When adapting the 2019 LGBTQ romantic novel Red, White & Royal Blue for the screen, Matthew Lopez was careful to circumvent an R-rating. The film has a handful of sex scenes that stop short of full-frontal nudity — there’s some bare butts and, naturally, shirtless men.
But it wasn’t enough. Red, White & Royal Blue was rated R, meaning people under 17 would need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to see it.
Another recent film with LGBTQ leads, the French romantic drama Passages, received an even harsher NC-17 rating, which would restrict people under 18 from seeing the film at all, and also keep it from playing in certain theatres.
I have to admit that I’ve never gotten over the rampant rise in LGBT sex scenes in TV and films. I guess it just goes to show that my cishet upbringing took for granted that hetero sex scenes were normal.
I guess if I had my way I’d like to see less sex in general (all kinds, hetero or LGBT) unless it significantly contributes in some way to the story.
Still, I guess if you’re watching a movie that is known to be LGBT then you shouldn’t be surprised by seeing same sex content.