Raffy is a Los Angeles-based writer, editor, video creator, critic, and digital director of Out Magazine. The former editor-in-chief of PRIDE, he is also a die-hard Rihanna and Sailor Moon stan who loves to write about all things pop culture, entertainment, and identities. Follow him on Instagram (@raffyermac) and Twitter (@byraffy), and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Andrew J. Stillman is a freelance writer and yoga instructor exploring the world. Check him out at andrewjstillman.com or follow him @andrewjstillman on all the things.
We're totally obsessed with Netflix's 'Bridgerton' for um...the plot! Yeah. The plot.
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Okay, you caught us. Yes, Shondaland's latest smash series is a deliciously messy period drama filled to the brim with characters of color that takes place in Regency-era England's elite social scene and narrated Gossip Girl style by Oscar-winning screen icon Julie Andrews, but we'd be totally lying to your face if we didn't say we also enjoy watching the show for the um...eye candy.
Yes, we're shameless. No, we don't care.
Scroll down to meet the heartthrobs that have us unabashedly binge-watching Bridgerton on Netflix. (And give these lads a follow on Insta while you're at it! Trust us, your timelines need it.)
The Ultimatum: Queer Love may be a sapphic spinoff of a very straight reality show, but its larger-than-life personalities, bonkers dramatic moments, and chaotic lesbians make this the one to watch.
In the LGBTQ+ Netflix reality show, where one partner issued an ultimatum, couples decide to marry or move on over the course of ten episodes, where they bond with “trial wives” before coming back together and either popping the question or walking away.
In the first season, only one couple stayed engaged, but so far, season two has more couples who are still all loved up.
Now that season two is over and the dramatic and spicy reunion is in the can, let’s check back in with the cast and find out where their relationships stand today.
Who is still together?
AJ & Britney: From player to lovebirds
Netflix
When the show started, Britney was the one who wanted to get married, but AJ felt insecure about Britney being more successful than her and worried about Britney being more focused on her business than her relationship.
After AJ was accused of being a player while on the show and Britney developed a sweet friendship with her trial wife Marita, they were the first to get engaged.
Where are they now?
Not only are AJ and Britney are still together, but AJ upgraded Britney’s engagement ring from the one she proposed with on the show. So far, they don’t have a date set for the wedding yet, but the two are committed to each other and Britney’s VitaLuxx business seems to be going strong.
Dayna & Magan: Chaos, hook-ups, and happily-ever-after
Netflix
Dayna was the one to give the ultimatum to Magan, who wasn’t ready to tie the knot because she was still anxious about coming out to her conservative Lebanese family.
Both Magan and Dayna seemed to fall hard for their trial spouses, and the two argued during the course of the show, but in the end, they made up and got engaged.
Where are they now?
Fans may be disappointed that Dayna — who came across as a villain — is still engaged to Magan, who viewers were hoping would end up with Haley, but Dayna and Magan are still engaged and planning on getting married, though they’ve yet to set a date.
Pilar & Haley: Ten years together leads to fairytale ending
Netflix
While Pilar’s trial marriage to Kyle was a bumpy road, Haley seemed to fall hard for her temporary spouse, Magan. The two even shared “I love you’s” and were open about having sex. But in the end, Pilar and Haley got engaged when Pilar popped the question.
Where are they now?
The happy couple is still engaged and has plans to elope instead of planning a big wedding.
Kyle & Bridget: The love triangle that wasn't
Netflix
The couple came on the show with Kyle giving the ultimatum and Bridget not understanding what “the point of marriage” is. Kyle and Bridget both had eyes for Pilar while the cast was in the dating phase of the show, but ultimately, Kyle and Pilar ended up in a tumultuous trial marriage, while Bridget formed a friendship with her trial wife, Ashley.
Despite Bridget not being interested in saying “I do” when the show started, she ended up popping the question on Ultimatum Day, and Kyle accepted her proposal.
Where are they now?
Bridget and Kyle are still happily engaged, and both still follow Pilar on Instagram.
Who broke up?
Ashley & Marita: What happens when love languages clash
Netflix
Ashley was the one to issue the ultimatum before coming on the show, and Marita made it clear that she needed to be romanced in her relationship before considering saying “I do.”
Ashley barely got any airtime on the show, but Marita, who originally was hoping to be paired with AJ for her trial marriage, ended up having a very touching relationship with Britney.
During the trial marriage, Britney showed Marita what being with a thoughtful, romantic partner was like, but when Ultimatum Day came around, Ashley ended up being the one to break things off with Marita.
Where are they now?
It was revealed during the reunion that Marita and Ashley took a trip together to Key West after their breakup. At the reunion, the two fought, and Marita ended up storming out while crying. Ashley and Marita are still broken up.
Marie and Mel: All is (un)fair in love and food trucks
Netflix
After four years together and a shared food truck business, Marie issued an ultimatum to Mel before coming on the show. While Marie struggled in her trial marriage to AJ, who kept sneaking off to see Britney, Mel just kept getting closer and closer to her trial wife, Dayna.
Mel and Dayna ended up getting matching tattoos to top off their three-week-long trial marriage, and were accused of having sex, but vehemently denied taking that step (despite some very sus audio heard on the show).
And yet, on Ultimatum Day, Mel proposed to Marie, who accepted.
Where are they now?
Well, the couple may have gotten engaged at the end of the show, but by the reunion, they had already called it quits. Just a couple months after filming ended, Marie broke up with Mel and she stepped away from the food truck business, which is now owned by Mel.
Spoilers for The Ultimatum: Queer Love season 2 episodes 1-3 follow.
The first season of The Ultimatum: Queer Love was delightfully chaotic, bingeable, brain-rot TV viewing, and we were seated for every episode (why should the straights have all the fun with The Bachelor?). The first seven episodes of season 2 have just dropped, and the discourse about one messy masc has already started.
For the uninitiated, the show features six couples who are all navigating an “ultimatum” in their relationship by dating other people who are in the same boat. ”One partner is ready for marriage, the other may have doubts," the official synopsis reads. "In just over eight weeks, each couple will either get married, or get out, after they each choose new potential partners in a life-changing opportunity to get a glimpse of two different futures."
The first week of the show is dedicated to all of the couples splitting up into 12 singles and then dating each other, and AJ who was the recipient of the ultimatum from her partner Britney, takes full advantage of this, flirting her way through most of the cast.
Even though the entire point of the first few episodes is to date around, AJ has faced a backlash both on the show and on social media.
The complaints largely boil down to this: AJ is a player who led the other cast members on.
— (@)
But AJ was just playing the game that the show sets up. They were supposed to date around, and she did. People on the cast are just mad she’s better at it than they are. She’s a smooth-talking extrovert with big top energy, and a lot of them had hearts in their eyes every time they looked at her.
Both Bridget and Marita get angry and confront AJ when they are all deciding who they want to shack up with for a trial relationship, and AJ doesn’t pick them.
Admittedly, AJ seems a little glib when she’s talking directly to the camera in her confessionals, but technically she didn’t actually do anything wrong, and even admits to wanting to play the field, hilariously calling herself a “hoochie daddy without the shorts.”
Everyone was quick to label AJ a villain, but she just understood the assignment. You know, the one where they were supposed to date a lot of people.
— (@)
The internet has also had a lot to say about AJ, accusing her of “love bombing” and being a “massive f*ckboy,” and that she’s just “saying bullshit” to get the women to fall for her.
Counterpoint: She’s just a good flirt! She identifies what a woman is into quickly and uses that to flirt with her. She locked in on the fact that Marita wanted to be romanced, and that being open about sex was important to Bridget.
But Bridget did the exact same thing. She supposedly had a connection with AJ, but was also disappointed that Pilar picked Kyle instead of her, before Bridget finally landed on Ashley for her trial marriage, whom she also dated and liked. Sounds like she was dating around and flirting with a lot of people. Why does that sound familiar?
And it’s not AJ’s fault Marita put all her eggs in one basket — it also seems like she just picked the first person who used the word “romance” on a date.
— (@)
“Watching it back, it was kind of crazy to see that, that people thought that I was like, in a way, plotting to get to get with certain people,” AJ recently told PRIDE, “like I never went around telling people you should choose me, pick me as your number one. The fact that people already had that in their hearts and wanted to go on more dates with me, like I honestly thought that was a little surprising.”
Again, admittedly, AJ confessing at the end of episode 3 that she could see herself marrying her brand-spanking new trial partner is wild when you’re the one who was afraid to get married. You don’t know each other! Britney deserves better.
Also, why is no one talking about how Dayna tried to convince Magan that leaving the show because she was uncomfortable was quitting their relationship, and pressured her to stay on? And she seems completely indifferent to the fact that Dayna is struggling with gaining acceptance of her queer identity from her conservative Lebanese family.
AJ might be messy, but there are actual villains on this show.
Looking for a new sapphic obsession? Some of the best lesbian stories can be found in the world of anime. In other words, it’s time to explore the world of yuri anime, which, for the uninitiated, is a sub-genre of anime that focuses on romantic and sexual relationships between female (and female-presenting) characters.
But where to start? Maybe you like romance in a sci-fi or fantasy setting, maybe you want something funny, sporty, or just a sweet coming-of-age tale. No matter our vibe, the good news is, there is lesbian anime for you. And, importantly, these are shows that don't just bait, ie, tease a sapphic romance, while never delivering on it. Ugh, so frustrating!
With all of that in mind, here are 11 animated tales of queer love, and where you can watch them. So grab that popcorn, and maybe some tissues, and get into this romantic lesbian anime.
'Kase-san and Morning Glories'
Zexcs
If you are looking for a sweet story that centers on lesbian joy, then Kase-san and Morning Glories is exactly what you're craving. The series follows two high schoolers, one a garden enthusiast, and the other a jock, who, despite their differences, are drawn to one another.
Revolutionary Girl Utena is unique for both its depiction of queer love and exploration of gender, and it has in some ways set the standard for yuri. It follows a tomboy named Utena Tenjou who dreams of growing up to be a prince, while at the academy she strikes up a romance with Rose Bride, and together they uncover the academy’s secrets, all while falling in love.
Demisexuals and aromantics, this is the yuri for you. It follows Yuu Koito, a high schooler who dreams of having an epic love, but when her classmate Touko Nanami confesses her feelings, Yuu is surprised to feel nothing. The series follows their journey to growing closer and a slow-burning romance blooming between them.
This series pairs wartime intrigue, sci-fi battles, and lesbian romance, so of course it's on this list. This series made history as the first in the popular Gundam franchise to not only center a female character but to give her a sapphic romance. Suletta Mercury is a socially awkward and shy pilot who is shocked when she successfully wins the right to be engaged to Miorine Rembran, daughter of a powerful chairman. While at first the two just see their betrothal as an advantageous political arrangement, they eventually grow closer, eventually discovering a romantic connection.
Citrus is the most controversial title on our list because it deals with stepsisters falling in love, but it remains a fan favorite because of its unapolgoic queer love story at its heart. The story follows Yuzu Aihara, a popular high schooler who is forced to transfer to an all-girls school after her mother remarries. Once there, she clashes with the student council president, Mei Aihara, only to discover that her new rival is also her new stepsister. They begin at odds but over the course of the story discover an attraction, connection, and eventually intimacy.
This anime differs from many other yuris because its characters are already openly queer. In it, Sumika is a jock with a major crush on her bubbly bestie Ushio. Ushio is a sapphic but one who is only into femmes, thus she doesn't see Samika as a romantic option. Sumika supports her friend through her various crushes, all while nursing her unrequited feelings — at least at first.
I'm in Love with the Villainess is a sapphic example of the popular “different world” subgenre of anime in which characters suddenly wake up or are reincarnated into a magical or sci-fi world. In this series, Rei Oohashi is a stressed-out office worker who suddenly finds herself transformed into her favorite video game. Once there, she falls in love with Claire François, the game’s bombshell baddie. She begins pursuing Claire, who at first rebuffs her interest, but the two begin developing feelings for one another.
A great yuri with an incredible title, The Executioner and Her Way of Life is set in a world where people from the real world are “summoned” into the mysterious fantasy world where Menou, a priestess-assassin lives and is tasked with killing off these summoned souls who upon arrive become major threats of mass destruction. This is complicated when a young woman named Akari Tokitō is summoned, but she is seemingly immortal due to her ability to rewind time. At first, Menou cozies up to her to try and find a way to kill her permanently, but instead ends up falling in love with her target.
Adachi and Shimamura is just a straightforward and romantic coming-of-age sapphic story. It follows high schoolers Sakura Adachi and Hougetsu Shimamura, who begin hanging out together while cutting class. The two form a bond and soon, each of them begins to realize their feelings are more than friendship. Each wrestles with thier surprising and new emotions, desperate to express them, but fearful of how it will impact the special bond they have forged. Relatable!
At last, a lesbian sports anime! This series follows two golfers, Eagle and Ame, who approach the sport very differently. The former is rebellious and plays the game with a ton of flair, while the latter is disciplined and a prodigy from a wealthy family. Regardless, or perhaps because of, their differences, the two athletes go from rivals to lovers.
Sakura Trick is one of the earliest examples of yuri anime and remains one of the sweetest. In it, best friends Haruka and And Yuu spiral when they are separated in class. Terrified that she will lose her best friend, Haruka impulsively kisses Yuu. This moment of spontaneous intimacy kickstarts a secret romance between the two. Lots and lots of kissing follow.
The iconic Pit Crew member from RuPaul's Drag Race is not only rubbing down some of the hottest hunks on his new series, but he's also helping relieve stress by asking the stars to spill the tea on their daily struggles.
Back in April, Alcantara dished on his excitement for his new series while attending the grand opening of The Tryst Puerto Vallarta.
"A massage with a message! I'm so excited. The show is really about wellness and finding joy. We all go through complicated moments and challenges. Through the massage and the conversation, we explore all that," Alcantara tells PRIDE.
PRIDE is exclusively giving fans a first look at the steamy trailer that just dropped today. Watch it below!
Happy Endings with Bruno premieres exclusively on WOW Presents Plus on July 5th. To see the full interview with Bruno Alcantara, check out the video at the top of the page.
Nick Frost attends the "How to Train Your Dragon" Immersive Experience Screening at Frameless on June 03, 2025 in London, England.
Lia Toby/Getty Images
Nick Frost is giving fans whiplash between being cast in the new Harry Potter series and the upcoming premiere of his new sitcom starring a trans lead.
Transaction revolves around Liv (Jordan Gray), a "transgender egomaniac" who regularly wreaks havoc during the nightshift at the supermarket. In addition to starring in the series, Gray is also credited as its creator — the show initially began as a series of shorts for Comedy Central back in 2020.
Frost reportedly plays Gray's boss at the supermarket. His role in Transaction was announced months before news broke that he would be stepping into the shoes of Hagrid in HBO's new Harry Potter series.
The latter sparked a fair amount of backlash online, which is to be expected considering the constant firestorm surrounding J.K. Rowling and her continued anti-trans crusade under the guise of championing "women's rights."
Despite some attempts to distance the upcoming series from Rowling and her views, HBO chief Casey Bloys previously acknowledged that she was "very involved" in deciding who would help bring the world of Harry Potter to life this time around.
Frost himself has also tried to distance himself from Rowling's beliefs, all while celebrating the casting he told The Observer he attempted to manifest by writing the name "Hagrid" (misspelled "Hadridge") 5000 times.
"[Rowling is] allowed her opinion and I'm allowed mine, they just don't align in any way, shape or form," he said.
And to his credit, he did suggest that it might be better if the controversy surrounding the new Harry Potter series and Rowling's involvement doesn't disappear.
"We shouldn't just hope it will go away, because it makes it easier," he added. "Maybe we should educate ourselves."
Studio Deen: Bandai Namco / MOGUMO; 
