I have to admit, I am not the biggest fan of Gay Pride Month. I like the idea of Gay Pride Month, as an effort to broaden representation of the gay community in the ongoing fight against homophobia. What bothers me is the gap between what Pride is meant to represent and what it actually is, namely an excuse to drink and hold oftentimes over-sexualized parades and events. In a lot of ways rather than represent the struggle for gay rights Gay Pride Month ends up showcasing a lot of the things that frustrate me about (primarily male) gay culture: the immature partying and the emphasis on sex and appearance.
But, as I said, I’m not a total curmudgeon; I think Pride serves its purpose and that purpose is ultimately noble. And a celebration doesn’t have to come in the form of techno music and booze. A celebration of gay pride can be as simple as a list of the greatest queer TV characters, which I’ve assembled just for the occasion.
As with all of my lists I’m sure some of my choices, or even more so my omissions, will prove controversial. Just because a character is well very known doesn’t mean they make the cut. I make my decisions based on my own wildly subjective criteria—and I often prefer lesser known characters and shows exactly because they don’t get as much credit or attention. So go ahead and start writing your indignant comments of “Glee!” and “Modern Family!” now.
Okay, here goes!
10. Nancy Bartlett Thomas
Show: Roseanne
Sandra Bernhard is a comedy goddess and a gay icon, but a lot of people may forget that she played the character of Nancy throughout Roseanne’s long run. Nancy was always flighty and self-involved, but she wasn’t always a lesbian-- she was married for a while to the obnoxious Arnie. Luckily Arnie was abducted by aliens (really!) and Nancy came out, eventually even dating another character played by Morgan Fairchild. Nancy was always true to herself and always fun to watch.
Episode to Watch: “Ladies’ Choice”
Nancy comes out to Roseanne and Jackie, much to their initial disbelief.
9. Bob & Ray
Show: Seinfeld
Bob and Ray were minor recurring characters on Seinfeld, but extremely memorable ones. As a couple they terrorized the regular cast members in three different episodes with their “street tough” demeanor—the joke being that they were actually just totally normal guys who intimidated everyone with their confrontational ways. Whether chasing down Kramer for not wearing an AIDS ribbon or stealing furniture, it was always fun seeing two tough gay guys calling the shots!
Episode to Watch: “The Soup Nazi”
Bob and Ray steal Elaine's armoire from a helpless Kramer.
8. Captain Jack Harkness
Show: Doctor Who & Torchwood
Jack Harkness brought an Erroll Flynnish air of the swashbuckling rogue to Doctor Who (and eventually headlining spin-off show Torchwood). He made for an admirable companion to the good Doctor and remained just rougish enough as to remain entirely lovable. His ominisexuality and penchant for flirting with men, women, aliens and robots made sense for a man from the far-flung future, where sexuality is a lot more fluid and acceptance more widespread. The heroic Jack defies boundaries and stereotypes, and provided us with a much-needed queer science fiction icon.
Episode to Watch: “Captain Jack Harkness”
Jack travels back in time to the 40s to meet the man who’s identity he stole—but romantic complications and heartbreak are in store for both of them.
7. Leon Carp
Show: Roseanne
Leon served as Roseanne’s boss, nemesis, sparring partner and eventual friend up to the very last episode of the show. His character evolved but he never lost his edge, always prone to a cutting remark. His coming out was handled a bit more subtly than some of the show’s other outings, as his character had already been around for a while and he only casually mentioned the fact that he was gay during a poker game with Dan and his friends. Eventually we met Leon’s partner, saw them get married and plan to adopt a kid. A smart and always funny character, played brilliantly by Martin Mull.
Episode to Watch: “Why Jackie Becomes a Trucker”
Leon casually comes out during a poker game, taking Dan and the viewing audience by surprise.
6. Jerri Blank
Show: Strangers with Candy
Amy Sedaris can inhabit a character so totally it’s easy to forget that they aren’t one and the same. Certainly I will forever think of her as Jerri Blank, the monstrously selfish former drug addict and dropout giving high school a second chance at the ripe age of 46. Jerri was no role model, but the frank portrayal of her bisexuality was refreshing amid the character’s more craven characteristics. She lusted after men, she lusted after women, she just plain lusted!
Episode to Watch: “Feather in the Storm”
Jerri develops an eating disorder in order to join the debate team. It’s way more hilarious than it sounds…
5. Ben Sutherland
Show: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Ben appeared in just one episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but it happens to be one of the show’s best. Introduced as Phyllis’ visiting brother, Phyllis is horrified when instead of falling for Mary (as she intended), Ben and Rhoda hit it off. At one of Mary’s infamously bad parties Phyllis goes off the deep end, expecting Ben and Rhoda to announce their engagement—only for Rhoda to reveal that Ben is gay. It’s a truly remarkable moment given the time period, especially in the offhand and funny way that it's handled. Even better is Phyllis’ relief at the revelation; she doesn’t care if Ben is gay, only that he doesn’t date Rhoda! And really, what self-respecting gay man doesn’t love Rhoda?
Episode to Watch: “My Brother’s Keeper”
Ben makes his first and regrettably only appearance in this fantastic and funny episode.
4. Willow Rosenberg & Tara Maclay
Show: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
You may consider it a cheat to count two characters as one, but Willow and Tara work so well as a couple, and their relationship is so iconic. Willow of course didn’t start out as gay but was always a great character; however her relationship with Tara made her that much better. Tara was always an underrated character and one of my particular favorites. Their relationship was ill-fated but while it lasted it was pure magic (couldn’t resist) and was a groundbreakingly earnest depiction of same-sex love and the development of sexual identity.
Episode to Watch: “Once More, With Feeling”
In this musical episode Tara starts out serenading Willow but ends up leaving her after uncovering her magical betrayal.
3. Ellen Morgan
Show: Ellen
Are you shocked that Ellen isn’t Number One? We certainly all owe Ellen Degeneres a huge debt for coming out, both in real life, and in character as Ellen Morgan. I love both the closeted and out versions of the character, who is neurotic, kind to a fault, and prone to babbling. Plus she owns an independent bookstore, one of the coolest jobs ever. True, the quality and humor of Ellen the show suffered a bit post-coming out, but Ellen the character always remained entirely lovable.
Episode to Watch: “Lobster Diary”
Ellen rescues a live lobster from a local seafood restaurant, but then must hide the lobster’s death from the media and guest star Mary Tyler Moore!
2. Thomas Barrow
Show: Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is highbrow, soapy escapism at its finest. It may be prone to some over-the-top moments but the show’s characters are nuanced and artfully written, none better than Thomas Barrow. The villainous, grasping Thomas is ambitious to a fault, but when his sexuality was revealed in the very first episode of the show, Thomas’ bad behavior suddenly made a lot more sense. Living as a closeted man in 1912 can’t have been easy, and Thomas is as much victim as villain—though whatever his role he always looks positively dashing!
Episode to Watch: “Episode One”
Thomas is first introduced, as is his secret affair with a visiting Duke.
1. Rickie Vasquez
Show: My So-Called Life
My entire family watched My So-Called Life together when its first and only season aired. We all related to different characters back then, whether it was the beleaguered parents, the rebellious Angela, or in my case the ignored younger sister. I was only ten when the show first aired so it wouldn’t be for many years that I started identifying with gay teen Rickie more than the twerpy tween sister. But even at the tender age of 10 Rickie made a powerful impression upon me. He was different and daring from any other character I’d ever seen on TV: slightly effeminate, stylish, sweet and caring but damaged and sad all at the time. But the most subversive thing was how he hung out with his female friends in the girls bathroom at school, a small act of defiance that seemed wildly daring—and something I would totally have done myself if I had been braver at that age. The character of Rickie, as well as the actor who portrayed him, Wilson Cruz (who like Rickie eventually also came out), would serve as a role model for a lot of people over the years. He was a fully realized, realistic, gay teen character who embodied both strength and extreme vulnerability. He was also a person of color and poor, character traits rarely seen in connection with the affluent, white-washed gay characters regularly still seen on TV.
Episode to Watch: “So-Called Angels”
In one of the most depressing (yet powerful) Christmas episodes you’ll ever watch, Rickie finds himself homeless for the holidays.
To conclude, I present you with a couple of dishonorable mentions in the form of “Come Out of the Closet, Already!” Awards. These are for three characters whom I really like but frustratingly were never explicitly outed, despite their wildly queer ways.
Michele Gerard from Gilmore Girls
Michele was super snarky and SUPER gay but weirdly the character was written as straight—and then later sort of asexual. He would have been that much better if he’d actually been allowed to come out and have a love life, a big missed opportunity.
Squidward Tentacles from SpongeBob Squarepants
Fox News at one point thought SpongeBob might have been gay but c’mon—with his fussy ways and bachelor lifestyle Squidward is totally the bitchy, elder gay octopus I hope to one day become.
Andrew Wells from Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Andrew, a villain turned hero, is still “alive” in the pages of the ongoing Buffy comics. However he STILL isn’t out, despite constant hints and jokes about his sexuality. Joss Whedon, a big friend to the queer community, has said he thinks Andrew’s cluelessness is funny but I find it wearisome that he isn’t allowed to evolve and find love and full happiness. Hell, even Tom Lenk, the actor who played Andrew, came out years ago!
I am glad you included Rickie Vasquez. Such a great, diverse character.
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