Tv shows with main gay characters
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You can easily locate platforms such as Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, Netflix, Max, and Amazon Prime, for easy access to your chosen show. You’ll find High Fidelity, in which Zoë Kravitz plays bisexual record store owner Rob; Ryan Murphy’s period gay fantasia, Hollywood; and Twenties, Lena Waithe’s semi-autobiographical BET series.
Have a preferred series? Happy viewing!
TV Shows with LGBTQ+ Characters and Leads
Last updated: July 17, 2025
Characters on television are more diverse than ever, and there's been a notable rise in the number of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters, reality stars, and talk show hosts.
One pioneering show at a time, groundbreaking character by groundbreaking character, TV and streaming series have given the world an insight into the LGBTQ+ experience, and provided LGBTQ+ people with reflections of their own lives – stories to laugh along with, to cry with, and to identify with. Series that feature diverse characters (Glee, The Fosters) as well as real-life inspirations and LGBTQ+ icons such as Laverne Cox and RuPaul continue to pave the way for even more representation on television.
Each brief yet insightful description is carefully crafted to honor the essence of the series, without revealing any tantalizing plot details. Express your favoritism by casting your vote, influencing the rankings by adding your voice to a collective swell of viewer sentiment.
Ensuring a seamless transition from selection to streaming, every entry in the list features readily identifiable streaming service buttons.
For more great LGBTQ+ stories, check out our lists of books and movies with LGBTQ+ characters.
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Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media offers the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based ratings and reviews. It has also, perhaps most importantly, been a platform to tell stories that have made gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and more people feel less alone in the world – to know there is a big and varied community to which they belong.
The latest: Our new update welcomes English Teacher, Fantamas, Fellow Travelers, and Interview with the Vampire! From the hilarious shenanigans on Modern Family to Ellen DeGeneres reminding viewers to "be kind to one another," these must-see TV shows (and stars) celebrate diversity and highlight the LGBTQ+ community in positive, relatable ways.
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HBO’s short-lived but long-loved Looking, which followed the lives of three gay San Francisco men, is here, too, along with Lana and Lilly Wachowski and J.Michael Straczynski’s envelope-pushing Sense8, andVida, about two Mexican-American sisters living in L.A. The list also features a group of LGBTQ+ comedians who crafted smart, critically acclaimed, funny, and moving shows around their own personas, among them Josh Thomas (Please Like Me), Mae Martin (Feel Good), Tig Notaro (One Mississippi), and Abby McEnany (Work In Progress).
Groundbreakers and Big Firsts | Shows That Center on the LGBTQ+ Experience
Shows With LGBTQ+ Characters and Storylines | Reality Shows and Docuseries
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Synopsis: The critically acclaimed Web series "Broad City" moves to Comedy Central as a half-hour scripted series.
Experience the satisfaction of finding the perfect binge-watch television series while amplifying visibility for content that celebrates diversity and inclusion. It's created by and [More]
Starring: Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer
Navigate an engaging, expansive realm of on-screen representation with a deep dive into a rich trove of current entertainment offerings featuring LGBTQ+ characters.
Delight in over 30 captivating shows, each shedding light on diverse identities, celebrating self-expression and resonating with authenticity, while captivating audiences with riveting storylines.
Discover a range of recent series that boldly carve inclusive narratives, featuring characters living their truth.
In this list of LGBTQ+ TV shows, we highlight 180 shows that have broken ground, enlightened, and entertained.
We’ve arranged the list into four categories: shows that were big TV firsts, or featured TV firsts; shows that center on LGTBQ characters or experiences; shows that feature LGBTQ+ characters and stories, but where that isn’t necessarily the primary focus or thrust of the series; and reality shows and docuseries. As with all lists like this, there will be titles we’ve missed, and you may disagree with some of our categorizations; we encourage you share your thoughts and add your favorites in the comments, so when we do an update, we can have even more great LGBTQ+ titles to consider.
In this section, we focus on shows whose central character, or multiple central characters, are LGBTQ+, and whose storylines and approach have a distinctly LGBTQ+ focus.
Watch these shows and more on Fandango at Home!
TV has been instrumental in the LGBTQ+ rights movement and in changing attitudes towards the community. Encounter an eminent line-up of terrific shows, linked by the common thread of powerful storytelling and representation, irrespective of genre.
Elevating viewer experience, our list is not only informative but also interactive.
Your viewing experience is not just effortless, but also utterly in your control.
Whether you're seeking poignant romances, riveting dramas, or comedic gems, this collection is your window into a world of entertainment that respects and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.