What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBut I'm a Cheerleader
Film · 2000
If you loved But I'm a Cheerleader, start with Please Like Me (Josh Thomas, 2013) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to But I'm a Cheerleader across media.
If you loved the satirical wit and earnest self-discovery in But I'm a Cheerleader, these stories celebrate finding your authentic voice.
Books on the same thread
If We Were a Movie
Zakiya N Jamal · Book · 2025
Shares a thread with But I'm a Cheerleader: Self-Discovery.
Like the vibrant aesthetic of But I'm a Cheerleader, this romance captures the specific tension of queer identity unfolding within a stylized, quirky setting that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Here We Go Again
Alison Cochrun · Book · 2024
Shares a thread with But I'm a Cheerleader: Self-Discovery.
This road trip narrative mirrors the transformative journey of self-discovery found in But I'm a Cheerleader, focusing on the awkward but vital process of embracing your true queer identity.
Fun Home
Alison Bechdel · Book · 2007
Shares 3 threads with But I'm a Cheerleader: Sexual Identity, Coming Out, Self-Discovery.
Much like the family conflict in But I'm a Cheerleader, this memoir explores the heavy, sometimes dysfunctional weight of parental expectations while navigating the path toward personal lesbian identity.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Carson McCullers · Book · 2000
Shares a thread with But I'm a Cheerleader: Coming-of-Age.
The search for belonging in a restrictive environment echoes the themes of But I'm a Cheerleader, offering a more somber look at the isolation felt by those existing outside societal norms.
Series on the same thread
The L Word
Ilene Chaiken · Series · 2004
Explores: Female friendship, Coming of age, Identity.
If you appreciated the focus on female friendship and queer identity in But I'm a Cheerleader, this drama provides a deeper, long-form look at how those relationships evolve over time.
Freaks and Geeks
Paul Feig · Series · 1999
Explores: Social Outcasts, High School Angst, Identity Crisis.
The social alienation Megan faces in But I'm a Cheerleader is reflected here through a relatable, high-school lens that captures the messy, vulnerable reality of finding where you truly belong.
Gilmore Girls
Amy Sherman-Palladino · Series · 2000
Explores: Mother-Daughter Relationship, Intergenerational Relationships, Class Differences.
The fast-paced, stylized atmosphere of this series shares a DNA with the campy, sharp-tongued world of But I'm a Cheerleader, focusing on the complex dynamics between mothers and their daughters.
Please Like Me
Josh Thomas · Series · 2013
Shares 3 threads with But I'm a Cheerleader: Self-discovery, Coming-of-Age, LGBTQ+ Comedy.
This series captures the same blend of humor and earnest self-discovery seen in But I'm a Cheerleader, exploring the pivotal moment of coming out amidst the chaos of everyday life.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
The community-driven, conversational style of this podcast mirrors the camaraderie found among the characters in But I'm a Cheerleader, offering a space where personal stories are centered and celebrated.
Still Not Straight
Podcast
Shares a thread with But I'm a Cheerleader: self-discovery.
This podcast continues the conversation on queer identity and personal discovery sparked by But I'm a Cheerleader, providing a platform for authentic voices to share their own unique, lived experiences.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is But I'm a Cheerleader based on a true story?
No, But I'm a Cheerleader is a fictional narrative film. It follows the story of Megan, a cheerleader sent to a sexual redirection school by her parents because they suspect she is a lesbian. The movie portrays the characters' experiences within this specific fictional institution.
What is the premise of But I'm a Cheerleader?
But I'm a Cheerleader tells the story of Megan, an all-American cheerleader whose parents send her to a sexual redirection school. The film centers on her time at this facility, where she and other gay and lesbian teenagers are forced to undergo a program designed to make them straight.
Why do Megan's parents send her to school in But I'm a Cheerleader?
In But I'm a Cheerleader, Megan's conservative parents send her to a sexual redirection school because they suspect she is a lesbian. This suspicion arises because she does not enjoy kissing her boyfriend and is physically affectionate with her female friends, leading her parents to seek intervention.
What happens to the characters in But I'm a Cheerleader?
In But I'm a Cheerleader, characters like Megan are placed in a sexual redirection school. The plot follows their interactions as they are forced to participate in a program intended to change their sexual orientation, highlighting the conflict between their identities and the expectations of their parents.