Dating shows for queer people? We will be watching!
The Boyfriend season 1; The Ultimatum: Queer Love season 2; I Kissed a Boy season 1.
Netflix; BBC Three
Historically, LGBTQ+ dating shows have been iconic, chaotic, hilarious, and dramatic. Unfortunately, there haven’t been that many in comparison to the flood of dating shows for straight people.
From chaotic bisexual dating shows in the 2000s to attempts of making queer versions of The Bachelor to free-for-all shows where LGBTQ+ cast members are all free to explore connections with one another, fans have been keeping up with several creative approaches trying to reformat this genre of reality TV for queer people. While some of these shows were clearly not taken as seriously as their straight counterparts, queer people have always looked for representation wherever we can find it — and that’s still true to this day.
Queer fans of reality TV are still waiting for a massively successful LGBTQ+ dating show to reach mainstream audiences and air for many years to come. In the meantime, it’s always fun to celebrate and highlight the shows that our community has had so far, be proud of the progress that we’ve made, and appreciate the queer love stories that we currently have access to on reality TV.
Explore some of the most popular LGBTQ+ dating shows released over the years, and find out where you can watch these queer reality series online via streaming services.
‘Couple to Throuple’
Ashmal Ali, Rehman Bhatti, and Jonathan Intriago on Couple to Throuple season 1.
Peacock
Couple to Throuple is an original Peacock series that, in its first season, featured a gay couple — Ashmal Ali and Rehman Bhatti — along with straight couples who were all also looking for a third person to join their relationships. For Ashmal and Rehman, that new addition was Jonathan Intriago.
Another LGBTQ+ couple that joined Couple to Throuple over the course of season 1 was Maximo Oliveira and Ash — and they brought some juicy drama into the series, let’s just say that!
Where to watch: Peacock.
‘Love Allways’
The cast of Love Allways.
Paramount+
Paramount+’s Love Allways was led by pansexual bachelorette Lexi Paloma. On the show, Lexi explored connections with several single people who were vying for her heart. This dating series was all about “pansexual rights,” and it was lovely to see it.
Where to watch: Paramount+.
‘I Kissed a Boy’
The cast members of I Kissed a Boy.
BBC Three
The U.K.’s first-ever gay reality dating show, I Kissed a Boy, was hosted by singer Dannii Minogue and set in Italy. So far, this very popular series has already aired season 2 and even served as a starting point for the I Kissed a Girl spinoff.
On the show, a group of queer guys enter a villa looking for love, fun, and flings. But before they talk, flirt, or do anything else, two contestants must share a kiss… And everything else must wait.
Where to watch: Hulu.
‘I Kissed a Girl’
The poster for I Kissed a Girl season 1.
BBC Three
Dannii Minogue returned as Cupid in the sapphic spinoff of BBC Three’s I Kissed a Boy, which is also streaming on Hulu for U.S. viewers.
I Kissed a Girl, a lesbian dating show spinoff that is actually not referencing the Katy Perry song, follows a group of 10 girls looking for love amongst themselves and finding out what a kiss can reveal about one another.
Where to watch: Hulu.
‘Who Likes My Follower?’
Cast members on Who Likes My Follower? season 1.
Netflix
Who Likes My Follower? is a Netflix dating series produced in Spain that featured LGBTQ+ contestants and coaches in its first season. The show had MLM pairings and WLW couples, making this an exciting watch for queer people across the sexuality spectrum.
Where to watch: Netflix.
‘Farming for Love’
Cast members on Farming for Love season 2.
CTV
The Canadian dating series Farming for Love showcased queer farmers looking for partners who can adapt to their rural lifestyles. In turn, single contestants come into the dating show ready to fall for someone who’s all about that farm life. In the second season of the show, Farmer Kirkland stood out to viewers as he had an entire group of single guys vying for his heart.
Where to watch: CTV (in Canada).
‘For the Love of DILFs’
The cast of ‘daddies’ and ‘himbos’ on For the Love of DILFs season 1.
OUTtv
Hosted by Stormy Daniels, For the Love of DILFs is a show where gay men are separated into two groups — “daddies” and “himbos” — as they all compete for to form connections and find love.
Where to watch: OUTtv.
‘The Ultimatum: Queer Love’
The cast of The Ultimatum: Queer Love season 2.
Netflix
Netflix’s original The Ultimatum series created a new, all-queer dating show The Ultimatum: Queer Love, which has aired for two seasons — both hosted by JoAnna Garcia Swisher — so far.
Considering how messy drama, the entertaining contestants, and interesting storylines that this show has featured in the past, reality TV fans will keep coming back for more.
Where to watch: Netflix.
‘Vanjie: 24 Hours of Love’
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo on Vanjie: 24 Hours of Love.
World of Wonder
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo broke the internet with her legendary “Miss Vanjie” exit from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 10. She then returned to compete in season 11 and placed fifth overall.
In 2022, Vanjie got to lead her very own dating show, Vanjie: 24 Hours of Love, and actually dated the contestant who won the season, Jack Janowicz, for months. Alas, the couple eventually went their separate ways. Fans have speculated that the 24 Hours of Love format could be used for other Drag Race stars. Moreover, Vanjie’s journey to the All Stars 9 finale has absolutely left fans wanting to see more of Miss Vanjie on TV. Season 2, perhaps? Stay tuned.
Where to watch: WOW Presents Plus.
‘Dating Unlocked’
Promo image of Dating Unlocked.
OUTtv
Dating Unlocked is an LGBTQ+ dating show from Canada with single contestants who compete in games and go through elimination rounds for the chance to “unlock” a second date. The series, which can be streamed on OUTtv in the U.S., has had two seasons thus far.
Where to watch: OUTtv.
‘Perfect Match’
Abbey Humphreys and Francesca Farago on Perfect Match season 1.
Netflix
Perfect Match has the interesting concept of combining dating show elements to an All Stars-esque cast of popular reality TV stars from across different Netflix shows.
Unsurprisingly, Perfect Match does focus on the experience of men and women pairing up together as straight couples, even though the series encourages its cast members to “explore their sexualities.” One reality TV icon who has always understood the assignment was Too Hot to Handle legend Francesca Farago, who ended up getting matched with Abbey Humphreys (Twentysomethings: Austin).
And they just went for it! Giving fans a glorious moment of queerness on a mainstream dating show on Netflix.
Where to watch: Netflix.
‘Are You the One?’ Season 8
The cast of Are You the One? season 8.
MTV
For the first time in reality TV history, season 8 of MTV’s Are You the One? featured an all-LGBTQ+ cast of contestants.
Specifically, all contestants on Are You The One? season 8 identified as pansexual, and the season — which aired in 2019 — was also praised for featuring trans cast members on a dating show. By the end of this AYTO season, there were all sorts of pairings between the contestants, which was pretty lovely to see.
Where to watch: Paramount+.
‘Dating Around’
Cast members of Dating Around.
Netflix
Netflix not only released a few seasons of Dating Around in the U.S. — which were even nominated for awards — but also expanded the new format to other countries.
An unconventional dating series, Dating Around centers on one particular individual for each episode. That person goes through a series of dates that take place on different nights (but are all edited together for our viewing pleasure). The end result of each episode is always interesting, besides the fact that it’s quite revealing in terms of how people really act like on a date.
Where to watch: Netflix.
‘Married At First Sight UK’
Ella Morgan on Married At First Sight UK.
Channel 4
Over the years, the U.K. version of Married At First Sight has featured several notable LGBTQ+ contestants and couples. From Zoe and Jenna, to Matt and Dan, to the casting of Ella Morgan — a trans woman — in the series, Married At First Sight UK is really pushing for more inclusivity in the dating shows genre.
Where to watch: Channel 4 in the U.K.; Unavailable for streaming in the U.S.
‘Ex on the Beach’
Jonathan Troncoso; Kyra Green; Mike Mulderrig on Ex on the Beach season 5.
MTV
For a few years now, MTV’s Ex on the Beach has been featuring LGBTQ+ contestants on every single season. For instance, season five included Arisce Wanzer (trans woman), David Barta (pansexual man), Emily Salch (bisexual woman), Joelle Brian (gay man), Jonathan Troncoso (gay man), Kyra Green (bisexual woman), and Mike Mulderrig (bisexual man).
Where to watch: Paramount+.
‘Finding Prince Charming’
The cast of Finding Prince Charming.
Logo TV
One of the first major gay dating shows to happen on cable TV was 2016’s Finding Prince Charming. This series from Logo TV featured Atlanta-based interior designer Robert Sepulveda Jr. as the lead, as well as eight contestants vying for his love and attention. Ultimately, Sepulveda chose Eric Leonardos as the winner, but their relationship didn’t last long after the show.
Where to watch: Logo TV.
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Season 6
Demi Burnett and Kristian Haggerty on Bachelor in Paradise season 6.
ABC
Overall, ABC’s The Bachelor has been overwhelmingly straight (and mostly white) when it comes to its choices for leads and contestants. However, the franchise did feature one LGBTQ+ storyline in season 6 of Bachelor in Paradise when contestant Demi Burnett revealed that she had just gotten into a relationship with a woman prior to filming the show.
The woman in question — who had never appeared on television before — was Kristian Haggerty, who was brought into Bachelor in Paradise and ended the season engaged to Burnett.
Where to watch: Hulu.
‘Bobby I Love You, Purrr’
Bobby Lytes on Bobby I Love You, Purrr.
The Zeus Network
After going through a very public breakup with his ex-boyfriend, social media influencer and reality TV star Bobby Lytes got his own dating show titled Bobby I Love You, Purrr. The series featured 15 guys competing for Bobby’s love, and we can confirm that things get really messy along the way.
Where to watch: The Zeus Network.
‘The Bi Life’
Courtney Act on The Bi Life.
E!
Right after winning Celebrity Big Brother 21 in the UK, Courtney Act was hired as the host of a bisexual dating show called The Bi Life. The series wasn’t necessarily received well by the critics or the public, but it was still a TV show that made history for its wide visibility of bisexual people on reality television.
Where to watch: Hayu (select locations).
’12 Dates of Christmas’
Garrett Marcantel and Dominick Whelton on 12 Dates of Christmas season 1.
HBO Max
When HBO Max released season 1 of 12 Dates of Christmas, it was perceived as a groundbreaking dating show in terms of LGBTQ+ representation — and rightfully so. In its first season, 12 Dates of Christmas featured three leads, one of whom (Garrett Marcantel) was a gay man. Viewers were then introduced to Garrett’s various love interests over the course of the season.
Queer representation was turned up even higher in the second season. Among the three leads, one was a gay man (Markelle Smith) and another was a lesbian woman (Amanda Grace Jenkins). As a result, two third of the overall cast for this dating show consisted of queer love interests vying for either the gay lead or the lesbian lead.
Unfortunately, 12 Dates of Christmas was reportedly one of 87 shows that were canceled and removed from the HBO Max catalog, as reported by IndieWire. Other chopped TV shows with LGBTQ+ talent and storylines included Legendary, Generation, and even Westworld.
Where to watch: Unavailable.
‘The One That Got Away’
Jeff Perla and Alex Van Gurp on The One That Got Away.
Prime Video
Prime Video’s The One That Got Away had a pretty interesting concept for a dating show: Instead of making brand-new connections and forging deep romantic relationships in just a few weeks, these cast members had the chance to reconnect with a special person who they considered “the one that got away.”
While the show featured a few straight couples, it had queer icon and Out100 honoree Betty Who as the host of the entire series, as well as Jeff Perla and Alex Van Gurp as a prominent and entertaining gay couple.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
‘The Boyfriend’
The full cast of The Boyfriend.
Netflix
Netflix’s groundbreaking series The Boyfriend was Japan’s first-ever same-sex dating show in TV history. Over the course of the season, nine queer men lived in the same house — learning how to express themselves more confidently and freely with one another.
After spending a full summer together, these adorable cast members forged lasting friendships, made deep connections, and even fell in love.
Where to watch: Netflix.
‘Sparks Camp’
Three cast members from Sparks Camp season 2.
Instagram (@ejay; @francis.laurel; @kyleculatorr)
Season 1 of Sparks Camp had our eyes glued to the screen. Thankfully, a second season of this beloved queer reality dating series was picked up, featuring an all-new cast of Pinoy heartthrobs for viewers to root for.
Where to watch: YouTube via @BlackSheepPH.
‘A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila’
The cast of A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila.
MTV
It was literally groundbreaking for a social media personality like Tila Tequila to identify as bisexual in the 2000s and then land her very own bisexual dating show on MTV.
On A Shot at Love, 16 straight men and 16 lesbian women competed to win over Tila Tequila’s heart. In subsequent years, Tila Tequila became a much more polarizing figure and also denied ever being attracted to women in any way, claiming that she only did and said such things for A Shot at Love to work as a dating show.
Where to watch: The Roku Channel.
‘Love at First Lie’
Cast members on Love at First Lie.
MTV
MTV’s Love At First Lie featured quite a few LGBTQ+ couples. For instance, the cast included queer couples like Stephanie and Arabella; Jake and Alfie; Tom and Steven; Fannie and Clove; and Jack and Joe.
Generally speaking, the premise of this show was a challenge for the couples to spot which pair of lovers among them was actually fake (not a real couple at all), all while actually going through the motions of being in a dating competition.
Where to watch: Paramount+.
‘Next’
Carlos, a gay contestant on the dating show Next.
MTV
The campy and hilarious Next was an episodic speed-dating show that involved as many as five people at a time. This chaotic reality TV gem aired on MTV between 2005 and 2008 — and even though the overall series had very few episodes featuring LGBTQ+ contestants, watching this show was a kiki and a good time no matter what.
Where to watch: Paramount+.
‘You Hauled’
The cast members of You Hauled.
YouTube (@YouHauled)
You Hauled is a lesbian dating show featuring a group of single queer women looking for love. Leaning into the stereotype that lesbians fall in love too quickly and move in right away with one another (thus needing to rent a U-Haul), the tagline of this fun and wild dating show is, “Move in or move on!” We’re here for it.
Where to watch: YouTube.
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