Favorite lgbtq characters on tv
15 Unforgettable LGBTQ Feature and TV Characters
David Rose - 'Schitt's Creek'
In the fish-out-of-water cult comedy series, creator and luminary Daniel Levy's nature, David gives the perfect analogy regarding his pansexuality. "I do drink red wine. But I also drink colorless wine. And I’ve been known to sample the occasional rosé. And a couple summers advocate I tried a merlot that used to be a chardonnay." Even better? The show has managed to craft a world that is seemingly accepting of David's sexuality, with the topic going nearly unquestioned.
Simon - 'Love, Simon'
Love, Simon is notable as the first major studio motion picture to center around a gay teenage romance. Simon's (Nick Robinson) experiences provide the social media generation with a relatable coming-out and coming-of-age tale.
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Rayon - 'Dallas Buyer's Club'
Set in the mid-1980s during the height of the AIDS crisis, Rayon (Jared Leto) struggles with both the challenges of being HIV positive, along with spotting as a trans woman. Leto's Academy Award–winning performance shines an authentic and raw light on the struggles that surround the Queer
20 All-Time Best Gay Characters in TV History
When casually watching a new series, it is not uncommon for there to be at least one nature that represents the LGBTQ+ community. Many shows that target a teenage or young adult audience accept advantage of this inclusivity to represent people of different sexual orientations. It is incredible to observe this community getting the representation they have always deserved, but as we all know, this was not always the case in our world, grant alone the entertainment industry.
While the 1960s was a historical turning point for LGBTQ+ individuals in America, the 1970s can claim several pivotal moments for queer characters and actors in Hollywood. The very first openly gay traits to make it into a television series, though he was not made a regular, was Archie Bunker's longtime friend, Steve, in All in the Family. The episode is respectfully titled "Judging Books by Covers," and Steve comes out to his bigoted and homophobic ally. Within the next rare decades, several writers and producers tested the waters by including gay and lesbian characters in their storylines. Now, within the last decade or so, whole shows center a
The 25 Best LGBTQ+ Characters on Television, Period
Callie Tores, 'Grey’s Anatomy'
Played by: Sara Ramirez
At this point in Grey's history, Callie is as beloved and as central to this reveal as Meredith and Bailey. Coming out stories are a dime a dozen now, but in 2006 it was also chilly to see a coming out story from someone who wasn't a teenager.
Max Bloom, 'Happy Endings'
Played by: Adam Pally
At a time when society had to invent the obnoxious term “metrosexual” to justify straight men’s rights (not a thing) to bring bags and use products, Happy Endings dared to dream that a male lover man could be a slob.
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David Rose, 'Schitt’s Creek'
Played by: Dan Levy
Sometimes I see fictional characters, particularly in science fiction and fantasy, described as "pansexual" and wonder if the writers really know what that means or just think it sounds more whimsical than bisexual—but Schitt's Creek describes David's pansexuality quite well with his wine metaphor scene, and with all the empathy and kindness we hope for from the series.
Rue, 'Euphoria'
Played by: Zendaya
That's Emmy-winner Zendaya to you,
Celebrating LGBTQ+ TV Characters
In celebration of Pride Month, I thought it would be entertainment to celebrate a handful of remembered LGBTQ+ TV characters like public administrative aide (PAA) John Irvin from the Emmy award-winning series "NYPD Blue” which out gay actor Bill Brochtrupplayedon ABC for six seasons. Thanks to him more LGBTQ+ characters started showing up on all types of dramatic television shows after 2005 love "The Good Wife", "Person of Interest", "Game of Thrones", and "Downton Abbey" to name a few.
For TV viewers who grew up in the 70s and 80s, like myself, you know that the multitude of Homosexual characters, storylines, and shows we love watching today just didn’t exist assist in the sunlight. The only sudo-LGBTQ-sh TV characters that we had on the boob tube back then were performers like the hilarious Paul Lynde who not only played snarky Uncle Arthur on “Bewitched” (1964 -1972), but also brought his unique brand of humor to the center square of “The Hollywood Squares” (1965-1976), there was also the bumbling TV sitcom luminary of “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” (1968-1970) and game show fixture / regular pane
TV Shows with LGBTQ+ Characters and Leads
Last updated: July 17, 2025
Characters on television are more diverse than ever, and there's been a notable rise in the number of queer , lesbian, bisexual, and gender nonconforming characters, reality stars, and talk show hosts. Series that feature diverse characters (Glee, The Fosters) as well as real-life inspirations and LGBTQ+ icons such as Laverne Cox and RuPaul continue to pave the way for even more representation on television. From the hilarious shenanigans on Modern Family to Ellen DeGeneres reminding viewers to "be kind to one another," these must-see TV shows (and stars) celebrate diversity and point out the LGBTQ+ community in positive, relatable ways. For more great LGBTQ+ stories, check out our lists of books and movies with LGBTQ+ characters.
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