These days, there are more reality television shows than ever, and there are more and more that feature diverse cast members. One area where reality television has often struggled is in regards to good LGBTQ+ representation. While even some of the first reality TV shows, such as The Real World, had some LGBTQ+ characters, they weren’t always handled very well.
However, there have been instances across the past few decades where cast members who are LGBTQ+ have been portrayed in realistic and positive ways. Some of these shows specifically feature queer people while others just include diverse individuals without focusing on the topic.
10 Marriage or Mortgage
This reality television series is one made by Netflix as the streaming service continues to become a powerhouse in the genre. The show basically centers around a couple that’s about to get married and has them decide between money for their dream wedding or toward a new house.
The show has featured different LGBTQ+ couples in its episodes, showcasing how beautiful these relationships can be, and it’s not surprising as Netflix tends to have diverse programming.
9 Dating Around
This is another Netflix series, but this time it’s a dating show. However, compared to The Bachelor, it does ring a little more realistically and also has a ton more diversity in many ways including race, gender, and sexuality.
The show follows a single individual going on multiple first dates, and there are many LGBTQ+ cast members. It’s a more realistic look at modern dating that takes into account that representation counts in dating shows.
8 I Am Jazz
While many of the shows on this list are dating shows or competition shows, this series is about one individual’s life and story. This rather groundbreaking TLC show followed the life of Jazz Jennings, a transgender teenager.
The series was a great example of transgender representation, especially because it first aired over six years ago. Seeing Jazz live her life and be her authentic self was great to witness.
7 The Great British Baking Show
The Great British Baking Show, or Great British Bake Off as it’s called in the UK, is one of the most beloved cooking shows out there. Fans love that the contestants are all so kind to one another just as much as they like watching the beautiful bakes.
Another great thing about the series is that there are many LGBTQ+ contestants. This is a great example of a TV show that includes diversity without making it the focus. The contestants are just being themselves and living in the world, so it does a good job of reflecting the actual reality of life.
6 House Hunters
Just like with the Great British Baking Show, House Hunters is another reality television show that many people find comforting. This HGTV hit has many seasons and follows lots of couples and families as they try to find the perfect new house.
And, while it doesn’t focus on LGBTQ+ issues, there are many people on the series who are in LGBTQ+ relationships. Hopefully, more and more series will continue to do this, allowing LGBTQ+ people to see themselves reflected in many different scenarios of life.
5 Project Runway
Project Runway has showcased the skills of many different designers over the years, and it’s never shied away from including LGBTQ+ contestants. Even the original host himself, Tim Gunn, is a member of the community.
It’s great the series never had an issue with more diverse casting in regards to sexuality, given that many people in the fashion industry are LGBTQ+. While it's not perfect, it did do some good things.
4 Queer Eye
This entry is sort of two entries into one as the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was probably one of the first notable reality television series that really featured many LGBTQ+ people. However, the reboot made for Netflix might be even more popular and well-known at this point.
The show follows the Fab Five, who are all LGBTQ+ people, as they help nominated contestants find happiness and joy in their own lives. It’s a hopeful and uplifting show that many people love.
3 Ru Paul’s Drag Race
If there’s one show that comes to mind when thinking about reality TV with LBGTQ+ representation, it’s Ru Paul’s Drag Race. While the show was a hit with the LGBTQ+ community for a long time, it gained mainstream success on a widespread level when it moved to VH1.
The series has done a lot of good things for visibility, but there are some critiques to be made as to how the show has handled transgender issues.
2 MTV’s Are You The One?
While this dating competition isn’t always LGBTQ+, there was one notable season where it was. Season 8 of the show featured an all sexually fluid cast with contestants identifying as a wide variety of sexualities and genders.
The series was diverse, watchable, and dramatic, and fans loved it. Hopefully, this will pave the way for more and more dating shows with LGBTQ+ people, especially ones that celebrate their love.
1 The Circle
The Circle is one of Netflix’s best-known reality TV shows, and it was rather cutting-edge as it had contestants only interacting with one another through social media.
The contestants got to choose how they would present themselves, but strangely, the series was really wholesome. Another positive about it was that there were LGBTQ+ cast members such as Sammie who identified as bisexual. Fans really loved the cast, and it was such a modern and uplifting example of life and all kinds of connections.
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