Let's face it, as great as anime is, it's not known for being super progressive a lot of the time, especially when it comes to feminism, racism and LGBTQ+ representation. Even yaoi and yuri, despite being such popular genres, can come across as gimmicky, fetishized erotica for mostly heterosexual fans.
Despite this, one manga/anime from the early 2000s managed to get it right, and that's the beloved Ouran High School Host Club. Not only did it feature a queer and genderfluid protagonist, but it also spotlighted something perhaps even rarer in the medium: a queer parent.
The Importance of Haruhi's Identity
Ouran High School Host Club is considered by many to be a progressive anime. For starters, its protagonist Haruhi is considered to be genderfluid/genderqueer. She doesn't mind being thought of as a girl or boy, often dressing either androgynously, or going between feminine and masculine clothing. Haruhi even becomes a host at the school's titular club, entertaining young women and enjoying flirting with them.
It's only during the episode highlighting Haruhi's home life that her casual attitude in regards to gender identity is given further context: Haruhi's father, Ryoji Fujioka, is a crossdresser. He dresses up as a woman and performs drag queen shows for money under the stage name is Ranka. In fact, Ryoji is almost always shown in drag throughout the show -- whether with or without makeup. What's more, Haruhi's mother knew of this and accepted him for who he was.
There's an obvious parallel there, of course, as Ranka acts very similar to Tamaki, the head of the Host Club and Haruhi's main love interest throughout the show. The same way Haruhi's mother accepted Ryoji for who he was, Tamaki accepts and loves Haruhi, unperturbed by her choice to dress as a boy and keep her hair short -- although he does love it when she wears traditionally feminine clothing and has long hair. He even sees girls as equal threats in the race to win Haruhi's heart.
Why Ryoji Matters
One great thing about Ryoji is that, despite having an unconventional job for a father, he's shown as a completely normal parent -- minus the fact that he's a tad eccentric, just like Tamaki. He loves and cares for his daughter, and he's not perfect -- in fact, he's very flawed, just like all of us. He's overprotective of Haruhi, easily gets jealous (especially of Tamaki), and he used to have a bit of a drinking issue. Despite this, he's a caring, loving father who has his daughter's best interest at heart.
Despite her having passed away so many years ago, Ryoji still loves and speaks fondly of Haruhi's mother, thus breaking gender barriers and stereotypes on what it means to be a happy, loving couple. Ryoji being queer and at the same time being such a great yet relatable, flawed parent is exactly the kind of representation that the LGBTQ+ community craves and needs.
Another noteworthy thing is the fact that Ryoji genuinely likes his job. He's not been forced to be a drag queen for lack of any other paid work, nor does he think it's degrading -- and neither do those around him. It's just part of who he is. In fact, it's accepted so fast and so well by the rest of the host club that Tamaki immediately tries to please him the way one would normally try to please their crush's father. The normalcy with which queerness and cross-dressing are approached in the show is to be applauded.
Considering how slow Japan has been to adopt a progressive stance when it comes to LGBTQ issues, it's even more of a statement to have a recurring character like Ryoji be openly queer and portrayed so positively -- and all this is done in a way that would be suitable for any audience.
Queer parents are rarely openly shown and discussed in mainstream manga/anime the way Ryoji is. What's more, he's completely accepted for who he is in the series, and the Host Club boys are never uncomfortable around him or Haruhi. If anything, Ryoji highlights the show's premise: that it's essential to be yourself and to love yourself if you want to be happy, and to have others love you. This is what makes Ouran High School Host Club so uplifting: showcasing just how wonderful a tolerant and accepting society can be.