Gay storylines

In this list of LGBTQ+ TV shows, we highlight 180 shows that have broken ground, enlightened, and entertained.

We’ve arranged the list into four categories: shows that were big TV firsts, or featured TV firsts; shows that center on LGTBQ characters or experiences; shows that feature LGBTQ+ characters and stories, but where that isn’t necessarily the primary focus or thrust of the series; and reality shows and docuseries. As with all lists like this, there will be titles we’ve missed, and you may disagree with some of our categorizations; we encourage you share your thoughts and add your favorites in the comments, so when we do an update, we can have even more great LGBTQ+ titles to consider.

In this section, we focus on shows whose central character, or multiple central characters, are LGBTQ+, and whose storylines and approach have a distinctly LGBTQ+ focus.

One pioneering show at a time, groundbreaking character by groundbreaking character, TV and streaming series have given the world an insight into the LGBTQ+ experience, and provided LGBTQ+ people with reflections of their own lives – stories to laugh along with, to cry with, and to identify with. Then there’s Élite, the Spanish thriller that’s as much about secrets and scandals as it is about complex relationships, featuring diverse LGBTQ+ characters whose stories are interwoven with the central plot.

It's created by and [More]

Starring: Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer

150+ Lgbtq+ Short Stories to read

The Best LGBTQ+ Short Stories

Over the past fifteen years or so, LGBTQ+ and queer fiction has veritably exploded — what we might call a long-overdue reckoning after many years of literary scarcity.

and even more recently that their stories have become accepted fare for mainstream fiction.

Fortunately, times have very much changed. Watch these shows and more on Fandango at Home!

TV has been instrumental in the LGBTQ+ rights movement and in changing attitudes towards the community. Bestselling novels like Simon vs.

When it comes to the best gay Netflix shows, the platform has delivered an array of series that celebrate diverse stories with depth and authenticity. Because while it’s true that LGBTQ+ creators have long been part of the literary scene (Emily Dickinson, Oscar Wilde, Patricia Highsmith, Truman Capote, and countless more), it’s only recently that they’ve been able to acknowledge their identities without fear of persecution...

Whether it's the innocent charm of Heartstopper, the intense drama of Élite, or the mind-bending journey of Sense8, your votes will contribute to celebrating the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ storytelling on Netflix. Not only do many incredible LGBTQ+ stories remain as-yet untold, but when you think about it, there are hardly any of them in the mainstream when compared to straight, cis narratives — which is why it’s such good news that this trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
Read the best new LGBTQ+ stories right here
If you’re searching for brand-new LGBTQ+ and queer fiction (especially of the short variety) you’ll be pleased with what you find here.

Simply sign up to our writing prompts newsletter to receive the next edition and unleash your inner creativity. From heartwarming romances to gripping dramas, Netflix is home to some truly standout queer narratives.
Heartstopper is a prime example, capturing the sweet and tender journey of two teenage boys, Nick and Charlie, as they navigate friendship and budding romance.

The Homo Sapiens Agenda and The Miseducation of Cameron Post have been turned into blockbuster films, and just about every YA agent out there has “own-voices LGBTQ+ stories” on their manuscript wish list.

However, don’t make the mistake of thinking there’s anything close to a surplus of these stories! And who could forget Sense8, the groundbreaking series by the Wachowskis that connects eight individuals around the globe not just through shared psychic abilities, but also through shared bonds of love and identity?

Now, it’s your turn to make your voice heard.

Trailblazing authors like David Levithan and Sarah Waters proved that readers were hungry for LGBTQ+ fiction and representation, and since the early aughties, this trend has only been on the rise.