Comics have long served as an allegory for the LGBT community. Generations of closeted youth and adults have found relatable characters in the action laden stories. But it’s only recently that the queerness of comics itself truly started coming out of the closet.

Now, the film No Straight Lines: The Past, Present and Future of Queer Comics puts a spotlight on the people behind the stories. PEN America and Artists at Risk Connection are screening the film in honor of Pride month on June 22 at 7 p.m. at O Cinema in Miami Beach.

The movie follows five queer comic book artists, and was directed by Vivian Kleiman. The choice to hold a screening in Florida is a deliberate one, and one Kleiman hopes will make an impact. “We’re in an LGBT State of Emergency, and once again, we need to come together and fight the hate. No Straight Lines is a powerful tool to show the power of self-representation and defend against efforts to make us invisible again.”

Celebrating writer and artist queerness doesn’t end with the screening. Afterwards, Kleiman will be part of a talkback along with creator and musician Cristy C. Road and film critic Juan Barquin.

“More than a chronology of milestone events, I wanted to create an intergenerational story of our emergence from rejection to acceptance and help LGBT youth feel safe,” she said.

Kleiman also hopes it inspires the queer community to stand up, fight back, and be heard. “Today, as LGBT visibility and rights are once again under fire, I hope this film will be an antidote to hate and will inspire a new generation to fight back and demand equality for all.”

O Cinema is at 1130 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. Tickets can be purchased at O Cinema’s website.

 Photo credit: Araminta510, Wikipedia Commons.