Representation matters. According to a poll by Gallup, 5.6% of Americans identify as something other than heterosexual. Due to this, queer representation in the media has increased in recent years. Here are 10 movies and TV shows featuring LGBTQ+ characters that you can watch on Netflix and Hulu.
Atypical TV-14
This teen sitcom follows Sam, a teenager with autism, as he navigates high school and dating. Along the way, his sister, Casey, questions her sexuality.
Julie and the Phantoms TV-G
This family musical show is about a teen girl, Julie, dealing with the loss of her mother with the help of three teen ghosts, Luke, Alex, and Reggie. They help reignite her passion for music, and she helps them find their unfinished business. Alex is gay, and was not accepted by his parents before he passed. His friends gave him their unconditional support, which goes with the theme of found family that encompasses the show.
Schitt’s Creek TV-MA
“Suddenly broke, the formerly filthy-rich Rose family is reduced to living in a ramshackle motel in a town they once bought as a joke: Schitt’s Creek (Netflix).” David Rose is queer, and he is still loved and accepted by all. It’s wonderful to see a queer character live through the same struggles the rest of the characters and not struggle because of his sexuality.
The Half of It PG-13
“When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn’t expect to become his friend – or fall for his crush (Netflix.)” Ellie Chu tried to work out her feelings for her newfound crush while grappling with the question of how to come out to her father.
Sex Education TV-MA
“Insecure Otis has all the answers when it comes to sex advice, thanks to his therapist mom. So rebel Maeve proposes a school sex-therapy clinic (Netflix).” This ensemble comedy follows teenagers as they discover who they are.
Modern Family TV-14
“Today’s American families come in all shapes and sizes. The cookie cutter mold of man + wife + 2.5 kids is a thing of the past, as it becomes quickly apparent in the bird’s eye view of ABC’s half-hour comedy, which takes an honest and often hilarious look at the composition and complexity of modern family life (Hulu).” This family mockumentary comedy includes married couple, Cameron and Mitchell and their adopted daughter Lily.
Love, Simon PG-13
“A closeted gay teen deals with coming out to his family and friends in this charming coming-of-age tale (Hulu).”
Love, Victor TV-14
“Set in the world of the original 2018 film “Love, Simon,” the series follows Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School on his own journey of self-discovery, facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city, and struggling with his sexual orientation. When it all seems too much, he reaches out to Simon to help him navigate the ups and downs of high school (Hulu).”
The Society TV-MA
This dystopian teen drama is set in a small town with dark happenings. After a smell invades the town, the teens are sent on a camping trip while it is cleaned. However, when they get back, the town is abandoned and they have no way out. While all this is going on, one teen struggles with being the only out gay person in town.
Workin’ Moms TV-MA
“Four very different thirty-something working mother friends try to balance their jobs, family lives, and love lives in modern-day Toronto, Canada (IMDb).” One of the main characters is a lesbian mother who struggles with raising children with her girlfriend that are not biologically hers.