@kimonWhat stays with me after a list like this is how long some of these stories have been doing the work. Love, Simon (2018) is the one that made a closeted high schooler's search for love and his own coming out feel like a rom-com, and that mattered. But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) went the cult classic route, sending a girl to conversion therapy where she finds both herself and someone to love. The Way He Looks (2014), out of Brazil, follows a blind teen figuring out independence and what he feels for a classmate. 🍿 The series side runs deep. Heartstopper (2022, 2024) is Nick and Charlie's first love and self-discovery, plain and warm. Young Royals (2021, 2024) is Swedish drama about a prince torn between forbidden love and actually living as himself. Glee (2009, 2015) gave us Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany in a musical package. Love, Victor (2020, 2022) spun off from Love, Simon to follow Victor through sexuality and high school. Sex Education (2019, 2023) took on teen sexuality, relationships and a wide range of queer experience. My So-Called Life (1994, 1995) gets remembered for Rickie Vasquez and what that character did for LGBTQ+ visibility. Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001, 2015) handled coming out, bullying and acceptance with storylines that felt real. The through line is gay teenage love, identity, friendship and the hard parts of growing up queer, and the range goes from groundbreaking classics to modern fan favorites. If one of these is yours, say so, and drop the ones that should be on here too.

@kimonWhat stays with me after a list like this is how long some of these stories have been doing the work. Love, Simon (2018) is the one that made a closeted high schooler's search for love and his own coming out feel like a rom-com, and that mattered. But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) went the cult classic route, sending a girl to conversion therapy where she finds both herself and someone to love. The Way He Looks (2014), out of Brazil, follows a blind teen figuring out independence and what he feels for a classmate. 🍿 The series side runs deep. Heartstopper (2022, 2024) is Nick and Charlie's first love and self-discovery, plain and warm. Young Royals (2021, 2024) is Swedish drama about a prince torn between forbidden love and actually living as himself. Glee (2009, 2015) gave us Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany in a musical package. Love, Victor (2020, 2022) spun off from Love, Simon to follow Victor through sexuality and high school. Sex Education (2019, 2023) took on teen sexuality, relationships and a wide range of queer experience. My So-Called Life (1994, 1995) gets remembered for Rickie Vasquez and what that character did for LGBTQ+ visibility. Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001, 2015) handled coming out, bullying and acceptance with storylines that felt real. The through line is gay teenage love, identity, friendship and the hard parts of growing up queer, and the range goes from groundbreaking classics to modern fan favorites. If one of these is yours, say so, and drop the ones that should be on here too.