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 agree with your thoughts on portraying gay-themed movies. I believe that these movies should depict a broader range of gay men's experiences rather than relying on stereotypes.

Moving beyond just same-sex attraction, how do we define being gay? Before 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 like they were included in films solely to add "colour" without meaningful representation.

Even "Moonlight" left me somewhat disappointed because I sensed a level of ambiguity in its conclusion. In your statement, "Ah, the never-ending struggles of a fervent people-pleaser," in the context of this review, I sense a double consciousness - being aware of the image you project and also being conscious of other perceptions of what it means to be gay. While films depicting campy, queer, or muscular gay men may be criticised 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.