For decades, cartoons and comics gave us flamboyant villains, campy costumes, and friendships that felt a little too intense to be “just friends.” Queer fans often read between the lines, spotting characters who were definitely not straight, even if studios wouldn’t admit it.
But the times have changed. Subtext has become text. Today, we’re finally seeing out-and-proud gay, lesbian, bi, and queer heroes—and they’re saving the day in style. Let’s take a rainbow-colored tour through some of the most iconic cartoon characters and superheroes who helped pave the way.
Animated Icons
Ernie and Bert (Sesame Street)
Two men sharing a one-bedroom apartment in the village? Please.
Velma Dinkley (Scooby-Doo)
Jinkies! Fans had suspected Velma wasn’t just interested in mysteries for decades. In 2022’s Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!, Velma’s flustered crush on a glamorous female costume designer finally confirmed what queer viewers always knew: Velma is a lesbian.
Snagglepuss (The Yogi Bear Show)
“Exit, stage left!” The flamboyant pink lion was pure camp—witty, dramatic, and dripping with coded queerness. DC Comics later reimagined him as a closeted playwright in the 1950s, turning subtext into poignant, explicit queer storytelling.
Johnny Quest (Jonny Quest)
Johnny himself probably wasn’t gay, but queer audiences couldn’t help noticing the “chosen family” vibe between hot daddy-vibing Dr. Benton Quest and his very close young companion buff Race Bannon. For many, the show feels like a proto-rainbow household raising Johnny and Hadji.
He-Man (Masters of the Universe)
With bulging muscles, fabulous hair, and battle cries like “I have the power!”, He-Man became a gay icon—even if not explicitly written that way. The 2021 Netflix reboot Masters of the Universe: Revelation leaned into the queer subtext, cementing his cultural place in LGBTQ+ fandom.
Sailor Uranus & Sailor Neptune (Sailor Moon)
In Japan, their romance was canon. In the English dub of the ’90s, they were “cousins” (sure, Jan). Today, they’re rightly celebrated as one of anime’s most famous lesbian couples.
Korra (The Legend of Korra)
The subtle but groundbreaking finale showed Korra and Asami holding hands, confirming Korra as bisexual. It was a huge step forward for queer rep in Western kids’ animation.
Steven Universe
Ruby and Sapphire’s wedding, Pearl’s longing, and Garnet as a literal fusion of queer love made Steven Universe one of the most explicitly LGBTQ+ children’s shows ever.
She-Ra and Catra (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)
Enemies to lovers? Yes, please. Netflix gave fans the romance they’d been waiting for, and the finale kiss between Catra and Adora was pure, unapologetic sapphic joy.
Superheroes in Spandex (and Out)
Northstar (Marvel)
Northstar came out in 1992, making him Marvel’s first openly gay superhero. By 2012, he had Marvel’s first same-sex wedding.
Batwoman (DC)
Kate Kane—Bruce Wayne’s lesbian cousin—brought sapphic energy to Gotham with her gothic flair and crimson wig.
Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy (DC)
The “gal pals” joke is over. Harley and Ivy’s romance is canon, and it’s as chaotic and delightful as fans hoped.
America Chavez (Marvel)
She’s queer, she’s Latina, and she punches star-shaped portals between dimensions. Miss America is a powerhouse of representation.
Iceman (Marvel)
One of the original X-Men, Bobby Drake (aka Iceman) came out as gay in 2015 comics, giving queer fans one of Marvel’s most iconic mutants as representation.
Deadpool (Marvel)
The Merc with a Mouth is canonically pansexual—and he knows it. Between flirting with Spider-Man and his chaotic, gender-bending humor, Deadpool embodies unapologetic queerness in superhero comics.
Why This Matters
Representation isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about telling queer kids—and queer adults—that their stories belong, that they too can save the world, fall in love, or deliver a dramatic one-liner before exiting stage left.
For decades, LGBTQ+ fans had to squint and read between the lines. Today, they get to see themselves clearly on screen and on the page. From Velma blushing over a girl to Iceman freezing bad guys, identity itself has become a superpower. Whether it’s She-Ra swinging a sword, Batwoman stalking Gotham’s rooftops, or Snagglepuss leaving the stage with flair, queer cartoon characters and superheroes remind us that bravery, love, and authenticity are the real superpowers.
And sometimes, the cape is just a fabulous accessory.
