While it’s important to stay informed of the latest COVID-19 updates while in our #LGBTQuarantine at home, it’s also important to take care of yourself and to laugh a little. Take an hour or seven to binge these escapist shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services.

There has never been a better time to dig into LGBTQ TV, which has seen an explosion in quality and variety in recent years.

As networks woke up to the fact that viewers want to see TV that reflects not only their own lives, but the lives of those around them, there has been a massive shift in the kinds of LGBTQ characters and storylines we see on TV. Whether it’s Showtime writing a recurring non-binary character in ‘œBillions,’ or ‘œSteven Universe’ broadcasting a same-sex kiss to its audience of kids and adults for Cartoon Network, the explosion in queer representation had delivered more watershed moments than one can count.

As with everything in the era of peak TV, however, it can often feel overwhelming to keep track of every queer TV show. This is a problem many of us could never have dreamed of having and now we have plenty of time to catch up. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up our favorite LGBTQ TV shows available to watch now.

Schitt’s Creek

Schitt’s Creek  is a bright spot on the comedy landscape. Created by Eugene Levy (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind) and his son Daniel Levy, who is gay,  Schitt’s Creek  brims with absurdist humor that’s (mostly) sadly missing from pop culture these days. The series, about a wealthy family who lose it all and have to rebuild in the podunk town they happen to own, stars Eugene Levy as the patriarch of the family opposite his frequent on-screen partner Catherine O’Hara, who plays his kooky, over-the-top wife, Moira. Loaded with camp and a queer sensibility. You can view Schitt’s Creek on POP TV and Netflix.

Vida

If you haven’t caught up with Tanya Saracho’s brilliantly entertaining and sizzlingly sexy ‘œVida,’ whatever are you waiting for? The half-hour dramedy is by far  the best show about queer women of color on TV, perhaps ever. Even more impressive is how the story tracks the shifting Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights, thoughtfully navigating the difficult choices communities face in gentrification’s unceasing churn. ‘œVida’ is sadly set to end after its forthcoming third season, making it all the more urgent for you to catch up now.   ‘œVida’ is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Starz.  

Work in Progress

The neurotic chubby butch finally gets her day in the sun, delivering  the smartest, funniest, and most surprising queer show we’ve seen in many years. Starring the hilariously delightful Abby McEnany, a Chicago improviser who co-created the show with Tim Mason, ‘œWork in Progress’ packages bold and vital commentary on mental illness, gender identity, and fatphobia with a Larry David-esque dark sense of humor. The May-December romance between Abby and trans cutie Theo Germaine (‘œThe Politician’) is not only sweet and sexy, but a brilliant way to examine inter-generational divides in the queer community.  ‘œWork in Progress’ is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Showtime.

Difficult People

In many ways, Julie Klausner’s whipsmart comedy about a pair of charmingly neurotic New Yorkers was ahead of its time. A true sitcom in a TV landscape that never met a dramedy it didn’t like, ‘œDifficult People’ is stuffed to the brim with mile-a-minute jokes, pop culture references, and never pulls its punches. Billy Eichner is one of our most beloved gay actors, and as the co-lead he is given the full range of human experiences, including a romance with none other than John Cho. The show also features hilarious turns by Cole Escola, Shakina Nayfack, Andrea Martin, and James Urbaniak. As a staunch supporter of LGBTQ folks and a damn funny woman, Klausner is deeply committed to putting queer stories onscreen, making most ‘œallies’ appear paltry in comparison.   ‘œDifficult People’ is available on Hulu.  

Sex Education

If you like the warm fuzzies of first love or the blush of your first kiss,  get down and dirty with ‘œSex Education.’  Packed with a gorgeous array of characters that reflect the real world, beautifully lensed, and brimming with wit, Laurie Nunn’s tender high school comedy is a balm in dark times. The concept is simple yet brilliant: Raised by a therapist mom, a teenage boy begins doling out amateur sex advice to his classmates for a small fee. ‘œSex Education’ is full of characters of all persuasions you’re sure to fall hard for, but Ncuti Gatwa’s Eric is the show’s gay heart and soul. Boasting fabulous style, a supportive religious family, and  two  incredibly yummy love interests,  Eric is the joyous, well-adjusted gay teen character we all deserve. Did we mention Gillian Anderson? She plays the mom. And she almost exclusively wears killer jumpsuits.  ‘œSex Education’ is available on Netflix.  

Gentleman Jack

In a society that constantly erases LGBTQ lives and history, we know about Lister because she kept an exhaustive diary of her exploits, recording the more lascivious ones in a complex code. HBO’s period drama renders her dazzling persona thanks to an outstanding performance by Suranne Jones and Wainwright’s highly researched and witty script. The central romance offers much to enjoy, unfurling its layered chemistry with a tortuously slow burn that doesn’t sacrifice the naughty bits.  ‘œGentleman Jack’ is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO.

Queer As Folk

A groundbreaking LGBTQ Drama following the lives of a group of friends. This show was before its time when we had no real choices of LGBTQ content then came the amazing “L Word“. This is a great time to catch up on all of these historic gay shows in the UK and US versions on Amazon Prime.

Bondage

This was one quite the surprise on Netflix with cast Zoe Levin, Brendan Scannell, Micah Stock, and Matthew Wilkas. Loosely based on the experience of creator Rightor Doyle, Bonding follows psychiatry student slash dominatrix Tiff who enlists her gay best friend from high school, Peter to be her assistant. Throughout the course of the series, Peter comes to terms with his sexuality and his newfound venture into sadomasochism, while Tiff attempts her balance her career with her’¦ clients. Season two will premiere later this year.

Pose

Created by Steven Canals, Ryan Murphy, and Brad Falchuk, ‘œPose’ is the first television series to feature multiple transgender women of color in leading roles, and has been hailed as a bastion of inclusion and authentic LGBTQ storytelling. Beginning in the ballroom scene of the late-1980s and jumping ahead as its explosion in popularity following Madonna’s ‘œVogue’ coincides with the AIDS crisis, ‘œPose’ boldly portrays the community’s history in all of its pain and glory. For his role as PrayTell, Billy Porter became the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series last year.   ‘œPose’ is available on Netflix and FX on Hulu.