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Netflix's newest teen drama, Heartbreak High, premiered in early September and is quickly on its way to becoming one of the best teen series on the streaming platform. The series is also being hailed for its commitment to diversity and inclusivity among the LGBTQ and neurodivergent communities, thanks to the inclusion of non-binary, asexual, bisexual, and autistic characters.
Heartbreak High might not be the best drama that features LGBTQ characters, but it certainly has the potential to join the handful of other shows that are great forms of representation and entertainment. The inclusion of LGBTQ characters has increased dramatically in recent years and led to more positive and authentic representations of the community. From period pieces to modern takes, the choices for drama shows with LGBTQ characters are richer than ever.
A League Of Their Own (2022-)
Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, A League of their Own takes the basic premise of the movie and expands it, introducing new characters and storylines. While the show is still about the formation of an all-female professional baseball team during World War 2, the series goes on to explore women's sexuality, femineity, and the racist nature of the league and era.
Carson and Max are the co-leads in A League of Their Own, and both are hesitant to explore their sexuality, suffering from internalized homophobia. However, through their love of baseball and the friendship they form, they learn that nothing is wrong with them for being attracted to women, even if the government wants to make them think otherwise.
Gentleman Jack (2019-2022)
Gentleman Jack is based on a series of real-life collected diaries from industrialist Anne Lister who documented her life as a lesbian in a secret code. Set in 1832, the series follows Anne as she moves to West Yorkshire to restore her uncle's estate and ends up falling for Ann Walker, her new neighbor.
The series offers an honest look inside what it was like being a lesbian in the 1800s and why the woman had to keep their relationship a secret. Airing on HBO, Gentleman Jack doesn't shy away from featuring storylines around sex, but the best part of the series is that it ends happily, breaking the overplayed trope of LGBTQ characters getting tragic endings.
Glee (2009-2015)
Perhaps, one of the first mainstream teen shows to feature LGBTQ characters in a positive light was Fox's musical drama Glee. The cult classic series centered around a group of high school glee club students trying to win the show choir student while dealing with everyday high school growing pains.
Glee featured several characters who identified with the LGBTQ community over the years, including the fan favorite pairing of Blaine and Kurt. One of the best Glee episodes, in terms of LGBTQ representation, is "Jagged Little Tapestry," which explores Coach Beiste explaining to his coworkers that he is transitioning.
Little Fires Everywhere (2020)
Based on the 2017 novel of the same name, Little Fires Everywhere takes place in Ohio in the 1990s and follows two mothers from different socioeconomic backgrounds whose lives end up intertwined. While the novel didn't include LGBTQ characters, the series changed that by making Izzy gay.
Since the series takes place in the 1990s, Izzy's experience as a gay teenager is much different than what many gay teenagers experience today. Through Izzy, the creators were also able to explore the complexities around finding a label for one's sexuality since Izzy doesn't directly label herself.
I May Destroy You (2020)
I May Destroy You was largely considered one of the best shows in 2020 and went on to win several awards, including a GLAAD Media Award and two Emmys. The mini-series centers on Arabella, a rising writer whose world is turned upside down when she is raped.
While Arabella doesn't identify with the LGBTQ community, her best friend Kwame does. Kwame is one of the most nuanced and authentic gay characters on television and is never once stereotyped or used for comedy. Instead, his story is just as important as Arabella's as each of their assaults is used to highlight the way victims are treated differently.
Pose (2018-2021)
Arguably one of the best shows set in the 80s/90s, Pose explores the rise of ball culture and the subsequent gay and trans community in New York. The show regularly features storylines about characters dealing with the AIDS pandemic.
Pose has a lot going for it in terms of its representation of the LGBTQ community. For one, it features the largest number of openly trans actors in any scripted television show. The series also is careful when depicting what life was like during the AIDS pandemic and can be educational for audiences who don't know much about the time period.
The Fosters (2013-2018)
When The Fosters began airing in 2013, it served as the blueprint for what teen shows could do for the LGBTQ communities. The teen drama centers on the Adams-Foster blended family headed by a lesbian couple as they deal with life's varying challenges.
The Fosters was ripe with LGBTQ representations in its characters. Stef and Lena were one of the first lesbian couples who were also mothers on TV. In addition, the show featured Jude, the youngest family member who was coming to terms with his sexuality, and transgender characters who were in various states of the transition process.
The L Word (2004-2009)
When The L-Word premiered on television in 2004, it became the first ensemble show to feature lesbian and bisexual characters. The groundbreaking show centered on these women as they navigated life in West Hollywood, California.
Every main character in The L-Word identified as either a lesbian or bisexual and regularly was shown having relationships with other women. The series has been hailed for the way it handled the women's sexuality and shot sex scenes utilizing the female gaze, which was unheard of at the time. It is also one of the first shows with a queer woman showrunner and director.
The Wilds (2020-2022)
The Wilds begins with a group of teen girls from different backgrounds who are on their way to an empowerment retreat in Hawaii. Disaster strikes when the plane goes down, and the girls are left stranded on a deserted island and, now, must really on each other to survive.
While much of the drama centers around surviving, the show also features one of the best lesbian couples on television. Shelby, a closeted beauty queen, ends up falling for Toni despite originally calling Toni's sexuality a sin.
9-1-1-: Lone Star (2020-)
A spin-off of 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Lone Star follows a New York firefighter and his son who move to Austin, Texas, to help a struggling fire station rebuild after tragedy strikes. At its core, the show is a procedural about the fire department, but the series also features some of the best LGBTQ characters on television today.
In addition to the heartwarming romance between T.K. and Carlos, the show also features storylines around Paul, a trans male firefighter. Paul is played by trans-actor Brian Michael Smith, who helps the creative team keep Paul from being a stereotypical character.