Sashay away to the sofa: The best TV shows to celebrate LGBTQIA+ History month

As we celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month, The Mancunion has five must-watch shows that represent the community across five different genres. From romance to thrillers, we’ve got you covered for your next binge-worthy series.

Romance – Heartstopper

Netflix’s coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama Heartstopper hit our screens in April last year, and all I can say is thank God Netflix releases the whole series at once. As soon as you begin this series, you will be hooked.

The series follows Year 10 student Charlie and Year 11 student Nick who are placed in the same form class at their school. We follow their story of friendship and love through an eight-episode stint, one which is set to be continued after Netflix announced not only a second season but also a third.

From gay to bisexual and trans relationships, the series presents a great understanding and representation of the community to its desired younger audience in such a relatable way. If you want to be sent straight back in time to your first secondary school crush, then delve into this series based on the original graphic novels by Alice Osman. Or read the books first – always the books before the television shows, in my opinion.

Drama – It’s A Sin

If you’ve not watched this series yet, drop everything and get to All4 now, and if you haven’t heard of Russell T. Davies, then I’m shocked. From Doctor Who to Years and Years and Queer as Folk, Davies’ work has spanned a notion of concepts, yet always excels in true brilliance.

It’s A Sin follows a group of gay men who move to London in 1981, and the five-episode series follows them through the coming decade, and the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom and across the world. With a stellar line-up cast that includes Years & Years singer Olly Alexander, Stephen Fry, Keeley Hawes, and Neil Patrick-Harris, the series was even rejected by the BBC and ITV for its topic, but thankfully Channel 4 picked it up.

Its true grit and resilience is an empathetic representation of those affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis and presents it with a personal and human touch. I’m going to warn you now, you’re going to need tissues for this one. Maybe a few boxes even.

Reality – Queer Eye

With 100 episodes over five seasons on the US cable channel Bravo under its belt, and a Netflix reboot with six seasons and a seventh on the way, Queer Eye has been a hit for 20 years. In each episode, the cast, or the ‘Fab Five’ as they’re better known, spend a week using their expertise to turn someone’s life around, the person they call the “hero” (I’m telling you now – it’s DIY SOS story vibes).

From food and wine to clothing and even interior design, it’s everything you want from a homemaker over television series and more. It’s like 60 Minute Makeover meets Trinny and Susannah meets Saturday Kitchen Live. I’d recommend grabbing a glass of wine (and sometimes some tissues) and winding down to this hilarious and heart-warming reality series.

Thriller – Killing Eve

You will most likely know Phoebe Waller-Bridge from her other critically acclaimed series Fleabag (the one with the sexy priest?), but this time it’s her writing that will blow you away. With Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer in the starring roles of a British intelligence investigator and psychopathic assassin, the extraordinary series takes us on an adventure as the two become completely entwined in each other’s lives.

From the British countryside to the ruins of Rome the series takes us across the world, and many languages from Comer’s role of Villanelle, as the characters twist and turn through battling and loving each other. You may remember Waller-Bridge meeting the Queen Consort and telling her it contains a lot of ‘girl-on-girl action’. Apparently, the Queen Consort loved that idea, and you may too! With a cast including Fiona Shaw and Kim Bodnia, the four-season long story will have you, in parts, on the edge of your seat. Get to BBC iPlayer now!

Comedy – Grace and Frankie

Not only does this amazing series follow the lives of a gay couple that leave their wives to come out in their seventies, but their wives are played by the formidable Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Their on-screen fuse in Grace and Frankie is a testament to their real-life friendship, and outstanding writing from Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris, so outstanding that Netflix signed it straight-to-series.

After seven series, the show ended last year and followed the trials and tribulations of two women, who formerly hated each other, who adapt to their new lives of living together under the same roof. It is a wonderfully heart-warming representation of an older gay community and the lives they’ve lived. Get yourself in front of the television now, open Netflix, and adore this series with all your heart for its comedy and just pure brilliance.