This article is part of the Voyeur 2020 
In a world where representation on the big screen amounts to a half-second scene of two girls kissing in the background, maybe it’s time we look to the small screen for LGBTQ love.
LGBTQ representation has been booming in TV shows recently, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to explore some of the best couples TV has to offer.
One of my favorite examples is Petra and Jane Ramos from “Jane the Virgin.” At the beginning of the series, Petra is a cold-hearted antagonist who makes life harder for the main character, Jane Villanueva (not to be confused with her love interest, Jane Ramos). When Petra meets Ramos, she slowly warms up and is taken down to a much sweeter, more romantic level as she navigates these new feelings.
Not every LGBTQ relationship is between two men or two women, though. Eleanor and Chidi from “The Good Place” are a perfect example, and they’re the definition of soulmates. Not only do they always find their way back to each other, but Eleanor’s references to her attraction to other women (and occasional references to a relationship with another female main character on the show, Tahani) exemplify that bisexual people are no less bisexual when they fall for someone of the opposite gender.
Rather than fighting their descent into the Bad Place like Eleanor and Chidi, the characters of the hilarious sitcom “Schitt’s Creek” are battling an issue many of us know all too well: being poor. After his family loses their fortune suddenly, David Rose meets an unexpected friend in his business partner, Patrick. The two of them build a cute little apothecary shop together in the small town, and discover their feelings for each other in an incredibly simple but sappy romance.
A darker take on LGBTQ couples is Rue and Jules from the 2019 show, “Euphoria.” What makes Rue and Jules unique for TV nowadays is that Jules is trans, and she’s played by a trans actress. Rue and Jules struggle through trauma and addiction, but the show delves into Rue’s sexuality, Jules’s gender and their feelings for each other in a beautiful way.
Finally, an iconic and hilarious twist on LGBTQ romance is found in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” The comedic cop procedural features Captain Raymond Holt, the boss of everyone at the precinct and a completely stoic wall of a man who’s hard to read when the audience first meets him. Over time, we get to see his relationship with his husband, Kevin, who is almost equally stoic. Love for Captain Holt and Kevin may involve debating about math problems, but somehow, they still manage to be just as adorable.
