With long, cold winter nights in full swing and lockdown restrictions for the foreseeable future, our contributor Marcus gives us the low-down on the best LGBTQ shows on Netflix, so you can snuggle up and binge to your heart’s content.
Pose
Dive into the ballroom sub-culture of 1980s New York City in this no holes barred production. You’ll follow the lives of black and latin members of the trans community as they fight the prejudices of heteronormative America, and even of the NYC gay scene, dominated at the time by white men. With some truly incredible ballroom scenes and jaw-dropping outfits throughout, you’ll be shaking your finger at the screen and saying “YAS QUEEN WEEERRRRKKK” in no time.
Sense8
This amazing series follows 8 individuals from different cities around the world, who are connected by a strange telepathic force. One member of the group is gay, and another is trans. There’s a load of feel-good scenes at gay pride, as well as some dreamy group sex scenes. You’ll also feel like you’re travelling the world as you switch between the different locations. Perfect for bingeing on a cold grey day!
Hollywood
This mini-series by Ryan Murphy portrays an alternate reality where individuals from marginalized groups were given the break they deserved. Set in the 50s, you’ll be absorbed in the sunshine and glamour of Hollywood in its heyday, and its gay underworld you never knew existed. One of the main characters portrayed is the heart-throb actor Rock Hudson, played by the oh-so-handsome Jake Picking.
Orange is the New Black
This comedy-drama is the most watched Netflix Originals series, and has won a ton of awards. Following a group of female in-mates in a prison in up-state New York, it’s been praised for how it humanises prisoners, and how it depicts issues relating to sexuality, gender, body types and race. If you like dark humour, and complicated characters that you hate to love and love to hate, this is the one for you.
Queer Eye
Follow the “fab five” as they descend each week on a small town in the Southern states of the US to help someone in need. A modern-day update of the original series on Bravo “Queer eye for the straight guy”, it’s not just straight men who they offer their life-changing services to any more. With advice on food (Antoni), fashion, (Tan), culture (Karamo), interior design (Bobby) and grooming (Jonathan), you’ll learn a lot and enjoy some heart-warming endings. Have the tissues ready hun!
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Ignore the haters who say RPDR is basic and indulge in this colourful reality show where the best US drag queens fight it out to be crowned the next drag superstar. There are touching tender moments in the “werk room”, some astonishing costumes to be admired (and the skill involved), and just generally lots of shameless out-and-proud fun. Shantay, you stay.
Tales of the City
This limited series is a continuation of the 1994 TV show of the same name created by the UK’s Channel 4, which itself was based on the stories by the writer Armistead Maupin. The story revolves around a beautiful old house in San Francisco, and the gay, lesbian and trans characters who live there. A cute show that demonstrates how much the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ people have improved over the decades.
Special
This bold autobiographical series written by and starring Ryan O’Connell explores a rarely discussed theme: being LGBT and living with a disability. Ryan has cerebral palsy, and does an amazing job of showing the realities of this disease and navigating sex, relationships and independence. Whilst being a touching story, there are also many laugh-out-loud moments. Apart from just wanting to give Ryan a big hug, we can’t wait for season 2!
