Shows with gay teens
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With a little help from Carlos, Seb comes to terms with his sexuality and the two embark on an epic high school romance full of support and love. It is interesting to see a sitcom reboot dealing with the kind of storylines that were not seen on television in the 1970s.
But a new virus is on the rise, and soon their lives will be tested in ways they never imagined.
Heartstopper
Charlie, a high-strung, openly gay overthinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, one day are made to sit together in class. What makes Never Have I Ever's dealing with Fabiola's sexuality so effective is that it is treated much like Devi's own romances.
The movies and TV shows on this list feature prominent, affirming stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth coming of age and navigating life. Features a proudly bisexual lead and a gay black police captain.
The Other Two
An aspiring actor and his sister Brooke, a former professional dancer, try to find their places in the world while wrestling with their feelings about their 13-year-old brother Chase's sudden rise to internet fame.
The Canadian teen series examines a lot of challenges facing teens which includes these high schoolers in the LGBTQ+ community.
These storylines deal with the romances of the young characters as well as individual storylines from Miles and Tristan's complicated, and oftentimes toxic relationship, to Zoe realizing over the course of several years that she has been hiding her sexuality from the world.
What makes these shows great is that they showcase a different side of what being LGBTQ+ means in terms of life, relationships, and simply existing, giving layered looks at these characters.
The 15 Best Gay & LGBTQ+ Rom-Coms (& Where To Stream Them)
As the scope of LGBTQ+ representation in movies continues to evolve, more great gay rom-coms on increasingly larger scales are getting released.
Degrassi: Next Class (2016-2017)
The Canadian Team Drama Highlights Various LGBTQ+ Students
For generations, the Degrassi series was one of the most progressive shows for teens to watch and never shied away from dealing with serious topics.
Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.
Crush (2022)
An aspiring young artist joins her high school track team and later discovers what real love feels like when she finds herself falling for an unexpected teammate.
Historical & Biographical
Milk (2008)
The story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California's first openly gay official.
The Death and Life of Marsha P.
Johnson (2017)
Victoria Cruz investigates the mysterious 1992 death of black gay rights activist and Stonewall veteran, Marsha P. Johnson. The only asset left to them is a small, unsophisticated town: Schitt's Creek. The gay teen show matched up well with the movie that came before.
Never Have I Ever (2020-2023)
Fabiola's LGBTQ+ Journey Is Authentic And Grounded
Never Have I Ever's four-season run delivered a more modern take on the teen drama.The series centers on Devi, a first-generation Indian-American teenager who decided to reinvent herself by dating the most popular guy in her high school.
Celebrated for its wide spectrum of LGBTQ+ representation.
Comedy & Sitcoms
Schitt’s Creek
After being a victim of fraud, Johnny Rose and his family go from extremely wealthy to penniless overnight. Features diverse LGBTQ+ characters and complex storylines.
Pose
In the New York of the late '80s and early '90s, this is a story of ball culture and the gay and trans community, the raging AIDS crisis, and capitalism.
Sex Education
A teenage boy with a sex-therapist mother teams up with a high-school classmate to set up an underground sex-therapy clinic at school.
While it's important to remember that no representation will be perfect, the more opportunities that come for these storylines, the better the chance of representing the LGBTQ+ community in an all-encompassing way. It makes for a sweet and exciting teen love story with the kind of awkward moments, romantic gestures, and heartwarming moments that fans of the genre love to see.
While Devi's shenanigans are hilarious to watch, there is a largely underrated plot revolving around Devi's best friend Fabiola as she comes to terms with her sexuality.
Her story reaches an all-time high in season 2 when Fabiola begins dating Eve. Their love story is complex, not just because they're a lesbian couple, but because they come from vastly different social circles.
The two women develop a fast bond that becomes a love with complicated consequences.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century Marianne, a female painter, is commissioned to paint a portrait of Heloise, an aristocratic woman, in a wedding dress.
Her life changes drastically when she meets Jules Vaughn, a trans girl who recently moved to town following her parents' divorce. The series follows Otis, a high school student who decides to start an underground sex education course at his school. Using archival interviews with Johnson, and new interviews with Johnson's family, friends and fellow activists.
A Fantastic Woman (2017)
Marina, a transgender woman who works as a waitress and moonlights as a nightclub singer, is bowled over by the death of her older boyfriend.
Will & Harper (2024)
The documentary film follows best friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele as they embark on a road trip after Steele tells Ferrell she is coming out as trans.
LGBTQ+ TV shows to watch
Drama
It’s a Sin
It is 1981 and Ritchie, Roscoe and Colin begin a new life in London.
This interactive feature offers an engaging element of gamification, making your exploration of gay teen shows more enjoyable.
Each show listed also comes with direct links to respective streaming services, courtesy of user-friendly streaming service buttons. Our timely parenting advice supports families as they navigate the challenges and possibilities of raising kids in the digital age.