Queer characters are showing up more and more in our favorite shows, games, and stories - and we love to see it. So let’s take a moment to highlight some of the best ones out there.
Queerness is a broad spectrum, as characters like Loki and Ellie prove. Image Source: Marvel Studios / Disney+ / Sony
In June, we celebrate Pride Month, and that means more than just rainbows and glitter. Pride is about celebrating and making LGBTQIA+ identities visible, honoring the history of queer activism, and striving for a better future. It’s about being seen, heard, and respected - not just in “real” life, but also in the stories we tell.
Representation in pop culture matters because it helps shape reality. So this Pride Month, we’re shining a light on some of our favorite queer characters from across various media.
Ellie - The Last of Us
First appearance: The Last of Us | Year: 2013 | Genre: Action-Adventure
By now, thanks to the HBO series, Ellie is a household name, but gamers have known and loved her since 2013, when she first appeared in one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time: The Last of Us. Back then, she was a teenager still figuring out who
she was. And let’s be honest: a zombie apocalypse isn’t exactly the easiest backdrop for self-discovery - especially when you’re the only person known to be immune.
Still, identity and self-determination don’t just disappear, even at the end of the world. In the 2014 expansion Left Behind, Ellie shares a romantic moment with her friend Riley, marking the first glimpse into her queerness. By the time we meet her in The Last of Us Part II, Ellie is older, more hardened, and living openly in a relationship with Dina. No big reveal, no drama (well, at least when it comes to her sexuality). Just part of who she is: complex, angry, loving, and real.
Astarion - Baldur's Gate 3
First appearance: Baldur’s Gate 3 | Year: 2023 | Genre: CRPG
What goes better with queerness than vampirism? Honestly, nothing comes to mind. Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3 embodies many things queer people can relate to: a past marked by trauma and a lack of freedom. As a vampire spawn, he spent centuries as the mindless servant of a cruel vampire master, and now he's fighting to reclaim his freedom.
His story deals with themes like bodily autonomy, abuse, and self-empowerment. He’s charming, flirtatious, and open to all kinds of relationships - queer, straight, or platonic - always portrayed with emotional depth. Fans love him not just for his sass and seductive flair, but also for the vulnerability hiding beneath his sharp smile.
Parvati Holcomb - The Outer Worlds
First appearance: The Outer Worlds | Year: 2019 | Genre: RPG
In many RPGs, you're joined by a crew of companions you grow close to over time. In The Outer Worlds, one of the first is Parvati, a quiet but deeply empathetic and passionate mechanic.
What makes her stand out is her representation as an asexual, sapphic character - a rarity in games and other media. She speaks openly about her insecurities around romance and how others have seen her as "cold" for not showing much interest in the physical side of relationships. Still, she clearly wants love, and eventually develops feelings for another female engineer, showing that asexuality and queer romance are not mutually exclusive.
Players and critics alike have praised Parvati for her depth, warmth, and authentic queer representation.
Yuri Katsuki - Yuri on Ice
First appearance: Yuri on Ice | Year: 2016 | Genre: Sports Anime
Yuri on Ice follows Yuri, a figure skater battling depression and self-doubt after a career setback. His life shifts when skating legend Victor Nikiforov becomes his coach - and eventually, something more.
Their bond grows naturally over time, culminating in a public kiss on the ice. Later, Yuri and Victor even exchange golden rings - a rare and unambiguous portrayal of same-sex romance in mainstream anime. While the series avoids explicitly labeling the characters as “gay” or “queer,” the representation is unmistakable. Yuri on Ice doesn’t treat queer love as a problem or a plot twist, it’s simply part of the story.
Ymir - Attack on Titan
First appearance: Attack on Titan | Year: 2010 | Genre: Dark Fantasy / Action Manga & Anime
Much like in a zombie apocalypse, priorities tend to shift in a dystopia overrun by man-eating giants. Still, Attack on Titan shows that human connection remains deeply important. something the Scout Regiment cadets prove time and again.
Ymir is one of those characters. She’s sarcastic, fiercely independent, and at first glance, even a bit selfish. But beneath that tough exterior lies a deep loyalty to one person: Historia Reiss. And it’s more than just friendship - their bond is romantic, made clear through both Ymir’s words and actions. She risks her life for Historia, puts her own needs second, and reveals a vulnerable side she hides from everyone else. Ymir’s queerness isn’t sexualized, it’s treated with sincerity, as a real and powerful emotional connection.
Sailor Uranus - Sailor Moon
First appearance: Sailor Moon | Year: 1994 | Genre: Magical Girl Manga & Anime
Even today, LGBTQIA+ representation in media isn’t a given, and back in the 20th century, it was even rarer. One of the few openly queer characters in 1990s manga and anime was Haruka Tenou, a.k.a. Sailor Uranus from Sailor Moon - now a beloved icon in the queer community. As part of the Outer Senshi, Haruka often presents in a masculine way, wears suits, and openly flirts with girls, challenging gender norms from the moment she appears.
She’s also in a committed relationship with Michiru - Sailor Neptune - though this was only acknowledged in the original Japanese version. In the North American dub, the two were infamously rewritten as “cousins” to avoid controversy. Thankfully, the 2016 redub corrected this, letting us finally enjoy their full sapphic power as it was meant to be.
Nia Nal - Supergirl
First appearance: Supergirl | Year: 2008 | Genre: Superhero
Nia Nal - or Dreamer - joined the Arrowverse in Season 4 of Supergirl. She’s half human, half Naltorian, which means she can see glimpses of the future in her dreams and create energy projections. She’s also the first trans superhero on TV, brought to life (and co-developed) by actress and trans activist Nicole Maines. In 2021, Dreamer made her comic debut in “Date Night,” also written by Maines.
Her trans identity is part of who she is, but it’s not her whole story. Nia is open about her experiences, stands up for what’s right, and balances strength with vulnerability, making her one of the most grounded and relatable heroes in the Arrowverse.
Iceman - X-Men
First appearance: The X-Men | Year: 1963 | Genre: Superhero
Bobby Drake, better known as Iceman, is one of the original members of the X-Men and spent decades portrayed as the classic, straight-coded superhero: charming, funny, sometimes a bit immature, but always loyal. It wasn’t until 2015, over 50 years after his debut, that he was officially revealed to be gay, surprising many and marking a major moment for queer representation in comics.
In the All-New X-Men series, a younger version of Bobby is brought from the past into the present. Through telepathy, it’s revealed that young Iceman is gay. Later, his adult self finally admits that he’s been hiding this part of himself his entire life. A moment that makes Iceman one of the most significant queer characters in comic book history.
Loki - Avengers
First appearance: Venus | Year: 1949 | Genre: Superhero
Loki, the God of Mischief, has always been a fluid and ever-changing figure, even in Norse mythology, and Marvel has carried that through with intention. As a shapeshifter, they can
transform into animals and people of any gender - a pretty direct expression of gender fluidity.
But Loki’s identity isn’t just a plot device; it’s central to who they are. They resist fixed definitions, play with roles, love, seduce, and fight, regardless of gender or label. In the Disney+ series, it’s also explicitly confirmed for the first time that they’re attracted to both men and women. Loki stands for change, freedom, and the beauty of what exists in between. And that’s exactly why so many queer fans see themselves reflected in them.
Viktor Hargreeves - Umbrella Academy
First appearance: The Umbrella Academy | Year: 2007 (comics), 2019 (series) | Genre: Superhero
Umbrella Academy has shown that representation, just like social role models, does not have to be rigid. Viktor Hargreeves is one of seven superpowered siblings adopted by Sir Reginald Hargreeves. Originally introduced as Vanya and perceived as female, Viktor first explored a sapphic relationship with a woman named Sissy. But in Season 3, he comes out as trans - calmly, respectfully, and without unnecessary drama. His siblings respond not with conflict or confusion, but simply: “Okay.” A scene showing that nothing about the person truly changed. Viktor was and remains Viktor: a quiet, musical man with immense power.
This storyline followed actor Elliot Page’s real-life coming out as trans in 2020. Instead of recasting or writing the character out, the show adapted with him - a powerful move that remains far too rare in mainstream media.