The history of LGBTQ+ TV shows and its space within the television industry has been a bumpy road. Prior to the 1990s, many TV shows would struggle to adequately represent the LGBTQ+ community as many would serve as villains or simply wouldn’t satisfy those looking for meaningful depictions of sexuality. In recent years, however, representation has started to massively improve. In this list are five LGBTQ+ TV shows from the past decade that are worth watching. Whether its for their examination of difficult topics or their refreshing representation, these are the perfect shows to dive into during pride.
5. Sense8
Created by The Wachowskis (The Matrix Trilogy) and J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5), Sense8 follows eight strangers from around the world who discover that they are “sensates”, human beings who are linked mentally and emotionally. Ever since its release in the Summer of 2015, Sense8 has been well-received thanks to its diverse representation and portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes that most TV shows hadn’t explored prior. Despite its cancelation by Netflix, Sense8 was given an extended finale to provide an overall conclusion for fans.
Sense8 is streaming on Netflix in the US and UK.
4. Our Flag Means Death
Loosely based on the life of Stede Bonnet, a high-class citizen who abandoned his life to become a pirate, Our Flag Means Death immediately went viral after its premiere back in 2022. Created by David Jenkins (People of Earth), the series quickly found success thanks to its heartfelt depiction of LGBTQ+ relationships. With representation of non-binary identities and a positive subversion of the “queerbaiting” trope with the show’s main romance between Bonnet and Captain Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), Our Flag Means Death was welcomed as a great source of LGBTQ+ representation.
Our Flag Means Death is streaming on Max in the US and BBC IPlayer in the UK.
3. The Haunting of Bly Manor
Serving as an adaptation of 1898’s The Turn of The Screw, 2020’s The Haunting of Bly Manor is a beautiful blend of gothic romance and horror. Set in the UK in the late 80s, the series follows an au pair who finds herself looking after two children in the Bly Estate, an old country house. However, as she arrives at the estate, she begins to be haunted by ghosts. Although the series is related to Mike Flanigan’s The Haunting of Hill House, this series tells a standalone narrative. For those looking for a wonderfully told lesbian love story mixed with a dash of chilling horror, Bly Manor delivers.
The Haunting of Bly Manor is streaming on Netflix in the US and UK.
2. Euphoria
As controversial as HBO’s Euphoria has been since its premiere in 2019, it’s still been an avenue for fantastic representation. The series follows Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a struggling teenager with a drug addiction. From toxic masculinity to social media, the series finds time to explore many topics to create a moasic of teenage life. One particular plot point of the series is the troubled relationship between Rue and Jules (Hunter Schaffer), a trans girl who Rue becomes attached to. Despite the show’s problematic storytelling, the representation at the heart of Euphoria is particularly strong. One example being a 2021 special that focuses on the backstory of Jules. As it’s co-written by Hunter Schaffer, the episode provides a beautiful examination of her own experiences within transgender life and the complicated forms that sexuality can take in one’s self.
Euphoria is streaming on Max in the US and Now in the UK.
1. Sex Education
Netflix’s Sex Education is a teen comedy that follows the lives of students as they work through the troubles of navigating sexual intimacy. Across three seasons with a fourth on the way, the series has found steady acclaim thanks to its mature exploration of complicated themes and the diverse cast contained within. Although the series has lost many of its original cast members ahead of the fourth season, the three seasons that came before still stand as enjoyable teen comedies that aren’t afraid to explore themes many TV shows struggle to adequately represent.
Sex Education is now streaming on Netflix in the US and UK.
