When I think of progressive queer comedies of the nineties, many unforgettable titles come to mind; The Birdcage (1996), In and Out (1997), The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), and the not-so-progressive but well-intentioned Three to Tango (1999) with Mathew Perry.
These films are funny and full of heart and made being gay okay. They normalized underground lifestyles and pointed out the farce of hiding in the closet. The characters were a mix of Queers and their allies. They invited gays to traditional settings such as weddings, the workplace, public schools, and small towns.