Pride 2026: A Q+ Celebration
June 18
Maurice by E.M. Forster
Today, Maurice is considered one of the foundational works of queer literature. But when E.M. Forster completed the novel in 1914, he knew it could never be published during his lifetime. At a time when homosexuality was criminalized in Britain, the book’s portrayal of same-sex love—and its refusal to punish its queer characters for it—was simply too radical. Forster chose to keep the manuscript private, requesting that it be published only after his death. It finally reached readers in 1971, more than half a century after it was written.
The novel follows Maurice Hall from his school days through adulthood as he gradually comes to understand his sexuality in a society determined to deny people like him the right to exist openly. Along the way, he experiences love, heartbreak, confusion, and self-discovery, first through his relationship with the intellectual and ambitious Clive Durham, and later through a connection that challenges everything he thought he knew about himself and his future.
What makes Maurice feel remarkable even today is its hopefulness. While many queer stories of its era ended in tragedy, Forster dared to imagine something different. The novel acknowledges the very real dangers faced by gay men in Edwardian England, but it also insists that happiness, love, and authenticity are possible. More than a century after it was written, Maurice remains a powerful reminder of how revolutionary it can be to simply imagine a better future.
Where to buy? Maurice is available to purchase at all reputable booksellers.
Weekend
Few queer films have had the lasting impact of Andrew Haigh’s Weekend. The premise is deceptively simple: after a night out, Russell (Tom Cullen) meets Glen (Chris New), and what begins as a casual hookup turns into a series of conversations, encounters, and moments of intimacy that unfold over the course of a single weekend. Yet within that short span of time, the film manages to explore questions about identity, connection, vulnerability, and what it means to truly be seen by another person.
One of the reasons Weekend has become such a beloved modern classic is its authenticity. Rather than relying on melodrama or grand plot twists, the film finds beauty in everyday interactions. Russell and Glen are very different people with different views on relationships, queerness, and the future, and watching them challenge, frustrate, and understand each other feels incredibly real. Their chemistry gives the film an emotional honesty that continues to resonate years after its release.
Tender, intimate, and quietly profound, Weekend captures the feeling of meeting someone who changes you, even if they’re only in your life for a brief moment. It’s a film about the connections that linger long after they’ve ended and the courage it takes to be vulnerable with another person. More than a decade later, it’s still one of the most influential and beloved queer romances ever put on screen.
Where to watch? Weekend is available to stream on AMC+, Philo, and Kanopy. It’s also available to buy or rent on Prime Video.
The Summer Hikaru Died
Something is wrong with Hikaru. That’s the unsettling realization at the heart of The Summer Hikaru Died, the acclaimed horror series based on Mokumokuren’s manga. Yoshiki and Hikaru have been inseparable friends for years, growing up together in a small rural town. But after Hikaru disappears into the mountains and later returns, Yoshiki quickly realizes that the person standing in front of him may look like his best friend, but isn’t entirely the same.
What follows is a fascinating blend of supernatural horror, psychological drama, and emotional coming-of-age storytelling. As strange occurrences begin spreading through the town, Yoshiki is forced to confront an impossible situation: he knows something has replaced Hikaru, yet he can’t bring himself to walk away from the being that now wears his friend’s face. The series thrives on that tension, balancing genuine scares with an exploration of grief, loneliness, and attachment.
Part monster story and part deeply emotional character study, The Summer Hikaru Died has earned praise for the way it uses horror to explore complicated feelings that are difficult to put into words. Creepy, heartbreaking, and impossible to look away from, it’s one of the most emotionally rich horror series in recent years, using the supernatural to explore loneliness, longing, and the complicated bonds that shape our lives.
Where to watch? The Summer Hikaru Died is available to stream on Netflix.
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Featured Image: Images Courtesy of Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon MGM Studios, Focus Features, Getty Images, Disney+, Apple TV, Crave.
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