From Netflix's "Easy," to ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," here are 21 shows—new and returning—giving lesbian and bisexual women screen time this fall. Kiersey Clemons and Jacqueline Toboni in Netflix series "Easy."
The first regular lesbian character on TV show was in 1988. A short-lived medical series, Heartbeat, featured a lesbian nurse (Gail Strickland) who lived with her lover (Gina Hecht).
In 1977 Billy Crystal played a gay man on the show Soap, but it isnt until 1991 that a bisexual woman appeared on L.A. Law . Recently, networks have run shows with girl-girl kisses to increase ratings. For example, in 2001 Jennifer Aniston and Winona Ryder kissed on Friends during Sweeps week.
SVU is the only show from the Law & Order franchise currently on television ( for now ), and while the show has been aggressively inclusive of the LGBTQ community in terms of guest stars literally since the pilot, there hasn’t been a regular LGBTQ character since BD Wong hung up the proverbial hat as psychiatrist Dr. George Huang back in season 12.
In the season 23 episode "Burning With Rage Forever", Noah comes out to Benson as bisexual after standing up to a bully who is picking on him and a non-binary classmate. Benson is completely accepting, and tells Noah she is proud of him for standing up for himself and his friend.
Law & Order: SVU fans were delighted by the way new character Kat Tamin casually came out as bisexual in the season 21 finale. The character's sexuality was revealed when she was talking to another character, Amanda Rollins, about her plans for the evening.
As Rich's character was fleshed out, so was his sexuality. When he was introduced, viewers learned Rich was an LGBTQ character, as seen through his initial flirting with both Weller and Jane. A murderous, mischievous bisexual character is a trope, one Blindspot worked to avoid in his future appearances.
The 20th century witnessed the beginnings of Bi+ identities in popular culture — albeit very marginally. Poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and singers Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith were among the earliest widely known people to be openly bisexual in the United States.
While some might have assumed her portrayer, Jamie Gray Hyder, wanted to leave for other opportunities, that wasn't the case. "It is with a heavy heart that I confirm Kat's departure from the squad room. The decision was made above my pay grade and wouldn't have been my choice.
Barnes' Garland had left his job after disagreeing with higher-ups about the way police misconduct was being handled in a controversial case.
6 Rich Dotcom: Fitting Not only did viewers get to see them share a kiss but they were also both sporting wedding rings, which suggests they tied the knot, too, to make it official.
Now, Blindspot's creator is moving forward. Martin Gero already has another big and mysterious TV show in the works. It is going to be tough for the new project to top the various twists and turns of Blindspot. That said, the show's creator has a murder mystery that might do the trick.
Josh DeanBlindspot (TV Series 2015–2020) - Josh Dean as Boston Arliss Crab, Boston - IMDb.
Happy Bi Visibility Day to all the amazing bi people out there.Josephine Baker, American-born French entertainer, activist, and French Resistance agent. ... David Bowie, English singer-songwriter and actor. ... Carrie Brownstein, American musician, actress, writer, director, and comedian.More items...•
The Disney Channel, which launched in 1983, Disney XD, which began in 2009, Disney Junior, which launched in 2011, and shows on Disney+, along with the short-lived Toon Disney, have all occasionally featured lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) characters in their programming.
1970sBisexuals became more prominent in the media in the 1970s. In 1972 bisexual activist Don Fass founded the National Bisexual Liberation group in New York City, which issued The Bisexual Expression, most likely the earliest bisexual newsletter.
YouTube. In a very on-the-nose episode of Will & Grace, Will (Eric McCormack) and Jack are infuriated that NBC cut a gay kiss from a primetime show and protest outside of the Today show studios. They accost Al Roker, and once they have the camera’s attention, Will surprisingly plants on on Jack.
Despite having been together for nearly two seasons, it wasn’t until Season 5, Episode 16, that Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson) kissed on-screen. Joss Whedon claims the WB initially “raised an eyebrow” but released the episode without fanfare, which is one reason why the in-the-moment, private kiss is so magical.
It was just five seconds, but Luke and Noah’s lips touching made history as the first kiss between two men on daytime TV. Fans campaigned for another, sending Hershey’s Kisses to the show’s production offices, while the American Family Association threatened to boycott the show’s sponsors if they continued the “repulsive” relationship.
While producers were hesitant to label the relationship between the two warrior women, Renee O’Connor (Gabrielle) and Lucy Lawless (Xena) both have stated tey believe their characters were in love. That’s good enough for us.
When Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera took the stage to perform “Like a Virgin” at the 2003 VMAs, Madonna shared a kiss with both women. It’s now one of the most infamous performances in VMAs history, although a lot of people tend to forget Christina’s role in it all.
The out American Idol finalist planted an open-mouth kiss on a male dancer during a live performance of “For Your Entertainment” at the AMAs, causing Good Morning America to cancel his appearance on their show the following day. (“Given his controversial live performance on the AMAs we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning,” the show said in a statement.)
Bob D'Amico / ABC. Emmy-winning star Viola Davis is a bisexual leading lady of color on one of Shondaland’s hit TGIT TV shows. Annalise Keating is as smart as she is mysterious, making her the kind of woman you both fear and fall head over heels for.
Ryan Murphy’s all-star cast returns for a second season of the twisted horror dramedy, and pansexual Chanel #3 (Billie Lourd) has her earmuffs to the ground after reports of a new red devil have her friends mildly concerned about their lives (again).
Bad girls Barbara and Tabitha are part of a love triangle (again!) on Season 3 of the series that pits super villains against antiheroes. A large ensemble show, there’s not a lot of Babs and Tab, but they do pop up every now and again to be the evil bisexual murderesses that Gotham residents love to fear.
Scout Durwood and Jessica Rothe on MTV series "Mary + Jane" as Jordan and Paige. MTV. Best friends Jordan and Paige are primarily focused on growing their marijuana delivery service, but when they aren’t working, their relationships (and sexual fantasies) tend to be of the sexually fluid variety.
Sara Ramirez and Jessica Capshaw in "Grey's Anatomy" episode "When It Hurts So Bad.". Ron Batzdorff / ABC. Despite the show’s loss of Callie Torres this season, Jessica Capshaw is still with the show as lesbian MD Arizona Robbins.
Speaking of Hakeem, one of his best friends, Chicken, is a lady-lover, as is the imprisoned Freda Gatz, but we’re lucky to get glimpses of them in group scenes, much less focused storylines. (Fox, Wednesdays, 9/8c) RELATED: Stars of TV Land's 'Younger' Share Season 3 Preview. 13.
Code Black. Melanie Chandra as Dr. Malaya Pineda in "Code Black" episode "The Fifth Stage.". Jessica Brooks / CBS. As Dr. Malaya Pineda, Melanie Chandra plays one of very few queer Indian characters on television, much less network TV. In the medical drama’s first season, she lost her first love.
Piper, Alex, Big Boo, Nicky, Soso, Poussey, Suzanne, and numerous side characters offer a range of portrayals lesbian and bisexual women on one show. Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset was one of the first trans women to play a trans woman on TV.
4) Master of None. Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s original Netflix comedy is a can’t miss series. Lena Waithe shines as Dev’s (Aziz Ansari) levelheaded lesbian friend Denise, who has some of the best lines of the show.
23) Queer as Folk. The Showtime drama Queer as Folk ran between 2000 and 2005, and was the first hour-long drama on American television to focus on the lives of gay men and lesbians. All five seasons are currently streaming on Netflix.
The Fall is an incredible psychological thriller starring Gillian Anderson as a bisexual Superintendent Stella Gibson tracking down a serial killer. Gibson is completely unashamed of her sexuality, and unapologetically pursues casual relationships with men and women.
Since each chapter of American Horror Story can stand alone, Freak Show feels like a different show than Asylum. Freak Show features several appearances by transgender actor and model Erika Ervin as Amazon Eve.
The show also features transgender teen Cole who is played by trans actor Tom Phelan.
The musical comedy-drama show, Glee, featured multiple LGBT characters. Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson’s epic love story is one of the best TV romances of all time. Only Santana and Brittany, who gave us a super sweet high school love story with a killer soundtrack, rival it.
We’re also going to see a new version of her played by Rosie Perez in the upcoming Birds of Prey movie.
Batwoman. Queer model and actress Ruby Rose stars in the new CW show Batwoman where she plays maybe the biggest lesbian superhero of them all. Kate Kane is Bruce Wayne’s cousin, who was discharged from the military under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Garnet is actually two lesbians fused together, but we’re going to count her as one for this list because their love is just that strong. Garnet is even-keeled, wise and a great leader, and because she’s voiced by the British R&B musician Estelle, she’s also a great singer. You can see more of Garnet in the upcoming Steven Universe: Future.
Our favorite teen lesbian, Karolina Dean (Virginia Gardner) and her friends — including and girlfriend, Nico — are on the run from their supervillain parents in this Hulu Original. Karolina grew up the daughter of a cult leader, and then found out she was half-alien, so honestly, being a lesbian is NBD.
Jeri’s not quite a superhero, but she is a superlawyer and has a lot of superhero friends (and enemies). Played by Carrie-Anne Moss on Netflix’s Jessica Jones, she’s a nearly unstoppable force, proving again and again that no one messes with a determined lesbian.
The daughter of legendary Batman and Green Arrow villain Ras al Ghul, Nyssa is a skilled assassin and totally gay for Sarah Lance, the bisexual hearthrob who stars in both Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. Played by Katrina Law, Nyssa is sometimes good, sometimes bad, but she’s always a lesbian.