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HBO’s short-lived but long-loved Looking, which followed the lives of three gay San Francisco men, is here, too, along with Lana and Lilly Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski’s envelope-pushing Sense8, andVida, about two Mexican-American sisters living in L.A. The list also features a group of LGBTQ+ comedians who crafted smart, critically acclaimed, funny, and moving shows around their own personas, among them Josh Thomas (Please Like Me), Mae Martin (Feel Good), Tig Notaro (One Mississippi), and Abby McEnany (Work In Progress).

Essential LGBTQ+ TV Shows
Groundbreakers and Big Firsts | Shows That Center on the LGBTQ+ Experience
Shows With LGBTQ+ Characters and Storylines | Reality Shows and Docuseries

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Synopsis: The critically acclaimed Web series "Broad City" moves to Comedy Central as a half-hour scripted series.

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!

It's created by and [More]

Starring: Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer

Looking for top-notch LGBTQ+ representation on your favorite streaming service?

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.

Its refreshing take on young love, complete with charming animation touches, has won the hearts of many. and even more recently that their stories have become accepted fare for mainstream fiction.

Fortunately, times have very much changed. You'll be in with a chance of receiving our cash prize — plus the chance to appear in Prompted, our new literary magazine!

Your favorites could help guide others to discover their next binge-worthy series.

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.

You’ll find High Fidelity, in which Zoë Kravitz plays bisexual record store owner Rob; Ryan Murphy’s period gay fantasia, Hollywood; and Twenties, Lena Waithe’s semi-autobiographical BET series. This page is home to all the LGBTQ+ stories submitted to our Reedsy short fiction contest, whether as part of a related prompt or simply to tell an LGBTQ+ story that touches readers’ hearts and minds.

From romance to drama to post-apocalyptic fare, some of the contest’s best entries have involved LGBTQ+ characters and narratives — as you’ll see from the many starred stories at the top of the page!

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. 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.

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. What’s more, if you feel the urge to write, indulge it by entering the contest yourself! 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...

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. Click on the previews to read each one, and remember to “like” and comment on your favorites, as well “follow” the authors you love. 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.

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. It has also, perhaps most importantly, been a platform to tell stories that have made gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and more people feel less alone in the world – to know there is a big and varied community to which they belong.

The latest: Our new update welcomes English Teacher, Fantamas, Fellow Travelers, and Interview with the Vampire! Simply sign up to our writing prompts newsletter to receive the next edition and unleash your inner creativity.

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.

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.