The queer community is often excluded from the vast world of reality television dating shows and we wish there was more queer representation. Here are a few reality shows you can catch with some LGBTQ+ cast members.
Are You the One: Come One, Come All
Watching season 8 of #AreYouTheOne full of all the queer people!!!! I’m literally 5 minutes in and I love how much pronouns and terminology are being mentioned and explained!! Yes!! Thank you MTV this is representation!!
— Spooktacularly Sapphic (@spicylilvirgo) July 16, 2019
In this MTV show, singles are coupled up by professional matchmakers but must discover the pairs amongst themselves as they date, live together, and confirm or eliminate potential pairings one by one in the ‘truth booth.’ With a completely queer cast, the 16 contestants could be matched with anyone making for an extra dramatic and exciting season. The matchup ceremonies had us all on the edge of our seats, and we grew to love the cast. Give this a watch if you’re looking for a fun, inclusive reality show!
Dating Around
I miss that Netflix show “Dating Around” the pace of it was great, and I feel like the people casted were super interesting/had lived multi-dimensional lifestyles. Learned a lot just by listening to the dialogue whether the date was successful or not.
— Nicolas-Tyrell Scott (@iamntyrell) October 16, 2021
Dating Around follows one single per episode as they venture out on five blind dates in order to find a match deserving of a second one. The show is incredibly inclusive regarding race, age, and sexual orientation. The series illustrates dating in its purest form between different demographics, making for some awkward, funny, and wholesome moments. Not all episodes feature LGBTQ+ contestants, but Netflix left us grinning ear to ear and tearing up throughout the series.
Dating Around: Brazil
If you’re not opposed to subtitles or dubbing, this show is a must-watch! With the same premise as Dating Around, only set in Brazil, the series features a transgender contestant and again various orientations, races, and ages. As wholesome and incredible as the original, this show is sure to take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
Ex on the Beach
These plot twist be crazy #exonthebeach
— 𝒥𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓃 (@jalenflopera) May 20, 2022
A group of reality star singles live together in a paradise villa to find love, but their exes continue to show up one after another to conceive more potential pairings and generate drama. Except for the first, all seasons have some LGBTQ+ cast members. This show administers tons of amusement, and we can’t get enough. It’s a silly yet highly binge-able show with the representation we love to see!
Lovedown: Pride
The second season of the quarantined-era YouTube dating miniseries Lovedown features an all-queer cast. Throughout the miniseries, we watch contestants as they go on group and speed Zoom dates before deciding on their Lovedown Matchmaker. It’s unassertive and hilarious. If you’re looking for a quick watch, this three-episode series will keep you entertained for about an hour.
We can also look forward to the forthcoming season of The Ultimatum, which Netflix announced will feature an all-LGBTQ+ cast. We appreciate all the shows above for various reasons and look forward to hopefully seeing more representation within the beloved genre.
