We take a look at what the stars of the beloved classic have been up to in the last two decades
BY GINA BEVAN, IMAGE BY LIONSGATE
It’s been 25 years since the release of the beloved queer indie film But I’m A Cheerleader. The film follows Megan (Natasha Lyonne), an all-American cheerleader with a boyfriend whose parents believe she is a lesbian (spoiler – she is!). With her parents sending her away to live at a gay conversion “therapy” camp, the film takes a humorous and quirky approach while dealing with difficult themes.
The film includes an all-star cast and with the inclusion of queer actors such as RuPaul playing the role of a “converted” straight man, it cleverly plays to how gender can be a performance. Megan believes that she can’t possibly be a lesbian because she’s a hyper-feminine cheerleader, in turn playing to the very fragility of the supposed American ideal and that there’s no one way of being gay. Ultimately the film is a celebration of queerness and reveals the futility of trying to change someone’s sexuality.
Released during a time when heteronormative coming-of-age chick-flicks such as 10 Things I Hate About You and Clueless dominated cinema, queer representation was still “taboo” and actor Joel Michaely who played Joel Goldberg was even fired by his agents for taking the role which they thought would end his career.
The film continues to have an impact on queer popular culture, with the band MUNA’s track Silk Chiffon, which features Phoebe Bridgers, taking direct inspo and the film being adapted as a musical in London.
Natasha Lyonne
First up is the raspy-voiced queer icon, Natasha Lyonne. But I’m A Cheerleader was one of several roles that launched her into stardom in the 90s. After this she led a bit of a tumultuous personal life but burst onto screens in Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black, as well as co-creating and starring in the critically acclaimed Russian Doll and Poker Face. Catch her in the upcoming film His Three Daughters this autumn.
Clea DuVall
Still good friends with Lyonne and Melanie Lynskey, Clea DuVall is a lesbian actress and filmmaker who continues to star in major works. In 2020, she directed Kristen Stewart’s queer Christmas film Happiest Season for which Tegan and Sara recorded the song Make You Mine This Season. Speaking of Tegan and Sara, DuVall also developed the show High School for Amazon Prime TV which is based on Tegan and Sarah’s 2019 memoir. Speaking about the singers’ book, DuVal said to Variety magazine: “The way they captured what it was like to be a queer teenager coming out and coming of age in the ’90s, it mirrored my experience so much.”
RuPaul
Ok, this section isn’t necessary. You know he’s gone on to do wonderful things, although I’m still hoping for a second season of AJ And The Queen.
Melanie Lynskey
From roles in Coyote Ugly to The Last of Us, this New Zealand actress has starred in some of the biggest movies and TV shows during her illustrious career. Known for portraying complex female characters, it’s almost unbelievable that Lynksey had no formal training before being cast in her breakout and intense role in Peter Jackson’s Heavenly Creatures in 1994.
Lynskey reunited with Lyonne and DuVal alumni in The Intervention in 2016, and in 2022 she won the Gracie Award for Best Actress in Leading Role for her work on Yellowjackets. Lynskey has openly spoken about her eating disorder in her younger years, and in her acceptance speech said: “It’s amazing to be 45 years old in a size 12 […] and be playing the sexiest, most interesting, most fun role of my entire career.” The empowering speech came after a member of the crew’s production staff allegedly suggested she should lose weight.
Cathy Moriarty
Cathy Moriarty played the role of camp leader Mary, a prim and proper figure who attempts to stop any suggestion of queer sex in the shared house. In real life, Moriarty is a distinguished actress and activist who is a spokesperson for Autism United.
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