientation also refers to a person's sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors and membership in a community of others who share those attractions. Well, here’s a short overview of personal favorites within gay cinema of the 2010’s, followed by some anticipated LGBT-themed films in 2016.Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and/or sexual attractions to men, women or both sexes. The former an instant classic, the latter a drag. Two French queer films, albeit totally different from one another, which gained quite some attention and praise. It lurked in the shadow of La Vie d’Adele, which shook the earth by showing a tumultuous lesbian love affair in all its aspects. What surprised me even more was that it didn’t stir up any controversy when it was first shown at the Cannes festival last year. L’inconnu du Lac received much critical acclaim ( also by other The Filmtransition staff members), which surprised me, to say the least: it’s likely one the most overrated (rest of and dull films I have seen in a while. When French gay thriller L’inconnu du Lac was released in Dutch cinemas it made me come up with a list of the best LGBT films I’ve seen this decade. But since everyone’s doing it… these are the most interesting, gripping, funny movies that are in some way ‘gay-themed’. Defining movies as ‘LGBT’ or ‘gay-themed’ is in fact a bit stupid, as it has nothing to do with a genre at all.