Pucker Up: These Are Our 10 Favorite Gay Kisses On Film and TV

Ah, cinema. The wardrobe. The set design. The acting. And the unexpected emotional swell in your heart upon seeing gay kiss scenes, as you’re simultaneously thrilled at being represented but also annoyed that this doesn’t happen more often. We’ve all been there, never more so than when we watch some of the best gay kiss moments from the large and small screens.

As much as we can say our society and culture has advanced to include all kinds of people in the media, there’s still a long way to go. Luckily for us, when it comes to well-crafted gay kiss scenes, the material we do have ranges from poignant to triumphant to just plain sexy. And that full range is represented below.

We’ve rounded up 10 of the best gay kiss scenes from film and television here:

1. Wings (1927)

Featuring the first gay kiss on film, Wings is a silent romantic action film that takes place during World War I. Starring the iconic Clara Bow, the kiss takes place between Charles Rogers and his dying friend, played by Richard Arlen. Though the kiss is platonic, the lines between the two young men include: “Just stay here with me for a little while” and “You know there is nothing in the world that means so much to me as your friendship.” #JustGuyPals

2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Back when The WB was still The WB, Buffy the Vampire Slayer blended supernatural terror with the regular, everyday terrors of being a high school student. The relationship between girl-next-door-turned-powerful-witch Willow Rosenberg and quiet, thoughtful Tara Maclay was one filled with love, kindness, and positivity, and that’s why it makes our list of best gay kiss scenes.

3. In & Out (1997)

After being outed in front of millions on national television, Howard Brackett (played by Kevin Kline), insists to everyone who knows him (and himself) that he’s not gay. However, with the arrival of an entertainment reporter, played by Tom Selleck, things begin to get complicated. Funny and innovative, In & Out gained attention for featuring a 12-second kiss between two men. Watch that gay kiss scene here:

4. Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003)

Another WB classic, this coming-of-age high school drama followed the lives of four friends in their idyllic fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts. It also featured one of the first gay kiss scenes on TV, and remains one of the most iconic television shows of all time.

5. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

This one is hard to talk about, and always will be, so we’ll let one of the best gay kiss scenes ever captured on film do the work. Brokeback Mountain is a certified masterpiece.

6. A Single Man (2009)

A film about the aftermath of losing the one you love most, Tom Ford’s directorial debut is nothing short of breathtaking. Although we won’t spoil too much, you’re going to need to break out the tissues for this one.

7. Saturday Night Live (2013)

Look, the writer of this article loves Bill Hader. Stefon is not the most politically correct character, and has said many things that make us cringe in hindsight, but this was very much the perfect outcome to ages of “will they/won’t they” between Stefon and Seth Meyers.

8. Moonlight (2016)

Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight is a coming-of-age drama that explores three stages of the main character’s life: childhood, adolescence, and young adult. Black masculinity and Black male sexuality, vulnerability, and love are consistent themes throughout this Best Picture winner, but one of our favorite gay kiss scenes caught on film is the below beach scene:

9. Love, Simon (2018)

Finally, the queer rom-com we’ve deserved all along. How incredible to think that baby gays can watch this movie and see themselves represented on the big screen — not just represented by older folks who have their shit figured out, but by teenagers like themselves.

10. The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)

Horror stories featuring gay couples aren’t new by any means, but The Haunting of Bly Manor has a very special place in our hearts for the nuance, care, and love with which it treated Dani and Jamie.

What did we miss? Let us know what you think are the best gay kiss scenes from film and television!

This article was originally published on December 29, 2020. It has since been updated.