As a company, Disney has been criticized for its lack of representation of the LGBTQ+ community for years, but that representation has been gradually increasing with recent projects. Many of those projects are available to stream. The best LGBTQ+ shows on Disney+ offer a variety of representation in both animation and live-action.
Some of the shows, like Glee, were originally created for other networks and added to the streaming service after their acquisition. Others, like High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, were created exclusively for Disney+. There are even movies from the modern Disney and Marvel era that have some much-needed representation for fans.
10 The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022- )
Revivals and sequel series aren’t always well-received by fans of the original. That isn’t the case with The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder, which brings back most of the original voice cast for aged-up characters. The series also features a handful of new characters, and many of them belong to the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition to a pair of dads voiced by Billy Porter and Zachary Quinto, the series updates an original character named Michael (voiced by EJ Johnson) from the original series. Michael was bullied in the original animated series for being too feminine. Now, Michael is an out and proud friend of Penny who has undergone his own image makeover. He’s comfortable in his own skin, providing positive representation for young kids of color who might be watching the series. The series has done a great job at increasing its representation and has become one of the best LGBTQ+ shows on Disney+.
9 Howard (2018)
While most audience members undoubtedly look for queer stories among Disney’s fictional content, there’s also a documentary Disney fans will want to see if they haven’t already. Howard recounts the life of musician and lyricist Howard Ashman. Ashman grew up loving musical theater, and after not seeing much success creating works for the stage, teamed up with struggling Disney animators and his musical partner Alan Menken to usher in the Disney Renaissance.
The documentary covers Ashman’s contributions to the success of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. It also features Ashman’s tragic end as a gay man in the 1990s, dying as a result of complications from AIDS during the height of the AIDS epidemic in New York before Beauty and the Beast released. While the story might be a sad one, Ashman left a powerful legacy in art, and the documentary remaining on Disney+ is a victory for LGBTQ+ fans. It was one of the programs originally slated to be eliminated as Disney+ and Hulu revamp their programming, but outcry on social media had Disney+ reconsider.
8 Amphibia (2019-2022)
On her 13th birthday, Thai-American Anne Boonchy is peer-pressured into stealing a music box that ends up transporting her and her two best friends to different parts of the mysterious world of Amphibia. While there, Anne begins to bond with the Plantar frog family who takes her in and helps her adjust to her new world.
The popular Amphibia features several minor characters who identify with the LGBTQ+ representation including pansexual Ally. Pansexuality isn't talked about much on television so the fact that a children's show chose to include a pansexual character is a major reason to watch the show. It's one of the most heartwarming and best LGBTQ+ shows on Disney+
7 Cruella (2021)
Not only is Cruella one of Disney's best live-action remakes, but it also featured Disney's first "major" gay character -- a claim that was questioned by some Disney fans since Disney has used the same headline before. While Artie never clearly states his sexuality, audiences are meant to infer based on his conversations with Estella.
It's not the most apparent LGBTQ+ representation in a Disney movie but it's a step in the right direction. Fans are hopeful that they'll get more from Artie and his backstory in the confirmed Cruella 2 sequel that's actively in development.
6 Eternals (2021)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven itself as the powerhouse of superhero movies, and now it's also proving that anyone can be a superhero regardless of gender, age, race, and sexuality. When Eternals premiered in theaters in 2021, it marked the first openly gay superhero in the MCU.
The best part of Eternals and Phastos is that his sexuality isn't only hinted at but plays a major role in who he is and his storylines. Fans get to see him interact with his husband Ben and their son. And the two husbands even get to share a kiss -- something that Disney likely never would have done a few years ago.
5 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019- )
When High School Musical 2 came out, many fans began to speculate about Ryan's sexuality but the beloved Disney Channel original movie never commented and instead pushed Ryan into a relationship with Kelsey in the third movie. However, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series wanted to right some of those wrongs by creating LGBTQ+ characters who are out and proud.
Season 1 not only features Carlos, a publicly gay character, but it also tells a heartwarming coming-out story for Seb as well. Now, the two are in a happy relationship together with many fans claiming they're the best couple of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. The series might be campy at times, but it's got some of the most realistic depictions of relationships among its teen cast, making it one of the best LGBTQ+ shows on Disney+. The series also featured Ashlyn and Big Red both coming out as bisexual in season 3 after Ashlyn experiences a confusing reaction to new series regular Maddox at camp.
4 Glee (2009-2015)
For LGBTQ+ kids and teens growing up in the 2010s, Glee was one of the first times they ever saw themselves represented on television. Considered one of the best musical shows of all time, the teen drama centered on a group of glee kids who regularly competed in competitions while also dealing with typical high school drama.
The LGBTQ+ community praised the series for its many diverse LGBTQ+ characters and relationships. However, a fan favorite remains the relationship between Kurt and Blaine. Unlike other LGBTQ+ teen couples, Kurt and Blaine end up happily ever after and get married in the final season of the show. It's proof that LGBTQ+ couples can and do get to live out their own happily-ever-afters.
3 Grown-ish (2018-)
A spin-off of ABC's hit sitcom Black-ish, Grown-ish follows Zoey Johnson and her new friends as they navigate the highs and lows of college life now that they're on their own for the first time ever. While Zoey was the lead-in for the series, the show really is an ensemble comedy that includes several LGBTQ+ characters.
In the first season, fans get introduced to Nomi, a bisexual first-year student who is out to her friends but not her family. In addition to Nomi, the series introduces fans to Des, a genderfluid and pansexual athlete who begins a relationship with Jazz. The introduction of Des allowed the show to explore genderfluidity and the complicated thoughts and feelings that might arise from a potential heterosexual partner.
2 Love, Victor (2020-2022)
Fans first fell in love with Creekwood High in Becky Albertelli's bestselling novel which was then turned into the hit romantic comedy Love, Simon. It wasn't long before fans got to return to Creekwood with the Hulu original series (which moved to Disney+) Love, Victor.
Like Love, Simon, sexuality plays a huge part in Love, Victor as Victor begins to explore and come to terms with his sexuality now that he's in a new place. While the first two seasons revolved heavily around Victor's sexual exploration, the third and final explores Lake's own sexual exploration as she begins dating Lucy, and though the two experience some hurdles in their relationship, they discuss them maturely and find solutions to their problems. Among teen dramas, which can be more soapy than realistic, Love, Victors offers one of the best LGBTQ+ shows on Disney+.
1 The Owl House (2020-2023)
The Owl House is one of Disney Channel's newest animated shows that is getting quite the praise for its LGBTQ+ representation. In fact, it's the first ever Disney show or movie to feature two same-sex characters in lead roles in a relationship. It's easily among the best LGBTQ+ shows on Disney+
The most considerable praise comes in the form of Luz and Amity's relationship as bisexual and lesbian young women. It isn't often that media shows two young girls in love which is one of the reasons that The Owl House is so popular among fans. The series also introduced Raine, a character who goes by they/them pronouns before it ended with season 3.