Samantha’s 15 Most Influential LGBTQIA TV Characters
Being bisexual is a part of my daily life and so is watching television.
Like most LGBTQIA+ people who love television, throughout my life I’ve searched for representation in the shows that I watch, whether that means creating headcanons about favorite characters being a part of the community, or intentionally seeking out canonically queer characters.
Sometimes we are lucky enough to find both; there is a certain serendipity that happens when the characters that you fell in love with from the start happen to have just a little more in common with you than you first expected. Each of the characters listed below played a part in my personal journey as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Whether they came to me while I was young and closeted, during a difficult part of my coming out process, or after I’ve become engaged to my fianceé, each of these characters has made me feel seen and supported, and has impacted my journey in a positive way.
So, as part of our Critics’ Picks series this month, here is my list of 15 Most Influential LGBTQ+ Characters.
1. Clarke Griffin (The 100)
Clarke Griffin is network television’s first bisexual lead character, and as such, seeing her get to be the hero regardless of who she loves was the first time that I was able to see my own sexuality celebrated in a character that truly resonated with me.
Clarke’s love for Lexa was a revelation for me. She isn’t defined by who she loves, but what she does as a person (for better or worse).
Clarke’s journey isn’t easy, but it’s not made more difficult because she happens to be attracted to both men and women. She never gives up even when giving up seems like the only option she has left. Clarke’s love for Lexa made it easier for me to tell my own parents about the person that I love, and that is everything.
The 100 has made a lot of mistakes when it comes to representation and storytelling, but Clarke and Lexa’s relationship remains a revelation for me.
2. Callie Torres (Grey’s Anatomy)
On a really difficult day for me as a queer person, a friend of mine showed me the musical episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Watching Callie Torres fight for her life and her love pulled me out of a dark place where I felt as if my own family did not love me because I wanted to be open about my relationship with another woman.
I then watched Callie’s interactions with her conservative, religious father and felt even more seen by this character. Callie’s iconic “you can’t pray away the gay” became a mantra for me.
Callie’s journey is also one of the most organic and realistic depictions of being bisexual that I’ve seen on television. Her attraction to women is something she realizes later in life, and it doesn’t negate her past/present attraction to men.
This is a common experience for bisexual people as we grow and realize that our same-sex attraction is real and valid. It’s also extremely validating to have Callie played by real-life bisexual, Sara Ramirez!
3. Alex Danvers (Supergirl)
Alex Danvers’ coming out journey inspired me to be brave enough to start my own.
The depiction of Alex’s experience is another extremely realistic reflection of what it’s like to be a queer person. Often when queer people realize that they are attracted to someone of the same sex, past experiences become clear and current feelings are allowed to blossom as we become who we were always meant to be.
Maggie: Life is too short, and we should be who we are and we should kiss the girls that we want to kiss.
Alex meets Maggie and it changes her whole world. Not because Maggie made Alex gay, but because she flipped a switch inside of her that illuminated what had been there all along.
4. Seven of Nine (Star Trek)
Seven is a character that I’ve fallen in love with over the last year, especially since her return on Star Trek: Picard.
For decades, fans of Star Trek have made headcanons about Seven’s sexuality. On Star Trek: Voyager, she was shoe-horned into relationships with men to please the show’s male audience — her strong chemistry with Captain Janeway, which made their relationship one of the most popular wlw ships in the history of fandom.
With the return of Star Trek: Picard, the new series decided to actually deliver on what fans have always hoped for.
Seven’s sexuality is heavily hinted at on “Stardust City Rag” when she comes face to face with an ex-lover turned sworn enemy, and while it was nice to have that confirmed in a rather subtle way, what’s even better is what’s to come for Seven.
Jeri Ryan also recently confirmed Seven’s sexuality on Twitter, and I can’t begin to tell you how validating it is to see that.
I’m so grateful for Seven as a bisexual icon in a series that is finally catching up with its own message of inclusivity and a brighter future for everyone. I’m glad that my future wife and I can bond over this show and finally see ourselves represented among the stars.
5. Root (Person of Interest)
Of all the lesbian characters we’ve had to watch die on television, Root’s death hit me the hardest.
Root is another character I was really able to see myself in; she goes from being one of the series’ villains to the show’s biggest hero. Over the course of her arc, we get to watch her fall in love with Shaw.
Root is unabashedly affectionate when it comes to Shaw; from the inception of their relationship and through her final moments with her love, Root holds nothing back when it comes to showing Shaw exactly how she feels about her both physically and emotionally.
Seeing that in Root showed me that it was okay for me to feel that way, too. There is nothing shameful about loving someone, and it’s okay to be flirty, and loud, and soft all at once.
6. Toni Topaz (Riverdale)
Toni: I’m more into girls anyways.
Toni came out to Jughead on Riverdale Season 2 before falling in love with Cheryl Blossom. The quality of screentime and representation that Toni has gotten since then both as a bisexual woman and a person of color is questionable, but poor writing choices aside, at her core Toni is an icon.
When Toni told Jughead she prefers girls, it further expanded the idea of what bisexuality is for a wide audience of viewers. Bisexuality is complex and varied from person to person, and preferences for various genders are completely normal. Toni sharing this with Jughead made me feel seen and understood.
While I certainly want better for both Toni and Cheryl moving forward beyond the borderline fetish storylines they’ve had over the past season and a half of Riverdale, I am grateful for the representation they both provide to young bisexual and lesbian girls.
7. Kat Edison (The Bold Type)
Kat Edison is god tier bisexual representation, and The Bold Type isn’t afraid to go into the real nitty-gritty of what it’s like to actually be a bisexual.
Being bi is complex, and it makes navigating the LGBTQIA+ community complicated as we’re often seen as “too gay” to be accepted by straight people and “too straight” to be accepted by homosexual people. The Bold Type takes Kat through those experiences with grace and respect for bisexual people.
Kat is also allowed to explore her sexuality in a healthy way without falling into negative stereotypes and cheating tropes that bisexual television characters are often forced into.
The Bold Type is filled with dynamic women, and Kat is one of the shows best; she’s a powerful feminist who strives for inclusivity and dares to make a change in the world with everything she does.
8. David Rose (Schitt’s Creek)
David Rose is an international treasure that deserves all of our praise. There are a few characters on this list played by actual queer people, but Dan Levy is the one who has the most creative control over his character on Schitt’s Creek.
A creator, producer, writer, and actor on the series, Levy had the freedom to really explore David’s pansexuality and build a beautiful example of an underrepresented sexuality.
David is the first main character on a television show to be openly pansexual in canon. Levy made deliberate decisions to show David, and also his boyfriend (neé husband) Patrick, being accepted by their families to show parents of LGBTQIA+ children that might be watching the show how they should react to their child’s sexuality.
Stevie: I only drink red wine, and up until last night I was under the impression that you too only drank red wine. But I guess I was wrong?
David: I see where you’re going with this. I do drink red wine. But I also drink white wine, and I’ve been known to sample the occasional rosé. And a couple summers back I tried a merlot that used to be a chardonnay.
Stevie: So you’re just really open to all wines.
David: I like the wine and not the label. Does that make sense?
The first time I heard this metaphor, I felt really understood by this entire show and the people behind it. Schitt’s Creek changed thousands of lives with their open honest portrayal of David and Patrick’s relationship, including mine.
9. Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99)
Speaking of queer characters actually played by queer actors, Stephanie Beatriz brings Rosa Diaz to life with all the honesty, pride, and badassery she deserves. With Rosa, Brooklyn 99 really emphasizes the importance of found family within the queer community.
When Rosa comes out to her parents, they go through several different layers of invalidating her sexuality, who she is, and who she loves. It’s a perfect portrayal of what happens to so many LGBTQIA+ people when they share the truth with their families.
The way that we get through that — and the way that Rosa gets through it — is finding family in our circle of friends. When Rosa’s parents end their family game night after she comes out to them, the 99 doesn’t hesitate to start their own family game night to make sure Rosa knows how loved she is.
Holt: Diaz, you should be very proud of yourself. I know things aren’t exactly where you want to be right now, but I promise you they will improve.
Rosa: Thank you, Captain.
Holt: Every time someone steps up and says who they are the world becomes a better, more interesting place. So, thank you.
10 & 11. Adora and Catra (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)
Catra and Adora were raised in a hostile environment, and while it took Catra a little longer to escape, they were both able to overcome their circumstances and find love and a sense of belonging.
The relationship between Catra and Adora is what happens when LGBTQIA+ people are given the platform to share their stories. Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer Noelle Stevenson built a world where a lesbian love story is the central relationship and driving force of the narrative.
On She-Ra and The Princesses of Power, Catra and Adora’s slow-burn romance is given the attention and care that is most commonly given to heterosexual TV couples. Catra and Adora go from childhood friends to enemies, back to friends, to soulmates.
Their journey — Adora’s in particular — subverts the hero complex that is far too often forced upon women in fiction. You don’t have to be alone to be strong. In fact, it’s the people we love and who love us who make us strong.
Mara: You’re worth more than what you can give to other people. You deserve love too.
It’s even more groundbreaking that She-Ra and The Princesses of Power is a story for people of all ages. Children can watch this show and see LGBTQIA+ stories celebrated. Children can see a show where the love between two women literally saves the world.
We need more shows like She-Ra and The Princesses of Power that give our lives a voice and show people that our stories matter.
12. Poussey Washington (Orange Is the New Black)
Poussey Washington is a character that was taken from us far too soon. Her death was a reflection of the violence that is acted out upon Black women at revolting rates in the real world, and thus it was impossible to endure for many fans of Orange is The New Black.
Poussey was a bright light in that prison. When her light was extinguished, it changed the whole show.
Poussey: It’s just chilling, you know, kickin it with somebody, talkin and makin mad stupid jokes. And like not even wanting to go to sleep because then you might be without them for a minute, and you don’t want that.
Poussey’s definition of love is exactly what love is.
This character left her mark on Orange is The New Black, shaping the story for the remainder of the series’ run even in death. And she left a mark on the audience as a reminder of why we are fighting for equality and justice for Black lives. She was more than a number, more than a stereotype.
You can donate to The Poussey Washington Fund here. This GoFundMe was created by Orange is The New Black and Netflix to support eight preexisting non-profits to benefit organizations focused on social issues surrounding criminal justice and policy reform, immigrants’ rights, and helping those affected by mass incarceration.
13. Elena Alvarez (One Day At A Time)
One Day At A Time has never been afraid to take on big issues, and every time the show approaches a controversial topic, it does so with a perfect balance of humor and seriousness to bring a genuine message to the audience.
Elena: You taught me a really valuable lesson. Just because I’m gay, people will hate me without knowing anything else about me. And I always knew that was part of the deal. I just…I never expected it from my own father…I learned some really cool stuff about myself. Like I’m tough, I’m really tough…I’m just really bummed out for you, you’re gonna miss a lot of stuff and that sucks, because I’m pretty great.
Elena is brave and bold, she’s an activist and a total nerd, and she doesn’t back down from a challenge.
Both she and Syd, her non-binary partner, are fantastic representation for young queer people. During Season 3, One Day At A Time covered Elena’s “first time” with Syd in a way that I’ve never seen done for a lesbian on TV. Syd has had sex and Elena hasn’t, but they’re completely considerate of Elena’s feelings about having sex for the first time.
One Day At A Time also normalizes conversations between Elena and Penelope about her sexuality, making it easier for parents and children to have those conversations in real life.
14. Will Byers (Stranger Things)
While Will’s sexuality hasn’t been explicitly stated yet on Stranger Things, it’s pretty clear that he isn’t straight.
Mike: It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!
Will could be asexual or he could be gay, either way, he’s important representation for the LGBTQIA+ community. Too often we’re made to feel like our stories are “taboo” and too “adult” for children, but that isn’t true. Queer people, myself included, sometimes realize our sexuality at young ages and that’s completely normal. Our lives aren’t taboo.
I hope that when Stranger Things returns for Season 4, the writers are brave enough to continue exploring this storyline for Will.
15. Waverly Earp (Wynonna Earp)
Have you ever seen a television character and immediately thought “that’s me?” That’s how I felt when I first saw Waverly Earp.
She’s proof that you can be soft and strong at the same time. On the outside, it would be easy for someone to underestimate Waverly, but she’s so much more than what people assume of her. She falls in love with Nicole, and together they make each other better, stronger people.
Waverly: When I think about what I want to do most in the world, it’s you.
Waverly is a total badass genius, and she’s also extremely feminine and goofy. Waverly shows us that you don’t have to compromise any part of yourself to be who you really are.
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Who are the LGBTQIA+ TV characters who have had the biggest impact on you? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and be sure to check out the rest of our personal LGBTQIA+ lists here.
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Samantha Coley
Samantha (she/her) is a social media specialist by day and a sci-fi junkie by night. As a freelance writer and podcaster, she also enjoys live-tweeting, blogging, good music, and better television. Her current favorite television shows include Star Trek (yes, all of them), Riverdale, and Stranger Things and there will always be a place in her heart for Battlestar Galactica, Leverage, and The West Wing.