Mark My Words: ‘Overcompensating’: Your Number One Gay Summer Streaming Show

“Overcompensating” on Prime Video is my top summer pick for pure escape — and isn’t that what summer’s all about?

It’s a coming-of-age, coming-out story centered around a closeted college jock trying to live his truth while fearing he’ll lose his popularity among his frat and jock friends if he does. Sounds like a drama, right? But it’s anything but. The laughs come fast, the surprises keep you hooked, and you’ll find yourself guessing which guy Benny will finally end up with — if he can get past his fear and come out.

But there’s still drama — the kind we all know. The kind that comes with finally owning who you are, letting your friends in and waiting for their acceptance. Or in Benny’s case, letting them try to set him up for his first time … but is it really his first time?

When I was disrupting live TV shows in the 1970s to demand representation, this is the kind of story I was dreaming about. A gay romance I could actually relate to — not just another version of a straight love story. And it’s a series that speaks to something we’ve all experienced: the fear that coming out could shatter everything and the bravery it takes to do it anyway.

Benito Skinner — the writer and star — handles it all with heart, wit and brilliance. Every episode leaves you wanting more.

If you liked “Love, Simon” or “Heartstopper,” this is the more grown-up version — smarter, deeper and full of moments that hit home. It’s not a simple script. It’s got brains. It’s got soul. You feel Benny’s joy, his longing to be himself and the pressure that keeps him in the closet.

I’ll admit, this one hits especially hard for me. This is the kind of visibility I’ve spent my life fighting for — and sometimes getting arrested for. When I launched a campaign in the ’70s to force the networks (no streaming back then!) to include LGBTQ+ people, there wasn’t a single openly gay person in front of or behind the camera.

That campaign helped start a conversation — one that eventually led to people like Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow being seen and heard, and stories like this becoming part of our cultural mainstream. I have to admit, it gives me a deep sense of pride and yes, I still get emotional when I see our community represented as real, fully human characters.

And here’s the best part: it’s created by someone from our community.

Benito Skinner should take great pride in knowing that somewhere out there, a young gay person is watching this show — and maybe, just maybe, it’s helping them feel seen. It could be a lifesaver. Because visibility matters. It reminds us we’re not alone.

Mark Segal is an American journalist. He is the founder and publisher of Philadelphia Gay News and has won numerous journalism awards for his column “Mark My Words,” including best column by The National Newspaper Association.