Paris is Burning documents the "ball" subculture of 1980s Harlem, made up of communities of marginalized gay black and Latino men who dressed up (in costumes ranging from women in couture fashion to executives in business suits), vogued (long before Madonna), and competed for titles and trophies in various categories. Combining footage from balls with interviews with their participants, Paris is Burning juxtaposes the glitz and pride of competition with the harsh reality of lives spent trying to survive poverty and the disapproval of much of society. Though humorous and entertaining, the film does not shy away from the violence, racial prejudice, and homophobia encountered outside the balls.

An intensely personal documentary, Tongues Untied uses poetry, archival footage, interviews, storytelling, singing, voguing and comic sketches to highlight the struggles of being both black and gay. Though Tongues Untied takes risks as it challenges the assumptions of its audience, it makes its points using intelligence, humor, and emotion. Having to face both racism and homophobia presents a particular hardship for gay black men, and with this film Riggs encourages and inspires these men to speak out and be heard.