© Netflix
In July of this year, Netflix aired the fourth and final season of Atypical, an endearing comedy about a teenager on the autism spectrum named Sam Gardner. In season three, Sam’s sister Casey Gardner, played by non-binary actor Brigette Lundy-Paine, kisses her best friend Izzie Taylor (Fivel Stewart), and during the final season, Casey’s bisexuality is named and explored.
Anissa Pierce, played by Nafessa Williams, made history as TV’s first lesbian superhero. (Photo: The CW)
After four seasons, the CW’s Black Lightning came to a close, making history with Anissa Pierce (Nafessa Williams) as the first Black, lesbian superhero on television. But have no fear, Anissa Pierce walked so that Batwoman’s Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie) could run. We stan Black queer superheroes!
Stephanie Beatriz (Photo by Nestor Leslie Miranda for Tagg Magazine)
In 2017, Detective Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) came out as bisexual on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Four years later, the show has ended, but not without a queer legacy. Beatriz came out publicly in 2016 and worked closely with the show’s creator to make sure that Rosa’s story was authentic and honest. As Beatriz told Tagg in 2018: “Queer people should be able to have input in telling their stories or tell them themselves. For example, using the word [bisexual] was really important to me—having multiple characters say it, having it not be a sort of wrap-it-up-in-a-bow coming out story.
©HBO Max
Of all the shows that were cancelled this year, Genera+ion is the one that disappointed me the most, as it ended after only one season. Produced by Lena Dunham and created by then-18-year old Zelda Barnz and her father, this HBO Max ensemble dramedy focused on a diverse set of teenagers, featuring characters that were queer, transgender, asexual, bisexual, and more.
(l-r): Indya Moore as Angel, Ryan Jamaal Swain as Damon, Mj Rodriguez as Blanca. CR: JoJo Whilden/FX
After three seasons, FX’s Pose closed the curtain on a groundbreaking show with a stellar cast of transgender individuals including Indya Moore, Angelica Ross, Dominique Jackson, MJ Rodriguez, and Hailie Sahar. The final season focuses on the HIV/AIDS crisis and will be sure to make you cry.
Fran (Lolly Adefope) and Em (E.R. Fightmaster) ©Hulu
If you haven’t seen Shrill yet, you are seriously missing out on some amazing content. Aidy Bryant plays Annie West, a journalist who struggles with her weight, and also features Fran (Lolly Adefope) as Annie’s Black, lesbian roommate and Fran’s non-binary love interest Em (E.R. Fightmaster). The show also features transgender actress Patti Harrison, who delivers some real comedic punches.
Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh) and Kelly Olsen (Azie Tesfai) ©CW
Don’t even get me started on the ending of Supergirl. While the stories of LGBTQ characters Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh), Kelly Olsen (Azie Tesfai), and Nia Nal (Nicole Maines) came to a satisfying ending that included a wedding and an adoption, I was disappointed to see that Kara Danvers/Supergirl and Lena Luthor did not end up together. Nevertheless, Kara and Lena, or “Supercorp,” as they are called, will always be canon in my heart!
Kat Barrell & Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Photo: Michelle Faye/Wynonna Earp Productions, Inc./SYFY)
Spoiler alert! The final season of Wynonna Earp gave us the much anticipated wedding between Waverly Earp (Dominique Provost-Chalkley) and Nicole Haught (Kat Barrell), and the fans went absolutely crazy. When speaking about the legacy of the show to Tagg in May, Barrell shared: “I see how media has changed and how queer representation has improved over the years, and I do like to think that Wynonna Earp played a part in that. I’m really proud of the stories that we told and the team that we had together and just how powerful the show was for so many people.”
Which shows will you miss the most? Let us know in the comments!
