25 Amazing Shows With LGBTQ+ Characters To Watch With Your Kids

Arthur has been a cornerstone of PBS Kids since 1996, but in 2019, the show featured its first gay character... at his wedding! “Mr. Ratburn and the Someone Special,” the first episode of Season 22, features Arthur and his class trying to figure out who, exactly, their teacher is getting married to, only to discover that the “someone special” is another man.

While the "what a twist!" moment is perhaps a little more gimmicky that we'd like to see in terms of organic LGBTQ+ representation, once it’s revealed that Mr. Ratburn is marrying a man, it’s accepted as very matter-of-fact. It’s a really sweet, charming, positive moment in children’s entertainment and we’re here for it!

Stream Arthur, rated TV-Y, on PBS Kids.

This whimsical preschool series takes place in a museum where the exhibits and displays come to life at night. Ridley and her family live in a treehouse in the building and guard the museum’s magical secrets. One of the museum’s residents is a young bison named Fred, who is non-binary and uses “they/them” pronouns. (Fred even has a sweet coming out episode featuring Cyndi Lauper as their grandmother.) Ismat the mummy for example has two dads. The show is overall fairly casually queer-friendly.

Stream Ridley Jones, rated TV-Y, on Netflix.

Madagascar: A Little Wild closed out its third season with a new character, Odee Elliot. Odee (voiced by nonbinary actor Ezra Menas) doesn’t know what kind of animal they are exactly (except for a party animal), but that doesn’t bother them. They just want to have fun at the Animal Pride Parade. The episode “Whatever Floats Your Float” is a great metaphor for young viewers about being happy with (and proud of) who you are and encouraging your friends to do the same... the song, “Be Proud,” really drives the message home.

Stream Madagascar: A Little Wild, rated TV-G, on Hulu.

Based on the #1 New York Times Bestselling book series Princesses Wear Pants by Savannah Guthrie and Allison Oppenheim, Princess Power follows the adventures of four princesses who understand that “Princess is a Verb” and princesses have a responsibility to help people! And these bold girls embrace public service and sparklicious tea parties with equal zeal.

Now embracing the full gender spectrum in and of itself is a great message in and of itself, but one of the princesses, Bea, has two dads, voiced by Andrew Rannells and Tan France.

Stream Princess Power, rated TV-Y, on Netflix.

Chip is an adorable pug, and she’s learning lots of new things: the ins and outs of kindergarten, getting a new sibling, and all kinds of similarly small-but-important adventures. So sometimes needs a confidence boost from her friend, a mouse named Potato who secretly lives in her pocket.

In the show’s second season, the Roy and Ray Razzle move into the neighborhood with their twin babies, Ron and Ruby! Main characters they are not, but we love to see LGBTQ+ families and, honestly, we didn’t realize how much we were missing gay zebras until now.

Stream Chip and Potato, rated TV-Y, on Netflix.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic follows the adventures of unicorns, pegasi, and ponies throughout Equestria, where they solve problems and, occasionally, battle the forces of darkness, including the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. But while we've met Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's families in past episodes, Scootaloo's home life has always been a bit of a mystery.

In Season 9, we (finally) meet Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty, a lesbian couple raising Scootaloo. While not main characters, the casual nature of their existence is in and of itself kind of a big deal (even if we'd ultimately like them to have more screen time).

Stream My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, rated TV-Y, on Hulu.

Look, did we always know deep down that the unabashedly feminist, boisterous Betty DeVille, aka Phil and Lil’s mom, on Rugrats was a lesbian? Probably. But the Rugrats reboot has confirmed this by re-writing the character as a lesbian single mom, voiced by openly queer actor Natalie Morales. (Sorry, Howard.)

“I think it’s just so great because examples of living your life happily and healthily as an out queer person is just such a beacon for young queer people who may not have examples of that,” Morales told the AV Club in 2021. “And yeah, Betty is a fictional cartoon, but even cartoons were hugely influential for me as a kid and if I’d been watching Rugrats and seen Betty casually talking about her ex-girlfriend, I think at least a part of me would have felt like things might be okay in the future.”

Stream Rugrats, TV-Y, on Paramount+.

Like other shows on this list, Doc McStuffins doesn’t have a ton of LGBTQ+ representation, but in an episode called “The Emergency Plan,” the show featured an inter-racial lesbian couple (who just so happened to be voiced by Wanda Sykes and Portia De Rossi). What we like about this episode is the fact that their identity as lesbian women had absolutely nothing to do with the episode: it wasn’t a show about pride or LGBTQ+ families or anything like that. It was an episode about earthquake safety and the characters just happen to be lesbians. Representation is that easy, folks...

Stream Doc McStuffins, rated TV-Y, on Hulu.

Andi Mack is a story about a girl who discovers, on her 13th birthday, that the person she always believed to be her sister is actually her mom. This altered family dynamic serves as a backdrop for a more typical coming-of-age series. It’s a show about figuring out who you are, and that includes Cyrus, one of Andi’s best friends, who comes out as gay in Season 2.

Two years after Cyrus came out on the show, Joshua Rush, who played Cyrus on the show, came out on Twitter as bisexual. “I saw so many of you watch Cyrus come out and [say] ‘Hey! I can be me!’ How ironic, isn’t it, that me, playing that character, never had mustered up that courage?” he tweeted in 2019. “Instead of feeling the courage to tell you today that I am an out and proud bisexual man because of the character I played for four years, I feel that courage thinking of all of you, who felt emboldened by Cyrus to come out.”

Stream Andi Mack, rated TV-G, on Disney+

In a house with 11 children — 10 girls and 1 boy — things are bound to get Loud... and Loud just happens to be 11 year-old Lincoln’s last name! He often seeks refuge with his best friend (and only child) Clyde and his two dads, Harold and Howard. Unlike a lot of the other gay couples we’ve mentioned so far, Harold and Howard are highly visible and recurring. The show’s casual, steady depiction of families with same sex parents has generally been well-received, earning praise from LGBTQ+ rights advocates. Critics were fewer but vocal, which actor Wayne Brady, who plays Harold finds “ridiculous/awesome.”

“It’s awesome that the conversation can continue,” he told The Republic in 2016, “and it’s ridiculous in 2016 an animated series would rankle so many people because it happens to depict something that actually exists in real life.”

While Harold and Howard are the most prominently LGBTQ+ characters, Lincoln’s sister, Luna, is bisexual. Her crush (and eventual relationship with) Sam Sharp is adorable.

Stream Loud House, rated TV-Y7, on Nickelodeon.

Teenager Luz Noceda stumbled through a portal that took her to the Boiling Isles, a whimsical world full of fantastic creatures and (kid-friendly) monsters. There, her mentor Eda is helping to teach her magic and overthrow the oppressive Emperor Belos.

Luz is bisexual and is currently dating her one-time rival, Amity, but openly showing that relationship (instead of just strongly hinting it) took time. “When we were greenlit I was told by certain Disney leadership that I could NOT represent any form of bi or gay relationship on the channel,” show creator Dana Terrace tweeted in 2020. “I'm bi! I want to write a bi character, dammit! Luckily my stubbornness paid off and now I am VERY supported by current Disney leadership.”

Additional secondary and tertiary characters on the show are also part of the LGBTQ+ rainbow. Luz’s friend, Willow, has two dads. Eda’s love interest is a charismatic, non-binary bard named Raine.

Stream The Owl House, rated TV-Y7, on Disney+.

On Danger and Eggs, D.D. and her best friend Phillip, an anthropomorphic egg, have all kinds of adventures in Chickenpaw Park by creating games for themselves. It’s whimsical, weird, funny, and unabashedly LGBTQ+ friendly. Representation abounds: trans kids, gay parents, and much more. In one episode, “Chosen Family,” the duo even celebrate Pride.

Shadi Petosky, the series creator, told NewNowNext she was keenly interested in representing her community without relying on crushes or romantic relationships, admitting it was a challenge to do so without stereotyping too much. (Though, seriously, mission accomplished.)

“We wanted to show innocent LGBTQ friendships, before the age of romantic connections,” Petosky said. “We didn’t want to do metaphors, so we tried to find traits LGBTQ kids, allies, or families would see in themselves.”

Stream Danger and Eggs, rated TV-Y7, on Amazon Prime.

Gender identity and inclusivity are key themes in Steven Universe, a show about a boy fighting alongside his alien-mother’s best friends to save the world.

But according to creator Rebecca Sugar, inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters wasn’t about making a statement. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said “We need to let children know that they belong in this world. You can’t wait to tell them that until after they grow up or the damage will be done.”

The two most visibly LGBTQ+ characters on the show are Ruby and Sapphire, members of an alien race (and Steven's aunties) called the Gems. They have been together for more than 5,000 years despite the fact that they're two different types of Gem, and generally choose to live their lives together in a single, fused form named Garnet. (Trust us: it all makes perfect sense in context.)

Stream Steven Universe, rated TV-PG, on Hulu.

When Princess Star Butterfly proves irresponsible with the magic wand her parents gave her for her 14th birthday, her parents send her to the thoroughly un-magical planet Earth, where she and her new foster brother, Marco, work together to battle villains, from intergalactic monsters to mean kids in their high school. It’s also where Star crushes on boys and girls. Star is not canonically bisexual, but you can’t tell that to some fans and, honestly, you wouldn’t have much of an argument if you tried. It’s pretty obvious. (Just look at her face above!) The series tends to skirt around outright saying anything about LGBTQ+ issues, but manages to put a healthy sprinkling of casual hints throughout.

Stream Star vs the Forces of Evil, rated TV-Y7, on Disney+.

Adora, an orphan, was raised to be a soldier for the Horde. But when she discovers that the Horde has been harming the people of Etheria, she joins freedom fighters in their rebellion to save the world. (The magic sword that gives her powers and the identity of She-Ra do help...)

LGBTQ+ representation abounds in this fabulous reboot! Gay characters! Bi characters! Lesbian characters! Trans characters! And not just incidental characters, either: main characters. She-Ra (aka Adora) is a lesbian, folks! Her relationship with friend turned foe turned girlfriend Catra is a favorite among fans of all ages.

Stream She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, TV-Y7, on Netflix.

There’s some debate about whether Legend of Korra “counts” as LGBTQ+ representation in a kids’ show. While fans suspected a romance between main characters Korra and Asami, and while creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko have confirmed that “Korrasami is canon,” the series never really showed their romantic relationship. Though, we’ll admit, the two women holding hands and staring into one another’s eyes at the end of the series, ready to head off on their next grand adventure wasn’t exactly ambiguous. Besides, we’re including this because Legend of Korra absolutely rocks.

Stream Legend of Korra, rated TV-Y7, on Netflix.

In this post-apocalyptic (but still kid-friendly) series, Kipo Oak searches for her father after being forced to flee from her underground burrow. In exploring this strange new surface world, she must face a cadre of mutated, anthropomorphic animals who now rule the world. She’s joined by her friend, Benson, who announces he is gay (after Kipo reveals she has a crush on him) in the very first episode. (A gay character in a kids show who actually says the word gay?! What?!) In later episodes, Benson has a pre-teen crush on a boy named Troy.

Stream Kipo And The Age Of Wonderbeasts, rated TV-Y7, on Netflix.

The series follows Craig and his friends Kelsey and J.P. as they have childhood adventures in the untamed wilderness of the local creek.

In addition to being full of tree forts and dirt bikes and the kind of outdoorsy whimsy that only happens in childhood, the show is full of LGBTQ+ representation. In later seasons, Kelsey develops a crush on her friend Stacks, and older characters are seen in same-sex relationships, including J.P.’s sister Laura, Craig’s cousin Jasmine, and local teens Tabitha and Courtney. Raj and Shawn, two boys from another neighborhood, are implied to be in a relationship and Angel José is nonbinary.

Stream Craig of the Creek, rated TV-Y7, on HBO Max.

Cedric wasn't always the greatest knight in the realm. In fact, long before he married a prince, he was a simple pumpkin farmer. Now he tells the story of how he achieved his goal to his 10 year old daughter, Nia, who wants to follow in her father's footsteps.

The series is based on a book by Daniel Errico, who said he noted a lack of diversity across the board when it came to fairy tales and their re-tellings.

“There’s an absolute need right now to tell people that everybody’s welcome,” says Aly Jetha, a series producer. “Shows like this give children the ability to understand that everybody belongs.”

Stream The Bravest Knight, rated TV-PG, on Hulu.

Clarence sees the best in everything, which brings out the fun in even the most mundane situations. His imagination makes dirt fights, awkward crushes, and everything else more interesting. While there are some minor gay characters on the show, main character Jeff is being raised by two moms, EJ (voiced by Lea DeLaria) and Sue (voiced by Tig Notaro).

At one point the series had unnamed gay characters kissing (the bit is funny, though the comedy isn't in their kiss). Cartoon Network, however, had the series pull back by having the men kiss one another on the cheeks.

Stream Clarence, rated TV-PG, on Hulu.

Reggie Abbott doesn’t want to grow up. But, at 12 years old she feels the threat looming ever closer. Fortunately, she and her friends can escape to Endless, a magical world where she doesn’t have to, instead living out their superhero fantasies.

In addition to featuring several LGBTQ+ characters, Twelve Forever is, according to executive producer Shadi Petosky a queer coming-of-age story, telling the Associated Press, “The main character is queer and coming to terms with her sexuality ... I want to see a lot more about what it’s like for us as kids.”

Stream Twelve Forever, rated TV-PG, on Netflix.

When Modern Family premiered in 2009, Cam and Mitchell were among the few gay main characters on a network sitcom (and, let’s be honest: it’s still not common). In the first episode, they’ve just adopted their daughter Lily and are nervous that Mitchell’s dad, Jay, won’t accept their family. But all is well and, throughout the series, while their gay identity is sometimes a plot point, more often they’re just another family on the show.

For the most part, the plotlines written for Cam and Mitchell could easily be written for a straight couple. While there’s certainly room for more radically queer couples on TV who buck what many view as “traditional” family life, for many families with same-sex parents, these two capture an accurate slice of life.

Stream Modern Family, rated TV-14, on Hulu.

Look, we don’t want to stereotype or anything, but let’s be honest: could one possibly have a show about a show choir without LGBTQ+ characters and stories? You could, but we wouldn’t buy it. This group of misfits and popular kids learning more about who they truly are join the newly revived show choir headed by Mr. Schuester, the Spanish teacher. Their challenges in the club, and in high school, provide emotionally high stakes and lots of snarky drama, to say nothing of their show-stopping musical numbers!

Stream Glee, rated TV-14, on Disney+.

This feel-good reality show follows a team of subject matter experts as they work together to make the world a more loving, fabulous place. With Antoni Porowski on food and wine, Bobby Berk on design and organization, Jonathan Van Ness on hair, makeup, and hygiene, Karamo Brown on culture and lifestyle, and Tan France on fashion and style, the “Fab Five” travel across America helping people improve their outlook and live their best lives. Will you cry? Of course! But it’s happy crying! Though there’s occassionally some bawdy innuendo, the core values of acceptance and kindness are a great watch for the whole family.

Stream Queer Eye, rated TV-14, on Netflix.

A complementary series to the movie Love, Simon, the series follows Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School. His journey of self discovery brings a bevy of challenges: problems at home, adjusting to a new city, and coming to terms with his sexuality and what, exactly, that means for him. It’s a lot, but it’s easier when you have a friend to help you through, so Victor reaches out to Simon to help him navigate the ups and downs of high school.

Stream Love, Victor, rated TV-14, on Disney+.