What to watch this LGBTQ+ History Month

Alice Hiley asexuality and aromanticism, bisexuality and pansexuality, gay men, lesbians, LGBTQ+ relationships, trans+ and non-binary, TV and media

Watching TV featuring queer characters is for life, not just for LGBTQ+ History Month

At Fumble we’re binging these shows this LGBTQ+ History Month to learn about queer history, celebrate how far we’ve come, and show our pride.

It’s A Sin (Channel 4)

Russell T Davies’ groundbreaking drama follows five misfit queer teens living in a dingy London flat. Fast-forwarding through the 80s, we see how the AIDS epidemic took hold. It’s an important education on an illness that was so misunderstood, as well as being uplifting and joyful.

Pose (Netflix)

Ryan Murphy’s Pose broke the record for the highest number of transgender actors cast in recurring roles. The series focuses on the downtown drag ball scene in 1980s New York, and on the importance of found family for the LGBTQ+ characters who battle it out for trophies.

Sex Education (Netflix)

Otis (Asa Butterfield) uses his sex therapist mother’s (Gilian Anderson) knowledge to start up an illicit sex advice business. Laurie Nunn’s show has unbeatable representation, with characters from all areas of the LGBTQ+ community plus sensitive discussions of issues like vaginismus and sexual harassment.

Feel Good (Amazon Prime)

Soon after they start dating, George (Charlotte Ritchie) discovers Mae (Mae Martin) is a former drug addict. Mae navigates Narcotics Anonymous meetings while George works up the courage to come out. The quirky cast includes Lisa Kudrow as Mae’s eccentric mother.

I May Destroy You (BBC iPlayer)

Michaela Coel’s stunning show is way more than a “consent drama”. As well as powerfully exploring Arabella’s (Michaela Coel) recovery from sexual assault, it delves into the joys and dangers of London’s gay scene through Arabella’s best friend Kwame (Paapa Essiedu).

Cucumber (Channel 4)

Together with sister series Banana and docuseries Tofu, Cucumber gives a glimpse into Manchester’s gay scene. It shows how the relationship between Henry (Vincent Franklin) and Lance (Cyril Nri) deteriorates after one disastrous date night.

Dear White People (Netflix)

Dear White People explores the lives of a group of black students at a fictional Ivy League college. With each episode focusing on a different character, sweet but emotionally stunted Lionel Higgins (DeRon Horton) gets a touching coming out story.

Atypical (Netflix)

This sweet comedy drama follows Sam (Keir Gilchrist), a teenager with autism, as he starts to date for the first time. It equally focuses on the complicated lives of Sam’s family including his sister Casey (Brigette Lundy-Paine), whose feelings for Izzie make her rethink her relationship with her boyfriend.

Heartstopper (Netflix)

Teens Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love. It’s a heartwarming show tackling many issues around being a queer and/or trans young person.

Queer as Folk (Channel 4)

Yet another series masterminded by Russell T Davies, Queer as Folk follows the lives of three gay friends living in Manchester. A mix of serious and lighthearted, the show has been essential viewing for LGBTQ+ teens since it first came out in 1999.

The L Word (Amazon Prime)

This series tells the intertwined stories about the lives and loves of a group of lesbians and bisexuals in Los Angeles in the early 2000s. It’s one of the few shows that focus on the lives of queer women. A spin-off show, The L Word: Generation Q, aired in 2020 which is also worth a watch – it features some of the original cast and is a lot more diverse that the original show.

One Day At A Time (Netflix)

One Day at a Time follows a Cuban-American family raised by single mum Penelope (Justina Machado). Her daughter Elena (Isabella Gomez) struggles with her identity but eventually dates Syd, who is non-binary — forming one of the most wholesome TV couples out there.