#DrewsViews: LGBTQ-Friendly Shows to Binge on Netflix
by Andrew Adams
Right now, as thousands of people are testing positive for COVID-19, or the Coronavirus, the majority of the planet is on high alert. Tons of people are in quarantine, staying inside, avoiding going out in public, and canceling all sorts of gatherings. What are we all supposed to do all day without school or work? Binge watching TV shows and movies on streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO, of course. Good LGBTQ friendly shows are hard to come by, but luckily for us, these streaming services have plenty of options. Here are my top 3 LGBTQ friendly shows for you to enjoy during the pandemic!
POSE:
Found on Netflix, Pose follows the journeys of several transgender women, drag queens, and gay people in New York in the 80’s, in the height of the AIDS Crisis. This is one of my favorite shows. All of the trans characters are portrayed by transgender actors, and the things that happen to the characters are very well portrayed and accurate to common queer stories. I highly recommend you watch this show, but not without a box of tissues, because it is a tear jerker at some points.
Sex Education:
Also on Netflix, Sex Education follows a group of teenagers in a British high school. The main character, Otis, is trying to figure himself out, but his mother, played by Gillian Anderson, is a sex and relationship therapist who keeps getting involved in his business. The stereotypical teenage coming of age story is mixed with several LGBTQ romances, love triangles, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual representation, and trans representation. While it is a great show, be warned that there are sex scenes, a penis is shown in the first episode, very accurately portrayed panic attack scenes, and several very emotional moments.
The Politician:
This is another Netflix show about teenagers navigating high school, but it takes a slightly darker tone than Sex Education. In The Politician, we follow a main character trying to become student body president, and the plot of the show follows the campaign and election process. There are many LGBTQ relationships, dramatic moments, and a transgender man character played by a trans man. Fair warning, this show also deals with some dark topics, and does have lots of sad moments, but it’s still a really good show in my opinion.
The increase of LGBTQ representation in TV shows is wonderful, especially in a time where a lot of us are stuck at home. I hope everyone stays safe during this trying time for so many of us, and please wash your hands. Have a great day friends!
About the Author:
Andrew Adams is a transgender college freshman at the University of Central Florida who is committed to LGBTQ advocacy at the local and national levels. Nationally, Andrew serves as a youth ambassador and advocacy volunteer for The Trevor Project, a youth social media ambassador for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and a Volunteer and Intern Coordinator for Point of Pride. On the legislative side, Andrew lobbies for the Equality Act by visiting with his Congressional representatives and their staff.
Additionally, Andrew has spent years fighting to change his school district’s bathroom policy to be trans-inclusive, and the fight is still ongoing. Andrew is an International Baccalaureate student and a volunteer at the Mayo Clinic, and he hopes to go to medical school and become an adolescent psychiatrist specializing in transgender health. For fun, he practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, creates sculpture art and plays the piano.
