What’s New & Queer on TV #26: Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing, Madam Beja
A gay true crime series, lesbian and religion clash in how to get to heaven from belfast, older gay couple in Neighbors, Miss J and Jay come back to talk about top model and more
Welcome to the weekly post where I discuss new additions to my 2025 & 2026 queer streaming guides.
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.
How to Get to Heaven From Belfast • Season 1
Netflix • Crime Dramedy • 🇮🇪 Ireland • Fate Unknown
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Lesbian
I haven't had the time to watch yet but I've been looking forward to this show considering how amazing Derry Girls is. I was happy to learn that one of the three leads, Dara, is a lesbian in her late 30s who struggles with her religious upbringing. Reviews have been pretty good overall. Critics widely praise the series for its sharp, "Derry Girls"-esque wit and the electric chemistry of its lead trio, though some find the blend of slapstick humor and dark cult mystery occasionally jarring. Ultimately, it is celebrated as a bold, genre-bending exploration of female friendship that prioritizes chaotic character dynamics over a traditional "whodunit" structure.
Read more about the show:
Talia LeVine
Neighbors • Season 1
HBO Max • Social Documentary • 🇺🇸 United States • Renewed
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Older married gay couple, trans woman
This is one of my favorites shows of the year so far. It's just so absurd I'm still wondering where they found all those people. When you start thinking that one neighbor is right and more reasonable... BOOM! They reveal they're a crazy conspiracy believer or a weird cult leader type. When it comes to the queer representation, the second episode features an older gay couple whose quiet retirement is totally upended by a neighborhood goat farm. I like that none of the conflict was about them being gay. Episode 5 also briefly features a trans woman who is fighting against a guy distributing religious flyers.
Read more about the show:
Adrian Horton
Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model • Season 1
Netflix • Media Documentary • 🇺🇸 United States • Ended
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Gay men, Lesbian (who is in a long term relationship)
It's one of those docuseries all of my gay friends watched and were talking about when it came out. It's not a good look for America's Next Top Model but Miss J's story is really touching and his friendship with the other cast members was one of the highlight for me. The show also heavily features Miss J's gay co-star: Jay. I have my thoughts about the guy and I think the show went pretty soft on him. There's also a storyline about Ebony, a Black lesbian contestant who was outed against her will on the original show.
Read more about the show:
Murder in Glitterball City • Season 1
HBO Max • True Crime • 🇺🇸 United States • Ended
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Gay couple
The show follows the twisted case of Joey Banis and Jeffrey Mundt, a gay couple whose relationship ended in a gruesome "he-said, he-said" murder trial. Across two episodes, the series explores the tragic death of James "Jamie" Carroll, a beloved drag performer, while highlighting the vibrant, resilient queer community of Louisville that refused to let his story be forgotten. Basically your typical true crime series with a gay twist.
Read more about the show:
Jazz Tangcay
Scrubs • Season 1
HBO Max • Social Documentary • 🇺🇸 United States • Renewed
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Bisexual and gay men
I loved the original show because I'm a sucker for comedy that pulls on the heartstrings. So far the reboot feels like a continuation of the original show with the same cast and the same opening credits. According to Variety it's Millenial cringe which I guess describes my tastes now. It has a few new additions including 2 queer men: Dr. Eric Park is a bisexual attending physician whose storyline centers on his professional rivalry with J.D. and Nurse Francois Dubois is an openly queer charge nurse who loves to make sassy comments about the senior staff drama.
Read more about the show:
Alison Herman
Honorable Mentions
- The 'Burbs • Season 1 • 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 ❤️👭 - I really enjoy this show despite all the meh reviews. It features a fun ex military lesbian character who loves to talk about her wife although we never see said wife in the show.
- Love Story • Season 1 • 🏳️🌈 - The show includes Calvin Klein, who is openly gay, as a small character.
- Paradise • Season 2 • 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 | 🫱🏽🫲🏿 | ❤️👭 - I love this show so much. It was a highlight last year and I dare to say that season 2 is even better. There's a lesbian couple features in a few episodes as part of the storyline showing what Xavier's wife has been up to after the apocalypse.
