17-06-2025
The best queer films and TV shows to watch in Pride month, as picked by the stars
It's Pride month and that means it is the perfect time for the public to sit down and watch some queer films or TV shows to celebrate, and Yahoo UK has an extensive list of what viewers should get stuck into.
Through our interview series Queer Voices Yahoo UK has asked the brightest stars of the LGBTQ+ community which stories they have connected with over the years, or wish they could have had when they were younger. And together it makes for a compelling watchlist for those in need of a queer film or two to celebrate the community this month.
From actors like Layton Williams and Mason Alexander Park to comedians like Suzi Ruffell and Jordan Gray, there are a wide array of projects that you may or may not have heard of. Either way, they should be your next go-to pick when you've settled into the sofa for the night.
Queer stories are often set in the big cities but National Anthem does things differently, it is set against a the backdrop of the American South to deliver a wholly new perspective on the community in the US. The film, which was recommended by star Mason Alexander Park, follows the experience of a construction worker who joins a community of queer rodeo performers who hope to make their version of the American dream
Mason Alexander Park said: "I am in a lot of films and TV shows I wish I had as a kid, shows like The Sandman or National Anthem, a film that I did recently that meant a lot to me.
As someone who was born in the South, in America, I really had never seen queerness represented in places outside of major metropolitan cities. It's so easy to set a show in New York or Los Angeles and have your queer characters flourish in that regard, but often you don't really see queer people thriving in the American Southwest and so that was a big reason why I took that job on National Anthem.
Where to watch: Channel 4
Netflix's adaptation of Heartstopper, the beloved comic series by Alice Oseman, has recevied a lot of love from Queer Voices guests, with almost all of them name-checking the show as a near-perfect example of positive queer representation. The series follows the love story between teens Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) as they navigate school life, their feelings for one another, and their identities.
Danny Beard said: "What Heartstopper has done for a generation is incredible and every one of those cast members deserves the world. I'm lucky enough to know Yaz Finney from way before Yaz was on Heartstopper, she in fact was one of my backing dancers at Pride on a pair of roller skates the year she'd filmed it, and it had not been announced, and she's the most beautiful, genuine soul.
[She's a] stunning actor, she's just beautiful so to see her on that platform and help and encourage so many other people on their journeys and then go on to be a cover star fashion is amazing. This whole generation of queer celebs and queer influencers are all incredible, and I wish when I was younger I had my own version of Heartstopper."
Where to watch: Netflix
Starring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay, the dark drama follows gay man Jules who is the subject of a horrific homophobic attack and decides to get revenge on one of the men involved after meeting him again in a gay sauna. The film was recommended by Layton Williams for being a great example of a queer film that delves deeper into important societal issues.
Layton Williams said: "Credit where credit's due when it comes to the Heartstoppers of the world. As bubbly as it is I wish we could live in a world where it was all so perfect, but it's so nice for some people to see things that are a nice, positive representation of us.
"I also do think though, and maybe this is controversial, but it's not all day, everyday, nicey-nicey when it comes to queer people. There's so much trauma, so I also like the kind of shows that go into the darkness of queer culture as well, because in reality that is what happens for a lot of people when they feel like they have a straight jacket on for so long. There's films like Femme [that examine that], I'm going to be working with Nathan next year so I'm excited, he's such a talent and my best friend John McCrea is in it."
Where to watch: Netflix
Based on the moving real-life events, Pride explores how gay activisits came together to help miners in their struggle to be heard during the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984. Pride is a joyful film about community and love, and gives great insight into a little known part of British history.
Suzi Ruffell said: I wish films like Pride existed when I was younger. I love that movie, it's such a good film, I love it, I've seen it lots of times.
Where to watch: Available to buy and rent.
It is undeniable that Russell T Davies has had a huge impact on queer representation in British television, and one of his best loved shows from guests of Queer Voices is Queer as Folk. The drama follows the lives of a group of gay friends in Manchester, and the series had a massive impact when it first aired so it comes as no surprise that it has so often been recommended.
James Barr said: "Queer as Folk and the concept of chosen family. Really came through that show so honestly, I think that's probably one of the biggest influences in my life and it showed me that there were other people just like me."
Where to watch: Channel 4
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Bisexual representation on screen can still be hard to come by, but Hacks is a prime example of how well a series can explore the subject whilst avoiding harmful stereotypes. The Sky series follows the mentorship between comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and outcast Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder).
Suzi Ruffell said: "I love Hacks, there's a character that's bisexual — actually there's a number of characters that are queer in one way or another — but one of the leads is bisexual, and it's not a big deal, and I think that's really important as well. It's just part of her life, it's actually not an enormous part of the storytelling. Her relationships are, but her queerness isn't and I love that she just happens to be gay."
Where to watch: Sky and NOW
Reality TV can be a comfort for queer people, just look at how much the LGBTQ+ community loves shows like Big Brother, but all too often dating shows fail to cater to queer people. The BBC decided to change that with their respective shows I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl, with the latter recommended by presenter Harriet Rose for its wealth of lesbian representation not often seen on screen.
Harriet Rose said: "I Kissed a Girl is a show I would have loved to have growing up, I would have loved to have watched girls snogging on telly, that would have been amazing. I would have loved to have had anything with a queer storyline, I'm telling you now you could create the worst TV show I've ever seen in my life I will watch it if it has a queer storyline, I don't care, if there is a girl that fancies another girl I'm sold."
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
Another series that features a diverse range of queer characters is Orange is the New Black, one of Netflix's earliest global hits. The series followed the lives of a number of female inmates and their loves, struggles and connection behind bars, it also most importantly featured one of the first significant trans characters on screen: Sophia Burset played by Laverne Cox which is why it was trans comedian Jordan Gray's choice of recommendation.
Jordan Gray said: "The first time I got proper excited about seeing a transgender person on television was Laverne Cox in Orange is the New Black because she handled it with such grace and just brought so much more to the character than just that tokenistic element. It's a very important story to tell, but it was more than that.
"It can absolutely be a kicking off point for a story or in comedy, but only as a way to open the door and talk about other things. I much prefer talking about things like Batman, and bread, and dogs, but you sort of have to get over that first bit first so that you're ingratiated with an audience. And I like shows that only treat it as a small part of the story like Orange is the New Black."
Where to watch: Netflix
