15 best LGBTQIA+ characters in movies
Armand and Albert Goldman (The Birdcage)
These characters go so well together that we couldn’t possibly split them up. Armand and Albert are longtime partners who run the drag club, The Birdcage, together. Armand is the owner, while Albert is the star attraction, Starina. When Armand’s son, Val (the result of a one-night stand between Armand and a woman), comes for a visit, he tells them he’s in love, and he plans on marrying this girl.
The fact that their son is marrying a woman isn’t the issue, it’s her family that’s posing the problem. Barbara’s parents are ultra-conservative, and her father is a Republican senator who staunchly advocates for “good morals.” When their families are set to meet, Armand and Albert agree to do what it takes in order to make Val and his fiancée happy.
That means Armand has to pretend to be straight, and Albert has to pretend to be Val’s uncle. It’s especially difficult for Albert to hold back his flamboyant gestures to appear as straight, but he tries his best. They get their friends to help them redecorate their apartment in order to make it pass as a cozy, family home, and even convince Val’s mother Katherine to go along with the gag and pretend to be married to Armand.
It takes a lot of guts for an openly gay man to be shoved back in the closet, especially men as open and proud as Armand and Albert. But they do what they have to do for their family.
Even though the plan doesn’t go exactly as they hoped, they put aside their differences and help Barbara’s family out of the messy situation they’re in with the press. And by putting aside their differences, Armand and Albert are able to broaden the worldview of a narrow-minded family.
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Which LGBTQIA+ characters do you look up to?