Given the importance of representation of all kinds in media — allowing audiences to see themselves and their experiences reflected on-screen — it's only right that LGBTQ+ representation expands beyond shows that deal with the everyday and includes the sci-fi and fantastical.
Whether to provide an escape, give LGBTQ+ viewers the chance to see someone like themselves experiencing the wonders of sci-fi and fantasy stories, or express familiar circumstances, no matter the setting, the increase in sci-fi and fantasy shows with LGBTQ+ main characters can only further enrich a show's marvelous world.
Updated on May 26, 2022 by Stacie Rook: As new shows with LGBTQ+ main characters — like Heartstopper and Our Flag Means Death — flourish, the significance of well-crafted representation has never before been more evident. For viewers longing for such stories with otherworldly twists, though, there are many sci-fi and fantasy series that deliver.
Astrid And Lilly Save The World (2022- )
Stream On FuboTV and DIRECTV
Balancing comedy with the supernatural, Astrid and Lilly Save the World the titular high schooler best friends suddenly need to become heroes after they accidentally open a portal to a dimension of monsters. The pair's subsequent adventures deal with the dangers not only of these monsters but also of teen life.
Astrid and Lilly, which only has one season so far, has been favorably compared to Buffy, but it also has a flair that is uniquely its own. Protagonist Lilly is LGBTQ+, and also has two moms. When she's not battling monsters, one of her storylines involves a budding romance with her former BFF-turned-enemy Candace.
The Owl House (2020- )
Stream On Disney+
Disney animated series The Owl House focuses on Luz Noceda, a human Latina teenager who is accidentally transported to the Boiling Isles, which exist in another magical realm. There she meets a witch, Eda, and becomes her apprentice.
The Owl House is notable for starring Disney's first bisexual lead character in Luz, and also for her later romance with Amity, a teenage witch who is a lesbian. The show has also received acclaim for its beautiful animation and fantastic voice acting.
Sailor Moon (1992-1997)
Stream On Hulu
The English dub of '90s anime Sailor Moon was so heavily edited that it removed all traces of LGBTQ+ characters and their relationships, including that between Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus. But in its original form, the show, which follows a team of teenagers with magical alter egos who work to save the Earth from threats, has a diverse range of characters.
Even though its North American censorship has meant that Sailor Moon isn't always remembered as one of the best LGBTQ+ anime series, Neptune and Uranus' romantic relationship is one of the show's biggest strengths, as is the way that the friendships between the other main characters are depicted.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Stream On Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, And The Roku Channel
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a major player in '90s pop culture. It followed protagonist Buffy Summers as she becomes a Slayer, working with her best friends Willow and Xander to fight against vampires and other enemies they come across.
One of the show's most progressive storylines is the romance between Willow and fellow witch Tara, which at the time of airing was lauded as a milestone for lesbian representation. Even so, Tara's later death in the show faced significant backlash and as a result, some fans remember the show with mixed feelings.
Sense8 (2015-2018)
Stream On Netflix
Netflix Original series Sense8 is a science-fiction show that centers on a group of eight people who suddenly find themselves telepathically linked, able to communicate and share their knowledge and feelings with one another.
The show sees the group, known as sensates, exploring their connection and searching for answers, while they're pursued by an organization that would do them harm. The series has many LGBTQ+ characters, but two of the most prominent are Lito and Nomi, a gay man and transgender lesbian woman, respectively, and the series takes time to delve into their identities.
Marvel's Runaways (2017-2019)
Stream On Disney+ And Hulu
Following the revelation that their parents are caught up in the nefarious dealings of criminal organization Pride, Runaways sees a group of super-powered teens band together in order to take them down. While its characters don't appear in any other Marvel shows, Runaways does share continuity with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In terms of representation, two of the Runaways themselves are LGBTQ+. Karolina Dean is a half-human, half-alien hero who embraces her identity as a lesbian in season 1. She's also joined by friend (and later girlfriend) Nico Minoru, a bisexual Wiccan with strong magical abilities.
Dark Matter (2015-2017)
Stream On Netflix
Dark Matter opens on a starship as a crew awakens from stasis with no memory of their identities. They take on the names of numbers One through Six, after the order in which they regained consciousness, and set out to discover their identities and what they were all doing on-board.
Although much of Dark Matter's plot is not heavily focused on romance, one of the show's main characters, captain of the ship's crew, Two, is revealed to be bisexual in a later storyline that sheds new light on her early history.
Lost Girl (2010-2015)
Stream On The CW and CW Seed
Canadian supernatural show Lost Girl follows a succubus named Bo. A kind of fae raised by humans, the series starts with Bo looking for answers about her heritage and seeking control of her destructive powers as she comes into contact with fae society for the first time.
Bo is a bisexual protagonist who has significant romances with fellow fae Dyson, as well as a human doctor, Lauren, who is a lesbian. Later addition to the cast, Tamsin, is also bisexual, as is sometimes-villain and later ally, Vex.
Wynonna Earp (2016-2021)
Stream On Netflix
Telling the story of the legendary Wyatt Earp's great-great-granddaughter, the titular Wynonna Earp returns to her hometown of Purgatory after inheriting the power to send Revenants — undead outlaws killed by Wyatt — back to Hell. With a great team around her, she works to break the curse that keeps the Revenants returning.
Wynonna's sister Waverly is always there to assist her and gradually accepts her bisexuality after meeting openly-lesbian deputy sheriff, Nicole Haught. The two's sweet and gradual relationship has been highly praised by viewers, as has the introduction of Jeremy Chetri, a gay scientist who helps the team in season 2.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow (2016-2022)
Stream On Netflix
Recruited by Rip Hunter to travel through time aboard the Waverider, Arrowverse show Legends of Tomorrow follows a group of heroes (and sometimes villains) who fight against threats and keep time intact. The best shows like Legends of Tomorrow mirror its zany and comedic take on adventure, which emulates the fun of comic books.
With an extensive cast of characters that has changed throughout the seasons, LoT's strong LGBTQ+ representation has remained a constant, with bisexual superhero Sara Lance a protagonist throughout. She is joined across the series by other LGBTQ+ heroes John Constantine, Ava Sharpe, and Charlie, to name a few.
Shadowhunters (2016-2019)
Stream On Hulu, FuboTV, And Freeform
Based on the hugely popular YA book series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Shadowhunters is an urban fantasy series set in New York. It tells the story of Clary Fray, a Shadowhunter (human-angel hybrid) with the power to fight demons, who was unaware of her heritage until her eighteenth birthday, and those she meets in this new part of her life.
One of the best relationships in Shadowhunters is between gay Shadowhunter, Alec Lightwood, and bisexual warlock, Magnus Bane, with storylines that span the whole of the show. It also introduces vampire Raphael, who is asexual.
She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power (2018-2020)
Stream On Netflix
Animated show She-Ra and the Princesses of Power sees teenage soldier Adora find a magic sword and take on the mantle of hero She-Ra. In doing so, she realizes the wrongdoings of The Horde, the institution that raised her, and leaves her best friend Catra behind to join a rebellion.
Much of She-Ra's conflict comes from Catra and Adora's complex relationship, and the two have been heralded as one of the best LGBTQ+ couples from Western animation. The pair are far from the series' only LGBTQ+ characters, though, with its extensive representation including a romance between the princess Perfuma and Horde captain Scorpia, as well as non-binary character Double-Trouble, with many others rounding out the cast.
The Umbrella Academy (2019- )
Stream On Netflix
There have been many Reddit theories about The Umbrella Academy season 3, set for release in June 2022, but the show's first two seasons introduced the Hargreeves family, adopted superheroes who reunite as adults following their father's death to solve its mystery, while also trying to prevent a looming apocalypse.
Two of the Hargreeves siblings boasting some of The Umbrella Academy's coolest powers, Klaus and Viktor are both LGBTQ+ and have storylines that explore their respective identities, though matters of time travel definitely complicate things.
Julie And The Phantoms (2020)
Stream On Netflix
Julie and the Phantoms is a teen musical show that follows Julie Molina, a musician struggling to create after the loss of her mother. After accidentally summoning the ghosts of a '90s boy band to her aid, they become performers in a series with plenty of dramatic and comedic moments.
The Phantoms' drummer, Alex is revealed to be gay in the series' second episode, in a nonchalant moment that feels refreshing. Alex later meets and develops feelings for a fellow ghost, a skateboarder named Willie.
Loki (2021- )
Stream On Disney+
Exploring what's become of the trickster god after the events of Avengers: Endgame, this MCU Disney+ show sees Loki apprehended by an organization called the TVA, dedicated to preserving the sacred timeline of the universe.
Loki confirms that the titular character is bisexual while also alluding to his gender fluidity, and though these aspects of his character are not explored to their fullest, it is a step in the right direction towards expanding the MCU's much-needed LGBTQ+ representation.