8 LGBTQ+ HBO Shows You Need to Watch Before HBO Yanks Them

In 2022, one of the most talked about media moves came from Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent organization that oversees operations for the DC Universe, HBO, HBO Max, and Discovery+. The media conglomerate was formed after a large-scale merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. earlier this year. Since the merger, CEO David Zaslav has been on a tirade to cancel production on several movies and television shows to reduce costs and restructure the content available to audiences.

Unfortunately for television viewers, these cost-cutting measures have affected some of their favorite shows on HBO, HBO Max, and Discovery+, as the platforms will all merge into one streamer in 2023. HBO, in particular, has removed several well-known titles from its catalog, including recently canceled LGBTQ+ and queer-friendly shows like "Legendary," "Minx," "Genera+ion" and "Westworld," with vague plans to offer this content elsewhere to viewers. With Zaslav seemingly removing more television series left and right in recent months, we thought it might be a good idea to let you know about the LGBTQ+ HBO shows you need to watch before HBO yanks them for good.

"Los Espookys"

Created by comedians Julio Torres, Ana Fabrega, and Fred Armisen, "Los Espookys" premiered on HBO in 2019. It became an instant LGBTQ+ classic with its campy vibes and appreciation for the horror film genre. The show stars Torres, Fabrega, and Armisen, along with an ensemble group of actors, as it illustrates a group of friends vying to make their business a success by incorporating their love of horror movies into their work. Daily, the gang scares people in a Latin American country and brings a bit of humor to their customers' day, all while trying to forget about their personal lives and romantic interests. With two seasons in the can, the series is notable for its guest appearances by icons Isabella Rossellini and Carol Kane.

"Los Espookys" was recently canceled by HBO but is still available to stream on HBO Max.

"Gentleman Jack"

In a co-production by the BBC and HBO, "Gentleman Jack" premiered in the U.S. in 2019, set in Yorkshire, England, in the 1830s. A historical drama depicting real-life industrialist Anne Lister's romantic dalliances with other women of the era, the series is based on diaries Lister wrote in a secret code while she was still alive. "Gentleman Jack" stars Suranne Jones as Lister and Sophie Rundle as Lister's main love interest Ann Walker, and the series was officially canceled at HBO earlier this summer. However, the BBC is still looking for other options to continue with the show's third season. Remarkable for its take on a forbidden romance between women at a time when it was indeed looked down upon, "Gentleman Jack" also showcases Lister as a landowner, which was rare for women of the era in England.

HBO canceled "Gentleman Jack" after its second season aired, but it is still available to stream on HBO Max.

"It's a Sin"

A limited series created by "Queer As Folk" helmer Russell T. Davies, "It's a Sin" takes viewers into the HIV and AIDS-infested waters of London, England, in the 1980s. A group of gay men attempting to traverse life during a crisis of epidemic proportions, "It's a Sin" features performances from well-known LGBTQ+ icons like Stephen Fry and Neil Patrick Harris, along with Olly Alexander, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, Lydia West, and Nathaniel Curtis. The series first aired on Channel 4 in Britain before coming to HBO in the United States and caused an uptick in HIV testing after the season concluded in the United Kingdom.

The five-episode limited series "It's a Sin" is currently available to stream on HBO Max.

"The Lady and the Dale"

A miniseries that took audiences by storm when it was initially released to HBO in 2021, "The Lady and the Dale" documents the true story of Elizabeth Carmichael and her quest to redefine the automobile industry with a car named The Dale. Through Carmichael's Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation in the 1970s, The Dale was a first-in-its-kind, three-wheeled vehicle that was fuel efficient and, unfortunately, never amounted to anything compared to the big automobile manufacturers of the day. This documentary reflects on Carmichael's shady past, her standing as a trans woman and the media scrutiny that plagued her accomplishments.

"The Lady and the Dale" is currently available to stream on HBO Max.

"We're Here"

HBO and reality television don't typically go together, but the drag queens on "We're Here" might beg to differ. Featuring three former contestants from "RuPaul's Drag Race," Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, and Shangela, "We're Here" showcases the performers visiting small towns to find residents willing to perform in a one-night-only drag show. The series debuted in 2020, and the third season recently premiered on HBO Max over Thanksgiving weekend, 2022. While the third season is still showing new episodes, a fourth season has yet to be greenlit by Warner Bros. Discovery.

"We're Here" is currently available to stream on HBO Max, with season three airing a new episode on December 30th.

"Gossip Girl"

The reboot of "Gossip Girl" for HBO Max premiered in 2021 and earned a Season 2 renewal that finally debuted earlier this month. The teenage drama that serves as a standalone sequel to The CW version that starred Blake Lively also has Kristen Bell as its faithful narrator. Taking place in the private school world of Manhattan, the "Gossip Girl" reboot features a diverse cast of characters that has aimed to be more inclusive than the original series, adding LGBTQ+ characters to the mix. The television show has not been renewed yet for season three, and it might be on the chopping block to be sent to another streamer if Warner Bros. Discovery doesn't want the series in its catalog anymore.

"Gossip Girl" is currently available to stream on HBO Max

"Our Flag Means Death"

One of the breakout television shows of the past year, "Our Flag Means Death" comes from executive producer Taika Waititi and features a comedic ensemble cast that tells the romantic story of pirates during the 18th century. Following a newbie pirate named Stede Bonnet and his crew on the ship Revenge, this based-on-a-true-story series sees Bonnet cross paths with Blackbeard and his sidekick, Izzy Hands. "Our Flag Means Death" has been a critically acclaimed show for HBO Max. It highlights a great deal of LGBTQ+ representation that follows a love story between Bonnet and Blackbeard, as well as a nonbinary character named Jim Jimenez. The show stars Rhys Darby, Vico Ortiz, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, and Taika Waititi and was renewed for a second season which is still pending a release date.

"Our Flag Means Death" is currently available to stream on HBO Max.

"The Other Two"

Renewed for a third season, "The Other Two" first premiered on Comedy Central before moving during its second season to HBO Max. The dysfunctional comedy about millennial siblings trying to make it in the entertainment business while their younger brother Chase has found overnight fame has become a popular series to stream by the gay community. The show's second season premiered in 2021, and there is currently no word about when the third season will debut on HBO Max. Because of recent developments with television shows like "Minx," which was initially renewed and then pulled from HBO entirely, many experts believe that "The Other Two" might find a similar destiny at HBO. "The Other Two" stars Heléne York, Case Walker, Drew Tarver, Molly Shannon, and Ken Marino, and is produced by Saturday Night Live icon Lorne Michaels.

"The Other Two" is currently available to stream on HBO Max.