So, it seems as though more and more Networks have followed suit. A lot of the time, people describe LGBTQ content as unrealistic, corny and in some cases completely inaccurate. However, every once in a while the universe is blessed with a gem that will go down in history. This list is only the beginning of some great LGBTQ content.
EVERYTHING SUCKS
Netflix is really trying to break down barriers when it comes to their content. At one point it was almost unheard of to have a show on a network that included anything resembling LGBTQ and now Netflix has an entire category dedicated to the LGBTQ community. Everything Sucks is just one of the many shows on their streaming service that boasts an LGBTQ character.
Only, this time, the character is pretty badass. A young girl who is relateable AF as she comes to the realization of her sexual orientation. It’s set in the 90s, focused on a high schooler and has become everyone’s obsession. It is rare to see a show focused on a teenager who knows she is gay and is trying to navigate life. This one’s a gem.
AMERICAN HORROR STORY
American Horror Story wasn’t necessarily made in an effort to shine a light on the LGBTQ community. In fact, it was made to scaring the crap out of its fans or at least thoroughly gross us out. It has accomplished that and in the midst has given us some of the best, psychotic, problematic, funny and relateable LGBTQ characters of our day.
Thanks to Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk society has come to expect that it is the norm to have an LGBTQ person somewhere in our lives. The show has really set trends when it comes to equality and knowledge of LGBTQ rights.
SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT
The Netflix show is still pretty new but right out the gate, it is giving us all sorts of feels. Main character Nola Darling is sexually fluid and that is refreshing AF. Based on the Spike Lee film of the same name we get a deeper dive into a character who we all knew was so much more than we would be able to understand through one film.
Nola takes you through all the ways her many partners have affected her life and how each interaction is so different from another. A fan favorite is Opal who is queer, a mother, confident and probably the best person for Nola. The show heavily embellished the idea of having many partners and being at peace with that.
QUEER AS FOLK
Queer As Folk like The L Word, is an OG in the game. This show was so groundbreaking that there is even talks to reboot it. It followed a group of gay men living in Pittsburg detailing all the drama that goes along with life, relationships and on top of it all being gay.
So many taboo topics were covered by this show like internet hookups, “bug chasers”(HIV-negative individuals who actively seek to become HIV-positive). They also covered drug use, becoming parents, cruising, gay teens and so much more. We did say it was groundbreaking. However, we welcome a reboot because there are so many more new topics to cover in society.
THE FOSTERS
The Fosters is one of those family-friendly shows. However, ABC Spark had a hit on their hands when they decided to showcase a family dynamic that is almost never seen on screen. A family of adopted kids headed up by gay partners.
It opened the eyes of many people who either had no idea that this was a possibility or just never thought that they would ever see a day where a family-friendly network would break down barriers. The show was an eye-opener by showing people that no matter who your parents are, the same problems arise in every household.
VIDA
Two sisters from California are forced to form a bond when they are brought together by their mother’s death. One is carefree the other has a bit of a stiff upper lip. One of the sisters is gay and has been estranged from both her late mother and younger sister for years. The show is being praised for giving us a “latinx queer” perspective and almost as soon as it premiered on Starz it was picked up for a second season.
This is a step in the right direction for queer women of color. It’s not just the characters that are gay either. More than half of the writer’s room are queer women of colour and Rose Troche of The L Word fame produced and directed 2 episodes in season one.
STEVEN UNIVERSE
Okay, so you may be thinking what is a cartoon doing on this list? Fair thought. We want the world to know about the awesomeness that is Steven Universe. A young boy who along with a few friends is sent to be the protector of the universe. This show has gems, badass fight scenes and is riddled with LGBTQ themes. Many people don’t expect this from a cartoon but this isn’t just any cartoon, it’s a Cartoon Network cartoon.
This means nothing is off limits and we can get as complex as we want. Besides the LGBTQ themes, this show first and foremost promotes equality. All the characters are so eccentric and each of them has a destiny that is far beyond any of the pettiness we are dealing with in real life.
A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL
Have you ever watched a show where the main focus isn’t even about the sexual orientation of the protagonist? This is what A Very English Scandal does. The three-part miniseries is a fact-based story about a Liberal party leader by the name of Jeremy Thorpe who at the height of his career is accused of trying to have his ex-partner murdered.
Thorpe supposedly jumps through hoops to make the situation happen. Unfortunately, for fans, it’s only three episodes but those three episodes are epic. In addition, the show is meant to be a comedy and is set in the early 70s. There is nothing better than a scandal that has roots in true crime.
POSE
Set in the late 80s Pose is a show that follows the New York social scene. In particular, the ball culture, the downtown social scene, and the literary scene. If you have ever watched a Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk show then you know that they are all about bringing awareness and respect to the LGBTQ community. This show is still in its infancy but we can see so many great things if it continues.
It is geared toward a generation that will no longer stand for hate and negativity in their community. A show like this demonstrates what the older generation had to go through, how they dealt with LGBTQ situations and of course the fabulousness that came along with knowing how to work a dance floor.
THE L WORD
Queer or straight there wasn’t one person who watched The L Word and didn’t immediately become completely obsessed. Ilene Chaiken’s take on lesbians in the L.A. scene was basically perfection. She captured many facets of what it was like to be a lesbian who was dealing with childhood sexual abuse. A lesbian who was ready to settle down and have her own family.
A lesbian who was in the process of transitioning. She made words like U-Haul, Gold Star and Lipstick Lesbian known terms. The L Word had 6 seasons of love, laughter, lust, like and of course drama. It’s highly addictive so watch at your own risk. The episode where a few of the ladies get to share their coming out stories is one of the best episodes.
