Seeing characters like themselves in mainstream media helps queer kids feel less alone, but it also provides education and understanding for the adults who support them.
TV shows that build accepting worlds for queer children to grow up in can also provide hope and joy to those watching.
This LGBTQ+ history month, here is four TV shows with representation that you can indulge in.
Heartstopper
The series is based on Alice Oseman’s bestselling graphic novels by the same title. Heartstopper is a coming-of-age, romantic comedy that follows two teens, Charlie and Nick as they navigate high school.
Charlie, an openly gay and shy boy who’s had a rough time fitting and quickly befriends Nick, who seems like a typical jock at the start but eventually worms his way into everyone’s heart through his cheerful and kind nature.
The show explores young LGBT love through stories of friendship, dealing with bullying and navigating coming out.
It’s a Sin
Created by Russell T Davies, It’s a Sin follows a group of friends in 1980s London who grow up in the shadow of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander leads the cast as 18-year-old Ritchie Tozer, who moves from the Isle of Wight to the Big Smoke in search of fame and success.
The five-part drama was praised across the board for the cast’s performances, powerful storytelling and for bringing HIV/AIDS to a mainstream audience.
Feel Good
Mae Martin created, wrote and starred in Feel Good. They created a fictionalised version of themselves, a comedian and addict whose behaviours and intense negativity dominate their day to day life.
Co-starring Charlotte Ritchie as their partner George, as well as Lisa Kudrow and Adrian Lukis as their parents, the dark comedy shows Mae as they juggle relationships with their friends and family, fellow addicts and colleagues at their local stand-up comedy club.
Mae Martin received a nomination for the Netflix show at the BAFTA TV Awards for Best Female Comedy Performance for their work on the series.
Shadowhunters
Based around the books The Mortal Instruments, the series focuses on 18-year-old Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara) as she discovers that she comes from a long line of Shadowhunters – human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons.
Despite the show receiving mixed reviews, the relationship between Alec (Matthew Daddario) and Magnus (Harry Shum Jr.) became one of the most loved TV relationships. The show was cancelled in 2018, disappointing fans who ‘ship’ the couple, and other characters in the show.
Shadowhunters is a series that has helped to push the boundaries of inclusivity in media.
Bethany Aspinall
Tyler Law
Limo Longiroi