List of made-for-television films with LGBT characters


This is a list of live action made-for-television films that feature lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender characters. Non-binary, pansexual, and asexual characters are also included. The orientation can be portrayed on-screen, described in the dialogue or mentioned.

1950s

YearTitleNetworkCharactersActorsNotes
1959SouthITVJan WicziewskyPeter WyngardeWicziewsky is a Polish army officer living in exile in the antebellum South. He is torn by his feelings for fellow officer Eric MacClure. South is believed to be the earliest television film dealing with homosexual themes.

1970s

YearTitleNetworkCharactersActorsNotes
1972That Certain SummerABCDoug Salter
Gary McClain
Hal Holbrook
Martin Sheen
A teenager deals with the knowledge that his divorced father is gay.
1974Born InnocentNBCMocoNora HeflinIn a controversial scene, Christine Parker is raped with a mop handle by a girl gang led by Moco in a juvenile detention center.
1975The Naked Civil ServantITV Quentin CrispJohn Hurt
1975Cage Without a KeyNBCTommyJonelle AllenTommy has been described by gay media researcher Steven Capsuto as probably the earliest well-developed gay teen character on television as well as the first well-developed non-white gay character.
1976Song of MyselfCBSWalt Whitman
Peter Doyle
Rip Torn
Brad Davis
1976The War WidowPBSAmy
Jenny
Pamela Bellwood
Frances Lee McCain
Set during World War I, Amy is married to a man that enlisted early. On a trip to New York City, she meets Jenny, a photographer. Their friendship blossoms into romance and they become lovers.
1977'ABCAlexander DuncanLeigh McCloskeySequel to the telefilm '. Alexander becomes a hustler in Los Angeles.
1977In the Glitter PalaceNBCEllen Lange
Casey Walker
Daisy Dolon
Ricky
Grace Mayo
Kendis Winslow
Barbara Hershey
Diana Scarwid
Carole Cook
Lynn Marta
Tisha Sterling
Salome Jens
Ellen, a lesbian, hires her ex-boyfriend to defend her lover Casey who is accused of murder. Daisy is lesbian and a nightclub entertainer. Ricky is lesbian and hiding a child she lost in a custody suit. Grace is lesbian. She was hired to seduce women so they can be blackmailed. Kendis, a judge, is lesbian and another blackmail victim.
1977TerracesNBCDr. Roger Cabe
Alex Bengston
Lloyd Bochner
James Phipps
A married doctor has a sweet, heartfelt affair with a younger man. When the doctor breaks it off for the sake of his wife and family, his young lover cannot cope and takes drastic measures.
1978A Question of Love ABCLinda Ray Guettner
Barbara Moreland
Gena Rowlands
Jane Alexander
Linda and Barbara are a couple. Based on the true story of Mary Jo Risher, who in 1975 lost custody of her adopted 9‐year‐old son because she was a lesbian.

1980s

YearTitleNetworkCharactersActorsNotes
1981Sidney Shorr: A Girl's Best FriendNBCSidney ShorrTony RandallPilot film for the series Love, Sidney.
1983Making of a Male ModelABCChuck LanyardJeff Conaway
1983An Englishman AbroadBBCGuy BurgessAlan BatesStory of the chance encounter between gay "Cambridge spy" Burgess and actress Coral Browne.
1985An Early FrostNBCMichael Pierson
Peter Hilton
Aidan Quinn
D. W. Moffett
One of the first mainstream treatments of AIDS on American television.
1985Consenting AdultABCJeff LyndBarry TubbTV movie about a family's struggle to accept their son's homosexuality. Based on a novel by Laura Z. Hobson, and also starring Marlo Thomas and Martin Sheen as the parents.
1986Second ServeCBSRenée RichardsVanessa RedgraveBiopic of transgender surgeon turned professional tennis player.
1986Welcome Home, BobbyCBSBobby CavaleroTimothy WilliamsTV movie about a gay teenager who struggles with rejection from his school friends and his father when his sexuality becomes known.
1986The Truth About AlexHBOAlex PragerPeter SpenceAfter school special-style drama.
1986My Two LovesABCGail Springer
Marjorie
Mariette Hartley
Lynn Redgrave
After her husband dies, Gail finds a job as a chef for a company, where she meets Marjorie, an executive who is open about her being a lesbian. Their friendship becomes a love affair. The script was co-written by Rita Mae Brown.
1987Two of UsBBCMatthew
Phil
Jason Rush
Lee Whitlock

1990s

YearTitleNetworkCharactersActorsNotes
1990102 Boulevard HaussmannBBCMarcel Proust
Amable Massis
Alan Bates
Paul Rhys
a 1990 film in the BBC series Screen Two written by Alan Bennett; love story about Marcel Proust and violist Amable Massis.
1991Our SonsABCJames Grant
Donald Barnes
Hugh Grant
Željko Ivanek
Drama about two mothers whose sons are in a relationship, but one of them is terminally ill.
1991The Lost Language of CranesBBC
PBS
Owen Benjamin
Philip Benjamin
Elliot Abrahams
Geoffrey Lane
Derek Moulthorpe
Robin Bradley
Brian Cox
Angus MacFadyen
Corey Parker
René Auberjonois
John Schlesinger
Ben Daniels
British production based upon the novel by American writer David Leavitt about a young man who comes out to his family which leads his middle-aged father to face his own hidden sexuality.
1992Doing Time on Maple DriveFoxMatt Carter
Kyle
William McNamara
Bennett Cale
Family drama.
1992Citizen CohnHBORoy CohnJames WoodsStory of the life of Joseph McCarthy's controversial chief counsel Roy Cohn.
1994Family AlbumNBCLionel Thayer
Paul Steel
John
Joe Flanigan
Paul Satterfield
Joel Gretsch
Based on Danielle Steel's novel.
1994RoommatesNBCBill ThomasEric Stoltz
1994X-RatedCBCNathan JonesBilly MerastyPilot for the CBC drama series Liberty Street.
1995NBCMargarethe Cammermeyer
Diane
Glenn Close
Judy Davis
1995The Price of LoveFoxBoJay R. Ferguson16-year-old Bret is thrown out of his house. He runs away to Los Angeles, where he meets a hustler named Bo and becomes a hustler himself. Bo is gay but Bret is strictly gay-for-pay.
1997Any Mother's SonLifetimeAllen R. Schindler, Jr.Paul PopowichBased on a true story of a hate crime.
1997In the GloamingHBODannyRobert Sean Leonard
1997The Twilight of the GoldsShowtimeDavid GoldBrendan Fraser
1998GiaHBOGia Carangi
Linda
Angelina Jolie
Elizabeth Mitchell
Biopic about lesbian supermodel and heroin addict, who died from an AIDS-related illness in 1986.
1999Execution of JusticeShowtimeHarvey MilkPeter CoyoteAdaptation of stage play about the assassination of Milk by Dan White.

2000s

YearTitleNetworkCharactersActorsNotes
2000Common GroundShowtimeDorothy Nelson
Billy,
McPherson
Gil Roberts
Tobias
Amos
Andy
Brittany Murphy
Jason Priestley
Mimi Rogers
Steven Weber
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
James LeGros
Andrew Airlie
Three short stories dealing with acceptance of gays and lesbians over three different decades.
2000If These Walls Could Talk 2HBOEdith Tree
Abby Hedley
Linda
Amy
Fran
Kal
Vanessa Redgrave
Marian Seldes
Michelle Williams
Chloë Sevigny
Sharon Stone
Ellen DeGeneres
Three short stories dealing with lesbian women.
2000The Truth About JaneLifetimeJane
Taylor
Ms. Lynn Walcott
Jimmy
Ellen Muth
Alicia Lagano
Kelly Rowan
RuPaul
2000Anatomy of a Hate CrimeMTVMatthew ShepardCy CarterFirst of three TV movies about Shepard's murder.
2001What Makes a FamilyLifetimeJanine Neilssen
Sandy Cataldi
Brooke Shields
Cherry Jones
When Sandy dies, Janine must fight to keep the child Sandy bore through artificial insemination. The teleplay is based on the true story of Janine Ratcliffe, who in 1989 won custody of the daughter of her deceased lesbian partner, Joan Pearlman.
2002Bobbie's GirlShowtimeBailey Lewis
Roberta Langham
Bernadette Peters
Rachel Ward
Shows committed relationship between two lesbians.
2002The Matthew Shepard StoryShowtimeMatthew ShepardShane Meier
2002No Night is Too LongBBC TwoTim Cornish
Ivo Steadman
Thierry Massin
Lee Williams
Marc Warren
Salvatore Antonio
Tim is bisexual.
2003MuradIndus TVSaima
Bobo
Naddo
Sohail Asghar
Qazi Wajid
Nabeel Zafar
Murad aka Eunuch's Motherhood is a part of Maa Aur Mamta TV series of films based on Mothers.
2003NormalHBORuthTom Wilkinson
2003Soldier's GirlShowtimeCalpernia AddamsLee Pace
2004JackShowtimePaulRon Silver
2004'CTVMarc Hall
Jason
Aaron Ashmore
Mak Fyfe
2005Deadly Skieshere!Donovan
Mark
Antonio Sabato, Jr.
Michael Boisvert
Film was released in multiple versions, with and without gay content.
2005Tides of Warhere!Cmdr. Frank Habley
Lt. Cmdr. Tom Palatonio
Adrian Paul
Mike Doyle
Film was released in multiple versions, with and without gay content.
2006Trapped!here!Samantha
Dana
Alexandra Paul
Michelle Wolff
2006Wedding WarsA&EShel Grandy
Ted Moore
John Stamos
Sean Maher
Shel is a wedding planner and goes on strike for gay rights while planning his straight brother's wedding. Ted is his lover.
2006Totally AwesomeVH1YamagashiJames HongParody of Miyagi from the Karate Kid films, Yamagashi is an elderly gay lecher.
2006Loving AnnabelleDivine Light PicturesAnnabelle
Simone Bradley
Erin Kelly
Diane Gaidry
The rebel Annabelle arrives at boarding school and falls in love with her teacher Simone. They start an affair leading to serious consequences.
2006'LifetimeGwen AraujoJ. D. Pardo
2007Sci Fi ChannelHelena Cain
Gina Inviere
Michelle Forbes
Tricia Helfer
2007DaphneBBCDaphne du MaurierGeraldine SomervilleAuthor du Maurier attempts to pursue her friend, Ellen Doubleday, in a case of unrequited love, and has a secret love affair with Gertrude Lawrence.
2008Ice Blueshere!Donald Strachey
Timothy Callahan
Kenny Kwon
Chad Allen
Sebastian Spence
Nelson Wong
Part of a series of films based on the Donald Strachey books.
2008Kiss Me Deadlyhere!Jacob "Jake" Keane
Paulo
Jillian
Robert GantJake Keane is an ex-spy drawn back into danger when his former partner turns up with her memory erased. Paulo is his lover and Jillian a friend with whom Jake has a daughter.
2008Knight RiderNBCCarrie RuvaiSydney Tamiia PoitierPilot for the revival of the Knight Rider franchise.
2009Prayers for BobbyLifetimeBobby Griffith
Rev. Whitsell
David
Ryan Kelley
Dan Butler
Scott Bailey

2010s

YearTitleNetworkCharactersActorsNotes
2010The Counterfeiters
France 2Edouard
Olivier
Melvil Poupaud
Maxime Berger
Based on the novel The Counterfeiters by André Gide.
2010Worried About the BoyBBC TwoBoy George
Jon Moss
Douglas Booth
Mathew Horne
Based on the life of Boy George and the formation of Culture Club.
2010The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne ListerBBC Two
BBC HD
Maxine Peake
Anna Madeley
Christine Bottomley
Anne Lister
Mariana Belcombe
Ann Walker
Based on the deciphered diaries of Anne Lister, who lived an open lesbian lifestyle in 19th century Yorkshire. Lister was nicknamed "Gentleman Jack" by local townspeople.
2011Christopher and His KindBBC TwoChristopher Isherwood
Heinz Neddermayer
W. H. Auden
Gerald Hamilton
Matt Smith
Douglas Booth
Pip Carter
Toby Jones
Based on Isherwood's memoir of the same name.
2011Cinema VeriteHBOLance Loud
Candy Darling
Jackie Curtis
Thomas Dekker
Willem Belli
Kyle Riabko
Dramatization of the making of the early reality television series An American Family.
2011À la recherche du temps perduFrance 2Baron de Charlus
Jupien
Robert de Saint-Loup
Charles Morel
Didier Sandre
Michel Fau
Andy Gillet
Vincent Heden
Based on the novel In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust.
2011Steven Niles' RemainsChillerJensenMiko HughesAdaptation of the comic series of the same name.
2013Behind the CandelabraHBOLiberace
Scott Thorson
Billy Leatherwood
Michael Douglas
Matt Damon
Cheyenne Jackson
2014The Normal HeartHBOAlexander "Ned" Weeks
Felix Turner
Dr. Emma Brookner
Mark Ruffalo
Matt Bomer
Julia Roberts
Teleplay by Larry Kramer, based on his play of the same name.
2015BessieHBOBessie SmithQueen LatifahBessie is a bisexual woman known as "Empress of the Blues."
2016Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?LifetimeLeah
Pearl
Leila George
Emily Meade
Leah is in love with Pearl, a lesbian vampire. The film is a re-imagining of the similarly-titled 1996 television movie.
2018Agatha and the Truth of MurderChannel 5Mabel RogersPippa HaywoodRogers convinces Agatha Christie into helping her find out who killed her long-term partner, Florence Nightingale Shore. The film is an alternative history story about the real-life disappearance of Christie in 1926, and includes the real crime which remains unsolved.
2018I Am JonasArte
Netflix
Jonas
Nathan
Félix Maritaud / Nicolas Bauwens
Tommy-Lee Baïk
Jonas is gay.
The original French film title is Jonas.
2019One Red Nose Day and a WeddingBBC One
BBC Two
Miranda
Faith
Lily James
Alicia Vikander
Miranda and Faith marry in this "25 years later" short film sequel to 1994's Four Weddings and a Funeral, produced for the 2019 Comic Relief telethon.
2019'HBOCalamity Jane / Martha Jane Canary
Joanie Stubbs
Robin Weigert
Kim Dickens
Calamity is lesbian and in love with Joanie. Joanie is lesbian and a hostess at a brothel. They rekindle their romance, which first began in the television series the movie is based on, Deadwood.
2019'LifetimeAlex Cooper
Frankie
Jason
Addison Holley
Nicolette Pearse
Stephen Joffe
Alex, raised by conservative Mormon parents in Southern California, is fifteen-years-old when she meets Frankie, an eighteen-year-old out lesbian. Their mutual attraction becomes romantic. When Alex returns home after spending the night with Frankie, and her worried parents think she had sex with a boy, Alex comes out to them. To "cure" her homosexuality, her parents trick Alex and leave her in the custody of a Mormon couple in Utah to undergo anti-gay conversion therapy. She spends eight months under their cruel authority before she is finally able to escape and find help.
Jason is a gay classmate of Alex in a Utah high school. Together with a sympathetic teacher in charge of the local gay–straight alliance, he helps Alex find an attorney to extricate her.
The film is based on the 2016 memoir, Saving Alex: When I Was Fifteen I Told My Mormon Parents I Was Gay, and That's When My Nightmare Began.

2020s

YearTitleNetworkCharactersActorsNotes
2020The Thing About HarryFreeformSam Baselli
Harry Turpin
Jake Borelli
Niko Terho
Sam is gay.
Harry told Sam that he is pansexual.