6 shows that paved the way for Heartstopper

From Buffy to Glee, here are the shows which celebrated LGBTQIA teens 

BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY 20TH CENTURY FOX

Heartstopper’s heartfelt portrayal of young queer love has resonated with audiences worldwide, giving visibility to LGBTQIA teens in a way that feels fresh, honest, and relatable. But this isn’t the first time teen LGBTQIA characters have appeared on TV. Many shows before Heartstopper paved the way by telling stories of young people discovering their identities. Here are six notable TV shows that featured LGBTQIA teen characters and helped shape the future of queer representation on screen.

My So-Called Life (1994–1995)

My So-Called Life featured Ricky Vasquez, one of TV’s first openly gay teens. The show sensitively depicted Ricky’s struggles with identity, homophobia, and homelessness, offering an early, nuanced portrayal of a gay high schooler, which was rare in 90s television.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

Buffy introduced Willow Rosenberg’s journey of self-discovery, including her coming out as a lesbian. Her relationship with Tara Maclay was one of TV’s earliest long-term lesbian relationships, making Willow’s storyline groundbreaking for LGBTQIA representation during the show’s run.

Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2015)

Degrassi tackled LGBTQIA issues through characters like Marco Del Rossi, one of TV’s first openly gay teens, and Adam Torres, a groundbreaking trans character. The show was praised for its honest, sensitive portrayal of queer teens’ struggles with identity, acceptance, and homophobia.

Skins (2007–2013)

Skins featured Maxxie Oliver, an openly gay teen whose storyline tackled homophobia and identity. Later seasons introduced the iconic queer romance between Naomi and Emily, establishing Skins as a series unafraid to explore raw, realistic LGBTQIA relationships among teens.

Glee (2009–2015)

Glee featured LGBTQIA characters like Kurt Hummel and Santana Lopez, whose coming-out stories and struggles with bullying resonated deeply. Santana’s romance with Brittany became a central storyline, helping normalise queer teen relationships on mainstream TV for a global audience.

The Fosters (2013–2018)

The Fosters centred on a queer family and featured Jude Adams Foster’s journey of self-acceptance as a young gay teen. The show depicted Jude’s coming-out story with compassion, making it one of the first to focus on a gay adolescent’s emotional development.

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