LGBTQ+ Series You Are Sleeping On (but Shouldn’t)

These series spotlight LGBTQ+ lives across genres and countries, offering nuanced stories about identity, friendship, family, and community. Below, you’ll find concise, practical details—premises, creators, notable cast, platforms, and what sets each show apart—so you can decide what to queue up next without the fluff.

‘Feel Good’ (2020–2021)

Comedian Mae Martin co-created this semi-autobiographical dramedy about a stand-up navigating sobriety, love, and career volatility in London. The show stars Mae Martin and Charlotte Ritchie, with Lisa Kudrow in a recurring role as Mae’s mother. It originally aired on Channel 4 and streams globally on Netflix. The series blends relationship storytelling with recovery and mental health themes, guided by Martin’s sharp, candid writing.

‘Sort Of’ (2021–2023)

Created by Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo, this Canadian dramedy follows Sabi Mehboob, a non-binary millennial juggling caregiving work, family expectations, and self-definition. It aired on CBC and streamed on Max in the United States. The show foregrounds trans and non-binary narratives both on-screen and behind the scenes. Its ensemble approach explores intersections of culture, queerness, and caregiving labor.

‘Vida’ (2018–2020)

Tanya Saracho’s Starz series centers on two Mexican-American sisters in East L.A. who inherit their mother’s bar and uncover her long-term relationship with a woman. The show engages gentrification, community organizing, and family legacies within Boyle Heights. It highlights queer Latinx representation with a largely Latinx writers’ room and cast. Episodes interweave Spanish and English for authentic dialogue and setting.

‘Please Like Me’ (2013–2016)

Australian comedian Josh Thomas leads this dramedy about a young man coming out, managing mental health, and learning adulthood with friends and family. The series aired on ABC2 in Australia and Pivot in the United States, later streaming internationally. Its writing balances melancholy and humor while addressing depression, relationships, and caregiving. The ensemble—Thomas, Thomas Ward, Debra Lawrance, and others—grounds the show’s intimate storytelling.

‘Gentleman Jack’ (2019–2022)

Based on the coded diaries of Anne Lister, this BBC/HBO drama chronicles the Halifax landowner and industrialist’s business ventures and relationships. Suranne Jones stars as Lister, with Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker. Production emphasizes period detail, West Yorkshire locations, and Lister’s meticulous journals. The series brings a documented lesbian historical figure to mainstream television with archival fidelity.

‘Special’ (2019–2021)

Created by and starring Ryan O’Connell, this comedy follows a gay man with cerebral palsy pursuing independence, work, and dating after a major life pivot. Episodes run in a compact, bingeable format on Netflix. The show adapts O’Connell’s memoir for television while expanding workplace and friendship arcs. It foregrounds disability and queer identity with a first-person creative voice.

‘Eastsiders’ (2012–2019)

Kit Williamson’s indie dramedy began as a web series before securing distribution on platforms like Netflix. Set in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, it tracks a group of friends and couples through infidelity, sobriety, and creative ambitions. The production is micro-budget with a recurring ensemble including Van Hansis, John Halbach, and Constance Wu. Its festival-to-streaming trajectory helped normalize web-origin LGBTQ+ storytelling.

‘Looking’ (2014–2016)

This HBO series follows three friends in San Francisco navigating careers, dating apps, and long-term relationships. Jonathan Groff, Murray Bartlett, and Frankie J. Alvarez lead the cast, with a feature-length finale concluding the narrative. The show emphasizes everyday realism and Bay Area settings, including the tech sector’s influence on social life. It explores intergenerational community dynamics across friendships and partners.

‘Work in Progress’ (2019–2021)

Co-created by Abby McEnany and Tim Mason, this Chicago-set comedy tracks a self-described “queer, fat, dyke” navigating therapy, relationships, and daily rituals. The series aired on Showtime with Lilly Wachowski as executive producer and frequent director. It blends scripted storytelling with elements drawn from McEnany’s life and Chicago improv roots. The show builds a distinctly Midwestern sense of place and community.

‘The Bisexual’ (2018)

Writer-director Desiree Akhavan stars in this London-set dramedy about a startup founder taking a break from a long partnership to examine her identity. The series aired on Channel 4 and streamed on Hulu in the United States. It tackles assumptions within queer and straight communities about attraction, dating, and labels. Workplace subplots spotlight the tech ecosystem alongside intimate relationship stories.

‘It’s a Sin’ (2021)

Russell T Davies’ Channel 4/HBO Max miniseries follows a group of friends in London as the AIDS crisis reshapes their lives. The ensemble includes Olly Alexander, Lydia West, Omari Douglas, and Callum Scott Howells. Music, nightlife, and activism are woven into the narrative alongside hospital and family scenes. The production partners with advocacy groups and features period-accurate design and soundtrack curation.

‘Cucumber’ (2015)

From Russell T Davies, this Channel 4 drama examines the midlife crisis of a gay man after a long-term relationship ends. It explores friendships, family ties, and Manchester’s queer social spaces. The series connects thematically with ‘Banana’ and the documentary strand ‘Tofu’. Its cross-project structure created interlinked narratives across platforms.

‘Pose’ (2018–2021)

Set in New York City’s ball culture, this FX drama highlights trans women of color and the chosen families they form. The series features a groundbreaking number of trans actors in regular roles, including MJ Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, and Indya Moore. Dance and fashion elements are central, with ball categories and houses framing each episode. The show also addresses healthcare access, activism, and economic precarity.

‘Sense8’ (2015–2018)

Created by Lana and Lilly Wachowski with J. Michael Straczynski, this global sci-fi series connects eight strangers who share a psychic link. Filmed across multiple countries, it features a multinational, multilingual cast. The show foregrounds LGBTQ+ characters within its core ensemble and romances. Its production emphasizes location shooting, stunt work, and cross-cut storytelling across continents.

‘Transparent’ (2014–2019)

Jill Soloway’s dramedy follows the Pfefferman family in Los Angeles after a parent comes out as trans. Amazon Studios produced the series, which culminated with a feature-length musical finale. The show explores family systems, religion, and identity across multiple generations. Music, festivals, and archival home-video motifs play key roles in the visual language.

‘The L Word: Generation Q’ (2019–2023)

This Showtime sequel continues the legacy of ‘The L Word’ with returning characters and a new, diverse ensemble in Los Angeles. Storylines cover careers, co-parenting, immigration status, and nightlife entrepreneurship. The series expands trans and non-binary representation within its core cast. It integrates social media and contemporary dating into character arcs.

‘The Wilds’ (2020–2022)

This Amazon Studios drama follows a group of teenage girls stranded on an island after a plane crash, with a parallel group of boys introduced later. The narrative weaves survival stakes with an undercover social experiment. LGBTQ+ relationships and identities are central to several character backstories. Interrogation framing devices reveal contrasting accounts and timelines.

‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ (2020)

Mike Flanagan’s gothic romance adapts and reimagines Henry James’ works in a country estate setting. The limited series features a central queer love story alongside ghostly mysteries. Production emphasizes period costuming, practical effects, and slow-burn suspense. It streams on Netflix as part of an anthology lineage.

‘Black Sails’ (2014–2017)

A Starz adventure drama, this ‘Treasure Island’ prequel situates pirates within intricate alliances and colonial power struggles. The series includes queer relationships among principal characters, integrated into political maneuvering. Large-scale sets, naval choreography, and VFX support its historical action. Writers build serialized arcs around treasure, trade, and rebellion in the Caribbean.

‘One Day at a Time’ (2017–2020)

This reimagining follows a Cuban-American family in Los Angeles led by a veteran single mom. The series features a significant coming-of-age arc for a queer teen character, engaging school, activism, and faith. It began on Netflix and later aired on Pop TV and CBS. Norman Lear and Gloria Calderón Kellett headlined the production with a multi-camera format and live audience.

‘Skam’ (2015–2017)

The Norwegian teen drama uses real-time storytelling and character-centric seasons to depict high school life. Season arcs include a gay romance that resonated beyond Norway through web clips and social media. The format spawned multiple international remakes with localized casts and settings. Its transmedia approach integrates texts, Instagram posts, and short clips into the narrative.

‘We Are Who We Are’ (2020)

Luca Guadagnino’s HBO limited series follows two American teens on a U.S. military base in Italy exploring identity, friendship, and desire. The production uses handheld camerawork and naturalistic performances to build intimacy. Soundtrack curation and Italian locations are integral to tone and atmosphere. The ensemble includes Jack Dylan Grazer, Jordan Kristine Seamón, Chloë Sevigny, and Kid Cudi.

‘Trinkets’ (2019–2020)

Based on the novel by Kirsten Smith, this Netflix drama unites three teens in a shoplifters’ anonymous group who form an unlikely bond. Queer storylines intersect with family upheaval, grief processing, and school pressures. The series features a rotating point-of-view structure across its leads. Music supervision and Pacific Northwest settings contribute to its mood.

‘She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’ (2018–2020)

This animated series from ND Stevenson reimagines the ‘She-Ra’ universe with a focus on friendship, redemption, and found family. LGBTQ+ representation is woven through principal characters and relationships. It combines serialized adventure with character-driven episodes suitable for varied age groups. The show streams on Netflix with an ensemble voice cast and dynamic visual design.

‘The Other Two’ (2019–2023)

A comedy following the adult siblings of a sudden teen pop sensation, this series charts careers in entertainment and media. It features central queer characters and industry satire set across New York and Los Angeles. The show began on Comedy Central and later moved to Max, retaining its core creative team. Recurring arcs examine publicity, image management, and family dynamics within show business.

‘Dickinson’ (2019–2021)

This Apple TV+ series centers Emily Dickinson’s poetry, relationships, and family life through a modernized, stylized lens. Hailee Steinfeld stars, with a focus on the poet’s intimate bond with Susan Gilbert. The production mixes period settings with contemporary music and dialogue. Episodes explore artistic ambition, domestic expectations, and queerness in 19th-century New England.

‘Young Royals’ (2021–2024)

This Swedish drama follows a prince whose time at a prestigious boarding school collides with first love and duty. The series explores media scrutiny, class, and the pressures of monarchy alongside teenage relationships. It features an ensemble of young actors and a strong focus on privacy versus public image. The story’s school setting frames conflicts among peers, families, and institutional expectations.

‘A League of Their Own’ (2022)

Inspired by the film, this series broadens the story of women’s professional baseball to include queer characters and players of color. It examines team dynamics, training, travel, and community in a mid-century sports context. Research into league history informs uniforms, gameplay, and clubhouse culture. The show balances on-field action with off-field housing, work, and bar-life scenes.

‘Our Flag Means Death’ (2022–2024)

Set in the age of sail, this comedy-adventure follows a gentleman-turned-pirate captain and his evolving partnership with a notorious privateer. The series foregrounds queer relationships within a crew of misfits and rivals. Maritime sets, shipboard routines, and period costuming shape the world-building. Storylines mix swashbuckling conflict with letters, codes of conduct, and crew politics.

‘ANNE+’ (2018–2020)

This Dutch dramedy tracks a young lesbian writer in Amsterdam as she revisits past relationships and navigates new ones. The series began as short episodes and later expanded in scope, maintaining a grounded, city-specific feel. It emphasizes creative work, apartment living, and friendship networks. The production showcases local publishing, nightlife, and cycling-centric city life.

‘Hacks’ (2021–2024)

This comedy pairs a legendary Las Vegas comic with a millennial writer as they collaborate on new material. The show features a central queer lead whose career and relationships intersect with the entertainment industry. It offers a detailed look at touring, contracts, writers’ rooms, and audience dynamics. Locations shift between clubs, theaters, and on-the-road venues to map the work behind a comedy act.

‘The Owl House’ (2020–2023)

An animated fantasy about a human teen who trains as a witch in a magical realm, this series integrates queer relationships into its core cast. World-building includes schools, covens, and a myth-heavy history that shapes conflicts. Episodes blend serialized arcs with standalones that deepen character skills and bonds. The production’s visual design emphasizes creature creation, glyph magic, and layered lore.

‘Steven Universe’ (2013–2019)

This animated series follows a boy raised by alien guardians as he learns about heritage, fusion, and responsibility. LGBTQ+ themes are embedded in character relationships, family structures, and identity metaphors. The show uses music, episodic quests, and long-arc reveals to build its mythology. Its production developed a large catalog of songs alongside character-focused storytelling.

‘The Legend of Korra’ (2012–2014)

A sequel to ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’, this animated series centers a new Avatar navigating political unrest, spirituality, and personal growth. It gradually establishes a same-sex romance within the principal cast. Settings shift across republic cities, spirit worlds, and international arenas with evolving technology. Martial-arts choreography and bending styles anchor action and character development.

‘Wentworth’ (2013–2021)

This Australian prison drama chronicles power shifts, alliances, and survival among inmates and staff. Queer relationships play a significant role in character arcs across seasons. The series is known for intricate long-term plotting and institutional detail. It uses cell blocks, yards, and administrative spaces to chart changing control and loyalty.

‘The Fosters’ (2013–2018)

Set around a multi-ethnic family led by two moms, this drama covers adoption, foster care, and adolescence. School, legal processes, and social services intersect with the family’s daily life. The series emphasizes sibling bonds and community ties alongside romantic storylines. Spin-off connections extend its world through additional characters and locations.

‘Shadowhunters’ (2016–2019)

Based on Cassandra Clare’s urban-fantasy novels, this series follows a secret society of demon hunters balancing missions and relationships. A prominent queer couple anchors part of the ensemble’s emotional core. Production design includes institutes, portals, and runes that define training and combat. The show combines case-of-the-week elements with season-long threats.

‘Lip Service’ (2010–2012)

Set in Glasgow, this drama follows a group of lesbian friends navigating careers and relationships. Location shooting highlights local neighborhoods, workplaces, and nightlife. The ensemble format allows intersecting storylines and professional stakes. It provides a UK perspective that complements other city-set LGBTQ+ ensembles.

‘Somebody Somewhere’ (2022–)

This Kansas-set dramedy tracks an adult singer rebuilding community and creative purpose after a family loss. The series centers queer friendships, small-town spaces, and local arts scenes. It balances workplace rhythms with open-mic nights and neighborhood routines. HBO produces, with a tone grounded in everyday Midwestern life.

‘Banana Fish’ (2018)

This anime adapts Akimi Yoshida’s crime saga about a gang leader and a visiting photographer drawn into a conspiracy. Themes of trauma, loyalty, and chosen family run through investigations and turf conflicts. Urban locations, criminal networks, and political intrigue drive the plot. The production brings a classic manga to television with modern pacing and action.

Share the LGBTQ+ series you think more people should discover in the comments!