Critics and audiences collectively recognize how paramount it is for the LGBTQ+ community to be positively represented across countless forms of media. As a result, it is arguably more important than ever for queer characters to be represented by actors within the community who can truly relate to their characters' emotional highs and lows.
While many LGBTQ+ character types are far from perfect since they were written with outdated, untrue stereotypes in mind, queer representation in film has come a long way. As LGBTQ+ characters continue to be given more prominent roles and portrayed by LGBTQ+ actors consistently, it is crucial to remember that such representation wasn't always the norm and that achieving it was no easy feat.
10 Andrew Scott's Character In Pride Reminds Viewers That Gay Male Characters Shouldn't Be Limited By Stereotypical Archetypes
Based on a true story, Pride focuses on a "gaggle of gays and lesbians" who vocalize their support of the British miners' strike of 1984-85 since these miners were receiving a parallel level of harassment from the authorities. The group, who call themselves Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), visits one mining community at random to show their support.
Of the group's initial members is a gay couple, Jonathan and Gethin—the latter portrayed by Andrew Scott. Scott, perhaps better known for playing Moriarty in Sherlock, is gay and wanted to prove that not all gay characters need to be flamboyant to be impactful.
9 Adèle Haenel's Lesbian Character In Portrait Of A Lady On Fire Crucially Disproves Contemporary Historians' Attempts To Ignore Same-Sex Relationships
Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells the story of two star-crossed sapphic lovers in eighteenth-century Europe. Initially hired by the mother of reluctant bride Héloïse to secretly paint her daughter's wedding portrait, French painter Marianne gradually falls in love with Héloïse as they spend ample time with one another.
Although Héloïse shares these feelings, the two are ultimately forced apart by Héloïse's arranged marriage to a Milanese nobleman. Adèle Haenel, who plays Héloïse, came out as a lesbian during her César award acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress in 2014.
8 Lena Waithe Voices Pixar's First Openly Lesbian Cop In Outward
In addition to its refreshing thematization of brotherly love and self-acceptance, Onward is notable for its inclusion of Pixar's first openly lesbian character, Officer Specter. While LGBTQ+ characters are often solely defined by their sexuality or gender, Onward's Officer Specter is much more than her sexual orientation.
Although Officer Specter has a minor role in the film, she is shown to be a sympathetic character who knows firsthand how hard it must be for her coworker Bronco to bond with his partner's children. Officer Specter is voiced by Lena Waithe, a lesbian who publicly advocates for the importance of Black queer representation in the media.
7 Lucas Hedges' Portrayal Of A Young Closeted Man In Boy Erased Speaks To The Suppressed Horrors Of Gay Conversion Therapy
Based on Garrard Conley's eponymous memoir, Boy Erased follows its protagonist Jared as he is outed as gay and forced to undergo gay conversion therapy. Boy Erased tells of the multiple horrifying realities of conversion therapy, from convincing LGBTQ+ minors that their sexuality is a choice to being told that they only "think" they are gay because they had poor parenting growing up.
While Lucas Hedges does not identify as gay, he does not identify as straight either. Instead, he views his sexuality as a "fluid experience" and believes that one's sexuality is far too complex to be seen through black and white labels.
6 Daniel Franzese Played An Openly Gay Character In Mean Girls Before He Publicly Came Out
Widely considered the most iconic coming-of-age film of the early 2000s, Mean Girls is an impactful satire of the popular cutthroat clique at every high school. Although characters like the ditzy yet calculated Regina George have made their mark on the genre, Mean Girls is also notable for its compelling characterization of the openly gay Damian (who is portrayed by Daniel Franzese).
However, what makes Franzese different is that he didn't publicly come out until 2014, around the 10th anniversary of Mean Girl's release. Since coming out, Franzese has revealed in an interview with Gay Times that he and Jonathan Bennett (who plays Cady's love interest Aaron Samuels) came out to one another while filming Mean Girls.
5 Art Imitates Life In A Fantastic Woman As Daniela Vega Portrays A Strong, Transgender Woman
A Fantastic Woman is a Spanish drama film that tells the tale of Marina, a transgender woman whose life is turned upside down after the tragic death of her partner Orlando. Since Orlando was one of Marina's few support systems, his death hits very close to home for Marina, and she is forced to endure daily transphobic microaggressions on her own.
As a film showcasing some of the countless terrible ways trans individuals are treated regularly, it was pertinent for the film to cast a trans woman who could appropriately tackle such heavy, endlessly relevant subject matter. Marina is gracefully brought to life by Daniela Vega, a trans woman who knows all too well how universally difficult the trans experience can be.
4 Keiynan Lonsdale Plays The Romantic Interest In Love, Simon And Is Arguably The Film's Breakout Star
Often described as one of the prominent films that normalized LGBTQ+ representation in film, Love, Simon follows its closeted protagonist Simon (Nick Robinson), as he navigates life as a high schooler. As if high school wasn't tricky enough, Simon must balance his relationships while dealing with an anonymous classmate who threatens to out him to the entire school.
While the film's main lead is straight, Keiynan Lonsdale, who plays Simon's romantic interest, Bram, is gay and does a fantastic job of bringing the quiet yet charming Bram to life.
3 Trace Lysette Artfully Weaves Her Experiences As A Trans Activist Into Her Role In Hustlers
Celebrated for its incredibly star-studded cast and thematization of how sex work is a valid form of work, Hustlers broke boundaries for its commitment to offering insightful commentary on an occupation seldom given the respect it deserves. In addition to boasting a refreshingly diverse cast of recording artists and actors alike, the film also represents notable LGBTQ+ talent.
One such talent is Trace Lysette, a transgender woman who portrays Tracey, a trans stripper who works at the Moves strip club. As an activist within the LGBTQ+ community, Lysette was more than qualified for the role and effortlessly channeled her character's emotional highs and lows.
2 Megan Fox's Portrayal Of A Bisexual Succubus In Jennifer's Body Has Made It A Cult Classic
Despite being unwisely marketed to young, straight male audiences when it was first released, Jennifer's Body retrospectively became a cult classic among queer and female audiences for its refreshing motifs of female empowerment and the importance of assuming control of one's sexuality. Unfortunately, this poor marketing decision was primarily made because viewers quickly assume that Jennifer is straight since most of her victims are male.
However, it becomes clear that the succubus is bisexual when she shares a kiss with her best friend near the film's climax. Jennifer is portrayed by Megan Fox, a bisexual actor who always inherently knew that she was attracted to both sexes.
1 Tessa Thompson's Bisexual Character In Thor: Ragnarok Proves Why LGBTQ+ Representation Is Crucial Across Film Genres
Although the Marvel Cinematic Universe didn't begin offering ample LGBTQ+ representation until Phase Four, characters like Valkyrie from Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder prove that it is better late than never. While Valkyrie's bisexuality is only vaguely hinted at in Thor: Ragnarok, she was given ample time to shine in Thor: Love and Thunder.
Her sexuality comes across in several scenes, like when she sensually kisses the hand of one of Zeus' wives and briefly opens up about her hesitance to fall in love again. Valkyrie is brought to life by Tessa Thompson; a queer actor attracted to both sexes.