Queer storytelling has gone through an incredible shift in the past decade. What started as the first inklings of representation through Will & Grace, and fleeting mentions in ‘80s classics like The Golden Girls, has now blossomed into queer stories infiltrating nearly every genre. However, a majority of those stories over the years have featured an abundance of queer pain, often through the use of rejection and homophobia as the core wounds inflicted on LGBTQ+ TV characters.
Only recently has TV stepped away from solely causing its queer characters pain, allowing representation to become more than just coming out stories and tales of the closet. With so much queer representation to choose from now, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by choice, but if you’re in the market for heartwarming queer stories, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking for wholesome high school romance or juicy college flings, there’s something for everyone in the burgeoning feel-good category of LGBTQ+ representation.
Heartstopper
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that there’s no bigger viral hit right now than Heartstopper, Netflix’s queer rom-com that follows the love story of outcast Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and rugby-star Nick Nelson (Kit Connor). The tagline for the series says it all: “Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love.” And fall in love they do, in eight half-hour long episodes across a vast array of classic high school scenarios. Heartstopper has gotten across-the-board praise for its depiction of queer joy, especially through its diverse ensamble cast featuring lesbian characters Tara (Corianna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell), and trans character Ellie (Yasmin Finney). It has resonated deeply with audiences, too, as its uniquely heartwarming story gives a whole new meaning to feel-good TV.
The series, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman, has taken the internet by storm, setting the record for most time at the top of Variety’s Trending TV chart with five consecutive weeks. The popularity of this Netflix Original feels only comparable to Squid Game’s all-consuming popularity from the fall of 2021, securing the streamer a binge-watch that’s actually withstood the test of time. Netflix has renewed the show for two more seasons already, assuring fans that there’s plenty more wholesome queer storytelling on the way.
The Owl House
The Owl House is Disney’s most unique and brilliant animated series since Gravity Falls; its heartwarming tale of found-family and acceptance makes it the perfect feel-good binge. The show comes from the mind of Dana Terrace and has become somewhat of a cult classic since its premiere in 2020. The show follows Luz (Sarah-Nicole Robles) after she stumbles upon a magical world, stumbling into the arms of the eccentric Owl Lady Eda (Wendie Malick), who promises to teach her how to use magic when she’s unable to return to her home. From the beginning, the series is a genuine delight, filled with incredible heart and just enough cheese to remind you it’s still kids’ programming.
Featuring Disney’s first animated same-sex kiss between leading characters, The Owl House is a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation in animation. Following in the footsteps of Netflix’s She-Ra, the storyline between Luz and her girlfriend Amity (Mae Whitman) is nothing short of adorable. The Owl House’s queer storytelling has always been central, since the beginning, but to see Luz and Amity get together before the series is even over (an unfortunate rarity) is incredibly important, truly paving the way for the next wave of animated LGBTQ+ representation. Despite the target audience being on the younger side, The Owl House’s storylines are surprisingly mature and enjoyable for all ages.
High School
What could possibly be more gay than a show about Canadian band Tegan and Sara, based on their lives growing up queer, co-created by Clea DuVall? Not much, and Amazon Freevee’s High School proves that in spades. Offering what can best be described as a grittier, lesbian-focused Heartstopper, High School is an intimate and grungy look at the quiet aspects of a queer youth. The series smartly staves off the actual songwriting until half-way through the season, which allows for the characters to become fully formed before they transform into something more resembling the Tegan and Sara we know and love. Starring TikTok stars and TV newcomers Railey and Seazynn Gilliland as Tegan and Sara, respectively, (and quasi-gay icon Cobie Smulders as the twins’ mother), High School’s heartfelt portrayal of teenage girlhood and the loneliness that accompanies queerness, along with its stellar directing, makes this series one to watch.
Love, Victor
Based in the world of the groundbreaking 2018 film Love, Simon, Love, Victor is just as charming and important. The series follows Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino) as he navigates coming to terms with his sexuaity in the midst of the rigors of high school. With a conservative family to consider and his own personal insecurities to reconcile, Love, Victor doesn’t skimp on the heart or the heartache. In spite of its heavier moments, the series remains a funny and joyful look into the lives of queer kids in high school today.
Similarly to Heartstopper, Love, Victor subjects its characters to the heartache of homophobia and the pressures surrounding coming out, but those elements never eclipse any characters’ journey, including Victor, Benji (George Sear), Rahim (Anthony Kayvan), or Lucy (Bebe Wood). There’s so much more life left to live after coming out, which is what’s often missing from media solely focused on telling that story, but Love, Victor is the perfect example of a series going all-in on what happens afterwards. The series delivers a hopeful message about life and love over the backdrop of high school cliches, making it a good, gay time.
Charmed
The CW’s Charmed reboot is, for lack of a better word, endlessly charming. Despite having to deal with major shifts both in front of and behind the camera in its short four-season life, Charmed always found the magic in the madness, delivering whimsical fun and sisterly shenanigans. Throughout its four seasons, Charmed delivered queer representation in spades, while allowing each of its various LGBTQ characters to live in a world free of homophobia. While the representation isn’t perfect, it’s a delight to watch Mel’s (Melonie Diaz) messy love life unfold during Season 1, to bare witness to the bisexual shenanigans Abigael (Poppy Drayton) gets up to during Seasons 2 and 3, and to watch the newest Charmed One, Kaela Danso (Lucy Barrett), provide even more bisexual representation during Season 4. And to top it all off, guest star Mareya Salazar provides great trans representation through the Charmed Ones’ cousin, Joséfina Reyes. Even though Charmed met its untimely end with The CW’s wave of cancellations, the series as a whole is still worth seeking out, especially if you’re in the mood for magic and mystery that feels akin to the original Charmed, just with a touch of modern flair.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
There might not be a show more queer than Legends of Tomorrow. In its cut-short seven-season run, the series saw multiple lesbian, bisexual, gay, and asexual characters arrive through the Waverider’s revolving doors. Originally assembled by Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill), the Legends started as a group of heroes from The CW’s Arrowverse whose disappearance from the present would have no impact on the historical timeline; in other words, Rip Hunter gathered up all the nobodies he could find, put them on a time-ship, and turned that rag-tag group into bonafide time-traveling superheroes. The show’s first season is notoriously rocky, trying too hard to capture the same essence as its predecessors Arrow and The Flash, but in the show’s second season and beyond, Legends of Tomorrow embraces the weirdness.
In spite of its wackiness, or maybe because of it, the show found its home in the hearts of queer superhero fans across the globe, and then rewarded them by continually adding more and more LGBTQ+ characters until there were 5 queer series regulars at one single time, and they were just a fraction of the total representation seen on the show. Co-captains Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) and Ava Sharpe (Jes Macallan), affectionately known as Avalance, were even about to have a baby together before the show was unceremoniously canceled. Despite the cancelation, Legends of Tomorrow’s focus on telling joyful stories with their abundance of queer characters makes it a stand out in both the superhero genre and in queer representation.
Dickinson
You’ve never seen a biopic quite like Dickinson, Alena Smith’s weird and wonderful Apple TV+ series based on American poet Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld). The series follows the events of Emily’s youth as she explores her relationship with her voice, her work, and her sister-in-law Sue Gilbert (Ella Hunt). Dickinson is one of the few Emily Dickinson biopics to actually acknowledge the long-debated romantic relationship between the poet and Sue, analyzing her poetry and bringing the true meaning to the forefront. The show is also no slouch when it comes to historical accuracy, as wacky as it may be, with elements of the now-completed series even ending up in the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Dickinson embraces both its queer audience and queer lead, ensuring that the oft-treaded period-typical homophobia storyline is notably absent. In fact, the more reasonable barrier comes in the form of Austin Dickinson, who is married to Sue and is also Emily’s brother. In Season 3 in particular, the show becomes a celebration of Emily’s queerness as she embraces her love for Sue and morphs into the poet we’re all familiar with. Dickinson proves that queer joy can be found even in the darkest of ages, subscribing to the idea that, even though it’s based in the past, its queer leads never have to suffer for it.
The Sex Lives of College Girls
The Sex Lives of College Girls is about exactly what it sounds like, but it’s also about so much more. Mindy Kaling’s funny and fresh Max comedy about four college freshmen randomly placed as roommates tackles everything from female friendships to cheating boyfriends, all carried on the shoulders of its hilarious and charming leading women. The show itself is a celebration of its female characters, bringing immense heart to an age most shows won’t dare to touch.
Leighton Murray (Renee Rapp) acts as the show’s foray into queer storytelling, using the stereotypical mean-and-blonde trope we’ve seen a million times before. However, Sex Lives’ take on Leighton’s journey, which includes both coming out and self-discovery, still feels fresh and new. While similar teen-focused shows took their sweet time building their queer characters support systems post-coming out, Sex Lives creates connections and bonds for Leighton that offer an incredibly hopeful take on coming out in the 2020’s. Afterall, for most queer people, coming out is still an incredibly tough journey, and Sex Lives understands that while still allowing Leighton to be more than just her insecurities.
Hazbin Hotel
Prime Video’s Hazbin Hotel is a deeply mature series that follows the escapades of the inhabitants of the Hazbin Hotel, a hotel located in hell where Charlie (Erika Henningsen), Princess of Hell, attempts to rehabilitate the lost souls that come through her doors in an effort to get them into heaven. Joined by her loyal girlfriend Vaggie (named after vagina—because that’s what kind of show this is—and played by Stephanie Beatriz), porn-star Angel Dust (Blake Roman), bartender Husk (Keith David), frightening Alastor (Amir Talai), peppy Nifty (Kimiko Glenn), and former-villain Sir Pentious (Alex Brightman), Charlie does everything she can to help those around her, all while discovering the secrets of her domain in the process.
This series is not only a delightful musical romp with incredibly catchy songs, but it’s also a really fun, super queer jaunt. Not only are Charlie and Vaggie an adorable couple, but Angel’s penchant for being messy and gay adds even more layers to this colorful series. Be warned, this series is strictly for adults, but even at its grossest, its heart is still always in the right place.
Riverdale
There might not be another show that is as fun as Riverdale when it comes to watching solely for LGBTQ+ representation. The first season features one of the best reads in the history of television (“Is being the gay best friend still a thing?”), but from there, the series expands its queer storytelling to include Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch), who ultimately becomes one of TV’s best lesbian characters. From queering Heathers: The Musical to confirming that Cheryl’s entire lineage is made up of lesbians to giving the pairing of Cheryl and Toni (Vanessa Morgan) the happy ending they deserve, there is truly no better show to dive into if you’re looking for something campy, queer, fun, and ridiculous.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Though the series’ central romance may be between the oft-problematic Scott (Michael Cera) and Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), this series is a good, gay time in all the best ways. From finally treating the past relationship between Roxy (Mae Whitman) and Ramona with respect to watching Todd (Brandon Routh) fall in love in unexpected places to Wallace (Kiernan Culkin) being as messy as he should be, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off effortless injects heartfelt and hilarious queerness into this series where the original film lacked. With snappy pacing and a really well-done central story, this series is worth watching for the storytelling and beautiful animation alone, but its queer inclusions add an extra cherry on top.
Glee
Glee is one of TV’s most prominent camp triumphs, and one of the gayest shows to hit mainstream success. From Santana (Naya Rivera) and Brittany (Heather Morris) to Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss), the series featured prominent queer characters and couples throughout the course of its run, injecting LGBTQ+ representation into one of FOX’s most popular comedies. The series has elements that don’t quite hold up today, but the cut-throat approach and campy outlook made this series one that viewers today still look to as meaningful representation and a binge worth making.
Renegade Nell
Unfortunately, due to “cost-cutting measures” (read: corporate greed), I can’t put Disney+’s Willow—the delightful sequel series to the ’80s film of the same name—on this list. But, fortunately, I can put the next best thing. Renegade Nell, also airing on Disney+, comes from creator Sally Wainwright (queer representation aficionados may recognize her as the woman who brought you Gentleman Jack) and follows Nell Jackson (Louisa Harland) as she takes her sisters on the run after an accident leaves her framed for murder. This series dips its toe into canonical queer representation through characters like the sapphic Polly Honeycomb (Ashna Rabheru) and the non-binary Valerian (Iz Hesketh), but it also has queerness baked into its subtextual DNA. Nell represents a fluidity of gender and sexuality that is a delight to watch, and the obviously queer-coded hatred between her and season-long villain Sofia (Alice Kremelberg) is a real treat. It captures the same fantasy magic that Willow so clearly thrived within, and is a perfect queer romp for any Pride Month watchlist—and beyond.
What We Do in the Shadows
FX’s monster hit What We Do in the Shadows, a TV remake of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s 2014 film of the same name, follows three vampire roommates mockumentary-style as they navigate undead life on Staten Island. The charm of the series comes from the messy situations the roommates, Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Lazlo (Matt Berry), find themselves in. Whether it’s claiming George Washington as the first gay president or attending city council meetings, this charmingly cheesy faux-documentary is incapable of being anything but funny.
From the very beginning, What We Do in the Shadows has been unapologetically queer, with the showrunner even confirming to GLAAD for their Where We Are on TV report that all of their characters are “completely pansexual.” However, it’s one thing to say all the characters are queer than it is to show it, but What We Do in the Shadows doesn’t shy away from embracing its queerness. Each of the characters has flings and flirations with both the same and opposite sex, becoming simply a baked-in trait of each of the vampires. The casual acceptance and queerness of What We Do in the Shadows allows it to stand out as a series that pays no mind to imaginary limits on how many LGBTQ+ characters can be in a single show, making it a must-see for queer viewers.
A League of Their Own
From Abbi Jacobson and Will Graham, Prime Video’s A League of Their Own series follows a fictionalized account of the very real All American Girls Professional Baseball League circa the 1940’s, and splits its time between two central stories. One being that of Jacobson’s Carson Shaw, an AAGPBL hopeful that has run away from her safe and quiet life to follow her dreams. She joins the Rockford Peaches, and navigates her sexuality and identity with the help of teammates Greta (D’arcy Carden), Jo (Melanie Field), Lupe (Roberta Colindrez), and Jess (Kelly McCormack)—all while trying to keep her team, and the league as a whole, afloat. On the other side of the coin is Max (Chante Adams), who also dreams of joining the AAGPBL, but cannot, since the league doesn’t allow Black players. So instead, she turns her sights to the integrated men’s teams, even getting a factory job with her best friend Clance (Gbemisola Ikumelo) in an attempt to join their team. She later goes on her own journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, especially with the help of her uncle Bert (Lea Robinson), and finds the success she had always dreamt of.
This show is filled with both queer joy and queer pain, but the good moments always outweigh the bad, leaving its audience feeling a warm and fuzzy joy in the moments after the Season 1 finale cuts to black. It’s a sports series, yes, but more importantly, it’s a show about finding yourself and your community, and finally coming into your own, even if the world around you puts up every roadblock to stop you from doing so. It’s a love letter to AAGPBL players like Maybelle Blair (who was inspired by the series to come out at 95 years old), a love letter to queer history, and a love letter to queer audiences.
Anna Govert is an entertainment writer based in Chicago. For any and all thoughts about TV, film, and the wonderful insanity of Riverdale, you can follow her @annagovert.
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