A narrative feature exploring Abraham Lincoln’s personal life and queer legacy has landed a theatrical release.
Lavender Men is set to hit select theaters May 2 in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York City from Pride Flix. Lovell Holder helmed the film and co-wrote the script with Roger Q. Mason, who also stars in the movie that is based on Mason’s stage play of the same name. Pete Ploszek and Alex Esola co-star.
The project focuses on theatrical stage manager Taffeta (Mason), who is feeling demoralized while working on a play about Lincoln and ends up in an elaborate daydream about the 16th president’s supposed gay love affair that has been fodder for speculation.
A trailer that is exclusive to The Hollywood Reporter can be seen below. Pride Flix is an Entertainment Squad label.
Mason wrote the play of the same name that premiered in 2022 at L.A.’s Skylight Theater Company in association with Playwrights’ Arena, with Holder also directing the stage version. Serving as producers on the movie are Holder, Mason, Mia Chang and Mia Ellis.
Lavender Men
Courtesy of Pride Flix
“I became acquainted with Lavender Men when our genius writer/performer Roger Q. Mason (they/them), one of my dearest friends since we were teenagers, shared an early draft of their original play in 2019,” Holder says. “I never imagined in 2025 we’d officially release the feature film adaptation.”
The director continues, “This film was a genuine labor of love between close friends and trusted collaborators, shot over 10 days on a shoestring budget with adrenaline and passion for this story as everyone’s primary motivator.”
Adds Mason, “I hope this film serves as a rally cry, a fountain of joy and a grounding of purpose for the LGBTQIA+ movement in the U.S. and abroad at a time when we need stories which affirm,
empower and embolden us more than ever.”
Lavender Men
Courtesy of Pride Flix
Holder previously helmed the film Loserville and has produced such recent features as The Surrender and Peak Season.
Lavender Men follows last fall’s release of the documentary feature Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln that examined whether the politician may have been gay, with the film being subjected to trolling by Elon Musk and conservative pundits. Lincoln was married to Mary Todd Lincoln for more than two decades at the time of his assassination in 1865.
Additionally, the critically lauded comedic play Oh, Mary! is currently running on Broadway and involves Abraham Lincoln using Mary Todd Lincoln as a beard while she dreams of becoming a cabaret performer.