Although Hollywood at times still adheres to unflattering stereotypes of the LGBTQ+ community [1], representation in media has come a long way in the past 20 years or so. It's been an arduous, uphill battle for the community, and while we're still fighting that fight [2] — especially when it comes to stories centreing trans [3], nonbinary, and BIPOC folks — it's important to pay tribute to the trailblazers who have paved the way thus far.
In honour of LGBTQ+ History Month, we've rounded up some of the television characters who influenced the way we see queer culture. Starting as early as the '90s, these characters helped break down barriers that kept the LGBTQ+ community in the shadows for far too long.
Tara Maclay and Willow Rosenberg — Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) and Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) were one of the first lesbian couples depicted on television and hold a special place in the hearts of LGBTQ+ community. Despite Tara's tragic death — and the heated backlash from killing her off — their relationship undeniably laid the groundwork for greater on-screen representation.
Jack McFarland — Will and Grace (1998)
While Jack (Sean Hayes) is not the only openly gay man on Will and Grace, he's one of the most memorable characters from this groundbreaking series. Although the show's creators were criticized for playing to gay stereotypes when writing Jack's character, his flamboyant and feminine nature challenged societal norms in the late '90s — indeed to a fault.
Justin Taylor — Queer as Folk (2000)
As one of the pioneers in queer representation in mainstream media, Queer As Folk pushed boundaries with its queer-centric stories and cast. Although the show has so many incredible characters and portrayals to choose from, Justin Taylor (Randy Harrison) remains a standout. Justin's journey of self-discovery, which spans from high school into his early adult years, is a portrait of what being a young gay man in the early 2000s was really like — something that wasn't very prominent on TV at the time.
Callie Torres — Grey's Anatomy (2006)
Appearing in 11 seasons and 239 episodes, Callie Torres — Grey's Anatomy [4]'s openly bisexual orthopedic surgeon — is the longest-running LGBTQ+ character in television history [5]. While at first Callie (Sara Ramirez) seems almost in denial about her sexuality, she eventually leans into her identity, confidently navigating relationships with both men and women at Grey Sloan Memorial. In doing so, she helped dispense with the myth that those who identify as bisexual are still exploring their sexuality — and gave voice to a portion of the LGBTQ+ community that often feels overlooked.
Lafayette Reynolds — True Blood (2008)
True Blood's Lafayette Reynolds, played by the late Nelsan Ellis, is the only openly gay and feminine Black man in Bon Temps, LA. While this means he faces his fair share of discrimination from locals, Lafayette wears his sharp wit, makeup, and wardrobe like a queer armor, never backing down from a fight. His bold and unapologetic nature made him one of the most beloved characters on the show.
Kurt Hummel — Glee (2009)
Kurt Hummel is the first openly gay character introduced on the hit series Glee, a role that earned Chris Colfer a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in 2011. Throughout the series, Kurt transforms from shy and closeted to outspoken and unapologetically queer, taking viewers with him on an emotional journey that includes coming out to his very masculine father, being relentlessly bullied at school, and in the end, finding love and acceptance.
Sophia Burset — Orange Is the New Black (2013)
While Orange Is the New Black [6] has a wide array of LGBTQ+ characters, Sophia Burset's storyline is arguably the most compelling. Throughout the show's seven seasons, Sophia (Laverne Cox) struggles against transphobia from other inmates and a system that repeatedly fails to protect her. Despite these obstacles, Sophia always stands up for herself and never allows her womanhood to be questioned. It's a wrenching but necessary portrayal of what it's like to navigate the world as a Black transgender woman.
David Rose — Schitt's Creek (2015)
Dan Levy [7] received multiple nominations for his role as David Rose, and won the hearts of millions who fell in love with his snarky, yet sensitive, character. Among the more memorable moments on the show is David's "coming out" to Stevie, in which he explains that he likes "the wine and not the label." Outside of that casual conversation while shopping for wine, his pansexuality isn't central to the storyline. It's just one of the many ways that Schitt's Creek [8] is truly exceptional.
Taylor Mason — Billions (2016)
With Billions, Asia Kate Dillon became the first nonbinary actor to be cast in a major television series [9]. Their character, Taylor Mason, is also nonbinary, but notably, their storyline isn't focussed on their gender identity. Taylor is a boss, they're powerful, and they certainly don't need anyone's approval — and that's what makes the character so successful.
Moira Strand — The Handmaid's Tale (2017)
Moira Strand (Samira Wiley) is a lesbian forced to hide her sexuality in order to avoid being branded a "gender traitor" and executed by Gilead, the oppressive and dystopian society at the centre of The Handmaid's Tale [10]. Though she eventually escapes and is able to live freely again, her story is a painful reminder of the fear LGBTQ+ folks around the world still live with every day — and why we can never take our rights for granted.
Blanca Evangelista — Pose (2018)
It's difficult to choose just one character from Pose, which set a new standard for trans and queer representation [11] in the Black and Latinx communities. However, housemother Blanca Evangelista is quite literally the heart of the show. She stands as a symbol of hope, showing audiences that if you stay true to yourself and keep your heart open, you can have everything you ever wanted — no matter who you are. This earth-shattering performance even earned Mj Rodriguez an Emmy nomination [12] for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series earlier this year, making her the first trans woman ever to receive a nomination in the category.
Loki — Loki (2021)
The first season of Loki confirms that the fan-favourite title character, played by Tom Hiddleston, is gender fluid and has had past relationships with both men and women. This open discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation is a major step forward for the Marvel universe and the superhero genre more generally, which has historically been heavily heteronormative.
Cal Bowman — Sex Education (2021)
Sex Education may be relatively new to the scene, but the show expertly navigates sexuality and gender identity [13]. In the third season, audiences are introduced to Cal Bowman (Dua Saleh), a nonbinary Black student who, despite being new to Moordale High and quickly becoming a target of the headmistress, refuses to be anything other than their truest self.