From Drive Away Dolls to Gossip’s reunion, here are all of the LGBTQIA films, music, and books coming out this month
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY FOCUS FEATURES, BFI
How are we already in March? It seemed like only yesterday that we were cheering on the New Year! This month promises a whole host of fabulous LGBTQIA films, music, and book releases. Get ready to join mobsters in Drive Away Dolls, dance the days away with FLETCHER, and get sucked into spicy sapphic romcom novels.
Let’s dive into all of the queer releases coming out this month!
TV and Film
Drive Away Dolls
When: 15 March
Starring Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, and Pedro Pascal, Drive Away Dolls is one of the most anticipated lesbian films of this year. This exciting comedy follows two lesbian friends on a road trip to Florida who find themselves on the run after they discover a mysterious briefcase a group of mobsters are after.
Silver Haze
When: 29 March
Written and directed by Sacha Polak, Silver Haze stars Vicky Knight and Esmé Creed-Miles. The film follows 23-year-old Franky: a nurse who, obsessed with a thirst for revenge and full of guilt from a previous traumatic event, is unable to build any meaningful relationship until she falls in love with one of her patients – Florence.
Music
Maggie Lindemann – HEADSPLIT
When: 8 March
American singer-songwriter and bisexual icon Maggie Lindemann is back! Known for her breakout single Pretty Girl, Maggie is releasing her second album HEADSPLIT this March. She’s already released one of the tracks – Hostage – and we’ve been head-banging ever since.
Gossip – Real Power
When: 22 March
Sapphics, this is not a drill. Gossip is back. After disbanding in 2016, the iconic rock rock band, who were Standing In Way Of Control back in the noughties, is returning with their new album Real Power. Want to find out more? Read our interview with Beth Ditto in our Feb/March issue now: diva-february-march-2024/
FLETCHER – In Search Of The Antidote
When: 22 March
LGBTQIA icon FLETCHER is here to bring us some sapphic hits once again. Known for her tracks like Girls Girls Girls, Bitter, and Becky’s So Hot, this new album has been described as a very personal record. It will explore identity, insecurity, ego, and self-fulfilment.
The Veronicas – Gothic Summer
When: 22 March
We are being treated this March! Queer fan favourites The Veronicas are also releasing their new album Gothic Summer. The Aussie pop duo have been bringing us bangers since 2004 – two decades have flown by. Gothic Summer is expected to push the twins to their musical limits.
Beyoncé – ACT II
When: 29 March
The world went crazy when Queen B announced that she was releasing a new album last month. Following the first instalment in this creative series – the beloved Renaissance – Act II is expected to be heavily inspired by country music.
Books
Ellipses by Vanessa Lawrence
When: 5 March
In the glittering realm of New York media, this debut novel unfolds the story of Lily who is entangled in a toxic mentorship with Billie, a powerful executive. Lily, a mixed-race, bisexual woman grappling with career challenges and relationship complexities, finds herself consumed by Billie’s hyperconfident guidance through incessant text messages, forcing her to reassess her desires and chart a path towards personal fulfilment in the digital age.
Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk
When: 5 March
In a captivating blend of Gothic and feminist genres, Thirst unfolds across two eras. In 19th-century Buenos Aires, a discreet vampire navigates the city’s transformation while grappling with mortality. In contemporary times, a woman faces her mother’s impending death and a complex journey into motherhood. Their fateful meeting in a cemetery sets both on an irreversible path, intertwining themes of fear, loneliness, desire, and the delicate strength of immortal beings. Drawing inspiration from Gothic classics, Thirst challenges genre boundaries, probing female agency and the relentless force of longing.
These Letters End in Tears by Musih Tedji Xaviere
When: 12 March
In a country where homosexuality is illegal, These Letters End In Tears unfolds as a poignant tale of forbidden love between Bessem, a Christian girl, and Fatima, a Muslim girl leading a double life. Their affair faces harsh realities in Cameroon, where same-sex relationships are punishable by law. After a traumatic incident, Fatima vanishes, leaving Bessem haunted by unanswered questions. Thirteen years later, a chance encounter reignites Bessem’s quest to find her lost love, delving into a captivating narrative of resilience, secrecy, and enduring love against societal odds.
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein
When: 12 March
In a futuristic noir technothriller, a trans woman named Dora confronts a fractured identity and corporate intrigue in mid-21st-century Kansas City. When her ex-girlfriend Kay is murdered in their old commune, Dora, fearing the loss of her community, becomes the unlikely detective. As she investigates, Dora unravels a complex web involving a new drug, mysterious disappearances, and attacks from her pre-transition past.
Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash
When: 19 March
Rainbow Black unfolds as a captivating blend of murder mystery and gay international-fugitive love story, navigating the ’90s Satanic Panic over two decades. Lacey Bond, a thirteen-year-old in New Hampshire, sees her hippie parents arrested during the hysteria. Facing shocking accusations, Lacey makes a fateful decision after a brutal murder, setting the stage for a gripping tale of intrigue and love against the backdrop of a troubled era.
Cover Story by Rachel Lacey
When: 26 March
In Rachel Lacey’s sizzling novel, Hollywood star Natalie Keane, haunted by a past stalker, reluctantly agrees to discreet security from Taylor Vaughn, a sidelined bodyguard seeking redemption. As Taylor poses as Natalie’s girlfriend, the lines between reality and fantasy blur. Amidst the glamour of Hollywood and the threat of a new stalker, their connection deepens, navigating a steamy tale of fame, subterfuge, and unexpected romance.
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