LGBT Series : For many years, it was difficult to find a series that included any kind of LGBT+ content. And when it finally began to appear on screen, it was impossible to see anything more than filler or the typical secondary character playing the stereotypical gay friend , complete with every cliché imaginable (see, Sex and the City). It's true that we are evolving, that everything happens in its own time, and that we are learning. Production and distribution companies are increasingly investing in films and series that feature protagonists with different sexual orientations or who self-identify with a gender different from the sex they were assigned at birth. And it was about time. Because film and television are not only a representation of reality, but they also help us change it.
To talk about these series, since unfortunately I haven't seen them all, I've asked for advice from several friends who belong to this group, because, as a cisgender heterosexual woman , I haven't felt confident in establishing a ranking of these shows.
Of course, these series are for everyone, regardless of gender, sex, orientation, age... and they serve both to (finally!) be represented in some way on the screen and to be able to empathize with this struggle.
The 6 LGTB series that normalize the collective
✪ Queer As Folk
Back when my teenage self was tremendously hypnotized by Rebelde Way, my friend Jesús was already telling me about Queer As Folk. A mini me, fifteen years old and altered, madly in love with Pablo (a protagonist of RW, somewhat basic, if we start criticizing) I did not understand that my friend told me that the romances of this teenage series did not make him feel anything, they did not They weren't stirring at all and that I needed something else.
And that's what QAF gave you in the early 2000s.
A pioneer in its format, it tells the story of five gay friends and two lesbians who live in Pittsburgh (USA) who, like all of us around the age of 30, have our crises and problems that we must face, that Added to this are those of belonging to a group persecuted for centuries.
Although it received criticism both within and outside the gay community for generalizing certain behaviors and reinforcing stereotypes, this series deserves a great deal: it gave visibility to a group previously overlooked by television programming and made those who were discovering that their orientation was not what society expected feel less alone and strange.
✪ POSE
Now is a good time (with the controversial Trans Law in Spain about to be accepted) to talk about POSE. Trans people have been prejudiced and stereotyped on television to the point of saying enough. And POSE gets into the guts of transsexual and transgender people to show us a part of their reality.
Over its two seasons, this series shows us the lives of African American and Latinx groups that form what are known as "families," and participate in nightly parties that were completely unknown to me (before Pose). In these parties, we see these families compete to see who gets the best spot in a show that mixes dancing and modeling (those who know more than I do will recognize the New York balls that originated in the 20s).
These choreographies, inspired by models' poses, are known as voguing or vogue and represent an artistic way of reclaiming the freedoms of these oppressed groups. If you'd like to learn more about the diverse flags that represent the LGBTQ+ community, you can consult the article on LGBTQIA+ flags and their meanings.
A documentary to understand these spaces of dance, politics and art in more depth is Paris is Burning, by Jennie Livingston, from 1991.
✪ Poison
Continuing with the trans community, let's not forget the Spanish series directed by Los Javis based on the life of Cristina Ortiz, known as La Veneno, from her birth to her death; possibly the most well-known trans woman in Spain.
Eight chapters of this biopic that mix the life of Cristian with that of Valeria, another trans girl who, after meeting Veneno, decides to write her memoirs (the book on which the miniseries is based).
The cast is, in my opinion, a success (except for a few exceptions that squeak me, like the actress who represents the character of Valeria, but the one who saves the general count), and the impact that it generates in everyone who sees it speaks for her.
✪ The Pier
It's not a perfect 10. I know. But it has several things going for it: it presents a love story involving three people, and the back-and-forth between the two main characters kept me on the edge of my seat the entire series. And what's more, it's only two seasons . I have to admit that lately, as long as something is short, I'm happy with the "twice as good" part. The Pier tells the story it needs to tell, doesn't dwell too much on subplots, and hooks you for two weeks of your life. And that's what we're here for.
The Pier has a fairly well-known cast, headed by Verónica Sánchez, once again in fashion thanks to Sky Rojo , Irene Arcos and Álvaro Morte (the professor from Money Heist).
✪ A Very English Scandal
A BBC miniseries available on Amazon Prime Video, which I admit I haven't seen (yet) but which I've added to my must-watch list for this month. It intertwines the love story and heartbreak of Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant) and Norma Scott (Ben Whishaw) [the former a Liberal politician and the latter a young man from a working-class background] with drama, politics, and scandal.
✪ It's a Sin
And the last of my recommendations: It´sa Sin. A faithful and exciting approach to the reality that was the problem of AIDS in the 80s among the youth of the United Kingdom. It makes you realize that it was truly a pandemic worse than covid.
Of course, these aren't the only LGBT series you can watch. Euphoria, The L Word, Luimelia, and Sex Education also fall into this category and have received critical acclaim. Check them out!
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