Binge these nine essential LGBTQ show
In the near 25 years since the episode of “The Ellen Show” where television saw its first lesbian main character come out, TV has improved radically with regards to representation. Now shows on a number of networks offer opportunities to see stories made by and for LGBTQ audiences. This list below presents nine of the best shows currently available to stream that represent that.
Pose
“Pose” has become something of a revolution on television. In its now three seasons (a final fourth is yet to come), it has stood apart as one of the rare series on TV to highlight a black and brown trans experience.
The show, which follows New York’s ballroom scene in the 1980s and ‘90s, is made with the same level of care and precision as any of the best prestige cable TV series, but it contains a heart that none of those shows had. Anchored by MJ Rodriguez’s incredible performance, the show opts for joy instead of cynicism, a radical direction for a show with its content.
“Pose” is now available to stream on Netflix
The Other Two
In this enjoyable send-up of the craziness of fame and the desire for it, a struggling gay actor (Drew Tarver) and his failed dancer sister (Helene Yorke) come to terms with their preteen brother’s sudden internet fame.
Among its strongest qualities is its ability to make fun of the more vapid elements of gay culture. From Ryan Murphy to “InstaGays” to its original song (and viral TikTok audio) “My Brother’s Gay and That’s Okay!, “The Other Two” is willing to take on anything and always does so in the most amazingly over-the-top ways.
The Other Two is now available to stream on HBO Max.
Work in Progress
Star and co-creator Abby McEnany brings a rare indie quality to television in her breakthrough Showtime comedy series. The semi-autobiographical series follows McEnany, a self-identified “fat, queer, dyke” with OCD and depression who decides to start truly living as she counts down 180 days until she plans to end her life.
The concept may not sound like the funniest setup for a comedy series, but McEnany makes it work with her mix of earnestness and neuroticism. And in doing so, we are gifted with a story of someone who is so rarely allowed to tell those stories otherwise.
“Work in Progress” is now available to stream on Showtime.
Vida
In “Vida,” two sisters move back to their old neighborhood in East Los Angeles after the death of their mother to find out she had a wife. “Vida” is willing to get uncomfortable as its main characters navigate a world they no longer recognize, but more importantly, it’s honest. This is a show that openly tackles every issue from gentrification to queer sex but never from an outsider’s lens.
“Vida” is now available to stream on Starz.
Harley Quinn
Since her introduction in “Batman: The Animated Series”, Harley Quinn has been a character defined by her relationship to the Joker. In this DC animated series, however, she finally can take control of her narrative herself.
In “Harley Quinn”, the eponymous agent of chaos not only defines herself as an independent supervillain, but she also pursues love separate from the Joker. Harley’s reintroduction as bisexual with a deep and nuanced perspective on love stands in contrast with most previous depictions and makes this the essential version of Harley Quinn to watch.
“Harley Quinn” is now available to stream on HBO Max.
We Are Who We Are
“Call Me By Your Name” director Luca Guadagnino returns to his home country of Italy with a story that follows two teenagers (Jack Dylan Grazer and Jordan Kristine Seamón) on a military base. “We Who Are We Are” opts to slow things down as it depicts a nuanced portrayal of gender identity at a pivotal age.
That slow-moving pace may alienate some, but for those willing to stick with it, you’ll find one of television’s most tender depictions of coming to terms with your own identity.
“We Are Who We Are” is now available to stream on HBO & HBO MAX.
Looking
In its brief HBO run, “Looking” followed the lives of a group of gay men in San Francisco in their late twenties navigating difficulties in their relationships and work. It’s a classic setup for a show that everyone from “Friends” to “Insecure” has done a spin on.
“Looking,” however, did it with ease, moving seamlessly between melodrama, comedy and tender moments like few other shows have. And in the process, they presented that universal fear of aging from a uniquely gay perspective.
“Looking” is now available to stream on HBO & HBO Max.
Feel Good
Stand-up comedian Mae Martin’s semi-autobiographical series follows them as they start a relationship with a woman who has only ever dated men before while also managing their long-term addiction issues.
While it of course goes through the rocky motions that such a plot entails, it is a breath of fresh air to see a LGBTQ rom-com between adults actually on television
“Feel Good” is now available to stream on Netflix.
Los Espookys
There are few shows on television like “Los Espookys”, HBO’s Spanish-language comedy series that has been described by its creators as a reverse “Scooby-Doo”. The series sees a group of friends in Mexico City start a business where people hire them to scare off anyone they need.
Julio Torres (of “Saturday Night Live” writing fame) shines the brightest as Andrés, the fabulously flamboyant heir to a Mexican chocolate fortune who believes himself to have a dark, mysterious past. Andrés is the perfect example of a gay character whose story is not defined by sexuality; it is simply a given.
“Los Espookys” is now available to stream on HBO and HBO Max.
