7 Influential Shows That Have Shaped LGBTQ+ Representation on Television

Happy Pride Month, TV Fanatics!

In recent years, more and more queer shows have been popping up.

After all, Heated Rivalry has completely taken over the internet, and Heartstopper has become an instant classic among LGBTQ+ young adults.

But before the recent boom in LGBTQ+ representation, there had been a long struggle to get these stories on the screen.

So, to celebrate the community, here’s a list of influential shows that have put the LGBTQ+ community at the forefront of television.

1. Queer as Folk

Based on the UK version by the same name, Queer as Folk definitely deserves a spot on this list.

The show follows five gay men living in Pittsburgh, and even features a lesbian couple from the second season onward.

This Showtime series was revolutionary for featuring a majority queer cast of characters, marking a significant step in centering LGBTQ+ stories in the early 2000s.

As with any drama show, Queer of Folk is full of messy relationships and friendship fights.

But over the course of five seasons, this show managed to tackle prominent issues in the LGBTQ+ community, such as living with HIV,

Although its 2022 spin-off may have been short-lived, Queer as Folk has secured a long-lasting legacy in the history of queer television.

2. The L Word

Another Showtime series with a predominantly queer cast of characters is The L Word.

Set in West Hollywood, this show was centered on a group of lesbian and bisexual women and their intertwined lives.

For a show in the early 2000s, The L Word was considered groundbreaking not only for portraying queer women, but also for being written and directed by queer women.

The series is raunchy but also considers questions of family and community for queer women, topics that previously hadn’t been extensively explored in media.

The L Word also received a spin-off, but it was sadly canceled after only two seasons.

In an era where sapphic representation still feels far and few between, The L Word has undeniably made an impact on shaping LGBTQ+ representation.

3. Pose

The series mentioned so far may feature queer characters, but Pose marks a historic step in centering stories of queer and trans BIPOC characters.

The series, set in New York City, focuses on the city’s ballroom scene in the ’80s and ’90s and the important role Black and Latinx people played in shaping LGBTQ+ culture.

While there have been many transgender characters in television history, this FX series was among the first to cast trans people in trans roles.

In fact, Pose broke the record for casting the highest number of transgender series regulars for a scripted TV show.

Even though the show tackles the HIV and AIDS crisis, it also celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and the beauty of found family in such an unapologetically joyful way.

4. Soap

It’s time to take a walk down memory lane as we go all the way back to the ’70s and ’80s era of television with Soap.

Compared to previous series on this list, this ABC sitcom might seem like it’s coming out of left field.

But actually, Soap featured one of the first openly gay characters in a sitcom: Jodie Dallas.

Jodie may not have been the perfect example of queer representation, but his appearance on the show spurred gay rights groups to advocate for more positive media portrayals of the community.

It would take a few more decades for queer representation to start appearing more regularly in sitcoms, but Soap certainly laid the groundwork for future change.

5. Will & Grace

Speaking of sitcoms, it’s nearly impossible to talk about queer representation without mentioning Will & Grace.

The eleven-season NBC show was one of the first primetime network television shows with a main character who identified as gay.

In addition to Will being gay, the series also features another gay character, Jack McFarland, and has been credited with improving public perceptions of the LGBTQ+ community.

It’s especially notable that the show was running for a long time, as shows featuring queer characters don’t tend to have many seasons.

So, Will & Grace has cemented its legacy as one of the most memorable sitcoms to prominently feature LGBTQ+ representation.

6. Sense8

Moving away from the sitcom genre, a landmark queer television show in the sci-fi genre is Sense8.

Created by the Wachowski sisters, both of whom identify as trans, this Netflix series also has a cast of mostly queer characters.

Additionally, Sense8 features a transgender woman, Nomi, who is played by trans actress Jamie Clayton.

There are several plotlines about characters reckoning with their sexuality and gender identity, all set against the show’s larger mystery.

Even though Sense8 had only two seasons, its innovative approach to integrating LGBTQ+ stories into the sci-fi genre was notable.

7. Glee

Last, but certainly not least, Glee deserves a spot on this list.

This Fox series has earned a reputation for its impressive covers of pop songs and the messy scenes of characters beefing with one another.

However, Glee also featured several queer couples, including Kurt & Blaine and Santana & Brittany.

The show never shied away from addressing these characters’ LGBTQ+ identity and allowed them to unapologetically embrace themselves.

After all, who can forget Brittany and Sanatana singing Fleetwood Mac to explore their feelings for each other?

Over to you now, TV Fanatics! Which of these shows have you tuned into?

Are there any shows that you would want to see on this list? Let us know in the comments below!