TL;DR: If you’re looking for the "greatest hits" of affirming content that actually has a soul (and isn't just corporate pandering), start here:
- For the littles: Julian is a Mermaid and Ridley Jones.
- For the middle-grade crew: The Owl House and Lumberjanes.
- For the teens: Heartstopper and Nimona.
- For the gamers: The Sims 4 and Unpacking.
Ask our chatbot for a personalized list based on your kid's favorite genres
Finding affirming content for LGBTQ+ kids used to feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Today, it’s more like trying to find a specific needle in a giant pile of other needles—some of which are high-quality, and some of which are total "brain rot" or just plain lazy writing.
We aren't just looking for "representation" so we can check a box. We’re looking for stories where being LGBTQ+ isn't a "problem" to be solved or a tragedy in the making. We want stories where kids see themselves as the hero, the adventurer, or just the kid who gets the girl/boy/person at the end of the movie.
When kids are navigating their identity—or even just growing up in a world where "Ohio" is used as an adjective for anything weird and "Skibidi" is a daily vocabulary word—they need anchors. Affirming media acts as a mirror (showing them they exist) and a window (showing them a future that is joyful and normal).
Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ youth who see positive representations of themselves have better mental health outcomes. But beyond the clinical stuff, it’s just about good storytelling. A kid who feels seen is a kid who feels safe.
This book is a masterpiece of visual storytelling. It’s about a boy who sees some spectacularly dressed women on the subway and decides he wants to be a mermaid. His grandmother’s reaction is the gold standard for parenting: she doesn't lecture, she doesn't panic, she just hands him some beads and takes him to the parade. It’s short, beautiful, and focuses entirely on the joy of self-expression.
If your kid hasn't watched this yet, clear their schedule. This Disney show did more for LGBTQ+ representation in three seasons than most studios do in a decade. It follows Luz, a neurodivergent girl who stumbles into a magical realm. The show features a central queer romance that is handled with so much sincerity it’ll make you forget about every terrible, forced TV romance you've ever sat through. It’s funny, dark in the right places, and deeply affirming.
Check out our guide on why fantasy shows are great for identity exploration
Netflix’s Heartstopper is basically the "warm hug" of teen television. Based on the Heartstopper graphic novels, it follows Charlie and Nick as they navigate high school and falling in love.
The Screenwise Take: It’s almost too wholesome. Sometimes you’re waiting for the "grit" to show up, but it stays focused on the butterflies and the awkwardness of first love. It’s a great antidote to the hyper-sexualized teen dramas like Euphoria that feel like they were written by people who have never actually met a teenager.
Nimona is a chaotic, shape-shifting masterpiece. While the plot is about a knight framed for a crime, the subtext is all about the fluid nature of identity and the harm of being forced into a "box" by society. It’s fast-paced, hilarious, and visually stunning. It’s the kind of movie that kids will watch on repeat, and honestly, you won't mind because it’s actually good.
The Sims 4 has been a safe haven for LGBTQ+ kids for years. It allows players to experiment with gender identity, pronouns, and sexual orientation in a sandbox environment. There are no "wrong" choices, and the game has recently updated its systems to be even more inclusive of trans and non-binary identities. It’s a digital playground where kids can "try on" different versions of themselves without the social stakes of the real world.
This is a "cozy game" where you literally just unpack boxes and put things in a room. It sounds boring, but it’s incredibly meditative. As you move through the character’s life from childhood to adulthood, you see their story unfold through their belongings—including their relationships. It’s a subtle, beautiful way of showing a queer life lived fully.
For many LGBTQ+ kids, the internet is where they find their "first" community. However, as any parent knows, the internet is also a dumpster fire of trolls and bad actors.
Run by The Trevor Project, this is a moderated social networking site for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24. It’s one of the few places online where you can feel relatively confident that your kid isn't going to be harassed.
A lot of LGBTQ+ kids find community in specific Discord servers (often centered around gaming or hobbies). The Catch: Discord is only as safe as the moderators of the specific server. If your kid is on Discord, you need to have a conversation about "server culture" and how to spot a toxic environment before it gets weird.
When you're looking for content, keep these age brackets in mind:
- Preschool/Early Elementary: Focus on "gender expansive" stories. Things that challenge "boy things" vs. "girl things." Look for themes of kindness and being yourself.
- Middle Grade: This is where identity starts to become a core focus. Look for "coming out" stories that are handled with care, but also look for stories where the character's queerness is just one part of their personality (like in The Owl House).
- Teens: They are ready for more complex themes—romance, social pushback, and intersectionality. Just keep an eye on the "trauma-porn" trope. Some media leans too hard into the suffering of LGBTQ+ characters; balance it out with "queer joy" content like Heartstopper.
You don't need to be an expert in every new term or flag to be a supportive parent. Your job is to be the curator and the sounding board.
- Watch together. Especially with shows like Heartbreak High (which is for older teens and very "real"), watching together gives you an opening to talk about consent, identity, and relationships without it feeling like a "sit-down talk."
- Check the "Cringe" Factor. Kids have a high "cringe" radar. If a show feels like it was written by a committee of adults trying to sound "woke," your kid will hate it. Trust their taste.
- The "Why" Matters. If your kid is obsessed with a certain character, ask them why. Sometimes it’s because they relate to the identity; sometimes it’s just because the character has a cool sword. Both are valid.
If you’re not sure how to start the conversation, use the media as a bridge.
- "I noticed the main character in that show has two moms/is non-binary. What did you think about how they handled that?"
- "Do you see many kids at school who dress like the characters in Nimona?"
- "I heard this game The Sims 4 lets you choose your pronouns now. Do you think that’s a cool feature?"
Ask our chatbot for conversation starters based on specific movies
Affirming content isn't just about "the talk"—it’s about the vibe of your home. By filling your digital library with stories that celebrate diversity, you’re telling your kid that they are loved and seen before they even have to ask.
Don't overthink it. Start with a good story, some popcorn, and an open mind. If the show turns out to be "trash" (hey, it happens), you can at least bond over the bad writing.
- Audit your streaming queues. Add The Owl House or Heartstopper to the "Watch List."
- Check out the Screenwise Community. See what other parents in your area are letting their kids watch and play.
- Stay Curious. The digital landscape for LGBTQ+ content changes fast. Keep asking questions and keep looking for the joy.
Check out our full list of LGBTQ+ affirming media recommendations