We’re here, queer, and ready to shed a tear. Here are some LGBTQ+ movies and TV shows to watch during Pride Month.

Heartstopper (2022)

Based on the webcomic written by Alice Oseman, Netflix’s Heartstopper is an adorable British coming-of-age TV show about Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), an out gay teen, and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), a star rugby player. The show follows the characters as they navigate friends, sexuality, and their developing feelings for each other. This show has amazing LGBTQ+ representation with bisexual, trans, and lesbian characters. It’s a heartwarming and wholesome show complete with a cute soundtrack. Heartstopper is an extremely popular show, with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Young Royals (2021)

Netflix’s Young Royals is a Swedish TV show about Prince Wilheim (Edvin Ryding), the crown prince of Sweden, who is sent to a prestigious boarding school to fix his reckless behavior. While adjusting to his new life, Wilheim meets Simon (Omar Rudberg), and they quickly develop a relationship. Wilheim tries to manage his growing feelings for Simon and his anxiety surrounding the pressure from his family to be perfect.

Love, Victor (2020-2022)

Set in the same world as Love, Simon, Hulu’s Love, Victor is a coming-of-age TV show that follows Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino), a new student at Creekwood High School. Struggling with his sexuality and his new school, Victor reaches out to Simon (Nick Robinson) via Instagram. Love, Victor deals with the struggles of being queer in a religious household, and includes a queer person of color as the main character. Love, Victor was definitely a summer favorite comfort show for me. Love, Victor can also be found on Disney+.

The Half of It (2020)

Netflix’s The Half of It is a comforting coming-of-age movie that follows Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a shy, straight-A high school student who has a business writing essays for students. When jock Paul (Daniel Diemer) asks Ellie to write a love letter to his crush, Aster (Alexxis Lemire), Ellie discovers that she also has a crush on Aster. The Half of It is a great film with breathtaking shots and amazing direction from Alice Wu- a lesbian herself- and accurately portrays the struggles of small-town life and mentality. 

Portrait of A Lady on Fire (2019)

For those who love period pieces, Portrait of A Lady on Fire is a French film set in 1770s France. The film follows Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a painter who is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), the daughter of a French countess. Héloïse is betrothed to a wealthy Italian courtier whom she does not want to marry, so Marianne must paint Héloïse without her knowledge. The two women eventually fall in love. Portrait of A Lady on Fire does not sexualize the women for simply existing as queer and in love with each other. The movie views the lesbian romance through the ‘female gaze,’ (a concept where women are depicted from the perspective of women), and is a contrast from an over-sexualized male perspective of women and sapphic relationships, meant for the pleasure of other straight men, which we see all too often. Portrait of A Lady on Fire Can be found on Hulu.

The Fear Street Trilogy (2021) 

For those who love horror and LGBTQ+ movies, the Fear Street trilogy is a gory slasher series with a lesbian romance as the main relationship. The Fear Street trilogy is based on the book series by the same name written by R.L. Stine. While the movies aren’t based on any book in particular, the filmmakers tried to capture the essence of the Fear Street books. Fear Street is focused on the town of Shadyside, notorious for the brutal murders that have taken place in the town for centuries and said to be cursed by witch Sarah Fier. After another recent murder and with a killer after one of her friends, teenager Deena (Kiana Madeira) and her friends decide to end the curse once and for all. The movies go back in time, with the first movie taking place in 1994, the second focusing on a brutal spree-killing in a summer camp in 1978, and the third in 1666 to discover the origin of the curse. For those who love a good slasher with lots of gore and plot twists, the Fear Street trilogy is perfect. The Feat Street trilogy can be found on Netflix.

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

For those that enjoy documentaries, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson follows trans activist Victoria Cruz, a friend of Johnson’s. Johnson was a prominent figure in the fight for queer and trans liberation and is credited with kicking off the Stonewall riots. While Johnson’s death was ruled as a suicide, Cruz investigates the possibility that it was a murder. The documentary shows the effect of Johnson’s activism, and other trans pioneers such as Sylvia Rivera, on the LGBTQ+ community, even in the face of police brutality and violence. While the documentary is dark, and discusses violence against queer trans people of color, it gives trans women activists of color the credit they deserve for being the reason pride itself exists. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson can be found on Netflix.

Pride (2021)

Pride is a six-part docuseries telling the story of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in America from the 1950s to the 2000s. Pride was made by seven amazing LGBTQ+ directors and each episode, with a different director, covers a different decade of queer history and activism. The docuseries also features interviews with queer activists and public figures. Pride is a good series to watch for queer history to see how far the LGBTQ+ community has come and how much more progress still needs to be made. Pride can be found on Hulu.

These are eight amazing TV and movies for Pride month. While these movies and TV shows are worth watching year-round, they are extra special during this time, and essential to making sure LGBTQ+ stories continue to be told.