As summer approaches, June arrives, a month dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and honoring its history. Movies and television series are pivotal forms of media that have been used to share LGBTQ+ stories for years. Here are some of my favorite films and tv shows that highlight the evolution of queer representation in the media!
1. The Half of It (2020)
Directed by Alice Wu, The Half of It is a coming-of-age movie that follows the story of Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) as she goes through a period of self-discovery and love. Ellie helps her classmate, Paul (Daniel Diemer), write love letters to the girl he likes, Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). Little does he know, Ellie secretly admires Aster as well. Ellie and Aster connect over their love for literature and art, causing Ellie to fall deeper in love with Aster. This film is beautifully written, and I especially admire the realistic portrayal of teenage anxieties and longing.
2. Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Call Me By Your Name is a romantic movie directed by Luca Guadagnino. Set in 1983 in Northern Italy, the story follows 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothee Chalamet) staying at his family’s villa, and Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old undergraduate student assisting Elio’s father. Throughout their magical summer in Italy, the two characters develop a close friendship that gradually blossoms into a romantic relationship marked by passion and depth. The movie is visually appealing and is renowned for its powerful performances by Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer, which explore the themes of first love, identity, and sexuality.
3. Overcompensating (2025)
Having just been released in May 2025, Overcompensating has received a great deal of love and support from the LGBTQ+ community. The comedy-drama series was created by and starred Benito Skinner, offering a humorous and heartfelt story of self-discovery and fitting into social norms. Set at the fictional Yates University, Benny Scanlon, a closeted former high school jock, begins his freshman year. Benny struggles with his sexuality and identity as he hides his true self to be accepted by his peers. Overcompensating dives into important themes such as masculinity, sexuality, and the lengths one will go to overcompensate to please the people around them. The show is filled with funny, witty jokes, but also tells a meaningful story that many people can relate to or learn from.
Source: The best new Prime Video TV shows in 2025
4. The Last of Us (2023-Present)
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama series based on the 2013 video game developed by Naughty Dog. The main character, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), is a 14-year-old girl who is immune to the infection that is wiping out the population. While fighting and struggling to survive, Ellie also begins to discover her sexuality. One of the show’s most famous and well-written episodes is episode three of season one, “Long, Long, Time” which tells the story of a gay couple who fall in love with each other through all the obstacles the post-zombie apocalypse world has to offer. The episode is gut-wrenching and emotional, and represents one of the most heartwarming gay couples on television.
