Although we firmly believe that the contributions and accomplishments of members of the LGBTQ community should be acknowledged, celebrated, respected, and honored every day of the year, June is Pride Month and we're happy to take the opportunity to highlight some of the entertainment figures we love the most. While there are a slew of LGBTQ actors we adore, this time we want to talk about characters. While seeing members of the LGBTQ portrayed onscreen still isn't quite the norm, that's slowly but surely changing.
There are now a number of shows and movies that feature lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer characters that our kids can look up to, and we're super excited to see it. Kids need to be able to relate to the people and stories they watch — whether that be due to gender, race, or sexual orientation — because it helps them feel seen and assures them that who they are is normal and good and right. No matter what we say or do as parents, our kids crave the extra affirmation, and the media they consume has the power to give them that.
So here, we're sharing some of our favorite LGBTQ TV and movie characters who are great role models for kids of various age groups. From adorable cartoon characters that have been seamlessly woven into a storyline to pre-teen and teen portrayals depicting the challenges of growing up LGBTQ — and demonstrating truth and bravery while they're doing it — these characters are all normalizing the LGBTQ experience for kids everywhere.
At Wild Sky Media, we recognize that not all pregnancies and parenting journeys look the same. That’s why across all our sites — CafeMom, LittleThings, Mom.com, and MamásLatinas — we are committed to using inclusive language as much as possible, recognizing that all forms of parenting are valid and celebrating the shared experiences and unique differences among moms, dads, nonbinary and noncisgender parents, and all forms of caregivers.
David Rose on 'Schitt's Creek'
Schitt's Creek's David Rose — played by actor Dan Levy (who also created the series together with his father, Eugene Levy) — is unapologetically himself, and a part of that just happens to be being gay. While Schitt's Creek might not be appropriate for younger kids, David is a model of confidence, self-assuredness, and straightforwardness who can help teens and even pre-teens pick up on all of those traits.
Nia Nal on 'Supergirl'
The character Nia Nal made her debut on the CW series Supergirl during the first episode of season four, becoming the first transgender superhero ever to be on American TV. Nia is courageous and outgoing, but she sometimes struggles with anxiety about whether people will accept her and her superpowers. She's an excellent example not just for kids struggling with their gender identity, but also for those navigating social issues.
America Chavez on 'Marvel Rising'
America Chavez is a badass young Latinx superhero from the animated series Marvel Rising, who also appears in a number of comic books and graphic novels. She boasts super speed and super strength, and just so happens to be a lesbian who is unashamed of her superpowers or her sexual orientation.
Kurt Hummel on 'Glee'
Kurt Hummel is a classic. As one of the first openly gay teenagers many of us had ever seen on TV, he quickly became one of the most beloved characters on the musical series Glee. He always stayed true to himself while being supportive, honest, and kind with his friends. And although like any teen he had some insecurities, his confidence was strong.
Rosa Diaz on 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine'
Any time a female character is depicted as strong and smart on TV, we stan. Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Rosa Diaz is all that and she's a lesbian, too, providing an example for lots of kids to look up to. To see such admirable characters on hit shows not only gives LGBTQ kids someone to relate to, but helps straight kids appreciate people who are different from them.
The title character of the Hulu original series Love, Victor is so adorable, it's kind of hard not to, well, love him. Victor Salazar is a gay teen navigating life and forming relationships at a new high school. The series is a spin-off of the film Love, Simon, and in it, Victor and Simon become supportive friends. We love Victor in particular because he is so relatable.
Aunt Holiday & Auntie Lofty on 'My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'
Back in 2019, the My Little Pony franchise introduced two new lesbian characters in the series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Not only that, but the two, Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty, are in a committed and loving relationship and are raising their adopted niece, Scootaloo. Now that's positive representation.
Joe & Nicky in 'The Old Guard'
Although this intense fantasy/action flick is probably best for older teens and grown-ups due to the violence, the characters of Joe and Nicky totally and unexpectedly stole our hearts. They are a gay couple who are members of a band of immortal crime fighters. They've been together for hundreds of years and are unashamed of their love. They stand up for themselves and each other and they're loyal friends, too.
Roy & Ray Razzle on 'Chip and Potato'
Chip and Potato is a cute Netflix original animated series intended for the preschool set. It stars an adorable pug puppy and her other animal friends. Among her neighbors are the zebras Roy and Ray Razzle. They are a gay couple raising their twin babies. Though they're secondary characters, including them as regular members of the community definitely plays a part in normalizing nonhetero families from a young age.
Ellie Chu in 'The Half of It'
Ellie Chu is a smart, determined, and driven high schooler who unexpectedly finds herself falling for a girl. This coming-of-age tale is one that many teens can likely relate to — not necessarily the whole writing a love letter for money thing, but the navigating of one's own sexuality part.
Odee Elliot in 'Madagascar: A Little Wild'
In the new animated series from DreamWorks, Madagascar: A Little Wild, transgender actor Ezra Menas voices the character of Odee Elliot, an adorable nonbinary okapi who teaches his friends how important it is to be proud of who you are and that it's actually a good thing to be different. Oh, and he really wants to party at the Animal Pride Parade too.
Will Truman on 'Will & Grace'
If you're going to let your teens watch '90s adult sitcoms, Will & Grace should definitely be a part of that rotation. The show is flippin' hilarious, and literally all of the characters are perfection, especially Will Truman, who is also an early and awesome LGBTQ role model. He's a succesful lawyer, a loyal friend, and an all-around good guy.
Betty Deville on 'Rugrats'
Lots of people have always suspected that Phil and Lil's mom, Betty, was probably a lesbian, but in the new Rugrats reboot, it's confirmed. Betty is depicted as an openly gay single mom, and the character is voiced by Parks and Recreation actor Natalie Morales, who publicly came out as queer during Pride Month in 2017.
Ana on 'Gentefied'
The Netflix original series Gentefied is full of nontraditional characters and represents the Latinx community so well that it's hard to pick a favorite. But for many, it's Ana. She is the only female main character on the show, which is about a group of second-generation Mexican cousins navigating family expectations and their own ambitions. Not only is she gay, but she's an incredible artist who uses her work to honor the LGBTQ community.
Cyrus on 'Andi Mack'
These days, Disney isn't afraid to push boundaries, and it did exactly that with the series Andi Mack. In season two, Andi's best friend comes out as gay in the sweetest way. He reveals his true self to Andi to help her feel supported when she's upset that her crush doesn't seem to like her back. Cyrus proves again and again to be an incredible friend.
Mel on 'Charmed'
Although initially met with a lackluster response mostly from fans of the original Charmed series who could not relate to the updated concept, the Charmed reboot is still going strong four seasons later. This series follows a family of three Latina witches who hold the "power of three," one of whom is a lesbian. Mel also happens to be largely the leader of the group and the one with the smarts to get her and her sisters out of just about any situation. She's intelligent, kind, confident, and unapologetically gay.
Cam & Mitchell on 'Modern Family'
Modern Family's Cam and Mitchell will forever be #couplegoals. They were literally perfect for each other right from the start, and watching their loving and committed relationship grow and flourish throughout the show's many seasons was a joy. For so long, gay men were depicted almost exclusively as promiscuous and frivolous, so Cam and Mitchell are especially refreshing to see on TV.
Cedric on 'The Bravest Knight'
On the Hulu original animated series, the Bravest Knight, the main character Nia's parents are two men. Nia was adopted by Prince Andrew and his husband, Cedric. Cedric wasn't always royalty — he started his life as a humble pumpkin farmer and diligently worked toward his goal of becoming a knight. Now, he's teaching his daughter how she can meet her own goals. So sweet!
Tess on 'This Is Us'
The character of Tess on the hit TV drama This Is Us is such an important one, and we love watching her story unfold. Tess, Randall and Beth's oldest daughter, came out to her parents in season three, and ever since we've watched her grow into her identity and explore who she uniquely is while maintaining her relationship with her family. Kids need to see this! Especially, kids in the same age group as Tess, whether straight or gay. It's such a positive example of the classic coming-of-age arc.
Jude Adams Foster on 'The Fosters' & 'Good Trouble'
The Fosters was a Freeform show that follows an untraditional family headed by a lesbian couple who fosters children, so it's not a huge surprise that a gay child would be written into the series — but if there hadn't been, the show just wouldn't have been the same. Sweet, kind Jude came out at a young age, and throughout the series we see him navigate his sexuality and a number of relationships in a way that is totally relatable.
