HBO Max Celebrates Pride 2021 By Shining A Light On LGBTQ+ Representation

Happy Pride month everyone! Like most month-long celebrations of a minority group, Pride really is something we should be appreciating all year round. But a month with the spotlight shining on the LGBTQ+ community around the world is definitely something to get excited about.

We still have a long way to go before anyone can say that LGBTQ representation in media is as present as it is not, but if you’re looking for some incredible examples of Pride in entertainment, all you need is an HBO Max subscription.

Max is celebrating Pride all month long with a new “Shine On” spotlight page available now on the streamer. What’s on this page you ask? Well, for starters:

HBO Max Original Queer Stories

The biggest draw for Max is their impressive and vast lineup of originals available as soon as you sign up. Many of these originals feature stories that celebrate LGBTQ+ life, young and old.

Euphoria

Starring Zendaya, Maude Apatow, and Colman Domingo among a packed cast, Euphoria is an award-winning drama that had the world by the neck in anticipation for every weekly episode.

To this day, the powerful drama is on several people’s radar, and its clear to see why. With incredible, tear-jerking performances by the entire cast, special character- spotlight episodes, and enough drama to keep the entire family invested, Euphoria is a can’t miss and a prime example of LGBTQ+ representation in modern media.

Luz tells Greta about Gretita. Chester and Nathan leave. (Warrick Page/HBO)

Genera+ion

Similarly, if you’re looking for a show dramatic as Euphoria but with more of a lighthearted touch, Genera+ion is the perfect recommendation.

Following the lives of a group of high-schoolers and their guidance counselor/Pride club mentor, Genera+ion is a hilarious, poignant, and grounded story about friendship, heartbreak, and personal discovery. Starring Justice Smith, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and an ensemble cast, Genera+ion will make you laugh, cry, and beg for more episodes.

Other shows included under the “Shine On” spotlight include new favorite Hacks, groundbreaking dramas like I May Destroy You and We Are Who We Are, and animated ventures like Steven Universe and Adventure Time.

Feature-Length Representation

Along with some incredible shows, HBO Max also features groundbreaking, history-making films that bring representation to the big screen with power and grace.

Films like Looking: The Movie, a hilarious and realistic look at the life of a three gay men in modern San Francisco. And films with stories centered on Pride POC like Carmen y Lola and Happy Together.

Powerful Pride Documentaries

Representation in fictional media is one thing, but if you’re looking for incredible true stories about some of the most influential figures in Pride history, HBO has you covered there too.

Gather your friends and family and introduce them to the story of Harvey Milk, San Fran’s first elected gay councilor in The Times of Harvey Milk, or remember the lives of some of the most important (and often overlooked) names if the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.

Celebrate the life and career of renowned author and activist Larry Kramer in Larry Kramer in Love & Anger, or acknowledge the struggles of being Trans in America with powerful docuseries like Transhood and The Trans List.

Your Pass To Pride 2021

HBO Max’s final offering this Pride month is nothing to scoff at. Teaming up with Human by Orientation, Max is inviting its subscribers to Pride 2021, a massive event that will be available in the streamer all month long.

The digital event will include musical performances from KING PRINCESS, Raveena, and more, drag performances from the We’re Here Queens, and comedy specials from comics like Meg Stalter, Ali Kolbert, and Ashley Ray, among others.

Pride 2021 will also feature exclusive behind-the-scenes conversations with members of the cast of Hacks and other Max originals. And outside the content found directly in the streaming service, Human by Orientation will also share the names of 30+ nonprofit organizations dedicated to the betterment of LGBTQ+ lives.

Whether you’re looking for your next binge-worthy series, heart-tugging documentary, or you want to know how you can help support LGBTQ+ lives this Pride month, “Shine On” through HBO Max is the place to go. There are much more shows, movies, and exclusive content beyond what I’ve listed, and it’s all worth it.

Check out the content below that HBO Max offers:

Unapologetically Queer