5 gay, lesbian cartoon characters you need to know

In recent years, children’s cartoons have seen an increase in LGBTQ representation including Howard and Harold McBride in “The Loud House,” Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durand in “Gravity Falls” and Ruby and Sapphire in “Steven Universe.”

ALSO READ: Queer characters on ‘Steven Universe’ cartoon  

But other characters never had an explicit coming out, or, due to censors, had to remain in the closet.

Here are five  gay, lesbian cartoon characters you might not know.

 

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus, from the Japanese manga, ‘Sailor Moon,” are in a relationship. This was changed in the English version of the anime, where they were made cousins. In the re-release of the original anime, the English version keeps their same-sex relationship.

OK. Now that you stopped giggling at Sailor Uranus, we can get along with it. The popular Japanese anime, “Sailor Moon,” features two Sailor Soldiers in a lesbian relationship, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus. When the series was released in the United States, their relationship was changed from girlfriends to cousins, which made for some pretty weird and uncomfortable episodes, actually. The girls’ relationship was finally allowed to be authentic with the VIZ Media re-release in 2014. 

 

Lexington

‘Gargoyles’ creator Greg Weisman confirmed — after the series went off the air — that Lexington is in fact gay. Photo: Walt Disney Television.

The short-lived Disney animated series “Gargoyles” has a rabid fan base even two decades after the show went off the air.  It told the story of a clan of warrior creatures from 10th-century Scotland who are forced to hide and find their way in modern-day New York City. It wasn’t until the show went of the air that creator Greg Weisman confirmed that fan-favorite Lexington is gay. 

In an interview with ComicMix, Weisman was asked if voiceover actor Thom Adcox was ever told Lexington was gay.

“No, because there was nothing we felt he needed to change, and it was towards the end,” Weisman said. “I remember it was actually at the Gathering of the Gargoyles in New York that a fan flat-out asked if Lexington was gay, and I said, ‘Yes,’ and Thom cried out, I knew it!”

 

Mr. Simmons

Craig Bartlett, creator of the popular Nickelodeon show, “Hey Arnold!” recently confirmed Arnold’s teacher, Mr. Simmons, is gay. Photo: Nickelodeon.

Well, maybe this one isn’t a very well-kept secret but recently, “Hey Arnold!” creator Craig Bartlett, confirmed the kids’ teacher, Mr. Simmons is gay. 

That was not-so-covertly hinted at in the episode, “Arnold’s Thanksgiving,” where Helga and good ol’ Footballhead, meet Mr. Simmon’s family and friends over their holiday meal. 

During the dinner, obvious tension exists between Mr. Simmon’s mother and his friend, Peter. When his mother disappointingly mentions she didn’t know Peter was attending, the wine-swirling Peter snarks back, “There’s a lot of things you don’t know.” 

 

Marceline and Princess Bubblegum 

Princess Bubblegum, left, and Marceline have always had an adversarial relationship on the cartoon series “Adventure Time.” The voice of Marceline, Olivia Olson, confirmed the two had dated in the past. Photo: Cartoon Network.

I know, I said five, but here’s a bonus queer character. This one may be a wobbler for some. In 2014, the voice of the Vampire Queen Marceline, Olivia Olson, confirmed at a book signing that Marceline and Princess Bubblegum had dated in the past. If true, that could explain the strained relationship between the women. 

Olson went further and said their relationship may be mentioned in an upcoming book, but said little else about it. Olson later tweeted, “I like to make things up at panels. Ya’ll take my stories way too seriously…”. That Tweet was later deleted, and since then, she hasn’t spoken about the subject.

About the author

Beatriz E. Valenzuela

Beatriz E. Valenzuela is an award-winning journalist who’s covered breaking news in Southern California since 2006 and has been on the front lines of national and international news events. She also covers all things nerd, including comic book culture and video games. She’s an amateur obstacle course racer, constant fact-checker, mother of three, and lover of all things geek.

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