19 LGBTQ Characters Who Helped Change TV For the Better
When it comes to LGBTQ representation on both the big and small screen, we've come a long way. Despite the fact that visibility remains an uphill battle, over the years, we've seen characters who have become icons of what it means to see and embrace your truest self. They have guided countless among us to follow suit, and seeing their lives and knowing their stories — whether fictional or not — is not just entertainment, it's a form of heroism, one that should never go under-appreciated. They are a constant reminder that representation matters. Here, some of the most epic, iconic LGBTQ characters thus far.
1/19Maura, Transparent
The award-winning show chronicles a character who comes out and transitions mid-life — an experience many more people than just the Kardashians can relate to.
2/19Willow Rosenberg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
As the first lesbian character to have sex on primetime TV, we're going to go ahead and say that Willow was one of the most epic roles of the decade.
3/19Spencer Carlin, South of Nowhere
South of Nowhere is one of the more classic shows of the mid 2000s, and Spencer was one of the first roles that portrayed high school lesbian romance.
4/19Will Horton, Days of Our Lives
On a show that doesn’t shy away from outlandish plot lines, Will’s coming out was met with complete respect and dignity, which was both empowering and refreshing.
5/19Ellen Morgan, Ellen
Before she was one of the most famous talk show hosts of all time, Ellen DeGeneres played her own title character on the show Ellen. Her coming out episode is widely considered one of the most monumental moments in LGBTQ TV history.
6/19Marco Del Rossi, Degrassi: The Next Generation
We watched Marco through a serious evolution: from pretending to be straight to coming out to his parents and finding pride in who he is. He was an inspiration, even then.
7/19Jack McFarland, Will & Grace
Will & Grace is perhaps one of the most iconic shows to feature multiple LGBTQ characters as early as it did, but that’s not what made Sean Hayes iconic in his role. It was the comic timing. And the punchlines. And the Cher impression.
8/19David Karofsky, Glee
Watching a football-playing bully reveal the true reason for his anger was heart-wrenching to watch, but that was just the beginning: Between being outed and then considering some seriously dark alternatives for himself, David’s role was incredibly powerful for how it portrayed some of the very real issues LGBTQ teens deal with every day.
9/19Santana Lopez, Glee
In a storyline that is very similar to David’s, Santana’s romance with Brittany was as heart-wrenching as it was warming. Watching her come to terms with who she really was – in front of family, friends, and peers alike – was seriously inspiring.
10/19Sophia Burset, Orange Is The New Black
As one of the first transgender women to play a transgender woman on TV, Laverne Cox's portrayal of Sophia breaks barriers for a lot more than just her fine acting skills.
11/19Dr. Arizona Robbins, Grey’s Anatomy
Arizona quickly won the hearts of a few particular Grey-Sloan Memorial staffers, and it was for more than just her rollerblading through the halls of Peds. Soon after her arrival on the show, she began a relationship with Callie Torres, and little did they know then, the beginnings of a truly modern family were born.
12/19Dr. Callie Torres, Grey’s Anatomy
As Arizona’s partner, and then the mother of a child with Mark, Callie’s run on the series was a perfect display of bisexuality (and serious girl power, let us never forget).
13/19Bette Porter, The L Word
As a character one one of the newer shows to be explicit about centering on LGBTQ characters, Bette might not have been the most morally or ethically sound character of all time, but she’s an icon, nonetheless.
14/19Jamal Lyon, Empire
Jamal’s struggle with his father's objection to his homosexuality was inspired by Empire creator Lee Daniels's own relationship with his father, which is enough to make this role incredible. But in a world where representation of gay men are few and far between, Jamal’s role is groundbreaking.
15/19Laverne Cox as Frank-n-Furter, The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Though the show has a few months until it premieres, Laverne will be making history (once again) starring as Frank-n-Furter in this movie classic.
16/19Rickie Vasquez, My So Called Life
As one of the first bisexual men to be portrayed on TV (he later came out as gay), Rickie Vasquez paved the way for a better understanding of gender-non-conformism and of course, the spectrum on which sexuality inherently exists.
17/19Piper Chapman, Orange Is The New Black
Piper, the protagonist of the series, is bisexual, and addresses many questions about bisexuality through her story, her family’s confusion, and her multiple relationships.
18/19Kurt Hummel, Glee
Multiple LGBTQ characters emerge through the Glee series, but at the beginning, Kurt was the only openly gay character on the show.
19/19Salvatore Romano, Mad Men
Sal is a closeted member of the ad agency’s art department, though he’s not the only LGBTQ character in the series. His arc captured a part of the '60s few talk about, and did so in a heart-wrenching way.
