The year 2022 has been a particularly rich one for the representation of LGBTQ+ people, with numerous series and movies seeing release, ranging from the heartwarming Heartstopper on Netflix to the uproariously funny Fire Island on Hulu. What is especially notable about these fictions, particularly the television series, is the extent to which they feature very strong characters, people who manage to survive despite the many challenges that of this community face every day.
s of the website Ranker have helpfully identified just which of these series should be regarded as the best the genre has to offer.
Note: Ranker lists are fan-voted, live, and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
Stream On Netflix
Stories about people with superpowers have often been used as metaphors for LGBTQ+ people and their experiences coming out. This is certainly the case with I Am Not Okay With This, which focuses on the character of Sydney, who has to contend not only with the usual chaos of adolescence but must also deal with her emergent telekinetic powers.
Along the way, she also realizes that she has feelings for her best friend. What this series does particularly well is to balance its adolescent elements with its LGBTQ+ storyline. In this case, both her superpower and her feelings come to define her arc as a character.
Pose (2018-2021)
Stream On Hulu
Pose is widely and rightly regarded as one of the best LGBTQ+ representations on television. Focusing on the drag culture of the 1980s and 1990s, it demonstrates the extent to which this particular subculture was key to the survival of many queer people of the era.
What allows the series to stand out, however, is the thoughtful way it engages with the presence of HIV, which impacts almost every character in one way or another. Just as importantly, all of the characters, particularly those who are trans, show an extraordinary strength as they contend with the pressures of the time in which they live.
Dickinson (2019-2021)
Stream On Apple TV
best original series on Apple TV+. As the title suggests, it focuses on Emily Dickinson who would go on to become one of the most renowned poets in American literary history. It is an unusual series in many ways, in large part because its characters, despite their historical location, speak in a contemporary idiom.
Of especial note is Hailee Steinfeld in the title role, who emerges as a fiercely queer character, someone who is more than willing (and able) to forge a life on her own .
Elite (2018-Present)
Stream On Netflix
One of the more notable aspects of the recent TV LGBTQ+ offerings is the emphasis on the lives of teenagers. This can be clearly seen in a series like Elite, which focuses on a private school, in which various characters interact with one another and engage in both sexual liaisons and in less palatable behavior.
The series includes several queer characters, who are given rich complexity as they contend with the pressures of adolescent life, ranging from love triangles to drug dealing to attempting to live an authentic life while pleasing one’s parents.
Love, Victor (2020-2022)
Stream On Hulu
Love, Victor. A spin-off of the movie Love, Simon, it focuses on the main character Victor as he first comes to with his sexuality and then has to contend with the difficulties of his romantic relationship with fellow student Benji.
What is most remarkable about the series, however, is how adeptly it deals with various mature themes, ranging from alcoholism to parental rejection. Through it all, however, both Victor and the other LGBTQ+ characters show an extraordinary amount of strength, emerging triumphant at the very end.
9-1-1: Lone Star (2020-Present)
Stream On Hulu
9-1-1: Lonestar s the many other procedurals that occupy the television landscape, and it has quickly established itself as one of the better of Ryan Murphy’s many shows. Though, as the title suggests, it focuses on the fire, police, and ambulance departments of Austin, Texas, one of its notable aspects is its inclusion of several LGBTQ+ characters.
Especially remarkable is the fact that it gives these characters things to do, showcasing just how complicated, and often downright messy, the lives of of this community can often be.
Euphoria (2019-Present)
Stream On HBO Max
HBO has always been a network willing to push the envelope, and nowhere is that more clear than in Euphoria, which explores the very complex life of a group of teenagers. All of the characters in the series, both queer and straight, grapple with the many challenges entailed in being a young person in the 21st century.
The series has also rightly earned praise for its willingness to show the extent to which queer lives - particularly represssion of one’s true identity - can lead to devastating consequences.
Our Flag Means Death (2022-Present)
Stream On HBO Max
Though initially it flew under the radar, best series on HBO Max. It focuses on the friendship - and later romantic relationship - between two pirates, Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard, as well as the of their cast. Both Stede and Blackbeard bring something meaningful to their relationship, and the show allows the viewer to see how each of them has their own particular strengths.
More extraordinary, perhaps, is the character of Jim, an especially notable example of non-binrary representation in popular culture.
Sex Education (2019-Present)
Stream On Netflix
most successful and highly-regarded series on Netflix. It takes a frank approach to the subject of adolescent sexuality, focusing on a group of teens in an English high school as they explore sex and relatioships.
It is especially remarkable for its LGBTQ+ characters, including Eric, who navigates both his own relationships but also his identity as the child of immigrants. He is the type of character who is unafraid to live his life on his own , no matter what others might think about him.
Heartstopper (2022-Present)
Stream On Netflix
With its story about two teens - Nick and Charlie - who strike up a friendship but ultimately become boyfriends, Heartstopper is a moving and thoughtful exploration of the joy of young love. Both Nick (a popular athlete) and Charlie (a shy young musician) show strength as they decide to embrace their feelings for one another, even though it often comes with consequences.
The series is also remarkable for depicting Nick as bisexual, which is itself a remarkable step forward in of representation. Ultimately, these characters find a great deal of joy and happiness with one another, paving the way for the series’ second season.