While some may think diversity on television is unnecessary or “woke,” showing people from all walks of life helps promote civil rights and human dignity around the world. There is no one who denies it. Television allows characters to grow and represent demographics that are often ignored. As LGBTQ+ acceptance increases (we hope so), here are some of our favorite shows from around the world that have helped create characters that queer people can relate to and draw inspiration from. I would like to thank the authors for their efforts. These are the 22 most important LGBTQ+ TV characters of all time!
1. Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres) – Ellen
Ellen DeGeneres’ popularity has waned in recent years, as she has been criticized by staff for being difficult to work with on the set of her talk show and even verbally abusive towards her co-workers. Despite her claims, there is no doubt that she is the ultimate queer TV pioneer.When her character appeared in the comedy Ellen The 1990s opened the floodgates for everyone else to feel comfortable writing and portraying LGBTQ+ characters.
2. Omar Little (Michael K. Williams) – The Wire
HBO police drama wire overflowed It features fascinating characters, and Omar Little breaks new ground in this genre. A black, gay gangster with no small amount of emotional intelligence and superior intelligence, he captivated nearly every fan who watched the show. Omar combined a variety of qualities never before seen on television and that have not been replicated since.
3. Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) – Stranger Things
The Duffer Brothers used a steady, slow hand to reveal Will Byers’ sexuality. stranger things. It was hinted in season 1 that he was gay, and Will’s struggles in the Upside Down and the show’s regular reality reflect his formative years with being an LGBTQ+ teen in the 1980s. It is an analogy for conflict. The huge popularity of his sci-fi hit will bring more attention to Will than anyone could have imagined when the show began in 2016. Will is one of the most important characters on LGBTQ+ television.
4. Anissa Pierce (Nafessa Williams) – Black Lightning
black lightning Inspiring young black LGBTQ+ women around the world. Nafessa Williams’ portrayal of Blackbird broke barriers for queer and black women who rarely see their race and sexuality portrayed so positively on screen. Even when she’s not in costume, Anissa Pierce is a true superhero and one of LGBTQ+ television’s most important characters.
5. Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring (Kit Connor and Joe Locke) – Heartstopper
Netflix’s LGBTQ+ Happiness Utopia, heart stopper, It’s everything a queer kid could want from TV. Nick and Charlie experience all the same firsts as straight men in history, including going to prom and kissing in the hall. The addition of mature storylines, such as Charlie’s eating disorder and Nick’s emotionally abusive brother, makes this relationship more than just a surreal escape for viewers who look up to them.
6. Pray Tell (Billy Porter) – Pose
Pause Featuring a variety of LGBTQ+ identities, Billy Porter’s Pray Tell is perhaps the most memorable character in the FX period drama. Prey is a strong and inspirational socialite boss who uses love rather than hate to overcome the stigma caused by his HIV-AID epidemic in the 1980s. Porter will make history as the first openly gay African-American to win Best Actor in a Drama, and his play will be the most important for his LGBTQ+ TV character in Emmy history. It has become one of his.
7. Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker (Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson) – Modern Family
Mitchell and Cameron remained a staple of positive representation on network TV throughout the 2010s, though they may have filled too many gay stereotypes for some. Seeing two husbands go through the same struggles (married life struggles, troubles with kids, etc.) as straight couples in such normal conditions makes the fight for marriage equality paramount. Amidst a tidal wave, LGBTQ rights were dealt a blow.
8. Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino) – Love, Victor
I love you, Victor setting the standard for LGBTQ+ streaming series this decade; Young Royals, Heartstopper, more. Victor Salazar’s steady but quiet confidence in overcoming religious prejudice from his mother, who is a racial minority, and toxic masculinity within the basketball team makes him one of the most significant of his LGBTQ+ television characters. He’s the one.
9. Prince Wilhelm and Simon (Edvin Riding and Omar Rudberg) – Young Royals
This Swedish show about a young crown prince and his intense love for his middle- and lower-class schoolmates is a must-see. Wilhelm and Simon have gone through a lot of heartache, but watching them navigate their love languages and communication is fascinating to watch.
10. Lou Bennett (Zendaya) – Euphoria
HBO’s most sexually explicit show is more controversial than thoughtful, but Zendaya makes Lou Bennett a beacon of light for LGBTQ+ people. Lou feels like an outsider because of her drug addiction. Her relationship with Jules Vaughn is one of the most heartbreaking yet tender on television.
11. Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schaefer) – Euphoria
Jules’ story euphoria Comparable to on and off girlfriends. The show does a good job of profiling the trauma that Jules has overcome in his life, and Hunter Schaefer is acutely aware of the challenges transgender people face in the world today.
12. David Rose (Dan Levy) – Schitt’s Creek
One of the most prominent pansexual characters in television history, David Rose has won many fans for his stories that combine the struggles of his love life with his professional ambitions.David’s sense of humor and wit endure through the years Schitt’s Creek Ended.
13. Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) – Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul
Although his sexuality is never fully confirmed, Gus Fring’s entire reason for revenge on the Salamanca family is due to the murder of his male friend by Hector. Gus erects a monument in Max’s image and dedicates most of both series produced by Vince Gilligan to Max. There is no revenge like a scorned homosexual!
14. Captain Ray Holt (Andre Braugher) – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Television shows rarely portray complex police officers like Inspector Ray Holt. Brooklyn Nine-Nine It adds levity to the character of a gay cop, who is usually portrayed as a sidekick or caricature.
15. Will Truman (Eric McCormack) – Will & Grace
It’s a little old now, but Will & Grace A gay character was ostentatiously introduced to the American public. Will Truman may not have portrayed the full range of queer complexity here as much as other characters, but his presence was loud and emphatic.
16. El Argento (Yasmin Finney) – Heartstopper
heartstoppers Transgender protagonists are always at the forefront of stories, but their queerness is never exploited. Most shows treat being transgender as a whole part of a character’s personality, but Elle’s transgender identity plays into the rest of the show and her desire to live a normal, typical teenage life. Perfectly aligned with her desires.
17. Leila (Desiree Akhavan) – Bisexual
What makes Layla stand out from other bisexual characters on television is that she doesn’t become bisexual because she identifies as straight, but the other way around. When a lesbian discovers that she might like a man, it is not always well received within the LGBTQ+ community. Leila symbolizes her willingness to try new experiences in her life.
18. Edward Teach/Blackbeard (Taika Waititi) – Our Flag Means Death
Everything Taika Waititi touches seems to turn to gold, including his bizarre depiction of the famous pirate Blackbeard. Edward Teach may not have been a great guy when it came to piracy and such, but Waititi makes it easier to root for him. our flag means death. Watching his romance unfold will keep viewers glued.
19. Stuart Jones (Aiden Gillen) – Queer as Folk
Stuart Jones, one-third of the cast of this iconic late 1990s British drama, is an expert on gay people’s efforts to break away from being overly sexual and pursuing men too young for them. It embodies many of the stereotypes that people have. Still, Aiden Gillen lends a lot of complex heart to this one-dimensional portrayal of queerness. He also broke new ground in the 1990s, making him one of LGBTQ+ television’s most important characters.
20. Stewie Griffin (Seth MacFarlane) – Family Guy
We all know that Stewie, despite being an animated toddler, is more than a little gay. His character mentions his good looks and taste for high fashion, suggesting that he likes men. family guy They usually tend to be more progressive, so adding diversity is not out of the realm of possibility.
21. Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsay) – The Last of Us
Ellie’s delicacy the strangeness of the last of us One of the strong suits of the HBO series. As Ellie learns more about herself through her apocalyptic journey with Joel, her comfort with being a lesbian becomes more apparent. The fact that Bella Ramsay is LGBTQ+ in real life gives the role even more credibility.
22. Cyrus Goodman (Joshua Rush) – Andi Mack
Disney Channel hasn’t had a reputation for taking many risks over the years. I don’t want to upset the parents who are watching from home. andi mack Compared to other Disney series, it didn’t seem afraid to go deep. Cyrus Goodman became the network’s first gay character and influenced many teenagers. Hopefully this will lead to more Disney shows featuring LGBTQ+ characters.
