As we bask in the colours of Pride Month this June, its also time to dig into the vast amount of queer-friendly, LGBTQ+ representative content out there, and pick out the cream of the shows that we feel you’d absolutely love to binge-watch this month, and beyond!
Elite
Where: Netflix
Seasons: 5
This sexy Spanish ‘whodunnit’ thriller is an extremely layered and entertaining show that is both enjoyably frivolous, and yet thought-provokingly profound in the way it tackles complex topics such as sexuality, coming-out and the challenges of dealing with all of this growing up in a conservative family. In fact, that is what makes this show most admirable- the way it sensitively exposes the audience to these challenges while merging it all seamlessly into a story that is hard to leave for another day. In fact, you’re gonna be wanting to buy a ticket to Spain and basking in all of that hotness by the time you’re done with this cracker!
Hint: Watch this one in Spanish with subtitles, to get the best emotional experience- some of the acting is out of the world, and emotionally hard-hitting, especially in Spanish.
Also read: Pride Month: Activists who brought change for LGBTQIA community
The Other Two
Where: HBO Max
Seasons: 2
Created by SNL alumni- Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, The Other Two is widely considered the most hilarious show about being gay there is out there today! And yet, if there’s one message that this show wants to drive home more than anything else, it is that there is no ‘right’ way to be gay. The show follows the lives of siblings Cary and Brooke Dubek as they try to find meaning and substance in their own lives against the backdrop of their little brother’s sudden rise to Beiber-esque fame. The good-natured comedy will leave you in splits, and leave you wanting more!
Young Royals
Where: Netflix
Seasons: 1
This racy Swedish romance drama takes us into the life of Prince Wilhelm, the Prince of Sweden. After getting caught up in a scandal, the young prince is sent to boarding school by the Queen, and this is where things start to unravel- as he meets Simon Eriksson, a scholarship student, and commoner to whom he begins to feel attracted. He must then face the challenge of exploring his sexuality, all the while remembering his duty to his nation. Part of a small but excellent cast, the teens actually look and behave like real teenagers in this show, which is really cool, and the emotional elements of sexual expression are tastefully explored in this drama!
Also read: The different Pride Flags and what they stand for
Sex Education
Where: Netflix
Seasons: 3
This colourful, raunchy British show is possibly one of the queerest teen comedies ever made! It follows the adventures (and misadventures!) of Otis, whose mom is a sex therapist, and Eric, his gay best friend, as the former decides to start his own anonymous sex therapy sessions in school to earn a quick buck. Where this show truly shines is in how it treats queerness and sexuality just the right way- the characters come across as multi-faceted individuals with their own values, quirks, and personalities, with their sexual explorations just adding to their complexity, rather than taking away from it.
Queer as Folk
Where: Peacock (using VPN if Peacock isn’t available in your country)
Seasons: 1
Queer as Folk is back in 2022 with yet another remake, and this time with a character diversity few others can boast of. And it also manages to tackle the topic of gun violence for good measure. The story really kick-starts with a horrifying act of violence- as an unknown shooter enters a New Orleans gay bar and opens indiscriminate fire on the partiers. This changes the lives of our leads, most of whom were caught up in the carnage, but the show never lets that incident define it. Instead, the characters show a healthy desire to live to the maximum, enjoy each others’ silliness, share defiant joy amidst their often winding storylines, and even make choices that might not necessarily be very likable. All that adds to the complexity of this layered show- one that has truly brought its previous iterations up-to-date with the ways of the world today.
Also read: Pride Month: India’s most LGBTQ+ friendly destinations
