LGBT+ Representation: Top 5 TV Shows That Get It Right
In the last few decades, we’ve seen a large increase in LGBT representation in TV shows. Some good, some bad, and some somewhere in between. Regardless, mainstream media has recognized the LGBT community as a demographic, reassuring us that we exist and are part of the norm, although there is still a long way to go. Until then, let’s talk about all the shows that have done a stellar job in representing the LGBT Community!
Spoiler Alert! There will be mild spoilers as I will detail how each show presents LGBT characters.
1. Steven Universe (2013-2020)
This is one of those shows that had to be on this list. Steven Universe is often credited for being one of the first animated TV shows that explicitly shows queer characters. The show “gets away” with queer representation by introducing the Gems. The Gems are a female-coded species, often going by she/her pronouns. So naturally, when there are romantic relationships between the Gems they are (you guessed it) gay. Additionally, the show challenges gender.
Early in season one, it is revealed that Steven also has the ability to fuse, not only with other gems, but with his friend Connie. Their friendship led to the fusion known as Stevonnie. Stevonnie is an accurate representation of non-binary people who uses they/them pronouns.
Going back to LGBT relationships, most people point to Ruby and Sapphire, AKA Garnet as proof of this. Ever since Garnet was revealed to be a fusion (a sensation where two Gems become one), fans went wild. Garnet has, numerous times, stated that she is a representation of Ruby and Sapphire’s love for each other. Whenever Ruby and Sapphire were on screen, we often saw them happy to be together, despite having conflicting personalities. In fact, we often see that their differences complement each other well. So when the legendary “Reunited” episode came out, it felt both natural and beautiful for the two to marry and celebrate their love.
Obviously, Steven Universe has more queer-coded characters besides Stevonnie, Ruby and Sapphire. But I encourage you to watch or rewatch it for yourself!
2. Jane the Virgin (2014-2019)
This telenovela is beautifully told by a cheeky Spanish narrator. It stars Jane, a writer who gets accidentally artificially inseminated. Jane, despite being a virgin, has to deal with the consequences that come from this. It’s a rollercoaster, and the show, without even trying, presents Latinx representation with ease. But why am I mentioning it here? Well, there’s also some LGBT representation of course!
At first, the only queer characters are Luisa and Rose. Luisa is the sister of Rafeal, one of the main characters; and Rose is the stepmom of both Luisa and Rafeal (Yeah I know, it’s straight out of a telenovela!) Many may see both Luisa and Rose as negative representations, as Luisa is the one that accidentally artificially inseminates Jane, and Rose ends up being revealed as a drug lord.
But as time goes on, the show takes a turn for the better. A character once considered the antagonist, Petra, gets redeemed. And not only that, but it is revealed that she is bisexual! In Season 4, Petra falls in love with her lawyer, who goes by J.R. To confirm that their initial interactions were flirtations, in “Chapter Seventy-Four” the writers decided to show Petra having a sex dream with J.R. It was a bold move, guaranteeing that Petra is attracted to women and also taking a sex-positive turn.
Eventually, Petra and J.R. do start a relationship, but of course they are some hiccups. Petra, who is still flawed, often had to prove herself to J.R. Petra learns to be a better person, both for J.R. and herself when pursuing this relationship. By the end of the show, it’s honestly beautiful to see Petra happy and fully reformed. J.R. matches Petra’s intelligence and frankness. The two have an unspoken respect for one another and we love to see it!
3. She-ra (2018-2020)
From the get-go, this show is incredibly queer-coded. In fact, season 1 ends with She-ra and the other princesses shooting a rainbow blast at their enemies.
Upon first watching the show, you may feel like She-ra is just pulling your leg, leaving you starved for some LGBT content. Well not to worry, just stick with it! As the show continues, tension rises between Adora and Catra. Are they just ex-friends? Will they befriend each other again? Or will they be something more?
To tide you over, there are a few notable queer side characters. For instance, in Season 2, it is revealed that Bow has two dads. The canonically gay fathers have a very loving relationship with each other and to Bow, showing kids a healthy representation of family.
Outside of relationships, the show also introduces a non-binary character by the name of Double Trouble. Introduced in Season 4, Double Trouble is an extremely confident shapeshifter, often referring to themselves as an actor. The use of Double Trouble’s pronouns in the show is seamless.
Going back to another great LGBT relationship is between princesses Spinerella and Netossa. They’re in an openly gay marriage. It was crystal clear in Season 5, as we watched them call each other pet names and genuinely worry for each other’s safety. There were even a few casual kisses between the two.
Overall, She-ra normalizes queer identity and presents to the viewer a world free of LGBT discrimination.
4. Vida (2018-2020)
This is by far the best TV show for queer women of color. This drama follows Mexican American sisters Lyn and Emma as they collect their late mother’s estate in their rapidly gentrifying Latinx neighborhood. But plot twist! A third of it was left to their mother’s secret wife Eddy; so essentially, their mother Vida hid her sexuality and marriage from her daughters.
That's not where the representation ends. Vida explores Emma’s queer identity through her on-and-off relationship with Cruz and other LGBT characters. Emma also discovers to some degree that her sexuality may have been suppressed through Vida’s own internalized homophobia.
This show tackles more of the complex hardships that LGBT people face. The staff and writers consist of people of color, women, and queer people; ensuring that the stories being told in Vida are genuine.
5. The Owl House (2020-Present)
Want more Hogwarts fun? Then watch The Owl House! It stars a young teen named Luz, who encounters Eda the Owl Lady. Eda, on accident, takes Luz to the Boiling Isles. There she meets King, a tiny skull creature, and other witches who study magic. Luz decides to stay with Eda to learn. There, she also befriends Willow and Gus, and eventually gets to know Amity.
It’s Amity who is the star of this list. After Amity starts to warm up to Luz, it becomes increasingly more obvious that she’s developed a crush. Amity is seen blushing, starting around the episode, “Understanding Willow”. Her crush is more explicit however in the episode, “Enchanting Grom Fright” where Luz is willing to take Amity’s place as Grom Queen to fight off a monster, and expresses gratitude. Amity also seems rather nervous, carrying around a note. After a wonderful dance fight sequence between Amity and Luz, it is revealed that Amity was planning to ask Luz to Grom; but Luz is still oblivious, thinking Amity wanted to ask someone else.
Overall, Amity’s relationship with Luz is sweet. They connect through their favorite book series in one episode, and in another she helps Luz win a Grudgby tournament. Amity learns to be a better person thanks to Luz, and even tries to rebuild her old friendship with Willow. I’m excited to see where this relationship could go, as it is implied that Luz is indeed bisexual and could most likely reciprocate.
Written by Farah Sallam
