The highly anticipated new season of Abbott Elementary premiered on September 21st and fans are excited to see what hijinks the teachers of the Philadelphia elementary school will find themselves in this year. One thing fans, in particular, are hoping for is more scenes between Jacob and his boyfriend Zach, who was introduced at the end of season one.
While Abbott Elementary may not be at the cornerstone of representing the LGTBQ+ community in its comedy, it's still worth watching. However, audiences who want more representation and storylines about the queer experience in comedies are in luck because there are tons of recent shows that offer just that.
Broad City (2014-2019)
Adapted from their web series of the same name, Broad City follows Ilana and Abbi, two twenty-something Jewish best friends, as they navigate life in New York City. The comedy series ran for 5 seasons and has been considered one of the best comedies of the 2010s.
Broad City's LGBTQ representation begins with Ilana, who is a proud bisexual, ready and willing to explore her sexuality and scream it from the rooftops. In the fifth and final season, Abbi begins to explore her own sexuality as she starts to fall for a woman.
Everything's Gonna Be Okay (2020-)
Everything's Gonna Be Okay is one of Freeform's newest and best original shows. The comedy centers on Nicholas, a twenty-something who becomes the sole guardian of his two half-sisters after their father passes away.
In addition to coming to terms with his parental status, Nicholas is also trying to pursue a new relationship with his boyfriend, Alex. His half-sister Matilda is also exploring her sexuality and ends up dating Drea who identifies as asexual. With gay, bisexual, and asexual representation, the series is able to explore a broad spectrum of storylines.
High Fidelity (2020)
Based on the movie of the same name, High Fidelity swaps the genders of the main characters and follows Rob as she recounts her past relationships in the hope of getting over the man who got away.
Unlike the original, High Fidelity features several LGBTQ characters including Rob who is bisexual. Rob's best friend Simon is gay in the series and even has an entire storyline about what his life is like as an openly gay man who is also unlucky in love.
Love, Victor (2020-2022)
Love, Victor is perhaps one of the best teen shows with LGBTQ+ representations in recent years. The series centers on Victor, a teenager who is finally exploring his sexuality after his religious family has moved to a new state.
The series is important in LGBTQ+ representation because it shows a reality where one's family might not be as accepting as they should be of their gay child. However, the series doesn't just rely on Victor's experience and instead rounds out its LGBTQ+ representation by letting other characters like Benji, Lake, and Lucy also explore their sexualities.
Modern Family (2009-2020)
Aside from Will and Grace, Modern Family is one of the best and most successful sitcoms to feature a gay couple on broadcast television. The ensemble mockumentary followed three related families as they dealt with the trials and tribulations of life.
Cam and Mitch's relationship was one of the best in the entire show and really helped show America what a same-sex family looked like. One of the most groundbreaking moments for the show and their relationship was the episode where Cam and Mitch got married in the wake of the Supreme Court case.
Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)
Not only is Schitt's Creek one of the best comedies of its time, but it's also one of the best LGBTQ+ comedies of its time. The comedy follows the wealthy Rose family, who have their entire fortune stolen from them and must move to the small town the Roses bought as a joke.
At the center of its representation is David, who explains his pansexuality with one of the best metaphors ever seen on television. His later relationship with Patrick is one of the best love stories on modern television. Schitt's Creek is also hailed for never having its LGBTQ characters face homophobia.
Special (2019-2021)
A semi-autobiographical retelling of his life, Special follows Ryan, an openly gay man with mild cerebral palsy as he navigates life and love in the city. The short form series ran for two seasons and earned several accolades during its limited run.
Ryan is unlike many other gay characters on TV, but he doesn't let his sexuality or his disability stop him from living his best life. On his quest for love, Ryan dates and interacts with several other gay men, including Tanner, who is in an open relationship which offers Special another opportunity for representation.
One Day At A Time (2017-2020)
One Day At A Time follows three generations of the Cuban-American Alvarez family as they live together and navigate the trials and tribulations that stem from being a parent in the 21st century. The comedy was hailed for its ability to handle deep issues in comedic ways, and fans are still angry the series was prematurely canceled by Netflix.
Elena, the teenage daughter, is the first to introduce LGBTQ+ conversations into the family when she comes out to her family as a lesbian. Despite their religious background, the family is quick to accept Elena and Syd, her non-binary significant other.
Our Flag Means Death (2022-)
Arguably one of the best shows of 2022, Our Flag Means Death follows Stede Bonnet, a wealthy landowner who runs away to become a private in 1717. During their misadventures, Stede and his crew encounter Edward and his notorious pirate crew, who end up helping Stede in more ways than one.
Against all odds, Stede and Edward end up falling in love and become the central relationship in the show. The best part is Stede and Edward aren't the only gay pirates aboard the ship. The crew includes several other LGBTQ+ characters and even introduces a non-binary pirate to the mix.
What We Do In The Shadows (2019)
What We Do In The Shadows is a mockumentary that follows a group of eccentric vampires who have lived together for hundreds of years in Staten Island. With every new season that airs, critics and fans claim the series gets queerer and queerer, which is exactly what they want.
Every character in the show identifies as pansexual and has no problem dating whomever their heart desires (per Advocate). The series doesn't shy away from pairing characters together with surprising partners, nor does it turn a blind eye to sex.