Lesbians are still few and far between on television. And while the diversity of queer, female experiences is far from being comprehensively captured on TV screens, there are a handful of great lesbian shows—even more so in recent years—pushing representation forward. Though once a rare televised species, lady-loving ladies now lead sitcoms, teen comedies, family dramas, cop procedurals, reality series, period pieces, and more genres.
Could there more lesbians on TV? Of course! But now there is a (limited, but decent) plethora of binge-worthy shows that depict great representation of lesbian and bisexual women, plus mythically trendy lesbian bars that leave real-life sapphics salivating.
Queer content, of course, isn’t just for queer people. Embracing fully developed, complicated, lovable (and sometimes unlikable) queer characters is also an important part of being an ally. When there are still so few LGBTQ+ characters on TV, sometimes we have to seek out queer media (including books and movies, too).
Thankfully for all of us, a wide range of great lesbian-led TV shows streaming right now. Below, find the best lesbian TV shows and series with bisexual/lesbian representation to watch to become an expert in contemporary queer TV canon.
'Agatha All Along' (2024)
The Kathryn Hahn-led spinoff of her first Disney+ series WandaVision puts her character Agatha front and center with a coven of women-loving witches. Veritable sapphic comedians round out the cast, including Sasheer Zamata and Aubrey Plaza. If you're on the lesbian internet, you probably know about the most viral witchy kiss of 2024.
'And Just Like That' (2021– )
Sex and the City is a very queer show—see Miranda's softball era, Charlotte's lesbian art exploits, Samantha's whole situationship with Maria, and Charlotte's drag king experiment—but the sequel series And Just Like That leans into queerness at a whole other level. Miranda, played by real-life queer woman Cynthia Nixon, finally leaves Steve (David Eigenberg) for a nonbinary comic (Sara Ramirez) and explores a whole new type of sex and the city, eventually navigating the lesbian dating pool the way her much younger self arguably should have in the early aughts.
'Bad Sisters' (2022– )
Following the unexpected death of a toxic brother-in-law, the close and chaotic Garvey sisters stand together to eliminate any suspicion of foul play from the life insurance inspector. But did one of them kill John Paul (Claes Bang)? Each episode keeps you guessing what led to "the prick's" demise. The second youngest sister, Bibi (Sarah Greene) plays a lesbian mom, who adds both tenderness and comedic relief to the ensemble.
'Batwoman' (2019–2022)
Ruby Rose stars as a Jewish, lesbian superhero tasked with saving Gotham in Batman’s absence. Yes, Batwoman is the first out hero (or villain, for that matter) in the DC Comics world, and, naturally, she has an awkward relationship with her ex, Sophie (Meagan Tandy), who’s also working to protect the city. Lesbian drama in an alternate universe? Perfect escapism.
'The Bisexual' (2018)
Fresh off a breakup, lesbian magazine editor Leila (Desiree Akhavan) moves in with a straight white guy (Brian Gleeson) who is the antithesis of her interest. Or, is he? The messy heroine leans into her bisexuality big time in this dramedy reminiscent of Akhavan's earlier indie movies and web series.
'Black Cake' (2023)
Based on Charmaine Wilkerson's novel of the same name, this limited series portrays two siblings, Byron and Benny (Adrienne Warren and Bashy), learning their family history via a post-mortem audio recording and Caribbean black cake recipe from their mom, Covey (Mia Isaac). The story goes back to 1960s-era Jamaica, where homosexuality was illegal (and still is), and Covey's struggles growing up on the island.
'The Bold Type' (2017–2021)
Two of the three main characters are straight but we'll take 33% for this narrative arc. In the show, protagonist Kat (Aisha Dee) deals with the realization that she isn’t straight and perhaps isn’t a lesbian either. Her forays at fictional lesbian cocktail bars, dating and breaking up with a woman for the first time, and running for office are relatable, aspirational, and, most importantly, very binge-worthy.
'Dickinson' (2019–2021)
What if Emily Dickinson hooked up with her best friend (also her brother’s fiancée), spoke like contemporary millennials, and had no qualms about being herself? It’s feasible in the beautifully anachronistic Apple TV+ series that loosely tells the story of the 19th-century writer.
'Everything Sucks!' (2018)
While the title may seem apt for our current era, this Netflix original is perfectly suited for our collective 1990s nostalgia. Set in Boring, Oregon, this coming-of-age story explores a small-town high schooler (Peyton Kennedy) embracing her sexuality—with an epic soundtrack to match.
'Feel Good' (2020–2021)
Netflix’s lesbian-centric series by standup comic Mae Martin tells a fictionalized version of her coming-of-age as a Canadian expat in England as she recovers from substance abuse, falls in love with an unattainable (previously straight-identifying) woman (Charlotte Ritchie), and figures out their gender identity through comedy. Lisa Kudrow plays Mae’s delightfully unlikeable mom, which is another reason to binge Feel Good.
'First Kill' (2022)
Vampires are lesbian canon, so of course this girlie pop teenage vampire show is very gay. The premise: A vampire (Sarah Catherine Hook) and a vampire hunter (Imani Lewis) lust after each other in a forbidden romance supernatural scenario that ends in a cliffhanger. Sadly, like so many lesbian shows, First Kill only got one season.
'Gentleman Jack' (2019–2022)
Prepare to have the show’s eponymous ditty stuck in your head after every episode of this period dramedy. The BBC-produced show tells the story of Anne Lister (Suranne Jones), England’s first “modern lesbian,” as she begins an on-and-off romance with her IRL wife-to-be, Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle). If that doesn't have you ready to binge, the catchy theme song, incredible 19th-century costumes, and awkward breaking of the fourth wall should.
'Girls5Eva' (2021– )
A girl group from the '90s is back in action, thanks to stellar performances from Sara Bareilles, Busy Phillips, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Paula Pell. All persuaded to quit their day jobs to tour again, the quad face middle age and music in a laugh-out-loud comedy. Pell's character, Gloria, a dentist who navigated a lesbian breakup, adds plenty of queer lore (and in turn, plenty of lesbian in-jokes).
'Grey's Anatomy' (2005– )
Yes, it's still on, and, yes, Grey's Anatomy has become even queerer than in the early aughts. Shonda Rhimes' medical drama will always have a soft spot in our hearts for the unforgettable romance between Dr. Arizona Robbins and Dr. Callie Torres, as well as inclusive family and patient representation and more WLW characters added to the cast in recent years.
'Hacks' (2021– )
20-something Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) is a struggling screenwriter in L.A. who accepts a job in Las Vegas writing for the legendary septuagenarian comic, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). The two automatically clash but find plenty of tender moments between Vance's lavish mansion and ornate dressing room, in which Ava educates her about her bisexuality, queer dating, and plenty more nuances straight Boomers could learn about LGBTQ+ culture.
'Harlem' (2021– )
Four New York women navigate life, love, work, and friendship all while wearing enviable outfits and having a social life few whose top hobby is scrolling can imagine. Hey, the format works! In the likes of Girls or SATC, this Harlem-set series follows four Black women—Camille (Meagan Good), Tye (Jerrie Johnson), Quinn (Grace Byers), and Angie (Shoniqua Shandai)—in storylines that make it hard to press pause. Each episode has at least one queer storyline, which feels true to life in any Millennial New Yorker's group chat.
'High School' (2022)
Fans of the lesbian indie band Tegan and Sara may be familiar with their 2019 co-written memoir High School, recounting their coming-of-age and intro to the music biz in Calgary. Freevee adapted the book into a series rich in '90s Canadian grunge, queer teen angst, and self-discovery leading to some iconic queer anthems.
'Hightown' (2020–2024)
Starring Latinx actress Monica Raymund as Jackie Quiñones, a National Marine Fisheries Service agent on Cape Cod, Hightown makes you hold your breath until you compulsively finish each episode. The series starts with Jackie finding a body on the beach and resolving to solve a murder, all while battling with sobriety.
'I Am Not Okay With This' (2020)
Based on a comic book of the same name, this 2020 Netflix series tells the story of Syd (Sophia Lillis), an angsty Pennsylvania teen with inexplicable kinetic powers. Think Carrie, but queer. Episodes progress rapidly, and even those who aren’t convinced by the sci-fi element will be swept in by Syd, her quirky friends, and her early exploration of her sexuality.
'I Kissed A Girl' (2024)
Lesbians rarely (okay, never) are treated to the pleasure of trashy dating shows, and this British series delivers to help unplug your brain as vapid women bare their souls on screen in search of romance. 10 single sapphic women all vying for the same hottie while cohabitating in an Italian villa...what could go wrong?
'The L Word' (2004–2009)
This is the seminal lesbian series. The original L Word and the 2019 reboot, Generation Q, are streaming on Showtime, for seemingly endless lesbian, bisexual, and queer entertainment. Reality spin-offs, The Real L Word, and 90-minute docu-series The L Word Mississippi: Hate The Sin are also streaming if you really want to dive into the canon. (Do it and prepare to fall in love with each and every character.)
'A League of Their Own' (2022)
Women's sports are inherently queer, and Abbi Jacobson's 2022 adaptation of the classic '90s movie of the same name brings even more lesbianism to the Rockford Peaches. The series is well-written and a pleasure to watch, from the baseball diamond to the illicit small-town lesbian bar. Though the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike meant Prime canceled the series after one season, it's still very much worth watching.
'The Fosters' (2013–2018)
A wholesome cable series about a two-mom multiracial blended family, The Fosters was unique when the pilot debuted in 2013 and still stands out as one of few series with main characters as lesbian moms (played by Teri Polo and Sherri Saum). The show centers on the teens and is a bit soapy, but that's why it's so bingeable.
'Lip Service' (2010–2012)
Is BBC Three’s melodramatic riff on The L Word’s early-2010s success the best lesbian-centric show? Absolutely not. But if you’re craving women-centric drama, deep Scottish accents, and a few plot twists that will leave you yelling at your screen, this Glasgow-set ensemble series is all yours. Only 12 episodes exist, so savor them.
'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' (2017–2023)
While the titular character is indeed marvelous, the real ones are watching for Midge's somewhat closeted, butch sidekick, Susie (Alex Borstein). The storyline avoids addressing her sexuality in early seasons (IYKYK), but season 4 finally shows what the viewers want: a lesbian bar.
'The Morning Show' (2019– )
Millennials may remember when we'd watch mainstream, progressive shows just to see two famous, presumably straight ladies kiss, and this Apple TV+ series is reminiscent of that. Skip to season 3 to see morning show anchor Bradley Jackson's (Reese Witherspoon) arc hooking up with journalist Laura Peterson (Julianna Margulies). Or be an adult and watch the whole workplace dramedy. (It's fun!) Lesbian comedy icon Tig Notaro also has a recurring role.
'One Day At a Time' (2017–2020)
The Netflix reboot of the 1970s sitcom re-envisions the central family, the Alvarezes, as a close-knight Cuban-American grandmother (Rita Moreno), mother (Justina Machado), daughter (sabella Gomez), and son (Marcel Ruiz) living in current-day Echo Park, L.A. The ensemble show isn’t like the after-school specials of your childhood. Now, the Alvarezes openly deal with sexism, homophobia, racism, sex-positivity, and more, in quick, laugh-out-loud episodes. The best part? Teenage daughter Elena coming to terms with her sexuality, falling in love with a nonbinary teen (Sheridan Pierce), and wearing a tux to her quinceañera (light spoiler, sorry).
'One Mississippi' (2015–2017)
Tig Notaro’s series about moving from L.A. to her Southern hometown after her mother's sudden death is loosely based on her own tragic year battling grief, illness, and complicated family dynamics. The comedy delves into hard-to-talk-about issues like abuse and harassment, cleverly using humor as a coping and narrative mechanism to further each episode arc.
'Orange is the New Black' (2013–2019)
Netflix's original prestige series pushed a few boundaries in a dramatic and binge-able adaptation of Piper Kerman's memoir of the same name. Seven seasons of OITNB take place in a women's prison, where a fictionalized Piper (Taylor Schilling) navigates incarcerated life with women from various backgrounds, one of whom happens to be her ex-girlfriend (Laura Prepon). Plenty of lesbian and queer characters get rich, full stories and screen time.
'Planet Sex with Cara DeLevingne' (2022)
It's said that model, actress, and pansexual icon Cara DeLevigne is a gateway queer to Hollywood closet cases, but there's no judgment on her docuseries exploring the wonderful, wide world of sex and sexuality. Episodes explore monogamy, the orgasm gap, drag performance, porn, and more.
'The Politician' (2019–2020)
Ryan Murphy's first-ever project for Netflix has become more of a cult classic than a legacy series, but it's still worth watching. Yes, Ben Platt plays a high schooler, but his mom, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, embarks on a lesbian affair, and that's worth tuning into.
'Ratched' (2020)
Ryan Murphy’s binge-able backstory of the mildly (okay, very) deranged Nurse Mildred Ratched from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest stars Sarah Paulson as the titular character and Cynthia Nixon as her love interest, Gwendolyn Briggs. Briggs seduces Paulson's character over oysters on the California coast, and the series is only uphill from there. It even includes a stop at a women’s bar that would make an excellent setting if they ever revived the series for a season 2.
'The Real Housewives of New York City' (2023– )
Once a reality ("reality") series about domestic drama among Manhattan's wealthy wives, the RHONY reboot in 2023 brought a whole new crew of women (many of which are not wives at all), including lesbian icon Jenna Lyons for Season 14. Season 15 introduced even more lesbians, bringing more scenes shot in real New York lesbian bars, discussions of sexuality, cute queer power couples, and some speculation on perpetually single girl Brynn Whitfield's grip on CompHet. Queer website Autostraddle even asked if the show is "the new L Word" thanks to its plethora of lesbian drama.
'The Real L Word' (2010–2012)
Further back in the lesbian archive are three glorious seasons of The Real L Word, an ensemble reality show inspired by the fictional series. Meet real-life L.A.-based lesbians with careers, affairs, and well, less enviable lives than their scripted counterparts, but still. The episodes now feel like a time capsule of lesbian life in the early 2010s and are worth it for the nostalgia alone.
'The Sex Lives of College Girls'
Another ensemble show, this time following a quad of four new students at an elite East Coast university, tells a tender coming-out story, ala Reneé Rapp's pretty, popular, snobby but heartfelt character, Leighton. The writing is sharp, and the queerness feels real and relatable, grappling with Gen Z's coming-of-age in a more tolerant but still hostile world for LGBTQ+ people.
'Take My Wife' (2015)
Imagine a same-sex couple helming a goofy weeknight sitcom, and you have Take My Wife. Wives (now exes, but don’t let that deter you), comics, and co-workers Cameron Esposito and River Butcher loosely based the series on their romance off- and on-stage, detailing the experiences of being queer comics, working alongside your partner, and getting married amid career success. Relatable jokes about the way queer people exist in the straight world are interwoven with intimate, sweet moments that are still rarely seen between LGBTQ+ characters on sitcoms.
'Tales of the City' (2019)
Elliot Page plays a scrappy young lesbian who looks really good in a hat, in this ensemble reboot based on the Armistead Maupin books of the same name. Taking place in current-day San Francisco, Page’s character, Shawna, struggles to rebuild a relationship with her estranged mom (Laura Linney), attempts to figure out her crush on Claire (Zosia Mamet), and helps support her landlady and dear friend, 90-year-old transwoman Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis). Those who zip through the miniseries can also go back to the 1993 original, also on Netflix.
'Tampa Baes' (2021)
Speaking of messy, this Florida-set 2021 reality show about a friend group on the cusp of hating each other is, well, an all-around wonderful hate-watch. Meet lovers, exes, soon-to-be-enemies, and more memorable characters in this cast of queer women who love a party with strippers as much as they like to gossip.
'Tipping the Velvet' (2002)
A throwback to pre-L Word lesbian television, this 2002 series adapted from lesbian novelist Sarah Waters' 1995 book of the same name is nostalgic, a bit corny, and oh-so-fun to watch on a dreary day. Think alt-Bridgerton, but queer. It's the 1890s, and young couple Nan (Rachael Stirling) and Kitty (Keeley Hawes), move to London to live in queer, creative bohemian bliss.
'Tommy' (2020)
Abigail Thomas a.k.a. Tommy (Edie Falco) is L.A.'s (fictional) first-ever lesbian chief of police. And the recent New York transplant is really, really good at her job. Whether cop dramas are your thing or not, it’s hard not to be drawn in by Falco’s acting and her character’s aptitude for crime-solving in less than 40 minutes. Complicated family dynamics and Falco’s first-ever on-screen kiss with another woman are additional reasons to watch the network drama.
'Top Chef' (2006– )
This long-running series about Kristen Kish's arms, um, cooking competitively, replaced longtime and Emmy award-winning host Padma Lakshmi with a new talent when she retired. Kish, openly queer and proud, competed on season 10 of the series and began hosting in season 21. Plenty of queer chefs compete and it's nice to see queerness and lesbians represented, particularly in a place of power, without a main focus on their sexuality.
'Trinkets' (2019–2020)
Think The Bling Ring but the most popular kid in school is played by a nonbinary person of color (Quintessa Swindell, who plays the wealthy and deeply confused Tabitha) and the crew of shoplifters has a charming lesbian ringleader, Elodie (Brianna Hildebrand). In this series, coming out isn’t an issue; queerness is just a fact of life. Instead, the drama focuses on theft, friendship, and first love.
'Twenties' (2020–2021)
Lena Waithe’s single-camera semi-autobiographical sitcom, chronicling a queer Black aspiring screenwriter (Hattie, played by Jonica T. Gibbs) and her two straight best friends’ life in L.A., didn’t receive the attention it deserved when it debuted on BET in March 2020 (blame the pandemic). But thankfully, all episodes are currently streaming.
'The Ultimatum: Queer Love' (2023– )
WLW relationships rarely get the reality show dating treatment they deserve (the drama! the emotion!), but the lack of lesbian representation ends with Netflix's queer rendition of The Ultimatum. Five couples partner swap to live out fake marriages in luxury condos, to determine if they want to marry or dump the original partner they arrived on the show with. It's messy, it's toxic, and it's good bad TV.
'Under the Bridge' (2024)
Head to a small town in British Columbia circa 1997, when writer Rebecca Godfrey (Riley Keough) returns to write about young women in her hometown. Based on Godfrey's true-crime book of the same name, the story unfolds to solve the tragic murder of a local 14-year-old (Vritika Gupta), with the help of Godfrey's (fictional) former flame, cop Cam Bentland (Lily Gladstone). It's a well-acted and well-shot true-crime series, with queer women at the forefront.
'Vida' (2018–2020)
The 2018 series follows two Mexican-American siblings, Lyn and Emma (Melissa Barrera and Mishel Prada), reunited in their childhood home with their mother’s (secret) wife (Ser Anzoategui) after their only parent passes away unexpectedly. It's heart-wrenching and timely in all the right ways, with plenty of Starz’s signature sex scenes. The unlikely trio deals with gentrification, maintaining their family’s rundown bar, and caring for each other, all the while coming into their own identities and community roles. Each episode is charming and surprising and will keep you hooked through the third season’s series finale.
'We Are Lady Parts' (2021– )
This feminist British sitcom about a Muslim punk band, Lady Parts, is a must-watch. Told through the perspective of PhD student and lead guitarist Amina (Anjana Vasan), each episode showcases the bandmates and their highs and lows. There's a sweet gay love story, and it tenderly imagines a world where homophobia simply doesn't exist.
'Work in Progress' (2019–2021)
Chicago-based comedian Abby McEnany slipped under the radar until her semi-autobiographical half-hour sitcom debuted on Showtime in December 2019. The dark comedy centers on Abby, a lesbian in her 40s, whose therapist suddenly dies mid-session. The unexpected tragedy spurs a series of unprecedented events as Abby falls for a transgender man in his early 20s (Theo Germaine), attempts to manage her OCD without professional guidance, and looks at her hurtful past relationship with a new perspective.
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