I want to bring to your attention that the title of the movie "Shelter" has been changed to "Suddenly California" on Amazon (at least in the UK). I appreciate your review of the film and I agree with your thoughts on the portrayal of gay-themed movies. I believe that these movies should depict a wider range of the experiences of gay men, rather than relying on stereotypes.

Moving beyond just same-sex attraction, how do we define being gay? Prior to the release of the film "Moonlight," as a black gay man, I felt unseen in the media. Black gay men were often relegated to token supporting roles, such as the campy sidekick or the wise, god-like character portrayed by actors like Morgan Freeman, offering moral support. It felt as though they were included in films solely to add "color" without meaningful representation.

Even "Moonlight" left me somewhat disappointed because I sensed a level of ambiguity in its conclusion. It felt as though it was conveying a sense of double consciousness, a concept defined by Du Bois. While films depicting campy, queer, or muscular gay men may be criticized for over-representing "archetypal" gays, they still depict aspects of gay culture. These films were created during a specific time and conveyed the experiences of significant segments of the gay male community.