Rivals, Smoggie Queens, and how Saved By The Bell made me gay
Zack Morris saved me from a life of heterosexuality.
It took me longer to write today's newsletter than usual because I was too busy obsessing over every review I could find of Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma at Cannes.
How can something I've not even seen yet already be my favourite film of the year?
Maybe it's got something to do with the genius of director Jane Schoenbrun? Maybe it's because I have a lesbian crush on the unbearably gifted Hannah Einbinder?
Or maybe it's because Gillian MOTHER Anderson plays a Norma Desmond type figure who's sapphic AF?
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Queer and Now
Everything new in the world of queer TV and film
— Smoggie Queens isn't just the smoggiest sitcom on TV, it's also one of the best.
With season two arriving today on the BBC, it's time you get yourself down to Middlesborough and hang out with Dickie, a deranged drag queen fuelled by equal parts delusion and nicotine.
This is exactly the kind of heartfelt, down-to-earth comedy that the UK does so well, and I say this as a Brit who's rarely proud of anything that comes out of these hellscape isles.
— Rivals is gay on two fronts. It's gay because the show includes a small arc about two men trying to keep their love a secret in Thatcher's England. It's also gay because this horny shagathon of a series isn't afraid to flaunt male ass and boob and even pole when the scene calls for it, which is more often than you might expect.
With the first three episodes of season two out today, now's the perfect time to get acquainted with Aidan Turner's luscious chest hair on Disney+.
— Anyone who's watched Orphan Black knows that Tatiana Maslany is one of the best actors who has ever lived, so it's always a treat to watch her take centre stage in a surprising crime thriller like Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.
And I'll tell you what else is a treat. Watching Brandon Flynn play a gay cam boy who makes money stripping online. Characters in the show have to pay for his services, but all you need to pay for is an Apple TV+ subscription to enjoy him and all the other thrills this fantastic show has to offer (from Wednesday 20th May).
— Token Homo is back with a new season of trash cinema in London, kicking things off with 1960's 13 Ghosts on Wednesday 20th May. I'm kind of obsessed with the idea of a free Ghost Viewer you receive free with your ticket.
— People suck, and not just in the fun way, which is why I'd recommend checking out the book "No Fats, No Fems" by Max Hovey, which challenges stereotypes within the queer community and urges us all to be kinder (out May 19th).
"Regardless of background or sexual orientation, our final destination is empathy, and Max gives us all the tools needed to get there. The Velvet Rage for a modern audience, No Fats, No Fems is an urgent call to action that offers a roadmap toward stronger community and a much kinder future."
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32 Best LGBTQ+ Movies of 2026 Ranked (so far)
Plus where to watch them
In need of something new and extremely gay to watch? Look no further than my ranking of the 32 best LGBTQ+ movies released this year so far.
Check out the link below to see where your faves end up.
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Queer Awakenings
You know, the hotties who "turned" you gay.
Being gay is NOT a choice. How do I know? Because I was always going to be gay after seeing this as a kid.
Zack Morris in Saved by the Bell saved me from a life of heterosexuality, and for that I will always be grateful.
He also kickstarted my lifelong obsession with unattainable blondes who will only do me harm in the long run. But isn't that what being gay in the 90s was all about? Floppy blonde golden locks were all the rage back then.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar has been in a lot of bad shows since then, which feels like a waste because he could have just been in me this whole time instead.
At least he's still hot! Saved by the botox, methinks.
Send your own suggestions: cruisingcinema7@gmail.com.
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Out Takes
Queer hidden gems you need to see
It's hard to think of a gay teen film more under-appreciated than Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2023). It's also hard to think of a more unwieldy title, but that's neither here not there.
Based on the 2012 novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aitch Alberto's adaptation follows two Mexican-American teenagers whose friendship evolves into something more beautiful yet also far more complex in El Paso circa 1987.
Newcomers Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzales embody the story's charm so well, even when it shifts into darker territory. Aristotle and Dante is the kind of film I would have memorised chunks of dialogue from as a teenager, and I'm sure many of the young queer people who watch it now have ended up doing exactly that.
From their first encounter by the pool to an unforgettable dance in the rain, Aristotle and Dante is an instant YA classic, gorgeous and affecting in equal measure.
Crucially, this isn’t just another white gay story either. Mexican identity is integral to the journey at hand, especially when Ari negotiates machismo cultural norms or Dante questions how "Mexican" he really is.
And if that wasn't enough to convince you, Desperate Housewives legend Eva Longoria also plays Dante's mother, briefly taking us back on a trip to Wisteria Lane.
If you want to discover the secrets of the universe too, check out where you can meet Aristotle and Dante at the link below.
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28 Best LGBTQ+ TV Shows of 2026 Ranked (so far)
Plus where to watch them
Do you want gay shit? Of course you do. Do you want to spend hours looking for it? Obviously not. Thankfully, I'm here to help with this ranking of the 28 best LGBTQ+ shows I've seen so far this year.
Check out the link below to see where your faves end up.
And just like that, we've come to the end of Cruising Cinema today. As a thank you for making it this far, here's Jonathan Bailey with a reminder to drink your milk. See you next Tuesday!
Remember to share your own Queer Awakenings for future editions (cruisingcinema7@gmail.com) and don't forget to follow the newsletter on Twitter here, Instagram here and Facebook here and Letterboxd here.
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