Pride month is here, so if you ever wanted an excuse to celebrate and indulge in queer Netflix shows (you never need an excuse) now’s your chance.
Throughout the last 20 years, queer characters in TV shows have sometimes been boiled down to a campy white boy who is the best friend of the main woman. No backstory, no intellectual thoughts, just the odd bit of fashion and relationship advice.
But, thankfully we have moved on from that and now there are a plethora of shows that portray the full queer experience and have given queer characters agency and thoughts and all the things that make us human.
So, in honour of Pride month, here are some of the best LGBTQ+ shows that Netflix has to offer.
Atypical
This show focuses on Sam Gardner, a teenage boy on the autistic spectrum as he goes through high school and ultimately makes it to university. His sister, Casey stands as the perfect mixture of a protective sister and a constant annoyance who makes sarcastic comments at any given time.
Over the show’s four seasons, Casey comes to terms with her bisexuality and begins a relationship with Izzie. This young women-loving-women representation is heartwarming and easy to watch.
Sex Education
This coming-of-age show surrounds an awkward teenager figuring out his sexual life, whilst also living at home with his mother who happens to be a sex therapist. This show represents the whole spread of the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
The high school bully battles with his bisexuality and there are several openly gay teenagers who are figuring out how to be safe when having sex.
In the later series, there are talks of pansexuality, asexuality and being non-binary between characters, without judgement.
This casual exploration of sexuality and gender has audiences applauding the show.
Heartstopper
Heartstopper is everyone’s new obsession. It follows the love story between two young boys in high school. Rugby boy Nick (Connor) battles with his feelings for openly gay Charlie (Locke). There is little to no trauma or negative coming’s out stories, unlike many LGBTQ+ narratives. It is simply a very warm love story between two young gay boys.
Special
Special follows Ryan, a gay man with cerebral palsy who goes on to tell his story after being labelled ‘an accident victim’.
The show is based on Ryan O’Connells part-memoir I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves. Special is unapologetically queer and we are here for it.
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Feel Good
Feel Good was written by Mae Martin as a fictionalised take on their own life. Mae is a comedian whose addictive personality attaches to everything in their life. As well as dealing with this addictive personality, Feel Good also deals with the internal struggles and thoughts surrounding being non-binary.
Mae begins dating George (Charlotte Ritchie) who has never been in a relationship with someone who wasn’t male, so there are conversations about that too. Feel Good at its core is both a funny and informative watch, with many a queer person in it.
Other LGBTQ+ shows on Netflix:
- Young Royals
- Fear St
- Never Have I Ever
- Elite
- Young Royals
- Queer Eye
- Glee
- Sense8
- Tales of the City
- The Haunting of Bly Manor