As September starts, here’s everything you need to be doing to beat the seasonal blues
BY AIMEE BUTLER, IMAGE BY STUDIOCANAL
Look no further for all the best ways you can kickstart the autumn season this year, with a queer twist. Here are some of the best queer artists, movies, and activities that embody the autumnal, melancholic, and spooky spirit.
Music
For the backdrop to your autumn, take a look at the LGBTQIA+ artists below for some seasonal playlist inspiration.
Clairo
Think classic hits Bags, Amoeba, Softly for that hazy indie background music to all your autumnal activities.
Girl in Red
Perhaps a pioneer in the melancholic autumn feeling, my top choices are Fell In Love In October, October Passed Me By, I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend.
Arlo Parks
Literally everything from Collapsed In Sunbeams. The 2023 album My Soft Machine also includes some slower beats perfect for an autumn stroll.
Boygenius
Supergroup made up of queer artists Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, and Julien Baker. For a slower tune, try Bite The Hand, Me & My Dog, Cool About It – for a more upbeat feel, try Not Strong Enough.
Tegan and Sara
Twin duo Tegan and Sara embody indie pop and rock with their unique and catchy sound. For autumn, check out Walking With Your Ghost and Where Does The Good Go?.
Reneé Rapp
If you want an addictive pop song to scream in your car, I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone is for you. The first release from Reneé’s BITE ME album, watch out for more this season.
Anjimile
An artist who spans several genres, my go-to song for Anjimile is The King – a hypnotising and slightly eery tune that sets the tone for the entire album.
Film
Autumn is the last season of freedom before we must lock in to binge all of the festive flicks before Christmas.
Here is a list of some of the top queer films that exude intense autumnal feels and spooky vibes.
Imagine Me & You
A perfect choice for a movie with a happy ending. Rachel meets Luce at her wedding and there is quickly a connection. Secrets, passion, and a little heartbreak make this a queer classic.
Carol
Cate Blanchett plays Carol, an alluring woman who finds love and solace with young photographer Therese (Rooney Mara). Artistic and gripping, this is a must-see this autumn.
You Can Live Forever
This underrated coming-of-age film follows a teenager sent to live in a small town. There, she meets and falls for Marike, raising questions of identity and community.
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Starring Rachel Sennott and Amandla Stenberg, this movie is a more humourous watch. Things turn sinister at a party when a game of murder-in-the-dark ensues, with friends turning on each other as the night goes on.
Jennifer’s Body
The cult classic returns every autumn, delivering sapphic spookiness and gore.
Megan Fox plays a possessed cheerleader, Jennifer, who seduces men before killing them. It’s a gory, demonic, sexy slasher, perfect for movie night.
The Hunger
Romantic, gothic and full of vampires. Susan Sarandon’s character, Sarah Roberts, gets caught up in a love triangle with two vampires, Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie.
The Perfection
For any gore-lovers, this is for you. The Perfection focuses on a young cellist who travels to Shanghai and falls for a fellow student. When the pair embark on a trip together, things start to go wrong quickly.
Activities
Walk and pub grub
Be honest, is there a better way to spend an autumnal Sunday than meandering through the countryside with the promise of a pint after? Correct answer, no.
Recruit your friends or partner and take in some of that crisp, leafy air while there is still some sunlight left in the afternoons.
Afterwards, get cosy at the pub and treat yourself to a pint or toasty hot chocolate. If you really need warming up, a steamy traditional plate of pub grub will work wonders.
Fright Nights
We’re now in September, which means spooky season is basically here. Yes, you need to start planning your Halloween outfit now.
A Fright Night is a perfect activity to get your heart rate going and encourage terrified handholding. Complete with jump scares, toffee apples, haunted houses, and creepy clowns, if you’re looking for a fright fix, this is for you.
Bonfire
A more wholesome activity is visiting a bonfire. Nothing quite says “autumn” like a crackling cosy fire, van burgers, and hot drinks. Sign me up.
This is a great chance to wrap up all warm, break out the wellies, and try to write your name with a sparkler. You can soak in the atmosphere and join the chorus of “ooh” and “wow” as you watch the night sky explode with festive colour.
Knitting
A popular pastime in the LGBTQIA+ community, save money this autumn by knitting something for yourself or your partner instead of buying the latest “new in”. This is a great rainy-day activity to do on the sofa, or a great sick-day activity to do from bed when the inevitable seasonal cold comes creeping in. Deck out your loved ones and learn a new skill that will positively impact both your body temperature and your screentime.
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