132 rooms. 157 suspects. One dead body. And one fabulously queer presidential couple. Netflix’s The Residence is shaking up the murder mystery genre—and the West Wing—with a screwball twist and a whole lot of LGBTQ+ joy.
From the minds of Scandal alum Paul William Davies and Shondaland royalty Shonda Rhimes, The Residence is an 8-episode whodunnit set deep in the halls (and drama) of the White House. While eccentric detective Cordelia Cupp (played by Emmy winner Uzo Aduba) tries to crack a murder that unfolds during a state dinner gone wrong, we’re treated to political intrigue, behind-the-scenes staff chaos, and a groundbreaking portrayal of a sitting U.S. president… who just happens to be gay.
Yes, Madam President—But Make Him Gay
Paul Fitzgerald stars as President Perry Morgan, who is juggling national crises and household drama alongside his husband, First Gentleman Elliott Morgan, played by queer actor Barrett Foa. It’s a history-making moment on screen that’s presented with the perfect balance of subtlety and sparkle.
“They wanted it grounded in reality,” Fitzgerald said in our interview with Gayety. “Probably TV’s first gay president, but that is not foregrounded in any important way other than the fact that it’s just a reality. And I loved that.”
And that’s the magic of The Residence. It doesn’t reduce queer representation to a gimmick or a “very special episode.” It just lets it live.
“We Were There Representing”
For Barrett Foa, who’s been a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in entertainment, the role hit home. “I love that I am part of one half of maybe the first queer presidency on television,” he said. “I’m queer and the guy playing the president is queer. So in real life, we have that great representation. It’s such a cool time for this to happen.”
And while their on-screen marriage isn’t the central mystery of the show (there is a body, after all), the normalization of a gay couple in the most powerful office in the world sends a powerful message.
“No one’s like, ‘Let’s talk about how these people are gay,’” Foa added. “You’re just like, no—that’s the setup of the show. And there’s something so natural about that. It doesn’t have to be a thing.”
Representation: Not Just a Buzzword
Behind the scenes, the cast and creators were just as intentional about representation. “I’ve never seen a more organic representation of the way the world looks,” said Fitzgerald. “In front of the camera and behind the camera… they have made the world on television look like the world looks.”
From a racially and queer-diverse ensemble to the powerhouse creatives behind the scenes (Shoutout to EPs Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, and directors Liza Johnson and Jaffar Mahmood), The Residence isn’t just talking about representation—it’s living it.
The Bottom Line
If Knives Out, The West Wing, and Clue had a baby and raised it in a world where the president has a husband and Kylie Minogue shows up at state dinners, you’d get The Residence. Come for the murder mystery, stay for the queer joy and the messy staff drama.
The Residence is streaming now on Netflix. Check out our interviews with the full cast below.
