While representation of LGBTQ+ people in popular culture has generally been poor, accurate and three-dimensional queer characters in media can help reduce stereotypes, and can help minoritized people feel validated. To amplify works that are celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve created this list of the 62 best LGBTQ+ friendly movies, TV shows, and books.
These works tell a diversity of LGBTQ+ stories, from lighthearted fantasies about superhero drag queens to poignant memoirs about growing up feeling Othered. You’re bound to discover something you enjoy or something to critique—or both!
Movies
#1: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Originally Released: August 10, 1994 (USA)
Director(s): Stephan Elliott
Writer(s): Stephan Elliot
Stars: Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Pluto TV, Tubi, It’s Free TV, Vudu
In The Adventures of Priscilla, two drag queens and a transgender woman take their cabaret show on the road, embarking on an epic journey across the Australian desert. The three friends perform for various audiences, prompting a range of reactions, from admiration to homophobic backlash. Although a comedy, this classic film also depicts a compassionate and sentimental side to humanity.
#2: And Then We Danced
Originally Released: September 13, 2019 (Sweden)
Director(s): Levan Akin
Writer(s): Levan Akin
Stars: Levan Gelbakhiani, Bachi Valishvili, Ana Javakishvili
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Tubi, Amazon Prime, Mubi, VUDU, iTunes, Google Play
This Georgian drama, inspired by the 2013 Tbilisi attacks on anti-homophobia protestors, is a story of love and rivalry between two male dancers. Because of the depiction of a same-sex relationship, this movie was notoriously difficult to shoot and produce, and several actors and filming locations backed out of the process.
During filming, onlookers were told the movie was about a French tourist to prevent potential backlash. Despite this precaution, the production team received death threats and had to hire security guards on set.
#3: Benedetta
Originally Released: July 9, 2021 (France)
Director(s): Paul Verhoeven
Writer(s): David Burke, Paul Verhoeven, based on the book Immodest Acts by Judith C. Brown
Stars: Virginie Efira, Charlotte Rampling, Daphne Patakia
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Hulu, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, VUDU
The film is set during the plague in 17th-century Italy. Based on a true story, it follows a young nun who joins the Convent of the Mother of God, where she begins having visions of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. After Benedetta (Virginie Efira) falls ill and is cared for by one of the other nuns, the two women form a bond that develops into a secret love affair. One that must be hidden from the church. This French-Dutch psychological drama is a criticism of religion’s oppression of women’s bodies and sexuality, and doesn’t hold back in depicting explicit content.
#4: The Birdcage
Originally Released: March 8, 1996 (USA)
Director(s): Mike Nichols
Writer(s): Elaine May, based on the play by Jean Poiret
Stars: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Paramount+, fuboTV, Showtime, iTunes, Amazon Prime, VUDU, Google Play
The Birdcage is a 1996 comedy film directed by Mike Nichols, starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as a gay couple who run a drag nightclub in South Beach, Miami. When their son announces his engagement to the daughter of a conservative politician, they must pretend to be a straight couple and hide their true identities. Hilarity ensues as they try to navigate the complex web of lies and keep up appearances while dealing with unexpected visitors and events. The film is a heartwarming and funny exploration of love, family, and acceptance.
#5: Blue Is the Warmest Color
Originally Released: October 9, 2013 (France)
Director(s): Abdellatif Kechiche
Writer(s): Abdellatif Kechiche, Ghalya Lacroix, Jul Maroh
Stars: Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Salim Kechiouche
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Amazon Prime, Tubi, iTunes, VUDU
Blue Is the Warmest Color follows 15-year-old Adele (Adèle Exarchopoulos) as she questions her heterosexual relationship. Upon passing a girl (Emma, played by Léa Seydoux) with blue hair on the street, Adele discovers she is attracted to Emma and begins to explore her true sexuality.
A couple of years later, Adele meets Emma again at a gay bar, and a relationship develops over the coming years. Through her new-found love, Adele discovers desire and the meaning of real emotional and psychological connection. Blue is the Warmest Color is a passionate film that explores themes of social class, self-identity, and coming of age.
#6: Boys Don’t Cry
Originally Released: October 22, 1999 (USA)
Director(s): Kimberly Peirce
Writer(s): Kimberly Peirce, Andy Bienen
Stars: Hilary Swank, Chloe Sevigny, Peter Sarsgaard
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Google Play, Amazon Prime, iTunes, VUDU, Disney+
Based on true events, Boys Don’t Cry tells the story of Brandon Teena (Hilary Swank), a young transgender man who flees his hometown to start a new life in Nebraska. He falls in love with an aspiring singer whose friends react to the discovery of his trans identity with brutal violence. Although difficult to watch, this heartbreaking movie helps shed light on the cruelty and violence that has historically been directed at members of the LGBTQ+ community.
#7: Brokeback Mountain
Originally Released: December 9, 2005 (USA)
Director(s): Ang Lee
Writer(s): Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana, based on the story by Annie Proulx
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Prime, VUDU, Google Play
Brokeback Mountain is a poignant and groundbreaking love story directed by Ang Lee. The film follows the emotional and tumultuous relationship between two cowboys, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), who fall in love while working together as sheepherders in 1960s Wyoming. Despite societal and personal pressures, their love persists and evolves over the years, leaving a lasting impact on both men and their families. The film explores themes of love, identity, and the complexities of human relationships, earning critical acclaim and numerous awards, including three Oscars.
#8: Call Me by Your Name
Originally Released: November 24, 2017 (USA)
Director(s): Luca Guadagnino
Writer(s): James Ivory, based on the novel by André Aciman
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, VUDU
Set in 1980s Italy, this sensual film depicts the first love of a 17-year old boy named Elio (played by Timothée Chalamet). When his father invites an American research assistant to stay with their family for the summer, Elio forms a strong connection with him that grows into a secret romance.
Based on the novel by André Aciman, Call Me by Your Name is an engaging love story that’s attracted critical acclaim, winning the 90th Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2018.
#9: Carol
Originally Released: November 20, 2015 (USA)
Director(s): Todd Haynes
Writer(s): Phyllis Nagy, based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Roony Mara, Sarah Paulson
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, VUDU
Carol is a romantic drama film directed by Todd Haynes, based on the novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith. The film is set in 1952 and follows the story of Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), a young aspiring photographer who falls in love with Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett), an older woman going through a difficult divorce. As their relationship develops, they face societal pressures and personal struggles that threaten their love for each other. The film received critical acclaim for its performances, direction, and cinematography, and was nominated for six Academy Awards.
#10: The Celluloid Closet
Originally Released: March 15, 1996 (USA)
Director(s): Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Writer(s): Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Stars: Lily Tomlin (voice), Tony Curtis, Susie Bright
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, fuboTV, VUDU
Peabody Award winning The Celluloid Closet is a documentary based on film scholar Vito Russo’s self-titled book. In this feature-length work, filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman explore the cinematic history of homosexuality in North America. This film dives into both the positive and negative consequences of LGBTQ+ representation, including the impact on the actors featured on-screen.
#11: Dream Boat
Originally Released: June 28, 2017 (France)
Director(s): Tristan Ferland Milewski
Writer(s): N/A
Stars: Michael A., Amit, Michael Anastasio
IMDB Rating: 5.4/10
Where to Watch: iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Prime, VUDU
Every year, hundreds of gay men from around the world take part in a luxurious, week-long cruise to the Canary Islands. In this full-length documentary, director Tristan Ferland Milewski captures compelling images and interviews with a selection of passengers.
Dream Boat focuses on five attendees from different backgrounds who’ve come to this vacation paradise to escape social and political constraints back home. Interspersed between raves and dress-up parties are thought-provoking interviews that reveal the passengers’ opinions on mainstream gay culture, as well as their innermost fears, doubts, and desires.
#12: A Fantastic Woman
Originally Released: April 6, 2017 (Chile)
Director(s): Sebastián Lelio
Writer(s): Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza
Stars: Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Starz, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes, DirecTV
This dreamlike movie follows Marina (Daniela Vega), a young transgender woman living in Chile who’s mourning the sudden death of her boyfriend. Because of her gender identity and low social class, she’s suspected of murdering him and ostracized by his family. As Marina learns to fight back, she works to clear her name and gain the respect she deserves.
A Fantastic Woman has made an impact with film critics and civil rights groups alike since its 2017 release. With the help of local LGBTQ+ activists, the film’s 2018 Oscar win helped accelerate the passing of Chile’s gender identity bill.
#13: Girl
Originally Released: September 27, 2018 (Italy)
Director(s): Lukas Dhont
Writer(s): Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens
Stars: Victor Polster, Arieh Worthalter, Oliver Bodart
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix
Girl is a Belgian film that follows the story of a young transgender woman who’s trying to find her place in the world as a ballet dancer. The main character, Lara (Victor Polster), was inspired by a Belgian dancer that the director met when he was 18. Although some viewers criticized the film for its depictions of self-harm and gender dysphoria, it was chosen as the Belgium entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.
14: Happy Together
Originally Released: May 30, 1997 (Hong Kong)
Director(s): Kar-Wai Wong
Writer(s): Kar-Wai Wong, based on the novel by Manuel Puig
Stars: Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Chang Chen
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch/Stream: HBOmax, Netflix
Based in Hong Kong, this romantic drama tells the turbulent love story of Ho Po-Wing (Leslie Cheung) and Lai Yiu-Fai (Tony Leung Chiu-wai). This gay couple travel to Argentina together, where their relationship turns toward chaos and abuse, even as they discover the depth of their connection.
Interestingly, the movie was released just before Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule. As such, authorities banned some of the movie’s posters depicting the couple fully clothed with their legs intertwined.
#15: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Originally Released: July 20, 2001 (USA)
Director(s): John Cameron Mitchell
Writer(s): John Cameron Mitchell, Stephen Trask
Stars: John Cameron Mitchell, Miriam Shor, Stephen Trask
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, VUDU
Adapted from a stage musical of the same name, non-binary creator John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch follows a genderqueer punk-rock singer called Hedwig (played by Mitchell himself). Living behind the Iron Curtain, Hedwig must have a sex-change operation (which was botched) so that she can legally marry an American soldier and leave for the US.
However, Hedwig’s relationship with her husband quickly deteriorates. Hedwig befriends, mentors, and falls in love with a young man, who later steals her music to become a rock star. Following this betrayal, Hedwig journeys across America to find redemption, telling her story to live audiences at gigs along the way.
#16: Inxeba (The Wound)
Originally Released: April 19, 2017 (France)
Director(s): John Trengove
Writer(s): Thando Mgqolonzana, Malusi Bengu, based on the story by John Trengove
Stars: Nakhane, Bongile Mantsai, Niza Jay
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Google Play, iTunes, Amazon Prime, VUDU
Even before its release, Inxeba sparked controversy, boycotts, and threats against cast and crew ostensibly for depicting sacred rituals of the Xhosa people. However, other films with similar material (including Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom) didn’t receive the same attention, and many think the protests were truly due to the film’s subject matter.
The drama is set in the mountains of Eastern Cape, South Africa, and tells the story of a group of teenagers as they undergo the traditional initiation rite to become men. Xolani (Nakhane), a gay factory worker, acts as a mentor to the teenagers while rekindling his relationship with the caregiver Vija (Bongile Mantsai). When Xolani realizes that the boy he is mentoring is also gay, tensions rise among the three of them and threaten to expose the relationship between Vija and Xolani.
#17: Moonlight
Originally Released: October 21, 2016 (USA)
Director(s): Barry Jenkins
Writer(s): Barry Jenkins, based on a story by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Stars: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Showtime, fuboTV, Paramount+, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, VUDU
Moonlight is a powerful and poignant coming-of-age film that follows the journey of a young African-American man named Chiron as he grapples with his sexuality, identity, and place in the world. The film is divided into three chapters, each exploring a different stage of Chiron’s life as he grows up in Miami’s inner city. Through stunning cinematography, powerful performances, and an emotional score, Moonlight offers a unique and intimate portrayal of a young man’s struggle to find his way in a world that often seems stacked against him.
#18: Paris Is Burning
Originally Released: April 6, 1990 (UK)
Director(s): Jennie Livingston
Writer(s): N/A
Stars: Angie Xtravaganza, André Christian, Dorian Corey
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch/Stream: HBOMax, iTunes
Paris Is Burning is a critically acclaimed documentary that explores the vibrant ballroom culture of New York City in the 1980s, primarily among the African-American and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities.
Directed by Jennie Livingston, the film offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of drag queens, trans women, and gay men who competed in elaborately staged balls, showcasing their talents and creativity in fashion, dance, and performance. Through candid interviews, the film also examines the harsh realities of discrimination, poverty, and exclusion faced by these marginalized groups, making it a powerful testament to their resilience and defiance.
#19: Rafiki
Originally Released: September 23, 2018 (Kenya)
Director(s): Wanuri Kahiu
Writer(s): Wanuri Kahiu, Jenna Cato Bass, Monica Arac de Nyeko
Stars: Samantha Mugatsia, Neville Misati, Nice Githinji
IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes, Google Play, Tubi, BFI Player
Rafiki is a vibrant film exploring the strong but star-crossed relationship between two young women. It’s currently banned in Kenya, where homosexuality is criminalized, and director Wanuri Kahiu has filed several lawsuits in attempts to have the film released. While many of Kahiu’s lawsuits have failed, the Kenyan High Court did lift the ban for seven days so that Rafiki could be considered for a 2019 Academy Award.
#20: Viva
Originally Released: April 29, 2016 (USA)
Director(s): Paddy Breathnach
Writer(s): Mark O’Halloran
Stars: Héctor Medina, Jorge Perugorria, Luis Alberto Garcia
IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Hulu, Tubi, Roku, VUDU
Viva is a Spanish-language, Irish-produced drama about a gay hairdresser named Jesus (Héctor Medina) who dreams of joining the drag performers he works with. When his estranged father unexpectedly shows up at his debut performance, he’s shocked to discover his son’s effeminate lifestyle. The two struggle to reconcile their differences so they can rebuild their family over time.
TV Shows
#21: Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves
Originally Released: October 8, 2012
Creator(s): Simon Kaijser, Jonas Gardell
Stars: Adam Lundgren, Adam Palsson, Bjorn Kjellman
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Where to Watch/Stream: N/A
During the 1980s AIDS epidemic, 19-year-old Rasmus moves to Stockholm to attend university and falls in love with Benjamin, a Jehovah’s Witness struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. This mini-series is inspired by the novels of Jonas Gardell and his experiences as a gay man growing up during this tumultuous time. It focuses on the impact that prejudice and discrimination surrounding AIDS had on the gay community, and how key characters came to terms with the hardships of the disease.
#22: Euphoria
Originally Released: June 16, 2019
Creator(s): Sam Levinson
Stars: Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Angus Cloud
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Where to Watch/Stream: HBO Max, Hulu, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, VUDU
Euphoria is a gritty and raw drama that explores the lives of a group of high school students as they navigate the complexities of modern-day adolescence. With LGBTQ+ storylines and characters, the show portrays the experiences of queer individuals in a way that has been praised as honest, unflinching, and unapologetic.
For her performance as Rue, Zendaya has won two Primetime Emmy awards, a Critics’ Choice award, and a Golden Globe for best actress. Several other members of the main cast, as well as the show itself, have also been nominated for major awards.
#23: The Fosters
Originally Released: June 3, 2013
Creator(s): Bradley Bredeweg, Peter Paige
Stars: Teri Polo, Sherri Saum, Hayden Byerly
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Hulu, FuboTV, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, Freeform
The Fosters follows protagonists Stef Foster and Lena Adams, an interracial lesbian couple raising a family of biological, adoptive, and foster children. Set in modern-day California, this heartwarming drama explores the nuances of a blended family dynamic, as well as important social issues such as marriage equality, school violence, immigration, and racism.
#24: Gentleman Jack
Originally Released: April 22, 2019
Creator(s): Sally Wainwright
Stars: Suranne Jones, Sophie Rundle, Gemma Whelan
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Hulu, HBOMax, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, VUDU
Gentleman Jack is a period drama set in 1832 Yorkshire, England. It’s based on the secret diary of Anne Lister, who is often considered the UK’s first modern lesbian because of her open expressions of her sexual identity and public relationships with other women. The series chronicles Lister’s relationships with her family, her love interest Ann Walker, and the restorations of an estate she inherited from her uncle.
#25: Grace and Frankie
Originally Released: May 8, 2015
Creator(s): Marta Kauffman, Howard J. Morris
Stars: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix
Grace and Frankie is a comedic TV series that follows the unlikely friendship of two women in their 70s, Grace Hanson (Jane Fonda) and Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin), after their husbands reveal they are gay and in love with each other. The show explores the women’s journey as they navigate the ups and downs of starting over and embracing their new lives. With a talented cast that includes Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston, Grace and Frankie is a heartwarming and hilarious show about friendship, love, and second chances.
#26: Here I Come
Originally Released: November 3, 2020
Creator(s): Andreï Fenøčka and Liza Simbirskaya
Stars: N/A
IMDB Rating: N/A
Where to Watch/Stream: Youtube
Here I Come tells the story of a wealthy law student coming to terms with his sexuality. Andreï Fenøčka and Liza Simbirskaya created this queer web series despite strong anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in their home country of Russia. Due to Russia’s legal treatment of LGBTQ+ material, it’s only available to people over the age of 18.
#27: The House of Flowers
Originally Released: August 10, 2018
Creator(s): Manolo Caro
Stars: Cecilia Suárez, Claudette Mallé, Dario Yazbek Bernal
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix
The House of Flowers revolves around a rich, dysfunctional Mexican family who owns a successful flower shop and struggling cabaret. After the patriarch’s mistress reveals the family’s dirty secrets to the public, they struggle to maintain the respectable image they’ve so carefully curated. This black comedy-drama explores issues of race, class, homophobia, and transphobia, and features several queer and trans storylines.
#28: Looking
Originally Released: January 19, 2014
Creator(s): Michael Lannan
Stars: Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez, Murray Bartlett
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch/Stream: HBOMax, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play
Acclaimed for its writing and direction, this comedy-drama is a realistic portrayal of the lives of three modern gay men living in San Francisco. Even though it only ran for two seasons, including a feature-length series finale, The Guardian placed Looking on its list of the “100 Greatest TV shows of the 21st century.”
#29: The L Word
Originally Released: January 18, 2004
Creator(s): Michele Abbott, Ilene Chaiken, Kathy Greenberg
Stars: Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Showtime, Hulu, fuboTV, Amazon Prime, iTunes, VUDU
The first TV show with an ensemble cast of bisexual and lesbian characters, The L Word is acclaimed for its honest portrayal of lesbianism, and was one of the first series to explicitly portray lesbian sex. Written and directed by queer women, The L Word depicts the lives of a close-knit group of lesbian women living in LA, and the dramas surrounding their relationships.
#30: Noah’s Arc
Originally Released: October 19, 2005
Creator(s): Patrik-Ian Polk, Jon Sechrist
Stars: Darryl Stephens, Rodney Chester, Christian Vincent
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Logo, Amazon Prime, iTunes
This cable show follows the lives of Noah, Ricky, Chance, and Alex, four gay African-American friends whose personal and professional lives intertwine while living in LA. The comedy-drama ran for two seasons, and a film based on the series was released in 2008 titled Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom.
#31: Orange Is the New Black
Originally Released: July 11, 2013
Creator(s): Jenji Kohan
Stars: Taylor Schilling, Danielle Brooks, Taryn Manning
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix, Google Play, iTunes, VUDU, Amazon Prime
Orange is the New Black is based on former prison inmate Piper Kerman’s autobiography of the same name. In this popular comedy-drama series, the protagonist, Piper, is sentenced to 15 months at a federal women’s prison after transporting drug money for her ex-girlfriend.
The series digs into the individual stories and relationships of the inmates and guards, and features several LGBTQ+ actors and characters. Orange is the New Black has been nominated 21 times for Emmy Awards, winning 4.
#32: Pose
Originally Released: June 3, 2018
Creator(s): Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy
Stars: Michaela Jaé (MJ) Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Hulu, Amazon Prime
Pose is an award-winning drama that explores drag ball culture in New York City throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The main characters are performers who compete for prizes and belong to self-selected families called Houses.
Having won several Emmys, the show made history when Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, an actor playing a trans woman who discovers she has HIV, became the first trans person to receive a lead acting nomination for an Emmy.
#33: Queer Eye
Originally Released: February 7, 2018
Creator(s): David Collins
Stars: Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix
Queer Eye (2018) is a reboot of the successful Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Like its predecessor, Queer Eye is a reality TV show in which a group of five gay men, known as the Fab Five, help individuals transform their lives. Each episode focuses on a different person or group of people who are struggling in some aspect of their lives. The Fab Five offer their expertise in areas such as fashion, grooming, interior design, and culture to help their subject achieve their goals and improve their self-confidence.
The show is known for its emotional and heartwarming moments, as well as its positive message of acceptance and inclusivity. Queer Eye has won 10 Primetime Emmy awards, among many other accolades.
#34: RuPaul’s Drag Race
Originally Released: February 2, 2009
Creator(s): RuPaul Charles, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
Stars: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Jason Carter
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Hulu, Paramount+, MTV
Aspiring drag queens from around the US compete in this reality show to impress the extravagant host RuPaul. Each episode consists of a short mini-challenge and a final maxi challenge that test the contestant’s skills in specific areas of drag performance.
The show has been running for over a decade and has inspired a handful of spin-offs, including RuPaul’s Drag U, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race, as well as several international seasons based in Thailand, France, Holland, Spain, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, and the U.K.
#35: Schitt’s Creek
Originally Released: January 13, 2015
Creator(s): Dan Levy, Eugene Levy
Stars: Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy, Annie Murphy
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Hulu, iTunes, Amazon Prime, VUDU, Google Play
Schitt’s Creek is a Canadian sitcom that follows the once-wealthy Rose family as they are forced to rebuild their lives after losing their fortune. The show has strong LGBTQ+ themes and features queer characters in prominent roles. Overall, Schitt’s Creek is a sometimes bleak but ultimately heartwarming and hilarious show that celebrates diversity and inclusion.
#36: Sex Education
Originally Released: January 11, 2019
Creator(s): Laurie Nunn
Stars: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix
Sex Education is a British comedy-drama, created for Netflix, that follows Otis, a socially awkward teenager who teams up with his friend Maeve to start a sex therapy clinic at school. The show explores a variety of topics related to sexuality and relationships, including LGBTQ+ experiences. The show has been praised for its authentic and nuanced portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and their experiences, and has won an Emmy for best comedy series.
#37: Someone Has to Die
Originally Released: October 16, 2020
Creator(s): Manolo Caro
Stars: Cecilia Suarez, Ernesto Alterio, Alejandro Speitzesr
IMDB Rating: 6.3/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix
After living abroad in Mexico for 10 years, a young man’s wealthy family summons him home to Spain. He’s unaware that they found him a suitable wife and brings home a male ballet dancer, which sends rumors flying through their conservative small town.
Someone Has to Die is set in the 1950s, when Spain was under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco and homosexuality was illegal. This historic context makes the young man’s sexuality the main source of conflict within his family, and throughout the rest of his hometown.
#38: Super Drags
Originally Released: November 9, 2018
Creator(s): Paulo Lescaut, Anderson Mahanski, Fernando Mendonca
Stars: William Belli, D.J. “Shangela” Pierce, Trixie Mattel
IMDB Rating: 5.5/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Netflix
Produced in Brazil, Super Drags is an animated comedy for adults that follows Donizete, Ralph, and Patrick, three gay friends who work in a department store. At night, they transform into drag queen superheroes Lemon Chiffon, Cyan Sapphire, and Crimson Scarlet, to protect the world from the homophobic villain Lady Elza. Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race might be interested to know that Super Drag’s English voice cast starred alumni from the hit US reality TV show.
#39: Veneno
Originally Released: March 29, 2020
Creator(s): Javier Ambrossi, Javier Calvo
Stars: Lola Rodriguez, Isabel Torres, Paca La Pirana
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
Where to Watch/Stream: HBOMax
Veneno tells the true story of the superstar Cristina Ortiz, a pioneer for trans representation and one of the most widely recognized transgender women in Spain.
The show is based on a memoir written by Spanish journalist and filmmaker Valeria Vegas, who appears in the show as a college student seeking out Cristina to write about her life story. In a second, earlier timeline, we see Cristina’s traumatic childhood and eventual rise to fame. There are several trans characters in Veneno, and all of them are played by trans actors.
#40: When We Rise
Originally Released: February 27, 2017
Creator(s): Dustin Lance Black
Stars: Debra Winger, Rachel Griffiths, Austin P. McKenzie
IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
Where to Watch/Stream: Google Play, iTunes, Amazon, VUDU
When We Rise is an eight-part docudrama that chronicles the American LGBTQ+ movement from the 1970s to the 2010s. It’s the brainchild of director Dustin Lance Black, who spent four years researching and creating the show to ensure its historical accuracy.
The series starts shortly after the Stonewall riots, pro-LGBTQ+ demonstrations that began in 1969 and are considered by many a key moment in the gay rights movement. When We Rise follows the triumphs and struggles of key figures in US civil rights and the impact that they had on the LGBTQ+ movement throughout their lives.
Books
#41: Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex
Image source from Goodreads
Originally Released: September 15, 2020
Author: Angela Chen
Goodreads Rating: 4.38/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English
A collection of interviews, a cultural criticism, and memoir, Ace is one of the few books that delves into what it means to be asexual in a society that is obsessed with sex. Through interviews with asexual people from various backgrounds, journalist Angela Chen highlights that no two experiences of asexuality are the same and invites readers to explore this topic through an intersectional lens.
#42: Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family
Image source from Goodreads
Originally Released: May 10, 2016
Author: Garrard Conley
Goodreads Rating: 3.62/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, German, French, and more
In his New York Times best-selling literary debut, Garrard Conley recounts his experience as the son of a Baptist pastor in small-town Arkansas after he was outed to his parents at 19. They send him to the gay conversion camp Love in Action, believing that the Twelve-Step Program will “cure” him of his homosexuality. The honest memoir describes Conley’s journey toward forgiveness and his inner struggle between love for his parents, God, and staying true to himself.
#43: Call Me by Your Name
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: January 23, 2007
Author: André Aciman
Goodreads Rating: 4.12/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Italian, Spanish, French, Greek, Russian, German, and more
Call Me by Your Name is a poignant and lyrical novel by André Aciman, adapted into a major motion picture. Set in the summer of 1983, the story revolves around the intense romantic relationship between 17-year-old Elio Perlman and 24-year-old Oliver, a graduate student who comes to stay with Elio’s family in their Italian villa.
Throughout their summer together, Elio and Oliver experience a transformative love affair that leaves an indelible mark on their lives. With lush descriptions of the Italian countryside and a vivid portrayal of the complexities of desire and passion, Call Me by Your Name is a masterpiece of modern literature.
#44: Carol (Formerly The Price of Salt)
Image sourced from Elephant Bookstore
Originally Released: January 1, 1952
Author: Patricia Highsmith
Goodreads Rating: 4.01/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Turkish, and more
Carol (formerly The Price of Salt, retitled in 1990) was released in 1952, the same year the American Psychiatric Association classified homosexuality as a mental disorder. It tells the story of Therese, a woman who feels trapped at her day job, where she falls in love with the enticing Carol, a housewife in the middle of a divorce.
Carol is celebrated as one of the first lesbian novels that doesn’t punish the main characters for being homosexual and gives them a chance at a happy ending. In 2015, it was also adapted into a movie titled “Carol.”
#45: City of Night
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: 1963
Author: John Rechy
Goodreads Rating: 3.92/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, German, and more
John Rechy’s debut, semi-autobiographical novel reveals the previously hidden gay subculture in urban mid-century America. It follows a young man working as a hustler who travels across the country and details his encounters with a wide range of colorful characters. When it was released, City of Night shocked many readers, but it has become a classic that opened the door for more LGBTQ+ media.
#46: The Color Purple
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: June 1, 1982
Author: Alice Walker
Goodreads Rating: 4.26/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Spanish, Arabic, German, French, Turkish, Russian, and more
Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winning novel that tells the story of Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery, and Sofia, black women living in rural Georgia during the early 20th century. Narrated by Celie, the novel follows the women’s journeys as they struggle with racism, sexism, abuse, and the ramifications of compulsory heterosexuality.
With explicit depictions of the loving but complex relationship between Celie and Shug, and vivid and emotional prose, The Color Purple is a powerful exploration of the intersectionality of oppression and the resilience of the human spirit.
#47: Detransition, Baby
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: January 7, 2021
Author: Torrey Peters
Goodreads Rating: 3.97/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Polish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, French, Danish, and more
Reese and Amy are a couple whose relationship falls apart after Amy, a trans woman, detransitions back to a man, changing his name to Ames. After accidentally getting his boss pregnant, Ames approaches his ex-lover, Reese, about helping them raise the baby as a non-traditional family. In Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters draws from her own experiences as a trans woman in modern-day America to write a smart and provocative debut novel.
#48: Faggots
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: November 17, 1978
Author: Larry Kramer
Goodreads Rating: 3.64/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital
Language(s): English, German, French
Larry Kramer’s debut novel, Faggots, is a compelling satire exploring the gay subculture of late 1970’s New York City. The novel’s protagonist, Fred Lemish, is a successful 39-year-old screenwriter searching for love and meaning in the gay community.
At the time of its release, the novel was criticized by many in the gay community as perpetuating negative stereotypes. Today, the book is seen as an important piece of gay literature that offers a powerful commentary on the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faced in the 1970s.
#49: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: June 8, 2006
Author: Alison Bechdel
Goodreads Rating: 4.08/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital
Language(s): English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Russian, and more
A New York Times Bestseller, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic is a graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel. It explores her complex relationship with her father, a closeted gay man and funeral home director. Through vivid illustrations and poignant storytelling, Bechdel examines her own coming-of-age as a lesbian, as well as the parallels between her own life and her father’s. The book is a powerful exploration of family, identity, and the struggle to come to terms with one’s own truth.
#50: Giovanni’s Room
Image sourced from The Avid Listener
Originally Released: 1956
Author: James Baldwin
Goodreads Rating: 4.3/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, German, Arabic, Spanish, Turkish, French, and more
Giovanni’s Room is set among American expats living in post-World War II Paris. It’s a story of a young American, David, who struggles with his sexuality, juggling relationships with his fiancee Hella and his male lover, Giovanni. James Baldwin’s novel is one of the very few books written in the 1950s that explores the themes of masculinity and bisexuality with such honesty and depth.
#51: The Hours
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: November 11, 1998
Author: Michael Cunningham
Goodreads Rating: 3.95/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Spanish, Arabic, German, French, Vietnamese, and more
A Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner award winner, The Hours intertwines the stories of three women with fluid sexual identities, connected to each other through the novel Mrs. Dalloway. Virginia Woolf, Laura Brown, and Clarissa Vaughn each live during different time periods (1923, 1949, and 1999) and struggle with internal conflicts. The novel parallels Mrs. Dalloway in themes, characters, and even in its stream-of-consciousness style, examining the lives of each woman through the filter of a single day.
#52: In Other Lands
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: August 15, 2017
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Goodreads Rating: 4.36/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English
This lighthearted fantasy tells the story of Elliot, a young bisexual boy who spends four years attending a magical school in the Borderlands. Along the way, he befriends mermaids, harpies, elves, and other humans, and explores his sexuality through a series of relationships. This coming-of-age novel humorously sheds light on gender roles and stereotypes, all while engaging with themes of war, love, and friendship.
#53: Middlesex
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: September 4, 2002
Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
Goodreads Rating: 4.03/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Chinese, Russian, Greek, German, French, and more
The first half of Jeffrey Eugenides’ Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Middlesex, tells the story of a Greek family who moved to Detroit. The second half of the novel focuses on one of the family’s sons, Cal Stephanides, a person with an intersex condition.
The novel explores Cal’s journey of self-discovery as he grapples with his gender identity and struggles to find a sense of belonging in a world that demands conformity. While generally well received, the book has garnered both praise and criticism for its portrayal of people who are intersex.
#54: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: June 4, 2019
Author: Ocean Vuong
Goodreads Rating: 4.05/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Chinese, Spanish, German, French, Vietnamese, Russian, and more
A New York Times best seller, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is written as a letter from a gay Vietnamese American named Little Dog to his illiterate mother. In it, Vuong sheds light on the violence and transgenerational trauma that started with his grandmother during the Vietnam War and followed his family as refugees to America. Ocean Vuong’s non-linear, flowing narrative explores themes of sexuality, masculinity, race, class, and the love between a single mother and her only child.
#55: Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: March 21, 1985
Author: Jeanette Winterson
Goodreads Rating: 3.73/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Spanish, French, German, Polish, Russian, Chinese, and more
This classic coming-of-age novel recounts a young woman’s journey to self-realization. Jeanette is adopted into a strict Pentecostal community and raised to be a missionary. Over time, she starts to question her sexuality, which alienates her from her family and sets her on a journey to redefine her relationship with God and herself. Despite its serious subject matter, this story is told with refreshing tenderness and humor.
#56: Orlando: A Biography
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: October 11, 1928
Author: Virginia Woolf
Goodreads Rating: 3.87/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, French, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, and more
Hailed as the first English trans novel, Virginia Woolf’s satire Orlando tells the story of an eponymous young nobleman who lives for several centuries, first as a man and then a woman. Woolf based the book’s protagonist on her same-sex lover and fellow novelist, Vita Sackville-West. The novel challenges social constraints and traditional notions of gender and sexuality, and celebrates the beauty of individuality and self-discovery.
#57: The Prophets
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: January 5, 2021
Author: Robert Jones Jr.
Goodreads Rating: 3.93/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Spanish, Greek, Dutch, German, French, and more
This historical fiction novel narrates a forbidden love story between two enslaved men on a Mississippi plantation. Their secret romance is further complicated when a fellow slave betrays them to gain favor with the cruel plantation owner. A difficult read, The Prophets raises important questions about the history of black queerness and homophobia in the antebellum South.
#58: Rubyfruit Jungle
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: January 1, 1973
Author: Rita Mae Brown
Goodreads Rating: 3.92/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Turkish, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and more
Rubyfruit Jungle is a coming-of-age novel by Rita Mae Brown, first published in 1973. The book follows the life of Molly Bolt, a young girl growing up in poverty in the South, who discovers her lesbian identity and sets out to pursue her dreams in a world dominated by men.
The novel is known for its frank and fearless portrayal of sexuality and gender roles, as well as its sharp wit and humor. Rubyfruit Jungle has become a classic of LGBTQ+ literature and is a groundbreaking work in its depiction of queer identity and culture.
#59: Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: March 5, 2019
Author: Jacob Tobia
Goodreads Rating: 4.09/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Spanish
Jacob Tobia’s candid memoir details their life growing up as a gender non-conforming person in North Carolina. Jacob reflects on how key moments have shaped their life: their childhood obsession with glitter, winning a full scholarship to Duke University, becoming a prominent genderqueer activist, and much more. Sissy is a funny, at times self-deprecating, and introspective piece about how society’s opinions impact the image we have of ourselves.
#60: Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: March 6, 2018
Author: Sarah McBride
Goodreads Rating: 4.45/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English
Sarah McBride chronicles her transformative journey from a secretive college student to a leading LGBTQ+ activist in the United States in this engaging memoir. She provides an empathetic narrative of her role as the National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign. In addition, she offers a heartfelt and candid recollection of her poignant love story with her late husband, Andy, who sadly passed away only days after their 2014 wedding.
#61: Under the Udala Trees
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: September 3, 2015
Author: Chinelo Okparanta
Goodreads Rating: 4.03/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Danish, Slovak, and more
Multi-award winning Under the Udala Trees tells a story of love and war in 1960s Nigeria. The main character Ijeoma is 11 when the Nigerian Civil War breaks out, and she is sent away for her protection.
She develops feelings for another displaced girl but, when this love is discovered, Ijeoma is forced to hide her sexuality. The protagonist’s struggle to be herself in a society that doesn’t accept her sexual orientation is especially relevant, as the book was published a year after Nigeria’s president criminalized same-sex relationships.
#62: Young Mungo
Image sourced from Goodreads
Originally Released: April 5, 2022
Author: Douglas Stuart
Goodreads Rating: 4.38/5
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Digital, Audio
Language(s): English, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, French, Dutch, and more
In his second novel, Douglas Stuart tells the story of two teenage boys growing up in a housing estate in Glasgow. Although one is raised Catholic and the other Protestant, they form a close bond that blossoms into romance. In their hyper-masculine world filled with violence and gangs, they must fight to keep their love a secret, even if it means hiding parts of themselves.
The Bottom Line
Our list of books, movies, and TV shows celebrates the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ community, showcasing stories that inspire, empower, and resonate deeply with audiences.
They are stories that can spark meaningful conversations, and can shine a light on the strength, love, and resilience that define the LGBTQ+ community. They’re a testament to the beauty of our shared humanity, and an invitation to create a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or you’re here to learn more about queer culture, we hope these resources can promote positive queer representation and help foster empathy, compassion, and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.
We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links.