Showtime's groundbreaking lesbian/bisexual/transgender-focused drama kicked off in 2004 and ran for six seasons, becoming the first hour-long drama with lesbian principal characters. The sequel series, 'The L Word: Generation Q,' premiered in December 2019.
In 2018, the CW series 'Black Lightning' introduced viewers to Anissa Pierce, AKA Thunder, who is a lesbian superhero played by Nafessa Williams. They also featured TV's first transgender superhero on 'Supergirl,' casting transgender actress and activist Nicole Maines as Nia Nal, AKA Dreamer. Then 'Batwoman' premiered on the network, which sees openly gay actress Ruby Rose playing the equally openly gay Kate Kane, AKA Batwoman.
In 2014, 'Orange Is the New Black' star Laverne Cox made history as the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting Emmy. She also made history with the series 'Doubt,' which made her the first transgender series regular on primetime.
The young YouTuber, performer, and reality TV star Jojo Siwa made history as the first competitor on 'Dancing With the Stars' to have a same-sex dance partner. The online superstar came out as pansexual in January of 2021. ABC revealed that Siwa would be paired with a female professional dancer in the show's upcoming season. The milestone moment comes after 30 seasons of the hit reality show. This step forward could set a whole new standard for dance competitions.
See also: The trans celebrities blazing a trail to acceptance
Not long after the death of Hollywood heartthrob Rock Hudson, NBC's made-for-TV movie 'An Early Frost' premiered in 1985. Aidan Quinn starred as gay Chicago attorney Michael Pierson, and the film was lauded for being the first of its kind to explore HIV/AIDS in depth.
In the 1989 episode 'Strangers' of the show 'thirtysomething,' recurring characters Russell (David Marshall Green) and Peter (Peter Frechette) were shown in bed together with clear implications of it being "the morning after." Despite there being no touching, half of the show's sponsors dropped out.
While today there are numerous queer shows and celebrities in series across genres of reality, drama, comedy, mystery, and so forth, we can't forget that all of this progress is still relatively new.
It was in February 1971 that 'All in the Family' became the first sitcom to bring a gay man to television screens, making history with only its fifth episode. The gay rights movement was still getting off the ground in earnest, having just recently celebrated the first pride parades, and it was a bold move that kicked off a slow but steady increase in LGBTQ+ representation in the media.
In this gallery, discover all the other televised milestone moments that have continued the charge.
Mj Rodriguez, who made her TV debut with her fierce portrayal of house mother Blanca Rodriguez on 'Pose,' made history as the first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe. The star earned the award for Best Actress in a TV Drama, which was also the first Golden Globe win overall for the series. She was also the first transgender performer to pick up an Emmy nomination in a major acting category (lead drama actress).
Milestone LGBTQ moments in TV history
Celebrate Pride Month with this fascinating tour of television turning points
TV Queer
While today there are numerous queer shows and celebrities in series across genres of reality, drama, comedy, mystery, and so forth, we can't forget that all of this progress is still relatively new.
It was in February 1971 that 'All in the Family' became the first sitcom to bring a gay man to television screens, making history with only its fifth episode. The gay rights movement was still getting off the ground in earnest, having just recently celebrated the first pride parades, and it was a bold move that kicked off a slow but steady increase in LGBTQ+ representation in the media.
In this gallery, discover all the other televised milestone moments that have continued the charge.