“In moonlight, Black boys look blue,” and truly we do look blue, and the world is covered in our hue. One night, I came across the film, “Moonlight,” thanks to Netflix’s recommendations. I read the description of the movie, and I became more interested in the film when I realized the film centered on a Black queer male character. The character had similar intersecting marginalized identities as me, and it was at that point that I felt it was a must-watch.

The film presents three stages in the life of the main character, Chiron: his childhood, adolescence, and early adult life. It explores the difficulties he faces with his identity and sexuality, including the physical and emotional abuse he endures growing up. Masculinity, blackness, queerness, and vulnerability are major focuses of this film. It was a life-changing experience to sit down and watch Chiron’s life unfold before my eyes. Because we have quite similar experiences, I felt like I was watching a fictionalized version of my life. 

It was very heartwarming to watch Chiron grow, but it reminded me of the harsh realities that queer people of color face. We are more likely to suffer from violence and discrimination because our queerness makes us more vulnerable. We are also more likely to suffer from mental health issues and be ostracized by the people who are meant to protect us.

It was also nice to see Chiron fall in love. Love between two Black males is hardly portrayed in the media, and it was nice to see Chiron be vulnerable around his friend and romantic interest, Kevin. “Moonlight” did break a lot of stereotypes about what being queer looks like, and I still adore it to date.

Queer media like “Moonlight” has helped me accept my queerness. It has helped me become the proud queer person I am today. Watching films, movies, and documentaries about people that are just like me has helped me become firmer and more confident about my identity as a queer person. It has also helped me get a glimpse of the unique and similar struggles that are faced by different LGBTQIA+ people from different walks of life. The media has allowed me to consume queer joy, queer pain, queer trauma, queer resilience, and even queer pride. The media has comforted me and made me feel less alone when it comes to my life experiences as a young queer person that is still trying to find their place in the world.