From Ellen and Queer As Folk to Absolutely Fabulous and Golden Girls, LGBTQ TV has existed as a subgenre for decades.
In honor of Pride Month, we’ve combed through all of our favorite queer TV shows on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Showtime, and Amazon Prime Video to bring you a collection of great titles we’ll be watching this June.
Why we like it: With dance legend Dashaun Wesley serving as master of ceremonies, Legendary explores the high-stakes world of ballroom — a once-underground LGBTQ subculture dating back to the 19th century.
Why we like it: Apologies for being the thousandth person to tell you to watch Schitt’s Creek…but like, just watch Schitt’s Creek? Not only is this series one of the most all-around delightful viewing experiences in modern memory, but it also offers a moving and nuanced look at LGBTQ love that actually lets a gay couple serve as the main romantic storyline.
In 2019, Showtime brought the beloved title back with The L Word: Generation Q, which features a more modern set of characters but shares the same caliber of juicy plot lines as the original.
Ever since its 2009 premiere, Drag Race has increased the visibility of LGBTQ stories and issues: Contestants on the show candidly discuss everything from fighting for marriage equality to being HIV positive.
Why we like it: This TV spinoff from 2018’s queer romantic comedy Love, Simon stars Michael Cimino as Victor, a new student at Simon’s high school.
With just two seasons, fans could never get enough of Sense8, but at least Netflix made good on that finale — delivering a lasting legacy to streaming-kind.
Why we like it: Steven Universe is a seamlessly progressive and wholesome show that uses its characters and framing to casually interrogate gender and sexuality while telling a story about love, family, and growing up.
Why we like it: Created by Jenji Kohan, Orange is the New Black did as much for diversity behind the camera as it did for diversity in front of it.
Starring Zendaya as a young addict and Hunter Schafer as her just-as-troubled love interest, this neon-soaked series profiles the increasingly strange world in which children grow up.
Why we like it: We’re Here showcases the often untold stories of queer people living in rural towns across America, using drag to amplify their voices and proudly assert their presence in places where they aren’t always accepted.
Unceasingly heartwarming, Grace & Frankie has spurred important conversations across generations, imbuing what could have been a stale story with progressive ideology and genuine love.
But in the middle of their crisis, which was exacerbated by a lack of government response and social rejection by the medical establishment, the men and women of Pose find time to form families, experience joy, dress up, sing songs, and generate unyielding beauty amongst themselves and the people they care about.
You’ll fall in love with their warmth as well as imperfections, relating to them about universal themes of shame, acceptance, and fear against a backdrop of whip-smart dialogue and beautiful acting.
Convinced she’s responsible for killing her therapist, Abby begins a painful journey of self-reflection that leads her to conclude her life isn’t worth living.
Why we like it: Who knew a reboot of an animated show from 1985 would end up so unabashedly queer? Winner of the 2021 GLAAD Award for outstanding kids programming, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power reintroduces audiences to Adora is a part.
Why we like it: Based on Lee’s 1986 movie of the same name, She’s Gotta Have It lives up to its ferocious title.
Stars Asa Butterfield, Ncuti Gatwa, and Emma Mackey are instantly likable, with their magnetic performances backed by a diverse cast of uniquely relatable characters.
Rebooting a concept first done by Bravo in the early aughts, this new Fab Five offers modern viewers both their expertise, in areas ranging from cooking to grooming, and their insight into what sometimes holds us back from living our best lives.
As a matter of queer representation, Dear White People broke barriers by including multiple Black LGBTQ characters in its main cast and following up with authentic storylines which are just as praise-worthy.
Why we like it: From uneven pacing to clunky scripting, HBO Max’s new series Generation is hugely imperfect as a series.
Why we like it: Elite has a massive fanbase scattered across the globe, but if you’re an English speaker, it’s possible you haven’t watched the Spanish series yet.