TV today boasts a great deal of diversity, but such hasn’t always been the case for the LGBTQ community. A look back over time reveals just how long it took network television to represent our entire society in a way that is realistic and authentic. And while some networks remain ahead of the curve (holla, ABC!), there’s still progress to be made. From early ’70s sitcoms to Shondaland, follow the history of LGBTQ characters on TV.
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‘The Corner Bar,’ 1972
Image Credit: ABC This short-lived sitcom featured Peter Panama, who’s believed to be TV’s first recurring gay character.
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‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ 1972
Image Credit: CBS Phyllis’ brother was refreshingly revealed as gay in a way that portrayed it as a nonissue.
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‘That Certain Summer,’ 1972
Image Credit: ABC Martin Sheen and Hal Holbrook starred in this groundbreaking TV movie about finding love again.
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‘An American Family,’ 1973
Image Credit: PBS In the first reality TV series, Lance Loud came out to the nation in this family documentary.
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‘All In The Family,’ 1975
Female impersonator Beverly LaSalle (Lori Shannon) was the first drag queen to debut on the small screen.
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‘Hot L Baltimore,’ 1975
Image Credit: ABC This ABC comedy’s older gay couple, George and Gordon, earned the series a mature content disclaimer.
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‘Soap,’ 1977
Image Credit: ABC In this spoof series, Billy Crystal played Jodie Dallas — the first gay main character on an American TV show.
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‘The Jeffersons,’ 1977
Image Credit: CBS In a risque (for the time) arc, it’s revealed George’s old Navy buddy, Eddie, had gender confirmation surgery.
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‘All My Children,’ 1983
Image Credit: ABC As All My Children‘s Dr. Lynn Carson, Donna Pescow played the first gay character on a soap opera.
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‘Dynasty,’ 1984
Image Credit: ABC This soapy series explored bisexuality with oil heir Stephen Carrington.
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‘An Early Frost,’ 1985
Image Credit: NBC This poignant film about a gay attorney who is HIV-positive was the first film to address AIDS on screen.
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‘Thirtysomething,’ 1985
Image Credit: ABC This ABC drama broke new ground and sparked major controversy for showing two men the morning after.
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‘Golden Girls,’ 1991
Image Credit: NBC While we didn’t see the wedding, Blanche’s brother tells his sis he is marrying his “special” friend, Doug.
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‘Roc,’ 1991
Image Credit: Fox When Roc found out his uncle was gay and had a partner, it led to TV’s first gay wedding.
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‘L.A. Law,’ 1992
Image Credit: NBC L.A. Law laid claim to the first lesbian kiss on primetime when bisexual C.J. kissed straight Abby.
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‘One Life to Live,’ 1992
Image Credit: ABC In one of his earlier roles, Ryan Phillippe starred as Billy Douglas, the first gay teen on daytime TV.
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‘Melrose Place,’ 1992
Image Credit: Fox Although much was made of an openly gay character on this nighttime soap, Matt had few romantic scenes.
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‘Roseanne,’ 1992
Image Credit: ABC Nancy, who dated Mariel Hemingway’s character, was one of the first openly lesbian TV characters.
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‘My So-Called Life,’ 1994
Image Credit: ABC Enrique “Rickie” Vasquez (Wilson Cruz) was primetime’s first unambiguous queer teen depiction.
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‘Friends,’ 1996
Image Credit: NBC Primetime’s first lesbian wedding came by way of Ross’ ex-wife Carol and her partner Susan.
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‘Ellen,’ 1997
Image Credit: ABC Upon coming out, Ellen became the first openly lesbian actress playing an openly lesbian character on TV.
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‘Relativity,’ 1997
Image Credit: ABC Lisa Edelstein’s Rhonda brought us the first romantic (read: open-mouth) kiss between women on primetime TV.
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‘Will & Grace,’ 1998
Image Credit: NBC Will, Jack, Karen… all sexuality was embraced in this hit show (which is coming back, squeee!).
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‘Dawson’s Creek,’ 1999
Image Credit: The WB TV’s first passionate gay kiss didn’t happen until Jack (Kerr Smith) hit the scene in ’99.
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‘The L Word,’ 2004
Image Credit: Showtime This popular Showtime drama didn’t just feature lesbian couples; it centered on their lives.
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‘Romy & Michele: In the Beginning,’ 2005
Image Credit: ABC Family It may have bombed, but this prequel featured the first openly trans women playing a trans character on TV.
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‘As the World Turns,’ 2007
Image Credit: Primetime A bit late to the party, daytime TV featured its first gay kiss in 2007 between Luke and Noah.
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‘All My Children,’ 2009
Image Credit: ABC Friends had the first lesbian wedding on primetime, but All My Children earned that honor for daytime.
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‘Parks and Recreation,’ 2009
Image Credit: NBC Parks & Rec covered new territory with April’s bisexual boyfriend Ben and his boyfriend Derek.
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‘Good Luck Charlie,’ 2014
Image Credit: Disney Channel The first same-sex couple shown on a children’s network came during a playdate on Good Luck Charlie.
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‘Orange Is the New Black,’ 2014
Image Credit: Netflix For her role as Sophia Burset, Laverne Cox became the first openly trans person to be nominated for an Emmy.
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‘Transparent,’ 2014
Image Credit: Amazon Amazon continues to shine for its dramedy starring Jeffrey Tambor as a dad who comes out as transgender.
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‘How to Get Away with Murder,’ 2014
Image Credit: ABC A rarity on primetime TV, HTGAWM‘s premiere featured a super-steamy sex scene between two men.
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‘Nashville,’ 2014
Image Credit: CMT Nashville ventured into unchartered territory when country music singer Will came out as gay.
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‘Doubt,’ 2015
Image Credit: CBS When Laverne Cox joined the Doubt cast, it heralded the portrayal of TV’s first transgender attorney.
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‘Grace and Frankie,’ 2015
Image Credit: Netflix Through longtime lovers Robert and Sol, this series poignantly (and hilariously) explores coming out later in life.
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‘Empire,’ 2016
Image Credit: Fox Despite push-back, Empire charged forward with a racy sex scene between hip-hop star Jamal and his producer.
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‘The Loud House,’ 2016
Image Credit: Nickelodeon Clyde McBride’s parents, Harold and Howard, are the first same-sex married couple featured in a cartoon.
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