In recent years, LGBTQ+ representation on TV has increased, especially within the past decade. As more LGBTQ+ characters are included in TV shows, intersectionality also becomes important as LGBTQ+ characters of color are still underrepresented in shows.
Thankfully, there have been many shows featuring queer and trans characters of color. Some shows, such as Pose and Sort Of, are specifically centered around such LGBTQ+ characters.
It’s important to note that just because representation is increasing, a lot of shows featuring diverse characters like these are getting canceled. So, it’s important to recognize the impact that these TV characters have had in hopes of getting more characters like them in the future.
In no particular order, here are 20 Iconic Queer and Trans Characters of Color on TV that you should know:
1. Sabi Mehboob (Sort Of)
Sabi (Bilal Baig) is the main character of the show Sort Of. They have a sense of humor and dry wit that helps them get through the darkest times. But they’re also playful and deeply care about everyone in their lives.
Their relationship with the kids they babysit is so admirable, as they’re essentially an older sibling to them. At the same time, they also navigate their own complicated relationship with their older sister, with whom they live.
The story of their exploration of how their family’s cultural beliefs affect them as a queer and trans person is really poignant. Their journey throughout the series as they come in touch with their identity and eventually decide to medically transition is heartwarming and relatable for so many queer and trans people of color.
2. Elle Argent (Heartstopper)
Elle (Yasmin Finney) is one of the coolest characters on Heartstopper. She’s an incredible artist, talented enough to get into an elite art school. Additionally, she’s incredibly resilient and has gone through switching schools after transitioning.
Elle is a wonderful friend. Despite going to a different school, she still spends time with Charlie (Joe Locke) and is there for him when he needs her. And even though she likes Tao (Will Gao) romantically, Elle always prioritizes their friendship first. Her playfulness and ability to brighten any situation she’s in definitely contributes to her ability to be a wonderful friend.
Elle’s story is notable because she’s a young, trans femme Black student. Characters like her aren’t often represented in shows, so it’s great to see her thrive and get a well-rounded plotline in the show.
3. Guillermo De La Cruz (What We Do in the Shadows)
Guillermo de La Cruz (Harvey Guillén) from What We Do in the Shadows is arguably one of the nicest characters on TV. He’s always looking out for the vampires that he takes care of and tries to connect with his family when he can.
Though his dream of becoming a vampire seems less and less likely to happen, his commitment to pursuing this desire is adorable. But he’s also a badass when it counts, slaying vampires mercilessly to protect his friends.
Guillermo’s coming out episode, What We Do in the Shadows Season 4 Episode 7, “Pine Barrens,” is one of the most endearing coming out episodes. The episode itself is so important in that it highlights Guillermo’s Latino heritage and his struggles with queerness.
It’s also touching to see how Guillermo’s family unequivocally supports him after he comes out, demonstrating the importance of familial support for queer and trans people of color.
4. Taissa Turner (Yellowjackets)
Taissa (Jasmine Savoy Brown) is one of the standout characters on Yellowjackets. She has a determination and willingness to get through the obstacles she faces.
There are moments when her actions are questionable as a result of the trauma she went through after the plane crash. But when she’s acting out of her own will, she’s always doing what she can to protect her wife and family.
Additionally, her romance with Van while stuck in the wilderness is really charming. Even though the team is having a difficult time surviving the wild, Taissa and Van’s romance is a much-needed relief from the stress of everything else.
Taissa acts like she’s solely a cynic, but this shows that despite all the tough circumstances, she still has a lot of hope.
5. Nicholas (Loot)
It wouldn’t be a bold claim to say that Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster) is the star of the show on Loot. He has a sharp sense of humor that keeps everyone on their toes.
Nicholas’ jokes are always the highlight of the episodes. His dramatic reactions to surprises and shocking gossip are always entertaining to watch. But much like 7ven, Nicholas is an amazing friend first.
He’s always looking out for what’s best for Molly (Maya Rudolph) and hypes up his friends when they’re nervous. Compared to other queer and trans characters of color on this list, Nicholas is a lot more carefree, which is a refreshing change of pace and a great representation of diverse characters.
6. Rue Bennett (Euphoria)
Rue (Zendaya) is the main character of Euphoria. She’s an incredibly complex character, but one main aspect of her identity is her queerness. Her romance with Jules, especially during the first season of the show, is a distraction from everything else in her life that seems to be falling apart.
A central part of Rue’s storyline on the show is about her dealing with her addiction. Her struggles with addiction highlight the mental health struggles that a lot of queer and trans people of color frequently face.
While it’s difficult to watch Rue’s addiction sabotage her relationships, including her romance with Jules, it’s an urgent wake-up call for people to pay more attention to the challenges that many queer youth of color face.
7. Crazy Jane (Doom Patrol)
Doom Patrol wouldn’t be the same without Jane (Diane Guerrero). Much like Rue, Jane also has a lot of trauma she works through during the series.
She reckons with the abuse she faced as a child and navigates dealing with her dissociative identity disorder and superpowers. As difficult as this is, Jane also has the support of the rest of the Doom Patrol, who are her found family.
At the end of the series, Jane gets her happy ending by running away with Casey after defeating Immortus. It’s a satisfying conclusion after her harrowing story, proving that queer characters of color deserve to have a happily ever after too.
8. Grace (The Afterparty)
Grace’s (Poppy Liu) storyline on The Afterparty is surprising. At first glance, it seems like she’s in a happy, heterosexual relationship with her newlywed husband (Zach Woods), who gets murdered.
But halfway through the season, it’s shown that she has a secret romance with her fiancé’s sister. The reveal is scandalous, but it’s also heartwarming to see Grace’s romance with Hannah (Anna Konkle) unfold.
Grace struggles to choose between marrying a man whom she knows she’ll be unhappy with and defying expectations by committing to Hannah. Ultimately, Grace gets to end up with Hannah, which is yet another win for queer characters of color!
9. Denise (Home Economics)
Denise (Shasheer Zamata) is one of the most grounded characters on Home Economics. While her wife’s family can be a little outlandish, Denise keeps everyone grounded. Her level-headedness is really calming in the midst of this chaotic and hilarious sitcom.
Also, her relationship with her wife (Caitlin McGee) is so cute! They always want what’s best for each other, which is definitely the key to any great relationship in sitcoms.
She’s also a great mom to her two kids, and she’s definitive proof that queer characters of color can thrive. The fact that she’s able to be a wonderful model for queer people of color doesn’t subtract from her humor. She’s also a super funny character when she gets roped into the kids’ antics and has to deal with cleaning up people’s messes.
10. Andrés (Los Espookys)
Andrés (Julio Torres), the star of Los Espookys, is an icon that should be mentioned on every character list. His sense of style is total goals, and his signature blue hair always provides a splash of color. The way Andrés carries himself confidently in every scenario is admirable.
Another great thing about Andrés is that he’s an openly flawed character. He openly disobeys his parents in favor of pursuing his love for horror. He doesn’t always communicate with his friends and sometimes runs off on side quests, such as engaging with a water demon on his own.
He also sometimes puts himself first at the expense of his friends. But because his friends care, they point this out, and he learns to improve. He’s an example that queer people of color aren’t always perfect, and that’s totally okay!
11. Carlos Herrera (Blockbuster)
Carlos from Blockbuster is definitely an underrated character. For a lack of better words, he’s a quintessential himbo. He’s nerdy and has a passion for obscure movies.
The way his queerness is discussed is also hilarious. It’s revealed that he’s bisexual when he ends up making out with a horror fanatic in the backroom at work.
While Carlos is unapologetically queer, it’s also not the only aspect of who he is. He’s an example that queer characters of color can be well-rounded and funny while still having queerness be an essential aspect of their identity.
12. Blanca (Pose)
It would be a disservice to Pose if this list didn’t mention Blanca (MJ Rodriguez). She starts her own house to make a place for herself in the ballroom scene, and she takes in many younger queer people of color looking to join the scene as well.
Her storyline is notable for addressing the prominence of the HIV epidemic within the LGBTQ+ community in the 80s and 90s. Although she is diagnosed with HIV, she relentlessly fights for her rights.
Eventually, she goes on to work at a hospital and pursues becoming an official nurse to support others fighting AIDS. Her character is a beacon of hope that shows trans people of color can thrive in the face of adversity.
13. Elektra (Pose)
Elektra (Dominique Jackson) is another Pose character who is an inspiration for trans people of color. At the beginning of the series, she seems like the antagonist as she tries to gatekeep the ballroom scene.
However, over time, we get to see her grow close with Blanca and become less harsh towards her fellow competitors. She realizes that although she is competing with other queer and trans people of color in the ballroom, they are all part of a community. Furthermore, her growth is important because having these bonds during a time when the community was facing an epidemic of HIV/AIDS made the crisis more bearable.
Her story is a great example of character growth for a trans character of color. Providing queer and trans characters of color a full story is an important part of increasing representation.
14. Mateo Liwanag (Superstore)
Anyone who has watched Superstore definitely loves Mateo (Nico Santos). He has a sense of humor that makes any situation easier to bear.
One of Mateo’s most important storylines is his immigration status. He’s an undocumented citizen living with his grandma after the two moved to America from Manila. While he’s worried about his immigration status, he ultimately doesn’t lose his job because his co-workers support him.
Also, Mateo’s friendship with Cheyenne (Nicole Sakura) is so lovely. It demonstrates the importance of having fellow characters of color to rely on, especially in the workplace.
15. Max Chapman (A League of Their Own)
Max’s (Chanté Adams) storyline on A League of Their Own is very moving. She faces a lot of discrimination in finding a job and joining a league because of her skin color. But despite everyone telling her no, Max continues to follow her dreams.
A central part of Max’s story is her getting to know Bertie, who is her butch relative. This helps Max accept that she is queer, and she has her first kiss with a girl at Bertie’s house.
As part of her exploration, Max cuts her hair short and presents as masc by wearing a suit. It’s moving to see how she explores her identity and becomes comfortable with her queerness over the course of the series.
16. Jim Jimenez (Our Flag Means Death)
Jim (Vico Ortiz) is a fan-favorite character on Our Flag Means Death. Their season one storyline is focused on them trying to blend in with the all-male crew. In this scenario, Jim’s strength and fierceness really shine through. The fact that they’re able to pass as a man for so long shows their determination to survive.
Eventually, it’s revealed that they’re not a man but rather that they identify as nonbinary. Regardless, the pirates accept them for who they are and offer their support.
Jim’s relationship with Oluwande and Archie is also super interesting as it helps demonstrate the fluidity in their sexuality. Jim is such a multifaceted character who has gotten the recognition they deserve from fans.
17. Ayesha (We Are Lady Parts)
Ayesha (Juliette Motamed) is the drummer of the band on the show We Are Lady Parts. She is down to earth and often mediates conflict within the band.
Her storyline involves her romance with a girl who eventually rejects her. While Ayesha is heartbroken, her friends comfort her. This allows Ayesha to grow as a character by realizing the importance of her friends as a support system. It also highlights how music is an outlet for Ayesha to cope with her heartbreak.
Ayesha’s story highlights the stigma many queer people of color face within their ethnic communities for their queer identity. Her story also shows the importance of supportive friends for queer characters of color.
18. Leota Adebayo (Peacemaker)
Leota (Danielle Brooks) is one of the most down-to-earth characters on Peacemaker. Peacemaker has a tendency to be hot-headed and act on his every whim, and Leota serves as a foil.
She also has a strong sense of morals. While every other character is quick to resort to violence, Leota always tries to propose a less bloody alternative.
A precious moment Leota has is when she has to say goodbye to her wife because she wants to keep her safe. It’s a brief scene, but it’s a welcome break from the chaos in the series to remind viewers what she’s fighting for.
On top of all these wonderful attributes, Leota also serves as a source of positive body representation. She shows that queer people of color can come in all shapes and sizes too.
19. Dana (Mythic Quest)
Like Leota, Dana (Imani Hakim) tends to be the level-headed person in every scenario on Mythic Quest. She’s ambitious and has big visions for what she wants for herself.
During the third season, she gets a chance to prove herself by working for Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao). She shows that she has lots of ideas that are super valuable and that she’s more than just a playtester.
Throughout the series, her romance with Rachel is prominently featured. They have an adorable friends-to-lovers storyline that’s sure to make any viewer ship them.
20. Kelly (Black Mirror)
There’s no other way to end this list other than to talk about Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) from Black Mirror Season 3 Episode 4, “San Junipero.” She dresses fabulously and has an attitude to match.
Compared to Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis), Kelly is much more free-spirited. She came to San Junipero to have fun, but Yorkie plans to stay in San Junipero.
This becomes a point of conflict for the lovers, but eventually, Kelly decides to stay in San Junipero with Yorkie. For Black Mirror, the ending is surprisingly hopeful. But again, it’s fantastic to see a queer character of color get a happily ever after.
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That concludes our list! Are there any characters we forgot to mention from your favorite shows? Let us know in the comments below!
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The post 20 Iconic Queer and Trans Characters of Color on TV first appeared on Tell-Tale TV.