Hello, in this article, we will explore some of the finest Netflix gay TV series and shows. Moreover, we’ll highlight compelling series from recent years and discuss what makes them popular. If you’re interested in discovering these shows and understanding their appeal, please continue reading!
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Netflix has had a profound and complex influence on the landscape of gay-themed series and movies, primarily by becoming a significant platform for increasing the volume and visibility of LGBTQ+ content globally. Here are the key ways Netflix has influenced gay-themed media:
Increased Volume of the Netflix Gay TV series and shows.
For several years, GLAAD has noted that Netflix has the highest number of LGBTQ+ characters compared to other streaming and broadcast platforms. Why is that so? Netflix invests heavily in original shows that feature LGBTQ+ storylines like Heartstopper, Sex Education, Young Royals, and Orange is the New Black. This helps bring queer stories to a larger audience.
Unlike earlier LGBTQ+ representation on traditional TV, Netflix shows explore a broader range of identities and more complex stories. Moreover, in shows like Sex Education and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, diverse sexual orientations and gender identities are part of the main characters’ lives.
More importantly, many shows present LGBTQ+ relationships in a relaxed way, where a character’s sexuality is essential but not the primary focus. Studies show that LGBTQ+ characters on streaming platforms like Netflix often show more affection than those on traditional networks.
Ultimately, streaming services like Netflix can better serve niche audiences, which include the LGBTQ+ community. This allows shows with strong fanbases to succeed even if they attract fewer viewers than big network hits. Series like Young Royals from Sweden and Élite from Spain can share diverse queer stories with a global audience.
Our list of The Top Netflix Gay-TV Series Showshows
Netflix has become a significant platform for gay storytelling, offering a wide range of gay-themed TV shows and movies that span genres, cultures, and emotional tones. Here are some of the most significant and celebrated titles:
Heartstopper (UK)
Firstly, why did we list this series among the finest Netflix Gay series? Heartstopper is a British romantic comedy-drama series based on a graphic novel and webcomic by Alice Oseman. The story follows the love between two high school students: Charlie Spring, an openly gay and anxious Year 10 student, and Nick Nelson, a popular and kind Year 11 rugby player who sits next to Charlie in class. Unlike many darker teen dramas, Heartstopper is known for its positive and uplifting tone. It offers a hopeful view of LGBTQ+ youth and feels like a comforting “warm hug” for many viewers.
Young Royals (Sweden)
Young Royals is a Swedish teen drama series on Netflix about Prince Wilhelm of Sweden. After a scandal, Wilhelm goes to the élite boarding school, Hillerska. There, he struggles with his royal duties and identity.
The story focuses on his secret romance with Simon Eriksson, a working-class classmate who does not attend the school. The series shows the conflict between love and duty, especially when Wilhelm unexpectedly becomes the Crown Prince. He must choose between his feelings for Simon and his public responsibilities as a monarch.
The series is praised for realistically portraying teenagers. The cast is age-appropriate, and the show avoids the glamorous style of many American teen dramas. It features characters with real skin textures, acne, and everyday fashion. The handheld cinematography adds to the sense of genuine reality, which is why it has been among the most popular Netflix gay TV series in recent years.
Sex Education (UK)
“Sex Education” is a British teen comedy-drama on Netflix that follows students and staff at Moordale Secondary School and later Cavendish Sixth Form College as they deal with personal and sexual challenges.
The main character is Otis Milburn, a socially awkward teenage virgin who lives with his mother, Jean, a straightforward sex therapist. With his unique background, Otis knows a lot about sex and relationships. He teams up with his innovative and rebellious classmate, Maeve Wiley, to start an unofficial sex therapy clinic, helping their classmates with their issues.
The show handles serious topics like sexual assault, abortion, body image, and consent thoughtfully. It features a diverse group of characters who feel real and relatable, showing their flaws and mistakes without falling into stereotypes. Ultimately, all this makes the story compelling and highly believable, and one of the finest Netflix series for younger adults.
The following has been one of our favorite Netflix Gay TV series in recent years.
Élite (Spain)
Élite is a Spanish teen drama and thriller series on Netflix about students at Las Encinas, an exclusive private school. The story starts when three working-class teens—Samuel, Nadia, and Christian—get scholarships to attend after their public school closes. This change causes a clash with the wealthy students, leading to intense romance, class struggles, and a murder mystery told through police interrogations and flashbacks.
The show features strong LGBTQ+ representation, including the popular gay couple Ander and Omar, known as “Omander.” It also explores themes of sexual fluidity and coming out. Many compare Élite to Gossip Girl and How to Get Away with Murder. Each season centers around a murder mystery filled with twists and suspense in a glamorous teenage world. As a Spanish-language series, Élite has become one of Netflix’s most-watched non-English shows, appealing to viewers with its high production quality and relatable teen experiences.
Note: Find out more about Élitelite TV series, its main gay characters, and couples in our related articles.
Feel Good (UK)
“Feel Good” is a comedy-drama series created by comedian Mae Martin. It tells a semi-autobiographical story about love, addiction, and queer identity. The show is available on Netflix and highlights a modern queer romance.
Mae, a non-binary recovering drug addict and stand-up comic, is portrayed by Mae Martin. The story follows Mae’s intense relationship with George, played by Charlotte Ritchie. George is an English teacher who has only dated men before and is dealing with her own coming out.
Moreover, the show mixes dark humor with deep emotions. It explores Mae’s struggles with addiction and trauma, while George faces issues of acceptance and codependency. The series also provides a realistic view of a relationship between a non-binary person and a newly-out queer woman. It goes beyond typical coming-out stories and shows the challenges of love and recovery.
Dead Boy Detectives (USA)
“Dead Boy Detectives” is a supernatural mystery-comedy series on Netflix. It is based on characters created by Neil Gaiman for DC Comics and is set in the same universe as “The Sandman.”
The show follows two teenage ghosts, Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri). Edwin died in 1916 due to a failed ritual, while Charles was killed by bullies in 1989. They refuse to enter the afterlife, so they start the Dead Boy Detectives Agency to solve supernatural mysteries and avoid Death and her minions.
They are joined by Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), a living psychic medium who can see and talk to them, and Niko Sasaki (Yuyu Kitamura), their clairvoyant friend. The series mixes mystery, horror, and dark humor, with each episode featuring a new case while also focusing on a larger story about a vengeful witch.
The show is openly queer and highlights Edwin’s journey of self-acceptance as he deals with his identity and emotions. This representation resonates with many viewers, especially in the LGBTQ+ community.
SKAM Italia
SKAM Italia is known as one of the best adaptations of the original Norwegian series and can be streamed on Netflix. Critics and fans rate it highly, along with DRUCK and SKAM France, for its realistic storytelling and sensitive approach to complex topics. The show uses a “real-time” format and focuses on character development.
Season 2 focuses on Martino’s coming-out story, which is seen as a significant moment in Italian television, a country that can be conservative about LGBTQ+ issues. More importantly, this season helps viewers understand and accept gay peers. The relationship between Martino and Niccolò (“Martinico”) is described as calm and mature, compared to the original series’s more intense romance. The story also addresses Niccolò’s struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder, connecting mental health issues to their relationship.
While the Norwegian series may not always be available, SKAM Italia and many of its seasons are generally available on Netflix.
Grace and Frankie (US)
“Grace and Frankie” is a Netflix comedy series featuring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The story starts when Grace, a retired cosmetics business owner, and Frankie, a free-spirited artist, learn that their husbands, Robert and Sol, are in love and plan to marry. The two women, who never got along, must live together in a beach house as they face divorce and reinvent their lives in their seventies. Over time, they form a strong friendship. The show highlights the vibrant lives of older women, breaking ageist stereotypes, and showcases the great chemistry between Fonda and Tomlin as an unlikely pair.
First Kill (USA)
First Kill is a supernatural teen drama series on Netflix based on a short story by V.E. Schwab. It is often described as a queer version of “Romeo and Juliet” mixed with “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The story follows a forbidden romance between two teenage girls facing a crucial coming-of-age moment that requires them to make their first kill.
Although it was canceled after one season, First Kill gained much attention and built a passionate fanbase, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. This happened for several reasons: the show met the demand for a supernatural teen drama centered on a lesbian romance. It used classic themes like “enemies-to-lovers” and “forbidden love,” which often focused on straight couples, like Twilight.
And of course, we couldn’t miss the latest phenomenon among the Netflix gay TV series.
Boots (USA, 2025)
Netflix’s Boots is a military comedy-drama that started on October 9, 2025. It is based on Greg Cope White’s memoir, *The Pink Marine*. The series has eight episodes and follows Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer), a gay teenager from Louisiana who joins the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1990s, before the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy took effect.
More importantly, the show has a “Certified Fresh” rating of about 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics appreciate how it mixes military drama with comedy and explores identity, masculinity, and the pressure to conform. The central conflict is about Cameron’s struggle to hide his identity, which adds substantial emotional depth. While Heizer stands out, Max Parker shines as Sergeant Robert Sullivan, a challenging but complex drill instructor.
*Boots* also addresses serious issues like homophobia and finding community, while including humor and friendship. You can watch it exclusively on Netflix.
Note: Find out more about this Netflix LGBT phenomenon in our Boots review.
Now you read our list of the finest Netflix Gay TV series. But now we want to know which were your favorite gay series? Do share this and more in the comments below.
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