15 TV shows LGBTQ people should binge in 2018

Shameless (Netflix)                                                         

The title of this one says it all. The Gallagher family are truly shameless, from drinking and drug use, to fighting gentrification in their South Side Chicago neighborhood. Family patriarch Frank is a raging alcoholic con man, and their mother Monica struggled with mental health and ultimately left the family (though she came back from time to time on the show).

The eldest Gallagher child Fiona is left to take care of the brood, and to say it’s a handful is an understatement. Every one of the children has their own problems, but middle child Ian is the one we’re interested in.

Ian is a gay teenager who’s barely in the closet. Over the years, his character is probably given some of the best storylines. Ian sleeps with married, “straight” men, has an ongoing sexual relationship with the neighborhood thug (which becomes so much more), and also has to deal with his bipolar disorder, which proves to be a difficult feat.

The resident gay character also gets intertwined in storylines about sex work, drugs, and run-ins with the law. This is not a fun comedy like Will & Grace. Ian definitely doesn’t have it easy, but if it was easy for Ian, we probably wouldn’t even be discussing his character right now, would we? You’ll be surprised how attached you get to Ian, and all the Gallaghers (except maybe Frank) when you binge this series.

With the show’s 8th season recently coming to a close, it has already been signed for a 9th season, making it Showtime’s longest running scripted show.