The 1931 pre-code Hollywood film PALMY DAYS features a “Pansy” buying a cake, drag, and two queer-coded leads

The pre-code film THE BROADWAY MELODY of 1929 features a gay costume designer named Turpe (Drew Demorest).

Claude Rains and Gloria Stuart star in iconic gay director James Whale’s 1933 pre-code Hollywood horror film THE INVISIBLE MAN.

The 1933 pre-code adaptation of Eugene O'Neill’s 1920 play “The Emperor Jones” features a queer-coded character named Marcella, played by queer actor/comedian Jackie “Moms” Mabley.

Rico (Edward G. Robinson) and Otero (George E. Stone) are queer-coded gangsters in Mervyn LeRoy’s 1931 pre-code Hollywood film adaptation of W.R. Burnett’s 1929 novel “Little Caesar.”

Warner Baxter’s character, Julian Marsh, in the 1933 pre-code musical 42nd STREET was originally written as gay - but only a brief glimpse of subtext remains in the film adaptation.

The 1932 pre-code Hollywood film CALL HER SAVAGE was one of the earliest mainstream American films to feature a glimpse inside what is likely a gay bar.