Theme Songs for your LGBT+ Favourites

Streaming services are offering some phenomenal LGBT+ T.V. characters, and it's always exciting to find more that we can relate to. As the presence of LGBT+ people becomes more common in media their portrayals become more varied and authentic.

In celebration of pride-month I have compiled a list of T.V. shows that offer a nuanced and meaningful perspective on Queer identities and experiences. To add a little spice I have assigned each character their most fitting theme songs from LGBT+ artists so that we can experience their perspectives in a multifaceted way.

Major plot-points will not be spoiled in this playlist, but romantic-relationship spoilers will be mentioned for shows including Jane the Virgin, The 100 and The Umbrella Academy.

Euphoria, Rue

Rue feels like the Gen-Z version of Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. If she could make countless mix-tapes on spare cassette's, I'm sure 'Asleep' by The Smiths would be on all of them. My song of choice for Rue is Hayley Kiyoko's 'This Side of Paradise'.

Hayley Kiyoko explained to fans that This Side of Paradise captures her musings from when she was a child and had crushes on other girls but wasn't able to express it. She would come home and imagine a paradise in which she was able to express herself authentically. The music is equal parts melancholic and hopeful, which captures Rue's feelings of depression and drive to get better for herself, her family, and Jules.

The lyrics emphasise Rue's dissociative depression and need for Jule's company;

I'm not here nor anywhere

I wanna be with you, you're unaware

I am a paperweight

I fantasise

A secret life and place where we hide

Jane the Virgin, Petra

Petra's sexual awakening was a long time coming. Jane The Virgin's show runners caught wind of fans speculating over Petra's sexuality. When they realised Petra was being perceived as bisexual they ran with it, and thank god they did. Petra's realisation that she was interested in women as well as men resulted in one of the most exciting relationships of the entire series.

It's entertaining to watch Petra go from a 'man-eater' to a woman with a girlish crush, suddenly unsure of her own-power. One of my favourite Petra lines is "I'm everyone's type", making Blondes by Peach PRC the go to choice for her theme song.

"You just decided you prefer blondes" pretty much sums up Petra's attitude towards her physical superiority, and who can blame her;

Call your boyfriend

tell him he's fine,

he's just no longer your type

you just decided you prefer blondes

Sex Education, Eric

Sex Education does a fantastic job at exploring the nuances of human behaviour, and one of the most interesting characters is Eric. Eric is a seventeen year old high-school student who is struggling to consolidate his religious identity with his sexuality.

Every year for his birthday he celebrates with his best-friend Otis by dressing-up and watching a screening of Hedwig and the Angry Itch. For this reason, the perfect theme song for Eric is one of the standout songs from the musical, 'The Origin of Love'.

Now there was three sexes then

One that looked like two men

Glued up back to back

They were called the children of the sun

The 100, Clarke

I'm just gonna say it - I was pining so hard for Clarke to have a female love interest from season one. To me, she has always resembled an angry kitten; too feisty for men to reproach, so only the ferocity of a woman could compete with her bold temperament. For this, only the Commander and war-chief, Lexa would do.

Behind Clarke's ferocious drive is a soft and warm personality. Her moments of strength are notable because they are in direct contrast to her kindness, and vice versa. If any song could summarise Clarke's feelings towards Lexa, is would be Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood or Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby by Cigarette's After Sex.

Nothing that I wouldn't wanna tell you about, no

'Cause it's too cold

For you here

And now, so let me hold

Both your hands in the holes of my sweater

The Umbrella Academy, Klaus

Like all of the characters in The Umbrella Academy, Klaus was immediately fascinating. With his eccentric style and erratic personality, one must wonder how much of his character was inspired by The Umbrella Academy author, Gerard Way (lead singer of My Chemical Romance).

Klaus received a very intense love story in season two, which sees him going back in time and living during a period of war. He meets his 'true-love' Dave, but loses him. We follow Klaus's grief and inability to move on, making 'Ghost Town' by Adam Lambert a fitting choice. If we want to celebrate Klaus with positive vibes, however, Adam Lambert's 'Music Again' is also a good choice.

Saw all of the saints

Lock up the gates

I could not enter

Walked into the flames

Called out your name

But there was no answer

Gypsy, Jean Holloway

Gypsy is a limited-series psychological thriller about a psychologist, Jean Holloway, who becomes overly invested in her patients lives. Jean is a fascinating character due to her moral ambiguity. Since there is only one season - and because it's a mystery - I'll be light on the details.

For those of you who have seen it, Taylor Swift's song 'Ivy' is a perfect fit. For those of you who haven't, Ivy still deserves a thorough listen; the story - which seems innocent at first - becomes more nuanced with each replay. It's a mystery on it's own, and I implore you to set aside an hour to solve it. As a secondary choice, 'Salt' by B.Miles portrays Jean's obsessive nature, with lyrics such as "I wanted love the most but it never stays long".

Oh, goddam

my pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand,

taking mine, but it's been promised to another

The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon

Beth Harmon was an instantly iconic character. Her depth and nuance was portrayed perfectly by Anya Taylor Joy, and one aspect that viewers might have missed was Beth's fascination and flirtations with women.

Beth never appears to struggle with her sexuality, she simply is who she is. Music plays a significant role in Beth's life, and Fever by Peggy Lee is one of her favourite songs. If she were to watch this video clip it's hard to say if she'd be more enthralled by the music, fashion, or sultry dancing of the lead performer.

Never know how much I love you

Never know how much I care

When you put your arms around me

I get a fever that's so hard to bear

While T.V. gives us the opportunity to live vicariously through characters that we relate to, music can be used to help us live more viscerally in a way we might not understand without it.

Weather you agree with my choices for your favourite LGBT+ character or not, I hope that you can find a song or two to add to your own playlists. Happy pride month!

For the full playlist, click here