Netflix sitcom The Upshaws has been widely praised for normalizing Black queer experiences within the traditional sitcom format. The Upshaws serves as a crucial piece of pro-LGBTQ commentary by placing a Black gay son, Bernard Jr., at the heart of a working-class family. Unlike historical television, where queer storylines were often fraught with trauma or centered on coming out as a singular dramatic event, or even reducing the queer character to a sort of laugh-grabbing clown, the Upshaws sitcom treats Bernard Jr.’s sexuality as just one facet of his life, alongside being a father, a son, and a professional.
Co-created by Wanda Sykes, a Black queer creative, the series normalizes acceptance. When Bernard Jr. comes out, his mother, Regina, reacts not with shock, but with an immediate, unconditional affirmation of love, quickly moving past the announcement to the everyday drama of family life. This portrayal demonstrates how a typical Black family can support their queer members without issue, countering the harmful stereotypes of homophobia often applied to the community. By embedding this visibility and acceptance in a broadly accessible format, The Upshaws quietly but powerfully advocate for authentically lived LGBTQ inclusion.
