Children's television is arguably one of the most important genres because it plays such a key role in shaping young audiences. This comes with pros and cons with the biggest con being that children's television is oftentimes highly regulated, which meant that for a long time, many characters weren't allowed to be LGBTQ+, despite what the writers intended. But thankfully, in recent years children's television has been able to diversify itself, showing kids that people come in all shapes and sizes and so does love.
There has been a lot of effort recently to make shows that show how diverse the world is in kid-friendly terms. From characters exploring their sexuality to experiencing first love, kids are finally seeing the LGBTQ+ community represented in many of their favorite shows.
Andi Mack (2017 - 2019)
Andi Mack centered on Andi, a 13-year-old girl who discovers that her older sister is actually her mother and that her grandparents have been raising her as their own. It's a lot for Andi to handle, which is why it's great that she has amazing friends to support her.
One of Andi's best friends, Cyrus, happens to be going through a tough journey of his own, as he comes to terms with the fact that he is gay. Eventually, Cyrus comes out and begins to date TJ. Cyrus's coming out was a groundbreaking moment for Disney Channel since, as reported by Digital Spy, it was the first time a character said the words "I'm gay," on the network.
Adventure Time (2010 - 2018)
Adventure Time is one of the most popular cult classics in the animation world. While the series centered on Finn and his magical dog, Jake, the show also featured several other amazing characters, some of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Adventure Time managed to do a lot when it came to representation. Marceline and Princess Bubblegum are not only perfect together, but they're also one of the first same-sex couples on a children's show. The show also featured a genderfluid character with the inclusion of BMO.
Diary Of A Future President (2019 - )
Bobby Cañero-Reed might not be the main character of Diary of a Future President, but he does have an important emotional arc during the first season of the show. It's during the first season that Bobby begins to have complicated feelings for his friend, Liam.
Part of what makes Bobby's storyline in Diary of a Future President so great is that it's extremely authentic and doesn't feel like a tacked-on trope for the sake of representation. And while Bobby is initially confused by his feelings for Liam, he ends up realizing that liking boys is nothing for him to be ashamed of.
Doc McStuffins (2012 - 2020)
Doc McStuffins is one of Disney Junior's most important shows because of its representation of women of color. It also is the longest-running Disney Junior show to date. The series follows Dottie "Doc" McStuffins, a young child who fixes broken toys and dolls in the hopes of being a doctor like her mom one day.
The show addressed the LGBTQ+ community in a season 4 episode when Doc met Thea and Edie, a lesbian couple with two children of their own. This marked the first time Disney Junior featured a same-sex couple on the channel and earned high praise from the GLAAD.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019 - )
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series falls into the gray area of kids' television with some classifying it as teen TV and others considering it a kids' show. Regardless, the series, which was inspired by one of the most successful DCOMs of all time, is a show that makes LGTBQ+ representation a top priority.
Though Seb and Carlos might not be the most popular couple on the show, they are one of the most important. Their relationship is extremely special because it shows how different people can feel about their sexuality. While Carlos is out and proud, Seb is more reserved when it comes to coming out, and the series shows that both are totally okay! In the end, these two are supportive and loving towards each other and that's what matters.
She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power (2018 - 2020)
She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power is a reboot of the 1980s show, but it definitely got a 21st-century makeover when it began airing on Netflix in 2018. The show follows Adora, a young girl who gets turned into a warrior named She-Ra who fights against evil in order to save the world.
While there is a lot of action in She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power, there's also a whole lot of love, especially when it comes to Adora's relationship with Catra. Unlike some other shows, She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power set out to be LGTBQ-inclusive from the very start, which certainly comes through in the storytelling.
Steven Universe (2013 - 2019)
Steven Universe has become a groundbreaking kids show when it comes to its portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters. Despite Cartoon Network never wanting to state characters' sexualities explicitly, Steven Universe did just that by constantly including characters' identities and sexualities at the forefront of episodes.
The show depicted a same-sex marriage between Ruby and Sapphire, introduced a non-binary and intersex character to the show in 2015, and regularly made sure it had characters who represented different identities within the LGBTQ+ community. The best part is the show managed to convince parents and kids alike that including the LGBTQ+ community in kids' shows could be done in a kid-friendly way.
The Babysitters Club (2020 - )
While there have been several adaptations of The Babysitters Club over the years, none have been more inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community than the recent Netflix adaptation in 2020. With a second season in the works, fans are certain that inclusion will only continue to grow.
One of the biggest moments in season one involved shedding a light on transgender children. In the episode, Mary Anne babysits Bailey and quickly forms a deep bond with her. This storyline is extremely important and it makes one of the first times a transgender child got to play a transgender character.
The Loud House (2016 - )
The Loud House is one of the best Nickelodeon's shows of all time, earning several seasons, a spin-off, and even a movie. The series centers on Lincoln Loud, the only boy in a large family, who is always up to something.
While Lincoln is the main character, his best friend Clyde is the character that helped the show reach the LGBTQ+ community because he has two dads. After the positive reaction to Clyde's parents, the creators decided to explore other storylines, including Luna Loud coming out as bisexual.
The Owl House (2020 - )
The Owl House made major headlines when it was revealed that Luz, the show's protagonist, was bisexual. This marked the first bisexual character on Disney Channel and a major step in the right direction. It was also recently announced that the show would include Disney's first non-binary character in the most recent season.
The Owl House follows Luz, a young teenager, who accidentally falls into a portal to a magical realm. Instead of returning home, Luz decides to stay in the hopes of becoming a witch like Eda, her mentor in the realm. Her desire to be herself and chase her dreams is just one reason fans love Luz and think she's the best character.