Celebrating Valentine's Day with Our Favorite LGBTQ+ TV Couples

Victor and Benji ("Love, Victor")

The writers of "Love, Victor" tried to jam too many other couples into the series, such as an ill-advised love triangle between Victor, Benji, and Rahim, but most fans knew the endgame would always be Victor and Benji. The ups and downs of the Hulu show's preeminent power couple were propelled by issues such as alcoholism, LGBTQ+ self-acceptance, parental homophobia, and more.

Michael Cimino and George Sear always excellently portrayed the authenticity of the queer teenage experience. The actors' chemistry made the relationship relatable and inspiring, and "Love, Victor" ushered in a new era of teen queer comedies like "Heartstopper" and "Young Royals."

David and Keith ("Six Feet Under")

"Six Feet Under" gets lost in the HBO shuffle most of the time, and that is a tragedy that TV fans shouldn't let continue to happen. One of the best relationships in this show about an unhappy family running a funeral home is the gay partnership between David and Keith. The couple starts the series with struggles centered around David's internalized homophobia. As he overcomes those obstacles, Keith starts to realize his demons are sabotaging them.

David and Keith are one of the pioneering queer couples in TV history. Not many shows so delicately portrayed a same-sex relationship on-screen during the early 2000s. Michael C. Hall and Mathew St. Patrick navigate their screen time authentically and never look uncomfortable with intimacy. This was a major problem with other shows of the era that tried to depict LGBTQ+ romance, such as "The Sopranos."

Nick and Charlie ("Heartstopper")

"Heartstopper" has shattered all boundaries to become one of the rare LGBTQ+ programs to resonate with mass audiences worldwide. The heartwarming couple at the center of the plot is Nick and Charlie. Based on graphic novels by Alice Osman, Nick and Charlie bring audiences back to a time period of their innocence. Nick is a confused bisexual teen athlete, and Charlie is a quiet gay kid with self-esteem issues.

Kit Connor and Joe Locke beautifully depict the awkward infatuation that high school students feel for each other while always keeping the conversation light and optimistic. Even with issues like eating disorders and homophobia, "Heartstopper's" spirit never wavers. The sun will always come up the next day, and in a media landscape often focused on negativity, this show's juxtaposition feels much needed.

Cam and Mitchell ("Modern Family")

Most shows with LGBTQ+ couples depict the formative years of the relationship. "Modern Family" goes in the other direction with Cameron and Mitchell. This married couple is already years into their partnership. They bicker, have inside jokes, and raise a family like any middle-class American unit. "Modern Family" revolutionized queer storytelling on network TV by recognizing that these two men live in a non-heteronormative household. Still, the plot lines aren't obsessed with the characters being gay. Sexuality is a part of the discussion, but it's integrated into the themes and overarching stories of the series with subtlety.

Susan and Carol ("Friends")

"Friends" gets criticized a lot for not aging well. Jokes about masculinity, gender roles, and queer people sometimes take center stage at the wrong time. Still, the lesbian relationship between Susan and Carol might deserve more adulation than it receives. Ross's ex-wife, Carol, and her partner, Susan, joined in loving matrimony in one of the very first LGBTQ+ weddings ever put to screen. Despite some cringeworthy, outdated jokes about Ross turning Carol gay, the series was brave for representing lesbians at a time when it simply wasn't shown on TV.

Wilhelm and Simon ("Young Royals")

"Young Royals" is the best queer show that many people may not have heard about. This Swedish drama has transfixed viewers to the screen with the electric chemistry built between Prince Wilhelm and Simon. Their love often gets muddled with confusion and political strife as Wilhelm must figure out whether he's obligated to his country or to his heart. Simon's patience with Wilhelm makes him even more likable, and the couple are ready to conclude their romance story with the third and final season of the show on Netflix this coming March!

Rue and Jules ("Euphoria")

"Euphoria" may not be everyone's cup of tea. The infamous HBO drama utilizes a few too many nudity shots and drug binge scenes, but the LGBTQ+ themes underneath the mess of mature content make for compelling romance. Rue and Jules are two teenage girls inundated with intense mental health problems and drug addiction (for Rue), while Jules grapples with transphobia. Zendaya and Hunter Schafer ground this pairing with a genuine, tender touch that brings their scenes to a crescendo of emotional fireworks.