My Favourite LGBTQ+ Rep on Fantasy TV Right Now
They have more than just a single token queer
When Alex Danvers came out on Supergirl, it was beautiful and I have to admit, I cried. It was so validating for me as a thirty-something woman who only recently realized my own bisexuality to see a grown woman who had no idea she was gay for most of her life.
Alex has a serious relationship with Maggie Sawyer and they are even engaged until they discover that Alex wants kids and Maggie does not. Unable to find a compromise, they break up.
Curtis Holt on Arrow is a gay black man who is married to a man named Paul until his activities as the vigilante/superhero Mr. Terrific land him in the hospital and Paul leaves him as he says he is no longer able to handle the fear of not knowing if Curtis will come home.
I have to admit I hate the stupid trope of someone breaking up with a romantic partner because they have a dangerous job/calling. You’re afraid you’ll lose them, so you dump them? Makes no sense to me.
Nia Nal is a new character on Supergirl. She is a transgender woman from the planet Naltor who has to deal with transphobia and the growing anti-alien sentiment. She is portrayed on the show by trans actor Nicole Maines. Her storyline so far is fascinating. She’s adorable.
John Constantine had his own show for a while, but when it was canceled, he joined the Legends of Tomorrow cast. John has had sexual and romantic relationships with multiple people, and doesn’t seem to care in the least what gender they are. These include Sara Lance and Gary Green.
In one story arc, we learn that in John’s past he had a great love affair with a man named Desmond but John was forced to send him to Hell and he never got over it. He is now unhappily single.
When Sara Lance first showed up on Arrow, she seemed little more than a prop or a plot device. The main character Oliver Queen cheated on his girlfriend Laurel Lance with her younger sister Sara. It was Oliver’s story, and Sara was merely a supporting character.
But then Sara ended up on the boat with Oliver, lost at sea when it sank, and she was found by the League of Assassins. While Oliver was learning the skills he would later use as a vigilante and a superhero, Sara joined the League and learned skills she would later use as a vigilante, a superhero, and a Legend.
When Sara returns to Starling City, it is revealed that she had a romantic relationship with Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter Nyssa. But then, she gets back together with Oliver. This time, however, her own story is at least as interesting as his despite the fact that he is the main title character. Sara becomes the Canary and then the Black Canary, and fights alongside Oliver’s the Hood/the Arrow.
Then, Sara is killed. And I was disappointed and frustrated. It looked like a classic “bury your gays” thing. Until they resurrect her with magic. Then she’s killed again. But then, Rip Hunter goes back in time and pulls her out of the timeline before her death to recruit her to join the Legends. And now she’s the leader/captain of the team.
She has had encounters/flings with Supergirl’s sister Alex Danvers and with John Constantine, and is currently in a serious relationship with Ava Sharpe.
There’s also the Ray of light in the problematic mess that was the Crisis on Earth-X crossover. Ray Terrill AKA The Ray is a member of the resistance group the Freedom Fighters. And he is married to Leo Snart. And they are still married as of the writing of this piece!
That’s five major characters plus the four side characters Gary Green, Paul Holt, Ray Terrill, and Leo Snart — and I’m sure I’m forgetting somebody. And Sara Lance is currently the main character of her series. I don’t know if she’s the out first bisexual Main Character of a fantasy television series, but she’s the only one I can think of (John Constantine doesn’t count since his series didn’t even have one whole season and they didn’t make his bisexuality clear in that season).
I would venture to say from all of the above that the Arrowverse and, more specifically, Legends of Tomorrow, is the most queer-friendly fantasy on TV right now.
