Content & Trigger Warnings for POSE (2018)

Physical attacks and violence motivated by anti-LGBTQ hatred

Anti-LGBTQ violence and attacks continue

Violence against LGBTQ characters motivated by hatred

Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals including physical violence, murder, and harassment are central themes

Pervasive homophobia and transphobia depicted as characters navigate 1980s-90s ballroom culture

Continued pervasive anti-LGBTQ discrimination and violence

Anti-LGBTQ discrimination remains central as the timeline progresses

Pervasive depiction of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, violence, and systemic oppression throughout the series

Racial discrimination faced by characters of color in addition to anti-LGBTQ bias

Racial prejudice faced by characters alongside anti-LGBTQ bias

Racism depicted as intersecting with anti-LGBTQ prejudice

Racial discrimination and intersectional oppression of Black and Latino LGBTQ+ characters depicted extensively

Characters followed and harassed due to their identity

Characters face stalking and harassment motivated by transphobia and homophobia

Parental figures within the house ballroom family die

Profound grief as community members are lost to AIDS and violence

Deepening grief as more community members die from AIDS

Devastating losses as beloved characters succumb to illness and violence

Characters experience devastating grief from losing partners, friends, and community members to AIDS and violence

Characters express suicidal thoughts in response to discrimination, illness, and despair

Characters diagnosed with and dying from AIDS throughout

Characters deteriorate from AIDS-related illness

Characters face terminal diagnosis and declining health from AIDS

The AIDS epidemic is a central storyline with characters contracting HIV, becoming ill, and dying

Secret relationships and unfaithfulness in romantic storylines

Relationship betrayals and secret affairs

Relationship betrayals in final season storylines

Several characters engage in affairs and dishonesty within relationships

Characters face unjust arrest and legal consequences

Characters face unjust legal treatment and incarceration connected to their identities

Medical scenes related to HIV/AIDS treatment and testing

Medical procedures and treatments related to HIV/AIDS care

Medical scenes including HIV testing, blood draws, and hospital settings are frequent

Sexual scenes between characters depicted

Sexual scenes between characters

Sexual content between characters in romantic storylines

Explicit sexual content including sex scenes between characters of various orientations

Characters engage in sex work for survival, depicted with empathy but frankly

Sex work as a survival mechanism continues to be depicted

Power dynamics lead to sexually coercive situations particularly involving survival sex work

Alcohol abuse is shown as a coping mechanism for some characters dealing with trauma

Drug use depicted in the nightlife and ballroom scene

Drug use depicted in the ballroom and nightlife scenes

Substance use depicted in social and nightlife scenes

Drug use including injection drug use is depicted, connected to HIV transmission storylines

Drug overdose scenes are depicted in some episodes

Abusive relationship dynamics depicted in some storylines

Abusive relationship dynamics in certain storylines

Intimate partner violence occurs in some character relationships

Graphic aftermath of hate crime violence and injuries shown

Gun violence depicted in dramatic climactic scenes

Police harassment and brutality toward LGBTQ+ individuals, especially trans women, is depicted

Self-harm and suicide attempts are depicted as characters face overwhelming adversity

Sexual assault and sex work under coercive circumstances are depicted