What’s New in Queer TV #18: Surviving Mormonism, Mrs Playmen, The Beast In Me
Ex gay Mormons talk about their trauma in Surviving Mormonism | A maybe gay romance in Mrs Playmen | A grumpy lesbian author and her ex-wife in The Beast In Me
Welcome to the weekly post where I discuss new additions to my 2025 queer streaming guide.
Aurelie Chazal
Disclaimer: All the shows listed below came out about one month ago because I've noticed that's how long it usually takes me to be able to confidently verify whether a show has queer representation. I'm not able to watch everything, but I'll only include shows that have proven queer characters as verified online through reputable sources.
Surviving Mormonism With Heather Gay • Season 1
Bravo • Culture Documentary • 🇺🇸 United States • Ended
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Gay (including a couple with kids)
I promise I didn't include this in the list just because of Heather's last name. I wasn't sure what to expect from the Real Housewives' star, but this was a gripping watch. It's clear she really cares about the topic and wants to help people. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much she focused on the experience of gay men within the church.
Episode one is an interview with David Matheson, who was one of the leaders of the gay conversion therapy program Evergreen. He's gay himself and eventually was outed and had to leave the Mormon church. It was sad to see how lost he feels about his Mormon past and involvement with conversion therapy. In the same episode, Heather also calls her best friend Shane, who is gay and left the church around the same time as Heather. Her interview with her best friend's husband was really sad. To know the abuse he had to endure on top of having to deal with conversion therapy and being rejected because he was gay.
Read more about the show:
Mathew Rodriguez
Mrs Playmen • Season 1
Netflix • Social Drama • 🇮🇹 Italy • Ended
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Gay (including a secret relationship... maybe? probably?)
The show is primarily focused on Adelina Tattilo, the woman who ran Italy’s first men’s magazine in 1970s Rome. I love a good story about a strong woman so this had already gathered my attention.
Apparently, there is also a small gay plot. Chartroux, the magazine editor, is described as a closeted gay man in a few reviews, and he apparently forms a "secret relationship" with photographer Luigi Poggi. It's unclear how much attention they are given, but it seems more like a small background plot than a central storyline.
Read more about the show:
People Editorial Guidelines
The Beast in Me • Season 1
Netflix • Psychological Thriller • 🇺🇸 United States • Ended
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Lesbian (including an ex-wife situation)
Grumpy, rude, lesbian authors seem to be having a moment lately. Between Carol in Pluribus and now Aggie in The Best In Me, we're getting the gruff representation we deserve.
Aggie Wiggs, the lead character, is a grieving lesbian author whose entire current life is shaped by the dissolution of her marriage to her ex-wife, Shelley Morris. While the plot doesn't focus on their relationship, it is still central to the protagonist's emotional state.
Read more about the show:
Riese
