36 Greatest LGBTQ+ Television Couples from the Past Ten Years

Over the past few decades, viewers have been fighting for equal representation of themselves on their everyday television shows.

While there have been many great gay/lesbian couples on television since the ’90s, in the past ten years we have seen a spike in a wider spectrum of LGBTQ+ representation.

While those earlier couples are just as important to the cause, we’re here to celebrate couples from the last decade. Be forewarned that the following list does contain minor spoilers for some of the couples’ respective shows.

In no particular order, here are 36 of our favorite LGBTQ+ TV couples from the past ten years.

1. Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood (Shadowhunters)

How could we not start this list off with arguably one of television’s greatest love stories? Shadowhunters has boasted inclusivity from the beginning. After all, Magnus Bane has always been portrayed as a centuries-old proud bisexual warlock.

His strength of character drives him as an individual as well as part of the whole that is known as #Malec. He always urges but never pushes, Alec Lightwood to come to terms with his own sexuality — a trait that endears Alec to him when it comes down to Alec choosing a partner in life.

These two men work beautifully together but also show viewers that they are individuals with their own strengths, weaknesses, fears, and interests. Magnus and Alec show us all what being in a healthy, loving relationship is all about. They have normalized their relationship on a level that isn’t always seen on popular television.

2. Ian Gallagher and Mickey Milkovich (Shameless)

Oh, to be young, in love, and from the South side of Chicago! These two may have what many would consider to be a toxic relationship, but in their world, it’s a relationship that makes sense. Life in their neighborhood is far from easy, so evidently, a strong, loving relationship would be within the same realm.

For Ian and Mickey, they have to fight off culturally ingrained homophobia, drunk fathers, abusive family life, and mental health issues in order to find love and support in each other. Through everything, they are there for each other when their families are not and when the world is against them.

Their relationship shows a side of America that isn’t always explored on television. Love isn’t exclusive to those of wealth and privilege.

It isn’t perfect, but it is based on a deep level of love and respect, which is all that should really matter in the long run. Besides, Shameless gave them their happily ever after (who cares if it’s within the four walls of a prison).

3. Anissa Pierce and Grace Choi (Black Lightning)

It isn’t very often that we get a lesbian storyline that is just there; no coming out, no personal struggle. However, on Black Lightning, the character of Anissa Pierce, or Thunder, is presented as an established LGBTQ+ character from the word go. She has been out for some time and her parents fully support her.

It’s a beautiful thing to see. So adding that she is a Person of Color and a badass superhero to the top of this already great story is just icing on the cake. When the show first shows her interacting with Grace Choi (yet another lesbian of color) the relationship doesn’t quite blossom.

However, well into the second season, Black Lightning has started to build up their famed relationship. Anissa is finally comfortable in her superhero skin that she has started to date again. She and Grace meet up once again and have a passionate interaction.

Their relationship is new and not quite started yet, but if the comics are anything to go by then their relationship is going to enter epic representation levels before too long.

4. Nico Minoru and Karolina Dean (Runaways)

They say that opposites attract, and for these two young women, that sentiment has never been truer. Where Karolina’s powers represent light, Nico’s represent darkness.

However, these differences don’t keep them from falling in love and supporting each other. Sure, they have their fair share of angst, as any television couple is bound to, but that doesn’t prevent them from working things out and coming together in a beautiful way.

These two young superhero teens are proud of who they are as individuals which makes them lesbian role models for so many young girls. Often times, couples can become nothing more than what they are as a whole instead of their individual parts.

That’s not true for Nico and Karolina, which has everyone rooting for their relationship to continue to grow and gain strength.

5. Elena Alvarez and Syd (One Day At A Time)

This couple goes out to all the non-binary folks out there looking for representation. On Netflix’s hit drama, One Day at a Time the sexuality spectrum is explored in a heartfelt and honest way through Elena’s burgeoning sexuality and her relationship with Syd, who identifies as non-binary.

There is nothing but love and care put into how Elena’s life is explored. There are many real and honest conversations with Elena and her mother and grandmother about who she identifies as. It’s inspiring for all young girls, especially Latina girls.

Elena and Syd show the world that high school romance and exploration is just as important as anything. These young individuals get to be themselves in a time that is still difficult and hard for LGBTQ+ youth. And Syd gives a bit more understanding to what it means to identify as non-binary, through an informative, nuanced, and realistic narrative.

6. Patrick Brewer and David Rose (Schitt’s Creek)

Many times when relationships start with a coming out narrative it becomes cliché and mundane. On Schitt’s Creek that never enters the relationship of Patrick and David.

These two have seen many ups and downs in their relationship but over the seasons it has simply made them stronger and a more cohesive unit. Patrick is more logical and business savvy, while David remains the somewhat aloof creative side of things. This works well for them both as lovers and business partners.

The best moments for these guys come when they put it all on the emotional line. David is a very guarded person and when Patrick brings out his more sentimental side it shows us all that love can truly bring out the best in all of us.

Bonus: The first time they tell each other “I love you” is reason number one to love them because it is so adorably awkward in a way that only they can make it.

7. Margot and Danny (The Catch)

Margot has been in relationships with both men and women. She may have ended up with Danny, but there were also moments of her with Felicity.

Margot alone is a strong element of this relationship. She’s a con-woman who gives it her all in both her work and personal life. Danny compliments her in the most unique ways considering he is the law-seeking to stop her criminal behavior.

The beauty of this relationship is that Margot’s sexuality is never a story, it’s just a part of who she is. She mixes with both men and women and no one says anything about it. The focus is more on her career and the subsequent situations that it brings to her life.

Just because someone is with the opposite sex doesn’t mean they stop being bisexual. It’s a fact that viewers and television alike need to remember.

8. Adam Torres and Becky Baker (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

One area of the LGBTQ+ that is sorely underrepresented on television is the trans community. Degrassi: The Next Generation changed that a little with the introduction of their first trans character, Adam Torres, back in Season 10. Adam was a female-to-male transgender youth who moved to Degrassi to escape terrible bullying.

When Becky and Adam first meet they are rivals due to their differing views about the appropriateness and validity of an LGBT retelling of Romeo and Juliet called Romeo and Jules. Becky is from a conservative Christian family and doesn’t realize that Adam is trans at first.

Once she does realize it and comes to terms with it she fights not only her family to be with him but her own belief system as well. They have their fair share of ups and downs and fights, but in the end, their relationship showed the world some of the hardships both LGBTQ+ youth and their allies face every day.

Though they were broken up when Adam died, that didn’t stop Becky from putting on the sweetest memorial for him; showing everyone that she deeply cared about him through it all.

9. Callie Torres and Arizona Robbins (Grey’s Anatomy)

Amongst all the drama that Grey’s Anatomy has to offer one of their best romances was that between Callie and Arizona. It deeply showed the ins and outs of maintaining a working relationship with the one that you love.

These two went through the wringer and back many times. In fact, when they first met the two of them didn’t exactly like each other. However, over time and through Callie’s full acceptance of herself as a bisexual woman, the two were able to fall in love and eventually get married.

Though their relationship ultimately ended in divorce, even that gave a voice to all those LGBTQ+ relationships out there going through similar situations. There was a whole legal battle over guardianship of the couple’s shared daughter, Sofia. (With a shocking ending of Arizona gaining custody over the girl’s biological mom, Callie.)

Despite all their drama and conflict, these two were one of the healthiest relationships on the show. Which is why they will always have a fanbase. They may have fought from time to time, but ultimately they knew how to work through things like mature adults. One of the biggest examples of this being the battle for custody of Sofia.

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