This article was published on April 4th, 2020

For most of us, the best thing we can do right now to help stop the spread of COVID-19 is to stay at home and try not drive the members of our respective households crazy. It’s much easier said than done, as every challenge and anxiety of this global pandemic takes a toll. Thankfully, OUTtv will be releasing a slew of new shows to entertain queer audiences while we’re in social isolation. 

While television serves as a wonderful temporary distraction, our favorite programs also unify our community, educate us and inform our perspective on the world. So, stay strong! These OUTtv titles should give you something to look forward to – and will help to stave off cabin fever while you’re confined to your home and missing the dance floor.

Get your Drag fix

If you’re craving all the glamor and drama of your local drag bar, there are some exciting performers who will be gracing the screen of your living room in coming weeks. Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race is already underway, and her cattier little sister Untucked is back too. Plus, all previous seasons of this global smash hit are available to stream, Hunty.

You can also catch up with some of RuPaul’s alumni and see how their careers have evolved since appearing on the show. Quite a few Ru Girls now have their own comedy specials, including Trixie Mattel, Katya and Bob the Drag Queen. Others have toured several continents with Werq the World and are now featured in a new docu-series which gives a sneak peek into the backstage shenanigans of life on the road as a successful drag performer.

If you like your tea piping hot, reality competition House of Drag will pit nine drag queens against each other, Big Brother style. They will compete in outrageous and hilarious challenges while living under one roof in order to be crowned the ultimate champion. The claws will stay out for Drag Fan, a game show hosted by Hey Queen’s Jonny McGovern, where contestants will need to prove their knowledge and love of all things drag.

Finally, Drag SOS follows the Family Gorgeous over six episodes as they traipse across the UK, inspiring drag transformations along the way, creating iconic gay TV.

Grab your popcorn, dust off your wig and slip into your favorite heels for some fabulous nights on the couch.

Cherish our history

As we question whether 2020 Pride events will proceed as scheduled, it’s an opportune time to reflect on how far the LGBT community has come. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, and the march towards equality continues. Highlighting perspectives from North America, Canada and Germany, check out OUTspoken: Stonewall Rising 50 Years and Going Strong for insights into how Pride has been expressed through protests, parades and art.

Outspoken: Kink will also pull back the leather curtain on the world of BDSM and trace the origins of kink.com and its founder.

Explore a new perspective

There are some insightful programs which may change the way you look at the world, starting with Gay Rom Lit, where you’ll discover that the majority of erotic fiction about gay men is actually written by women and trans authors. You can also follow the stories of patients of the Transgender Health Program in Ontario in My Trans Journey, and then unpack the standards of the beauty industry in Translating Beauty.

Fall in love with a story

If you’re looking for pure escapism, OUTtv also has you covered, with a range of dramas and comedies to keep you entertained. Laugh and cry with Avocado Toast, which features a young bisexual in denial, as well as Grounded, which explores the trials and tribulations of gay men. For something completely different, turn on Sado Psychiatrist – a killer horror comedy starring Disasterina from The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula.

All titles will be released from April through May 2020. So, make sure your subscription to OUTtv is up to date, or subscribe through your cable provider if you’re one of our Canadian readers.

Let us know what you’re watching now, as well as the shows you’re looking forward to in the comments below! We might even recap some episodes based on your suggestions.