Love Wins: 27 LGBTQ+ Victories on TV This Year From 9-1-1, Station 19, Bridgerton and More

Buck Comes Out as Bisexual (9-1-1)

For the better part of six seasons, 9-1-1 fans have waited for (but never actually expected) firefighter Evan Buckley to lean into his obvious bisexual undertones — so imagine their pleasant surprise, nay elation, when Buck began a relationship with fellow first responder Tommy Kinard (played by Lou Ferrigno Jr.) in the show’s inaugural season on ABC. In showrunner Tim Minear’s words, Buck has had a “merry-go-round of different love interests,” but this one might just be our favorite.

And for any so-called fans who are unhappy about his character’s journey, Oliver Stark had this message to share: “If one other character finding a new facet to his sexuality and [realizing] his bisexuality is your deal breaker — I fear you’ve missed the entire point of the show.” — Andy Swift

Hen and Karen Grow Their Foster Family (9-1-1)

Hen and Karen deserve the world, but because happy endings don’t come easily on 9-1-1, they were forced to watch helplessly as their new foster daughter was cruelly ripped from their home at the behest of a vengeful politician. Mara isn’t back under the Wilsons’ roof just yet, but now that Maddie and Chimney have been approved as her temporary guardians, at least she’s staying in Hen and Karen’s lives, and we’re going to take that as a win. — Andy Swift

Donny Dates a Trans Woman (Baby Reindeer)

Donny had his hands full with relentless stalker Martha on the harrowing Netflix series, but he also had time for a refreshingly progressive romance with trans woman Teri, played by Nava Mau. It’s not often that transgender people get to be romantic love interests on TV, and Teri also served as a levelheaded sounding board for Donny as his life went off the rails. It didn’t end happily ever after, but the show’s sensitive portrayal of Teri was definitely a step forward for trans visibility. — Dave Nemetz

Former Bachelorette Gabby Windey Comes Out

After looking for love as a contestant on The Bachelor and as a co-star on The Bachelorette, Gabby Windey finally found it in real life — no rose ceremonies required. During an appearance on The View, she announced that she’s in a happily committed relationship with a woman, Robby Hoffman (photographed above). — Andy Swift

Benedict Is Pansexual (Bridgerton)

We knew Season 3, Part 2 would feature a queer romance, but Benedict’s involvement in a steamy throuple with Lady Tilley Arnold and her friend Paul came as a pleasant surprise. What’s more, showrunner Jess Brownell tells TVLine that the rakish, second-born Bridgerton is pansexual. — Keisha Hatchett

Ritter Finally Gets a Boyfriend (Chicago Fire)

After several seasons of playing the field and non-starter relationships, the firefighter got a cop boyfriend with actual long-term potential. Now if only their relationship could get some more screentime. — Vlada Gelman

Charles and Edwin's Lovely Friendship (Dead Boy Detectives)

It took a near-death experience for Edwin to admit what we knew all along: he was in love with his best friend. Although Charles couldn’t say he felt the same, he assured that they’ve got “literally forever” to figure it out, leaving their friendship intact and us relieved that it wasn’t a dealbreaker.

Also satisfying? Seeing Lukas Gage living his best life as the arrogant and deliciously fun Cat King. — Keisha Hatchett

Jinkx Monsoon as Maestro (Doctor Who)

RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon has always known how to make an entrance, but even we weren’t prepared for the theatrical brilliance she brought to Doctor Who in the villainous role of Maestro. “Half Pennywise/half Dame Edna, Maestro absolutely filled the screen and dominated each scene with a palpably frightful vibe,” TVLine’s Matt Mitovich noted when we named her a Performer of the Week Honorable Mention. “Monsoon used her physicality and a triumphant stride to give Maestro an intimidating presence, and at times put a Harvey Fierstein-like rasp on her voice to send chills up your spine with the villain’s more guttural bellows.” — Andy Swift

Just What the Doctor Ordered (Doctor Who)

Oh my Bridgerton, indeed! Whilst visiting Regency-era London, Fifteen (Ncuti Gatwa) found himself a perfect 10 in an enigmatic fellow traveler named Rogue (played by Jonathan Groff). Playing the Enemies to Lovers trope to the hilt, the Doctor and Rogue soon realized a common purpose, fueling a whirlwind, half-an-episode flirtation that built to the lonnnnnng-running franchise’s first same-sex kiss in almost exactly 19 years (since Jack surprised the Time Lord with a liplock in “Parting of the Ways”). — MWM

Eurovision Crowns First Non-Binary Winner

This win gets extra points for supplying its own victory theme: Swiss musician Nemo became the first non-binary champion of the Eurovision Song Contest — which streamed Stateside on Peacock this year — with their vulnerable earworm “The Code.” Click on the video above to give it a listen if you haven’t already. (That’s another win just for you, on the house.)

The Heartbreaking Beauty of Fellow Travelers

The limited series was a stunningly crafted and beautifully acted drama that highlighted the love stories of those who are often discriminated against or driven into the shadows. Its ambitious, decades-spanning story brought to the light the challenges of the 1950s Lavender Scare to heartache of the ’80s AIDS crisis. — Vlada Gelman

Marie Hooks Up With Jordan (Gen V)

Bet you can’t say this about any other show currently on TV: During the Boys spinoff’s first season, Marie hooked up with Jordan, a supe who can change genders. First, Marie kissed Jordan in their male form, then later woke up naked in bed with Jordan in their female form. — Vlada Gelman

Mika and Jules Nearly Kiss (Grey’s Anatomy)

Though when the Season 20 finale rolled around, we were still miffed at the show’s sudden Yasuda/Helm breakup, we weren’t mad at the twist that filled an IV with sexual fluidity. If only pals Mika and Jules hadn’t come so close to a first kiss just as news was breaking that Midori Francis would be scrubbing out. — Charlie Mason

Nick Comes Out as Bi, Actually (Heartstopper)

In the Season 2 finale, Charlie’s devoted boyfriend made good on his promise to come out. As a result, Truham’s cutest couple was able to attend their prom together — and realize that they didn’t need to be out for anyone but themselves. — Charlie Mason

Elle and Tao Finally Kiss (Heartstopper)

After two seasons of yearning, Elle at last planted a kiss on her crush. Sweeter still, before she could write off the gesture as an embarrassing mistake, Tao kissed her back in such a way that there could be no confusion about whether her feelings were reciprocated. — Charlie Mason

Isaac Realizes He’s Asexual (Heartstopper)

Season 2 of Netflix’s LGTBQ+ dramedy found everyone’s favorite bookworm feeling increasingly “other” as his friend group became ever more focused on their romantic entanglements. But at last, after a kiss from a smitten James (and a bit of reading), Isaac concluded that he didn’t have a problem but a solution: He was simply ace. — Charlie Mason

Mr. Ajayi and Mr. Farouk Get Together (Heartstopper)

Having come out later in life, Mr. Farouk was sure that he’d missed his chance to have all of the wonderful firsts his students were experiencing. But chaperoning their trip to Paris changed the gruff teacher’s perspective — and left him saying bonjour to a romance with Mr. Ajayi. — Charlie Mason

Izzy Warms Up to a 'Local' Girl (La Brea)

It took nearly the entirety of the NBC drama’s three-season run, but the Harris daughter (Zyra Gorecki) finally got a romantic storyline of her own, when her prickly relationship with 10,000 B.C. “mean girl” Leyla turned into a sweet (if short-lived!) courtship. — Matt Mitovich

Mary & George's Historical Exploration of Sexual Fluidity

Props to the limited series for exploring sexual fluidity in historical times with gusto and in the court of England’s King James I, no less. And while Nicholas Galitzine’s lothario George was getting it on with the monarch and every other man in sight (plus, a few women), his mother, Mary, also got her own love story with prostitute Sandie. — Vlada Gelman

Mouse and Ash Drop the L-Bomb (Pretty Little Liars: Summer School)

Unquestionably the best couple on Max’s Pretty Little Liars reboot, Mouse and Ash took their relationship to the next level in the Season 2 premiere by swapping “I love you”s for the first time. As if that wasn’t enough, they later put together a massive pool party for Pride, reminding everyone of the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience in the face of opposition, especially from the town’s latest religious cult du jour. — Andy Swift

Dean Comes Out as Non-Binary (Quantum Leap)

The Season 2 episode “The Family Treasure” delivered plenty of thrills as estranged siblings searched for their dad’s hidden loot. But the real reward was seeing the cool and confident Dean (guest star Wilder Yari) casually come out as non-binary in an honest conversation prompted by the visible bandages they used to bind their chest. It not only brought the siblings closer together but served as a lovely teachable moment for both the character’s sister and viewers watching at home. — Keisha Hatchett

Cheryl and Toni End Up Together (Riverdale)

These two were definitely put through the wringer by the CW teen drama’s wilder plot twists — you know: possession by a witchy ancestor, a killer comet, typical high school stuff — but ‘shippers were overjoyed to see Cheryl and her beloved Toni back in each other’s arms in the series finale. As the angel Jughead explained, the two of them were indeed endgame, spending the rest of their days together and dying peacefully “after living full, gorgeous, sexy lives.” Hey, that’s all any of us can hope for, right? — Dave Nemetz

Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead Form a Foursome (Riverdale)

Riverdale’s core four blazed a trail for polyamory in their quiet little 1950s town, with Betty explaining in the series finale that she, Archie, Veronica and Jughead spent their senior year hooking up with each other and freely swapping from partner to partner (!). That means a gay Betty-and-Veronica coupling is officially canon, and fans of every other ‘ship got to go home satisfied, too. Well, technically, we never got to see Archie and Jughead hook up… but we can imagine it, at least. — Dave Nemetz

Gottmik's Liberating Runway Look (RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 9)

With eight of the franchise’s most seasoned queens (and Miss Vanjie!) hitting the runway every week, All Stars 9 has been a non-stop parade of jaw-dropping lewks. But it’ll be hard to top Gottmik’s stunning entry in the “A Tail and Two Titties” category — a stunning, emotional representation of the queen’s transgender journey.

“This look represents the pain and suffering I went through while all at the some time experiencing complete trans queer liberation in a wav that I hope everyone seeing this will feel one day,” Gottmik explained. “I found my peace within the fashion drag artistry space and I hope everyone finds theirs in one way or another.”

Maya and Carina Start a Family (Station 19)

Talk about a happy ending! The series’ final season not only left “Marina” on solid ground, it put them in line to adopt baby Liam and revealed that Carina was expecting. If those flash-forwards were to be believed, Maya would be pregnant next. — Charlie Mason

Travis Finally Gets Into a Healthy Relationship (Station 19)

Better late than never, the firefighter for whom we’ll always carry a torch seemed to have found Mr. Right in the series’ final season in Dom. In fact, so promising and stable was their romance that when Travis pictured the future, Dom was in it along with BFF Vic. — Charlie Mason

Morph Is Nonbinary (X-Men '97)

In the first season of Disney+’s smash-hit continuation of the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series, shapeshifting mutant Morph was confirmed to be nonbinary. And while some closed-minded viewers threw a fit over it, even the co-creator of the original series rallied behind the decision.

“For me, the word ‘nonbinary’ is the same as the word ‘shapeshifter,’” Larry Houston told our sister site Variety. “Every character that can change from one gender to another, or from human to animal, that’s just another word for ‘shapeshifter’ for me.”