The Watch List: Must See LGBTQ+ Shows Streaming Now!

Welcome to The Watch List: a monthly feature where I choose a television series or movie that I’ve been loving recently, and tell you why you should be watching it too. This month, in celebration of Pride 2021, I've put together a list of some of my favourite LGBTQ+ shows.

Just having released its second season, ‘Special’ deserves a spot on this list! Created by and starring Ryan O’Connell, a gay man with cerebral palsy, ‘Special’ is a semi-autobiographical Netflix series that will make you laugh while pulling on your heart strings. With raw depictions of people with disabilities on TV being few and far between, especially those with marginalised intersectional identities, this series brings a refreshing voice onscreen.

From having his disability fetishised by a partner to his boss capitalising on his identity, ‘Special’ skips past issues typically covered by other TV series and films depicting people with disabilities or members of the LGBTQ+ community and instead sheds light on those that go unseen. Let’s not forget it’s portrayal of gay sex is honest and explicit, and I love to see it! The first two seasons are available to watch on Netflix.

For those that consider themselves to be members of the LGBTQ+ community, what was your experience like when coming to terms with your identity? Or telling people about it? Generation is an HBO Max Original series that tells the story of a group of Californian high school students exploring their sexualities, gender identities and expressions. The connectivity of the modern world exposes them to adulthood early, making them question their beliefs about the essence of family, life, and love that have been influenced by the conservative community that surrounds them. They’re learning who they are, and how to express themselves while overcoming the fear of disapproval.

For those who are a part of communities where acceptance doesn’t come easy, you find a connection to the characters in Generation and the personal struggles they face. The story of each student is unique, from their relationships with their families to their acceptance of their identities to their views on love and life. The entire first season is available to watch on HBO Max now!

Another HBO Max Original series favourite — ‘Veneno’. If you haven’t yet gotten the chance to watch this Spanish series, do it now! ‘Veneno’ is a biographical limited series created by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. It tells the story of Cristina Ortiz Rodríguez, a transgender singer and TV personality known as “La Veneno”, whose life and death remain a mystery.

The series follows the narrative of Valeria Vegas, a journalism student writing a book about Cristina’s life, and how she forms a mother-daughter bond with Cristina based on their shared experiences as transgender women. Not to mention both trans characters are played by trans actors, and they bring these characters to life and make them whole. But Veneno isn’t just a story about an LGBTQ+ icon, it tackles mass media and the impact it can have on the way we view the world around us — from fame one minute to marginalisation the next. Watch the series in its entirety on HBO Max now!

And a thank you to HBO Max for all the LGBTQ+ shows 👏 Here’s another favourite: ‘We Are Who We Are’. A coming-of-age drama directed and co-created by Luca Guadagnino, the director of ‘Call Me By Your Name', that follows two American 14-year-olds who live on a military base in Italy. From facing the normal ups and downs of being a teenager to exploring their identities, the show never hesitates to depict their chaotic realities, yet always in a way that remains artistic and relatable.

The most notable thing about this show is the way that it treats queerness and discovering your sexuality in a very nuanced and realistic way. Instead of the classic American rom-com, it shows the awkward glances, the start of a thought process, and for some the time it takes to realise it as every day life continues around you. The show consists of eight episodes which also do not adhere to the typical construction of "binge-worthy" series with cliff hangers and a fast pace; the characters move through their lives — sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly — exploring their sexuality and gender along the way.

Finally, 'Hot Summer Daze' is an LGBTQ+ series that was produced by myself and made by writer, filmmaker, actress and artist Jenna Larson. The show follows Alex, Paige and Riley, three seniors graduating from Catholic High School in the suburbs of Chicago. After forming an unlikely bond Freshman year and becoming inseparable, they now face their greatest challenges yet - a leaked video scandal, identity crises, sexual exploration, and the complex bond of female friendship, all while their impending separation looms overhead. You can watch the whole series for free on Youtube!

Did I miss any of your favourite LGBTQ+ shows? Let me know in the comments!

To celebrate Pride 2021 all proceeds from 'The Pride Collection' on The Store by Erika Lust are being donated to ILGA World (The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association). That means when you buy the erotic collection of seven adult movies, all of the sale to ILGA World. Find out more about it here.