Gay Documentary Movies & Short Films

SHORT FILM

Dildo Riot

2022 Documentary

A Marky Ramone gig, a murder, a riot, and a big dildo.

SHORT FILM

I Bleed

2019 Animation, Documentary

An intimate confession of a person living with HIV.

SHORT FILM

My Neighbor, Miguel

2020 Documentary

An exuberant 72 year-old gay artist named Miguel recalls his life of art and community in San Francisco during the AIDS epidemic.

Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

2008 Documentary, Musical, Romance

Examines the life and work of Arthur Russell, an influential singer, songwriter, cello player and disco auteur who died tragically in 1992.

SHORT FILM

This Is Not an AIDS Advertisement

1988 Documentary

An impressionistic antidote to the passionless, guilt-ridden AIDS awareness campaign conducted in Great Britain in 1987.

SHORT FILM

David, in Brief

2016 Documentary

When a filmmaker comes across the Renaissance's most iconic family jewels silk-screened onto a pair of boxer briefs, he decides to explore the story of Michelangelo's David and offer those of us struggling with our own modern-day Goliaths.

Small Town Gay Bar

2006 Documentary

The story of community in the Deep South that is forced to deal with the struggles of ignorance, hypocrisy and oppression.

SHORT FILM

Affirmations

1990 Documentary

A look at what it's like to be gay and black in America.

Night in West Texas

2025 Documentary

Forty years after a gay Apache man is framed for the brutal murder of a closeted Catholic priest, a police chief uncovers long-buried evidence that shakes up the small, oil-rich West Texas town that imprisoned him.

Jim Loves Jack

1996 Documentary

Chronicles Jim Egan's lifelong advocacy for gay rights in Canada, culminating in a historic legal battle with the Canadian government alongside his partner Jack Nesbit.

SHORT FILM

The Meaning of It All

2018 Documentary

A collection of handsome young men brought into a studio to photograph for a book project. So there are clips of him interviewing them, shooting photos and even having physical encounters.

Transsexual Stories

2015 Documentary

Follows five trans women over the course of a year and at various stages of transition, from hormone therapy to sex change surgery.

Out at Work

1997 Documentary

Documenting the struggles of LGBT workers seeking equality and safety in the workplace, highlighting personal stories and challenges faced across America.

When Ocean Meets Sky

2003 Documentary

Explores Fire Island Pines and its gay community, tracing its evolution from its founding 50 years ago through the milestones of gay liberation, the sexual revolution, the AIDS crisis, and beyond.

SHORT FILM

In Search of Avery Willard

2012 Documentary

Illuminates the life and work of a groundbreaking, yet forgotten, artist Avery Willard - photographer, filmmaker, writer, publisher, leatherman, pornographer.

SHORT FILM

Étoiles, I See You

2015 Documentary

Lil Buck dances in one of the most history-laden temples of classical ballet worldwide; Opéra national de Paris.

Out for the Long Run

2011 Documentary

The story follows openly gay high school and college athletes as they navigate the challenges of pursuing sports in environments often defined by homophobia and social stigma. Blending personal video diaries with intimate footage, it captures moments of triumph and tragedy as these young men and women chase their passions while confronting prejudice.

Talk Straight: The World of Rural Queers

2003 Documentary

A controversial documentary about four gay men living in the countryside of Swabia, far from big cities. Despite being in a heterosexual environment, they strive to live rich and happy lives.

Straight Out

2003 Documentary

Nine Icelandic gay teenagers open up about their experiences, dealing with exclusion, seuality, finding community, and facing self-hatred and suicidal thoughts. Their stories highlight the universal aspects of being gay.

Cycles of Porn: Sex/Life in L.A., Part 2

2005 Documentary

Explores the commercialization and personal journeys of men in the adult entertainment industry in 1990s Los Angeles, reflecting on careers, exploitation, and the evolving landscape of desire and identity.

SHORT FILM

A Home Called Vogue

2025 Documentary

Kirvan Fortuin, a Cape Town dancer and choreographer, pioneered the Vogue ball scene as a safe space for queer people. Despite his efforts, this was not enough to protect him from a world where people like him are not always protected or welcome.

SHORT FILM

Tom’s Flesh

1994 Documentary

Through a landscape of harsh and seductive images, enter the hypnotic and claustrophobic world of plastic surgery, eating disorders, abuse, self-perception, sexuality, and the obsessive mind.

Binding Words

2007 Documentary

Tackles the trans community's questions on identity head-on.

Chasing the Devil: Inside the Ex-Gay Movement

2008 Documentary

Four individuals share their challenging journeys claiming to have changed from gay to straight.

On These Shoulders We Stand

2009 Documentary

Elder members of the LGBT community in Los Angeles reflect on decades of gay history, unveiling hidden stories of resilience and identity.

The Adults in the Room

2010 Documentary, Drama

A hybrid documentary chronicles the filmmaker's teenage relationship with an older man, blending past memories with present efforts to transform their story into a compelling narrative film.

Badge of Pride

2010 Documentary

Explores the lives of queer cops in Toronto, revealing their personal and professional challenges, shaped by identity and the pressures of law enforcement.

Gay Documentary Movies & Short Films

All Gay Documentary Films

Dildo Riot

I Bleed

My Neighbor, Miguel

Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

This Is Not an AIDS Advertisement

David, in Brief

Small Town Gay Bar

Affirmations

Night in West Texas

Jim Loves Jack

The Meaning of It All

Transsexual Stories

Out at Work

When Ocean Meets Sky

In Search of Avery Willard

Étoiles, I See You

Out for the Long Run

Talk Straight: The World of Rural Queers

Straight Out

Cycles of Porn: Sex/Life in L.A., Part 2

A Home Called Vogue

Tom’s Flesh

Binding Words

Chasing the Devil: Inside the Ex-Gay Movement

On These Shoulders We Stand

The Adults in the Room

Badge of Pride

Gay Documentary Collections

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