7 suggestions for survey self-care
Image: The cast of The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo.
As we lurch into week 鈥榳ho the fuck knows, this feels like it鈥檚 been happening my whole life鈥� of the postal survey, it鈥檚 a rude shock to remember that it鈥檚 over a month until the result is declared.
The No campaign seems to be ramping up its nastiness, and increasingly its supporters are following suit.
鈥淭his has hit me much harder than I expected鈥� has become a universal sentiment.
LGBTI people are feeling every barb directed our way, like so many arrows piercing St. Sebastian.
Self-care is only going to be more and more necessary over the next few weeks.
One of the best ways to escape is through TV and film, so here are some suggestions – all queer, camp and/or fabulous – of worlds you can dive into to heal your soul.
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The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo
Brian Jordan Alvarez鈥檚 phenomenal comedic web series is a pure celebration of how great it is to be queer. Caleb and his friends – including already iconic trans character Freckle – ricochet off each other in snappy, short episodes while managing to take the extremely sexually fluid characters to real, human places. It鈥檚 all available to watch for free on .
Auntie Mame
Ten-year-old orphan Patrick is guided through life by his fabulously-dressed, free-wheeling Aunt Mame in this 1958 adaptation of the Broadway hit starring the glorious Rosalind Russell. As Mame would say, 鈥淟ife is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!鈥� Watch it on iTunes.
Shortbus
John Cameron Mitchell, famous for directing and starring in Hedwig, made this pansexual film which became well-known for featuring unsimulated sex. A seriocomic look at a group of characters desperate to connect, Shortbus鈥� overwhelming queerness and sex-positivity is the right kind of transgressive tonic. Watch it on iTunes, Google Play, or the PlayStation Store.
Romy & Michele鈥檚 High School Reunion
Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino are incredible as the spacey, loveable Romy & Michele who return to their high school reunion and pose as businesswomen. Packed with jokes, the film鈥檚 ultimate message – 鈥淲e don’t give a flying fuck what you think!鈥� – shows exactly why it鈥檚 beloved as a camp treasure. Available on Foxtel Now, iTunes, Google Play, and the Microsoft and PlayStation Stores.
Gay for Play Game Show starring RuPaul
Inspired by the game shows he loved in his youth, RuPaul hosts this tour through queer pop culture featuring all manner of celebrities and Drag Race alumni. Perfect for whenever you鈥檝e just heard too much from straight people for one day, you can stream both seasons on Stan.
Happy Endings
If you鈥檝e never seen this show, be prepared for the possibility it will change your life. Hilarious, madcap, and silly, this terrific sitcom followed the adventures of six friends – including bearish gay character Max – but was cut tragically short after three seasons. It鈥檚 only available on iTunes and the Microsoft Store, but it鈥檚 the perfect binge to get you through the month.
Schitt鈥檚 Creek
Co-created by Dan Levy and his dad Eugene, this comedy about the out-of-touch Rose family, who lose everything and are forced to move to the town they bought as a joke – Schitt鈥檚 Creek – starts slow but turns into one of the best binges on TV. Dan (who is gay in real life) plays David as an artsy pansexual, lending the show a unique queer bent. Plus: Eugene Levy鈥檚 fellow mockumentary legend Catherine O鈥橦ara stars as matriarch Moira, a former soap star with a delightfully ludicrous accent. All three seasons are available on Netflix.
