If you haven’t already fallen in love with it, Pose is a show that will grab you by the collar and whirl you into a world of couture, drama, resilience, and love that knows no bounds. Created by Ryan Murphy, who is also responsible for the one of the best TV anthologies of all time American Horror Story, Pose is an enthralling drama series that focuses on the Black, Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities of late-80s / early-90s New York as they compete in the city’s glamorous ballroom scene. Led by Billy Porter and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, both of whom made Emmy history with their historic wins and nominations, the series sees characters come together in Houses as they compete in competitions for trophies and respect, and each character faces their own personal hardships in life. The balance of raw emotion and unrelenting glitz give way for some of the best stories you’ll ever see, and the cast has been praised for their incredible performances over three seasons.
Of course, you’ve probably already binged the show a few times over and need another one to fall in love with. Fortunately, television is now more inclusive and phenomenally made than ever, and there are tons of shows centered on people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re searching for something that will blow you away, here are 6 shows like Pose that you need to watch next.
6 Dragnificent!
If you want something that blends glamorous fashion and extravagant events with drag culture, Dragnificent! is for you. This TLC original features four alumni from RuPaul's Drag Race: BeBe Zahara Benet, Jujubee, Thorgy Thor and Alexis Michelle. Together, these four unforgettable queens help engaged women plan their weddings and get ready for the biggest day of their lives. Each queen brings her own specialty to the table, and the show oozes body positivity, self-confidence and freedom of expression. It's a pleasure to watch and earned two nominations in the 2021 American Reality Television Awards (for the Feel Good and Lifestyle categories).
5 Looking
The first HBO show to focus almost exclusively on gay protagonists, Looking follows three friends living in San Francisco. Each character had different experiences with their queerness: Patrick is a game designer from a highly conservative family that ultimately accepted him; Agustín is a Cuban-American artist who dealt with childhood abuse; and Dom is a sommelier who lost his father as a young man. The show is poignant and expertly meshes humor with drama and intensity, and the cast has incredible chemistry together. Looking has received incredible praise for its LGBTQ+ representation and its handling of current issues for the community. If you fall head-over-heels for the show, you have Looking: The Movie to look forward to as a series finale.
4 We’re Here
Drag legends Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela, and Eureka O'Hara bring us fun and color in this fantastic HBO reality show. We follow the queens as they trek across the U.S. searching for drag stars in small towns. Each selected contestant makes their debut in a one-night-only drag show with guidance from the three hostesses. Being RuPaul alums, these ladies do a fantastic job at helping people find themselves through transformative art and self-expression; the nightly shows are always a blast to watch, and the whole series will make you want to get up and cheer. We're Here has garnered three different award nominations and one win from the GLAAD Media Awards.
3 RuPaul’s Drag Race
You can't talk about drag culture without highlighting Her Majesty The Queen! This world-famous reality competition show RuPaul's Drag Race presents us with a group of immaculate up-and-coming queens hoping to be the next drag superstar. Hostess RuPaul provides weekly challenges to test the queens' creativity, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, and every episode features a runway walk for contestants to showcase their best looks. One of the most fun aspects of the series is the 'Lip Sync for Your Life', wherein two contestants in danger of elimination duke it out in a runway lip sync battle. Countless iconic drag queens have made their debut here, and the original series has spawned more spin-offs than you can count, including behind-the-scenes specials and episodes featuring commentary from RuPaul.
2 Legendary
Bearing heavy similarity to Pose, this incredible series is a reality competition that focuses on ball culture. Contestants join Houses, where they're coached by Tanisha Scott and Johnny Wujek for the ultimate voguing showdown. Once they've finalized their looks and synchronized their choreography, the Houses go head-to-head on the dance floor to impress a panel of celebrity judges. It's tons of fun and features gorgeous outfits and dance routines that will have you out of your seat. We've got two seasons as of 2021, and the show has received eleven award nominations since its pilot in 2020. If you need something that can fill your heart the way Pose does, Legendary is one of the best options on this list.
1 It’s a Sin
Hopping across the pond, It's a Sin is a heartbreaking British miniseries that spans from 1981 to 1991. Set in London, we follow five gay men who lived during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.K. Each character is impacted differently by the crisis, and the group develops a deep connection over a decade. Like so many members of the LGBTQ+ community, our main characters come from unique backgrounds and had different experiences with sexuality growing up; as a result, the show is diverse and honest in its depiction of sexuality, identity, and AIDS. It's a Sin was so influential that it caused a major increase in HIV testing, and you can enjoy the five-part series on HBO Max right now.