Happy Pride Month! 11 of Our Must-See LGBTQ TV Shows + Movies <3
It’s pride month so time for some recommendations - this one is going to be shows and movies! Some of these pieces of media center around the main character being queer in some way, while other just happen to have queer characters where the main plot is about something else… and others just have queer-ish vibes. Which we love!
A lot of people enjoy queer content only during June, but I suggest that you start consuming that content outside of June. Diversity and learning about things that might be outside your comfort zone, but withith more and more people doing so, it’ll show corporations that queer media is wanted and needed. Representation matters with all things - ethnicity, disabilities, sexuality, etc.
With this list I’ve stuck to pieces of media I’ve seen and enjoyed and tried to stick to ones that aren’t so popular/recommended (like Call Me By Your Name - not the Lil Nas song - which I will never watch/read or recommend due to its problematic nature. Google is free if you’re wondering what the issues with it are).
Shows
Our Flag Means Death
If you’ve been on social media in the last few months, you knew/probably figured this was going to be on the list with its much anticipated season 2 renewal. xD It’s a queer story about gay dumb pirates. It centers around a man called Stede Bonnet who ran away from his rich landowner life to go become a pirate. This might be a show to check on content warnings (CWs) before you watch it if it’s something that might bother you. It is a pirate show so there is some explicit gore/violence. This show is only on HBO Max unfortunately, so only a show for the US.
Yuri On Ice
This is an ice skating anime. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve seen this one and I very much enjoyed it. It got me into anime. This show is more of subtle queer kind of show - some people might not call it queer and instead call it queerbating. I disagree and feel its just a different way of showing queerness. It is beautiful and wonderful to see. Also the music slaps in this show! Tbh, this show got me interested in real life ice skating.
Heartstopper
Another pretty popular show recently. This is a wholesome show about two boys in high school (or whatever the UK version of it is) and it’s been renewed for a second season as well! This series is based on a webtoons turned traditionally published graphic novel series by the same name and the author was involved with the show. This show is another non sexualized queer show (and hopeful doesn’t become sexual…at least until the characters are at least 18+). This show is on Netflix. Also all of Alice Oseman’s (the author) books are all set in the same universe just about different characters. This show (and the books) do have some CWs so check them out on the author’s website.
Sense8
I’ve actually only seen 1 season of this show but it was really good! The show centers around 8 different people who were all born at the same time in different parts of the world. They all have a psychic connection and the show is about their lives and them learning about this connection. If the queerness or the plot doesn’t grab you, one of the 8 main characters is an Indian woman. This one is definitely a show to check for TWs.
One Day at A Time
This show is about a Cuban family of a veteran nurse mom, her 2 teens and her mother and their lives. This is a comedy show and is good fun! The first few seasons are on Netflix, who then dropped it. Another network picked it up but only for a season, not sure where to find that last season.
Other suggestions: Schitt’s Creek, She-Ra, Good Omens, Brooklyn Nine Nine (but also ACAB)
Asian Movie recs:
Movies
The Way He Looks
This one is another movie that’s been a while since I’ve seen it. It’s about deaf teenage boy in Brazil who is trying to find his independence. It starts out with him and his best friend. And then one day at school a new kid shows up and changes the deaf character’s world.
Big Eden
This is a story about a successful gay artist who comes back to the small town he grew up in to take care of his grandpa. I love how despite this being a movie set in a small town there’s never any judgment/homophobia shown. I recently watched it and there’s a line that struck me. It’s not a spoiler but just in case, skip the quote if you don’t want potential spoilers.
“Did I teach you shame? Because it would break my heart if I had”
Love, Simon
This one was a pretty popular one when it came out. It’s based on a book with the same title. There’s also a spin-off tv show called Love, Victor. The movie is about a teenaged boy who is gay but isn’t quite ready to tell the world, but then is outed against his will.
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
A Bollywood movie! This one is kind of sad if I remember correctly but it was good. The story centers around a lady whose family is pressuring her to get married. But “plot twist” she’s a lesbian
I Love You Phillip Morris
I saw this one like forever ago, don’t remember much but think it was like a fun chaotic movie. It’s got Jim Carrey (which I feel like says a lot about the movie) who does all sorts of things for his boyfriend Phllip Morris.
Other suggestions: Deadpool (I know he’s pan in the comics not sure if they bought that into the movies), Funny Boy (haven’t seen the movie but the book was an interesting read), Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Thor: Ragnarok
+1 Bonus since the franchise has both movies & shows
Star Trek
A lot of Star Trek isn’t explicitly queer but it’s where shipping started (spirk) and it does have queer vibes. The more recent shows & movies have queer characters. In Star Trek Beyond, Sulu is shown with his husband and daughter. There’s non gender conforming characters in Discovery (and some actors between Disco & Strange New Worlds). Also I haven’t seen every single piece of Star Trek content (yet) so there could be content that has queer charaters that I don’t know about.
While making this list I realized I need to watch more queer movies (and more diverse ones), so comment your favorite queer movies below! Have you seen any of these pieces of media before?
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