Let’s get real: that rainbow on our screens used to be closer to watered-down pastel than the full, rich spectrum we deserve. But in the past ten-ish years or so, LGBTQ+ representation on TV and film has gone from blink-and-you ‘miss cameos to head-on, scene-stealing, culture-defying icons. Some have kicked open the closet door, some have sashayed in through it in six-inch heels, and some have even rewritten the game on what queer storytelling can be. Below are 15 LGBTQ+ TV and film characters who didn’t just appear, but leveled the game forever.
15. Kurt Hummel from Glee
Ryan Murphy’s Glee did not simply provide musical numbers and slushie facials—it provided us with Kurt Hummel, the twink who inspired a thousand Tumblr blogs. For some, Kurt was the first to represent that an openly gay adolescent could be the center of the show, not the joke. His boyfriend, Blaine, was a touchstone for a whole generation, despite the show’s camp sometimes getting the better of its sincerity.
14. Blanca Evangelista from Pose
If you want to talk about heart, resilience, and family of choice, look no further than Blanca. Pose, another Murphy production, centered trans women of color in the ballroom, and Blanca’s house mother story was both groundbreaking and deeply impactful. She’s the kind of role model television has been missing for far too long.
13. Chiron from Moonlight
Moonlight didn’t just win Best Picture—it broke barriers. Chiron’s coming of age, told in three acts, gave us a rich, poetic exploration of Black queer masculinity. His silence and strength sent shockwaves far beyond the festival circuit.
12. Titus Andromedon of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Titus is the proof-in-the-pudding, walking, singing, meme-ing proof that Black queer characters can be funny and iconic. His own confidence and comedic sense made him a beloved character, and come on, who among us has not dreamed of channeling a little Titus energy?
11. Eric Effiong from Sex Education
Eric is the ultimate best mate we all desire—unabashedly himself, flawlessly dressed, and negotiating the maelstrom of growing up queer and Black in a small English town. His plots are poignant as they are belly-laughing, and his home life offers richness never seen on TV.
10. Sophia Burset from Orange Is the New Black
Laverne Cox’s Sophia was more than a trailblazer in several ways. One of the first trans women of color to grace a trans role on a flagship show, Sophia’s triumphs and failures made issues of the real world a part of the mainstream conversation.
9. Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Captain Holt
Deadpan, dignified, and subtly subversive, Captain Holt proved that gay Black men could be more than comic relief or tragic tropes. His dry humor and command abilities made him the star in a show filled with lovable misfits.
8. Annalise Keating from How to Get Away With Murder
Viola Davis’s tour-de-force performance as Annalise introduced us to a bisexual Black woman who was complicated, flawed, and intensely nuanced. She broke glass ceilings and expectations in equal measure.
7. Yorkie and Kelly from “San Junipero” in Black Mirror
This episode presented us with a rare commodity: a queer love story with a positive outcome. Kelly and Yorkie’s romance through time and technology was nostalgic and optimistic, and it continues to leave us sobbing years after its airing.
6. Lafayette Reynolds from True Blood
Lafeyette was the kind of actor who could dominate a scene with an eyebrow raise. His fierce, funny, and never-say-die spirit brought some much-needed diversity to the supernatural world.
5. Denise of Master of None
Denise, played by Lena Waithe, brought authenticity and humor to the equation, most notably in the Emmy-winning “Thanksgiving” episode that traced her coming-out journey through several years. It was a masterclass in subtle, powerful storytelling.
4. Riley and Zane of Degrassi: The Next Generation
There are occasions when the greatest stories come from the least expected places. For others of Canadian teenage descent, Riley and Zane’s relationship on Degrassi was the first time in their lives they ever saw themselves portrayed on television—accidental, decent, and sincere.
3. Amanita of Sense8
Sense8 didn’t just offer global intrigue and psychic orgies—it gave us Amanita, a white-hot, knife-sharp girlfriend who stood by her girlfriend Nomi thicker than peanut butter. The intersectional approach the show took to identity was forward-thinking, even if Netflix pulled the plug too soon.
2. Marcus Hooks of Fellow Travelers
Fellow Travelers dives deep into the complexity of queer life in the shade of American political history. Marcus Hooks, a Black journalist who deals with institutionalized racism and homophobia, lends an indispensable voice to the web of LGBTQ+ stories.
1. Dr. Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Transylvanian sweet transvestite would not be left out of any list. Frank-N-Furter’s camp, anarchy, and unapologetic queerness have encouraged generations of freaks to fly their freak flags high.
But even so, the tide is turning. From the ballroom to the police station, from the high school halls to the corridors of power, LGBTQ+ characters are making their presence known—and demanding the next generation be represented not as sidekicks or stereotypes, but as heroes, lovers, leaders, and legends.