Pride weekend here in Chicago, the weather is fabulous, and everyone’s gearing up for the festivities — I even got a robo phone call last night advising me of the new parade route. That’s some community power.
In honor of Pride Month, I’ve been looking at assorted lists of the Best Gay Films out there, and they include Brokeback Mountain, Beautiful Thing, Maurice, Milk, Hedwig, Priscilla, Jeffrey, and a range of other essential and important movies.
Unfortunately, missing from the lists I’ve seen is DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS (1919), Magnus Hirschfield’s groundbreaking and heartbreaking film starring Conrad Veidt.
And I’ve also noted that the smile-inducing documentary, THE TOPP TWINS: UNTOUCHABLE GIRLS (2009) isn’t front and center on the lists as well. I am formally nominating it as a must-see and encourage you put in on your Pride Month Home Projectionist list.
This feel-good, award-winning documentary by Leanne Pooley follows the lives of the absolutely delightful Jools and Linda Topp, lesbian twin sisters who are New Zealand icons (who knew?).
Talented as singers and comedians, and influential as political activists, the Topp Twins are inspirational (although their skits can be corny, they still entertain). The beauty of the film is that it shows how the sisters’ joyfulness, strength, intelligence, honesty, and authenticity lead to love and understanding — and influence a cultural shift. It’s a movie about the power of the human spirit and demonstrates what Pride is all about. In that, the Topp Twinns are totally untouchable girls. 
The movie’s title song will stick in your head all weekend:
Happy Pride to all!
Gloria Bowman is a writer, storyteller, blogger, movie lover, freelance editor,
and author of the novel, Human Slices.
Access her blog at www.gloriabowman.com; on Twitter @GloriaBow
Home Projectionist 