Celebrate PRIDE Month with these LGBTQ costumes from the big and small screen on display...

Visibility and representation matters, and in this day and age when people are trying to eliminate DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), challenge hard-fought rights, brand our content unsafe to watch and eradicate trans people, it matters even more. For this PRIDE Month I thought I'd share some screen-used costumes from LGBTQ movies and television shows that celebrate gay, lesbian and transgender icons and queer stories.

Elton John costumes from Rocketman

First up are these movie costumes from 2019's Elton John biopic, Rocketman, which starred Taron Egerton as the out and proud music legend.

Fans of the British singer, songwriter, pianist and HIV/AIDS activist can also enjoy these other Rocketman film costumes previously temporarily on display the Downtown LA's FIDM Museum.

Billie Jean King film costume

from Battle of the Sexes

Next up is another LGBTQ icon, this time from the world of sports, tennis champ Billie Jean King's costume from the 2017 movie, Battle of the Sexes.

Emma Stone played the lesbian tennis legend and trailblazer in this retelling of the 1973 tennis match between her and male ex-champ Bobby Riggs.

You can also check out more sporty costumes from Battle of the Sexes previously on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema and the FIDM Museum.

Carol film costume exhibit

For more lesbian fare, here's a cool costume exhibit at the ArcLight Hollywood for the 2015 historical romantic drama, Carol, which starred Cate Blanchett as the titular character and Rooney Mara as her lover, based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 novel, The Price of Salt.

Be sure to get a closer look at these Carol film costumes designed by Sandy Powell on display.

Milk movie costume exhibit

Having just celebrated Harvey Milk Day on May 22, I'd be remiss not to share these screen-worn costumes from the 2008 biopic, Milk, the story of the murdered proud activist and first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

This important and symbolic victory for the LGBT community was marred by his assassination, but his legacy and inspiration lives on.

The acclaimed film won two Oscars, Best Actor for Sean Penn for his portrayal as the gay pioneer and the other of gay writer Dustin Lance Black for Best Original Screenplay.

Be sure to check out more Milk movie costumes and props on display, in addition to these on display at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Phastos film costume from Eternals

In 2021 Brian Tyree Henry played the MCU's first openly gay superhero as 'Phastos' in Marvel Studios Eternals movie.

Not only did the genius wield the cosmic powers of technopathy and invention, but he was shown in a committed gay relationship raising a child together.

Be sure to check out more screen-worn costumes from Eternals on display at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre.

King Valkyrie film costume

from Thor: Love and Thunder

Even though Phastos was depicted as openly gay on the big screen, Tessa Thompson's bisexual 'Valkyrie' actually made her debut in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, reprising her powerful role in subsequent Avengers and Thor movies.

If you're a fan of the MCU character make sure you check out her other Valkyrie film costumes on display.

The Danish Girl movie costume exhibit

I know that some people criticize early LGBT films and TV shows for not casting transgender actors in trans roles, but it's true to say such films as 2015's The Danish Girl paved the way for more authentic casting on the big and small screen (and helped inform my education, exploration and understanding of the trans community).

Eddie Redmayne was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal as 'Lili Elbe', one of the first transgender women to undergo sex reassignment surgery in the 1920s.

You can also check to more costumes designed by Paco Delgado for The Danish Girl on display.

Transparent TV costume exhibit

Amazon Prime's critically-acclaimed Transparent, although flawed, also brought the trans experience into the mainstream when it started in February 2014.

The comedy-drama starred Jeffrey Tambor (a cisgender man later to be accused of sexual harassment on set) as a trans woman called 'Maura' and revolved around the self-absorbed Los Angeles family, the 'Pfeffermans', and their reactions and lives after learning the truth about their parent and husband.

These screen-used costumes from the TV series were Emmy-nominated for the sophomore season of Transparent.

Pose TV costume exhibit

Another trailblazing television show that enjoyed great cultural success and acclaim was FX's 1980s New York City queer ball culture drama, Pose.

The ball culture scene with its 'Houses' and 'House Mothers' boasted the most transgender and gay cast members on a primetime drama (including Dominque Jackson, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Indya Moore,  Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross and Billy Porter), plus a diverse writing, production and directing staff behind the scenes.

Pose's costumes were also Emmy-nominated for its debut season, so be sure to enjoy more of them on display at the FIDM Museum in 2019.

RuPaul's Drag Race TV costumes

And finally for this collection of LGBT wardrobes, how could I not shine a light on undoubtably the most famous drag queen of all time, RuPaul.

RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on LGBT cable channel Logo in February 2009 and has since spawned eighteen seasons of the reality competition series, plus an All Stars format and other country spin-offs, helping to make drag a part of mainstream culture and propel many Drag Race contestants to global superstardom, including Trixie Mattel, Jinkx Monsoon, Diana Del Rio, Bob the Drag Queen, Alyssa Edwards and many, many more.

This trio of main stage judging gowns were worn by RuPaul and were captured on display at the Drag Race Hollywood pop-up store in 2017.

Fans of Mama Ru and the iconic show can also check out more RuPaul's Drag Race gowns on display in West Hollywood storefront windows and at the FIDM Museum.

This PRIDE season be sure to be safe, loud and proud. Make sure you support political candidates that champion LGBTQ equality and rights, and stop buying from companies and brands and visiting countries that throw our community under the bus to curry favour from fascist regimes.

HAPPY PRIDE!

Oscar-nominated costumes from The Danish Girl on display...

Paco Delgado is another of this year's Oscar-nominated designers showcased at the 24th Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibition at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum, and these four fabulous outfits from The Danish Girl were on display on February 12, 2016.

Original film costumes from The Danish Girl
at the FIDM Museum

Under normal circumstances costumes are really important for helping actors get into character and this is especially so in Tom Hopper's film, as the Costume Designer was dressing a male actor (Eddie Redmayne) playing a transgender woman expressing herself through what she wore.

The film is inspired by the true story of 1920s Danish painters 'Einar and Gerda Wegener', a married couple whose lives change when Einar decides to identify and live as a woman, 'Lili Elbe', and undergoes one of the first pioneering gender reassignment operations in 1930s Germany.

Costumes worn by Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe

in The Danish Girl

Apparently some of the challenges for the designer included Eddie Redmayne's height (especially exacerbated in heels) and the fact that women were more petite and their fashion in the 1920s didn't really have a waist, and yet they wanted to help create this sense of femininity in the shape and look of the character.

Obviously the right makeup and wigs courtesy of Jan Sewell also helped create the overall look, alongside Eddie's compelling performance.

Paco Delgado also designed Eddie Redmayne's Marius costume in the Les Misérables movie, plus if you're a fan of the actor, be sure to also check out his costumes and props from The Theory of Everything.

Costume worn by Alicia Vikander as Gerda Wegener

in The Danish Girl

In the touching movie Alicia Vikander also gave a stellar performance as Einar's understanding wife, Gerda, and she wears this blue dress at a party when her husband pretends to be her female cousin in one of her first public outings as Lili.

If you like these recreated 1920s looks (which are so nice to see out of the confines of reflective display cases), be sure to also check out these other costumes from The Danish Girl that were on display in L.A. cinemas when the movie was first released.

With the film up for four Oscars (understandably as it moved me to tears and was one of my favourite films from last year), for Costume Design, Best Leading Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Production Design, let's see how many golden statuettes The Danish Girl can bring home come February 28, 2016.

The Danish Girl movie poster

The Danish Girl film costumes on display...

Even though The Danish Girl is set in 1920s Copenhagen, the film's story has never been more timely for the transgender community and the world we live in today. Here are more wonderful costumes from the new movie starring Eddie Redmayne as one of the first men to undergo male to female sex reassignment surgery, and Alicia Vikander as the wife who stood by his side.

Original movie costumes from The Danish Girl

These three costumes designed by Oscar-nominated Paco Delgado were photographed on display at the new ArcLight Santa Monica cinema on November 24, 2015.

If you like these 1920s inspired outfits, be sure to also check out these three other movie costumes from The Danish Girl on display at ArcLight Hollywood.

Costume worn by Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe

in The Danish Girl

In the movie 'Gerda Wegener' (Alicia Vikander) paints her fellow artist and husband, 'Einar Wegener' (Eddie Redmayne), as a woman. As the painting gained popularity Einar started to embrace his female appearance and went by the name 'Lili Elbe', and with the support of his wife he attempted one of the first sex reassignment surgeries.

Costumes worn by Alicia Vikander as Gerda Wegener

and Matthias Schoenaerts as Hans Axgil in The Danish Girl

Their marriage forever changed, things are complicated even more when an old art dealer friend of Einar, 'Hans Axgil' (Matthias Schoenaerts), comes along and becomes involved in a complex love triangle with the couple.

If you're a fan of Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne, be sure to also check out his Marius movie costume from Les Misérables and these film costumes from The Theory of Everything.

The Danish Girl movie poster

Original movie costumes from The Danish Girl on display...

Not content with winning an Oscar for his transformative performance as 'Stephen Hawking' in The Theory of Everything, or landing the leading role of 'Newt Scamander' in J.K. Rowling's new Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them fantasy film franchise, in Eddie Redmayne's latest movie he stars as Danish transgender pioneer 'Lili Elbe'.

The Danish Girl movie costume exhibit

This trio of costumes from The Danish Girl, which is set in the early 1920s, was photographed on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema to help promote the film on November 17, 2015.

The Danish Girl movie poster

This biographical drama was directed by Tom Hooper and based on the 2000 novel of the same name by David Ebershoff, with Costume Design by Paco Delgado. You can see more of his Oscar-nominated Les Misérables movie costumes on this blog, including Eddie Redmayne's 'Marius' costume.

Costumes worn by Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe

in The Danish Girl 

Inspired by true events, the film is set in early 1920s Copenhagen where 'Einar Wegener' (Eddie Redmayne) is asked by his artist wife, 'Gerda Wegener' (Alicia Vikander), to stand in for a female model. The popularity of the painting leads Gerda to paint further pictures of her husband as a woman and over time he develops an affinity for his female appearance and starts living as a woman named 'Lili Elbe'.

Costume worn by Alicia Vikander as Gerda Wegener

in The Danish Girl

Lili becomes the first recipient of male to female sex reassignment surgery, supported by his wife, although their marriage becomes strained by the realisation that Lili is no longer the person she married, complicated further when a childhood friend appears and a complex love triangle is formed.

Costume worn by Amber Heard as Oola Paulson

in The Danish Girl

In the movie Amber Heard plays their vibrant ballet dancer friend named 'Oola Paulson' and wears this golden outfit.

If you like this film fashion, then you may also like these movie costumes from The Great Gatsby from New York's Roaring Twenties.

Meanwhile if you're a fan of the actor, you can also check out these film costumes and props from The Theory of Everything.

It's great to see more diversity in the films and stories that Hollywoodland is producing, and this movie adaptation is certainly very timely with progress, visibility and equality issues for the transgender community never having been so prominent in the public arena. I for one can't wait to see Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl.

The Danish Girl movie poster