47 of the most groundbreaking LGBTQ characters and relationships on TV

Callie AhlgrimJun 8, 2020, 23:04 IST

Indya Moore as Angel on FX's "Pose."FX

LGBTQ representation on TV has made huge strides in recent years.
More recent series like "Glee," "Pose," and "Orange Is the New Black" reflect the complex and many-varied experiences of queer people.
This was made possible by early shows like "Queer as Folk," "The L Word," and "Will & Grace," which helped introduce audiences to inclusive storytelling.
Here are 47 of the most groundbreaking queer characters and relationships on TV.

LGBTQ representation on TV has made huge strides in recent years, but it wasn't too long ago when queerness onscreen was considered risky, controversial, or even career-ending.

Shows like "Queer as Folk," "The L Word," "Will & Grace," and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" helped break down boundaries and introduce audiences to inclusive storytelling — allowing for non-straight characters to shine on more recent series like "Glee," "Pose," and "Orange Is the New Black."

These shows don't simply rely on stereotypical "gay best friends" or feature women kissing as a publicity stunt. They developed complex, unique, and beloved LGBTQ stories.

In honor of LGBTQ Pride, Insider rounded up 47 of the most groundbreaking queer characters and relationships on TV.

Callie Torres was openly bisexual on "Grey's Anatomy."

Sara Ramirez as Calliope Torres on "Grey's Anatomy." Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images

Trans actor Alex Blue Davis plays Dr. Casey Parker on "Grey's Anatomy," an intern and openly trans man.

Alex Blue Davis as Dr. Casey Parker on "Grey's Anatomy." ABC

Ellen Morgan famously came out on "The Puppy Episode" of the sitcom "Ellen."

Ellen DeGeneres as Ellen Morgan and Laura Dern as Susan on "Ellen." ABC

Mickey Milkovich's relationship with Ian Gallagher on "Shameless" helped him grow and accept himself.

Cameron Monaghan as Ian and Noel Fisher as Mickey on "Shameless." Showtime

Eric Effiong, a main character on "Sex Education," explores what it means to be openly gay in his religious African family.

Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong on "Sex Education." Netflix

Nicky Nichols was one of many iconic gay inmates on "Orange Is the New Black."

Natasha Lyonne as Nicky Nichols on "Orange Is the New Black." Netflix

Sophia Burset on "Orange Is the New Black" shone a light on the treatment of trans women in prisons.

Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset on "Orange Is the New Black." Netflix

Ilana Wexler rejected narrow definitions of romance and sexuality on "Broad City."

Ilana Glazer as Ilana Wexler on "Broad City." Comedy Central

Will Truman and Jack McFarland, both gay men, broke boundaries on "Will & Grace."

Eric McCormack as Will and Sean Hayes as Jack on "Will & Grace." NBC

Omar Little on "The Wire" helped take away some of the stigma that surrounds openly gay black men.

Michael K. Williams as Omar on "The Wire." HBO

Despite the tragic end of Tara Maclay and Willow Rosenberg on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," their relationship is still celebrated.

Amber Benson as Tara and Alyson Hannigan as Willow on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The WB‎

Kurt Hummel was the first openly gay character introduced on "Glee."

Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel on "Glee." Fox

Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce eventually got married on "Glee."

Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez and Heather Morris as Brittany Pierce on "Glee." Fox

Titus Andromedon is a beloved gay character on "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt."

Tituss Burgess on "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." Netflix

Kat Edison's realization that she's not straight on "The Bold Type" was perfectly executed.

Aisha Dee as Kat and Nikohl Boosheri as Adena on "The Bold Type." Freeform

Angel Evangelista exudes confidence and elegance as a trans woman on "Pose."

Indya Moore as Angel on "Pose." FX

Jude Foster and Connor Stevens on "The Fosters" shared the youngest-ever same-sex kiss on network TV.

Gavin MacIntosh as Connor and Hayden Byerly as Jude on "The Fosters." Freeform

Brian Kinney had the most interesting story line on "Queer as Folk."

Gale Harold as Brian on "Queer as Folk." Showtime

As an openly gay, black police officer, Captain Raymond Holt fought his way through discrimination on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."

Andre Braugher as Raymond Holt on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." Fox

Rosa Diaz is a bisexual detective on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."

Stephanie Beatriz as Rosa on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." NBC

"Adventure Time" finally confirmed Princess Bubblegum and Marceline's romantic relationship after 10 seasons.

Princess Bubblegum and Marceline are voiced by Hynden Walch and Olivia Olson. Cartoon Network

Maxxie Oliver rose above homophobia on "Skins."

Mitch Hewer as Maxxie on "Skins." E4

Emily Fitch and Naomi Campbell helped each other come to terms with their sexualities on "Skins."

Kathryn Prescott as Emily and Lily Loveless as Naomi on "Skins." E4

Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker are very different but very in love on "Modern Family."

Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell and Eric Stonestreet as Cam on "Modern Family." ABC

Taylor Mason is a gender non-binary CEO on "Billions."

Asia Kate Dillon as Taylor Mason on "Billions." Showtime

Cyrus Beene was the first openly gay vice president in the "Scandal" universe — and otherwise.

Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene on "Scandal." Richard Cartwright/ABC

Elena Alvarez struggled with her father's homophobia on "One Day at a Time."

Isabella Gomez as Elena Alvarez on "One Day at a Time." Netflix

Yorkie and Kelly defied stereotypes and expectations on the "San Junipero" episode of "Black Mirror."

Mackenzie Davis as Yorkie and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Kelly on "Black Mirror." Netflix

Moira refused to be demonized for her sexuality on "The Handmaid's Tale."

Samira Wiley as Moira on "The Handmaid's Tale." Elly Dassas/Hulu

Emily sacrificed herself for her wife and son on "The Handmaid's Tale."

Alexis Bledel as Emily on "The Handmaid's Tale." Hulu

Carol and Susan getting married on "Friends" was somewhat scandalous at the time.

Jane Sibbett as Carol, David Schwimmer as Ross, and Jessica Hecht as Susan on "Friends." NBC

Alex Kelly became a bisexual icon for fans of "The O.C."

Olivia Wilde as Alex Kelly on "The O.C." Fox

Lily Hoshikawa opened up about being trans on the Japanese anime series "Zombieland Saga."

Minami Tanaka voices Lily on "Zombieland Saga." Mappa

Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand represented a fluid, progressive approach to sexuality on "Game of Thrones."

Pedro Pascal as Oberyn and Indira Varma as Ellaria on "Game of Thrones." HBO

Bette Porter was seen as the lesbian matriarch on "The L Word."

Jennifer Beals as Bette on "The L Word." Paul Michaud/Showtime

Tasha Williams on "The L Word" rose awareness about discriminatory practices in the military.

Rose Rollins as Tasha on "The L Word." Showtime

Ryan, a gay man with cerebral palsy, stars on "Special."

Ryan O'Connell on "Special." Netflix

"Wynonna Earp" portrays a refreshingly healthy lesbian relationship between Nicole Haught and Waverly Earp.

Katherine Barrell as Nicole and Dominique Provost-Chalkley as Waverly. Syfy

Lafayette Reynolds was the only character who was both gay and human on "True Blood."

Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette and Kevin Alejandro as Jesús on "True Blood." HBO

Bo Dennis was the bisexual succubus at the center of "Lost Girl."

Anna Silk as Bo on "Lost Girl." Syfy

Rickie Vasquez on "My So-Called Life" was the first character to come out as gay on a network TV series.

Wilson Cruz as Rickie on "My So-Called Life." ABC

"Sense8" features Nomi Marks, a trans woman who's in love with a queer cis woman, Amanita Caplan.

Jamie Clayton as Nomi and Freema Andrews as Amanita on "Sense8." Netflix

Bill Potts was the first openly gay companion on "Doctor Who."

Pearl Mackie as Bill on "Doctor Who." BBC

Ruby and Sapphire embodied the celebration of queer love on "Steven Universe."

Ruby and Sapphire were voiced by Charlyne Yi and Erica Luttrell. Cartoon Network

William Hill on "This Is Us" gives us a rare depiction of an elderly, bisexual, black man.

Ron Cephas Jones as William on "This Is Us." Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Getty Images

Jules is a trans teen on "Euphoria."

Hunter Schafer as Jules on "Euphoria." HBO

"Supergirl's" Dreamer is TV's first transgender superhero.

Nicole Maines as Dreamer, aka Nia Nal on "Supergirl." The CW

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