10 underrated queer tv shows to binge during Pride Month

June is Pride Month, a time for promoting self-affirmation and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as a community. In the United States, we celebrate Pride Month during June in commemoration of the historic Stonewall riots, which happened at the end of June in 1969. Even though not every country acknowledges it at the same time, celebrations and parades happen all around the world in support of LGBT pride, which often includes the release of new films or television shows that feature characters who are part of the queer community.

When it comes to queer characters on television, shows can often be hit or miss. It is no longer enough to just have a member of the LGBTQ community part of a show in order to simply check a box (commonly referred to as presence). Real representation, including authentic portrayals of love lives and storylines that don’t simply revolve around an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, is what elevates storytelling for people of queer experience.

While there are many well-known examples of great shows with excellent LGBT representation, including Showtime’s Queer as Folk and The L Word, to newer shows such as FX’s Pose and Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, there are several other shows that are slightly less high-profile. However, this doesn’t diminish the quality of the acting or storytelling that goes into portraying the genuine life experiences of the LGBT community in these lesser-known series.

We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite underrated television series that heavily feature LGBT characters, and are able to convey the joy, resilience, and freedom of these individuals embracing who they truly are.

Fair warning: The following list will include spoilers for all shows discussed.