Skip To Content
BuzzFeed Homepage
Sign In
Search BuzzFeed

    16 Queer TV Show Characters Who Proved It Is Never Too Late To Come Out

    It's never too late to live as your authentic self.

    Abha Ahad
    by Abha Ahad

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    Queer representation matters. Seeing queer people living their true selves onscreen has positive effects on the queer population offscreen. Here are 16 TV characters who came out later in their shows or during adulthood and reassured us that it is OK to come out at your own time.

    VH1

    1. Petra Solano played by Yael Grobglas from Jane the Virgin.

    Yael at a promo event
    Jean Baptiste Lacroix / Getty Images

    Petra Solano's transition from being one of the most hated characters on the show to a loved bisexual icon is definitely one of the most beautiful plotlines of the show. Petra was married to Rafael for five years and has had brief flings with a handful of male romantic interests. In Season 4, she becomes aware of her bisexuality when she falls in love with her lawyer, JR.

    2. Charlie St. George played by Tyler Barnhardt from13 Reasons Why.

    Alex and Charlie hugging
    Netflix

    Charlie entered the show as a wide-eyed, sweet sophomore in Season 3 and progresses to become an important part of the core gang. In Season 4, he starts dating Alex Standall and comes out as bisexual. They go on to be crowned as "Prom King & King" during Alex's senior prom. Charlie coming out to his father is definitely one of the cutest coming-out scenes among Netflix shows.

    3. Patrick Brewer played by Noah Reid from Schitt's Creek.

    Steve Wilkie / ©CBC/POP / courtesy Everett Collection

    Patrick Brewer appears as pansexual icon David Rose's business partner in Season 3 of the show. He had never dated a man before he started dating David in Season 4. They go on to get married and become one of the most loved multisexual couples in TV history.

    4. Annalise Keating played by Viola Davis from How to Get Away With Murder.

    Annalise looking at someone angrily
    Jessica Brooks / ABC via Getty Images

    Annalise Keating is a prominent figure in the list of iconic sapphic TV show characters. At the start of the show, she is married to Sam Keating. Later on, as the show progresses, it is revealed that Annalise has been in long-term romantic relationships with women before marrying Sam. 

    5. Cheryl Blossom played by Madelaine Petsch from Riverdale.

    Cheryl looking at someone
    The CW

    Cheryl Blossom as a character is as confusing as the plotlines of the show. The only not confusing trait of hers is that she is a raging lesbian. Cheryl comes out in the third season of the show and subsequently starts dating Toni Topaz to create one of the power couples in the show. Sadly, they are not together anymore. 

    6. Rosa Diaz played by Stephanie Beatriz from Brooklyn 99.

    Rosa talking over the phone
    Universal Television / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal via Getty Images

    Undoubtedly, one of the most popular bisexual icons in TV show history is Rosa Diaz. She comes out to Charles in the fifth season of the show and goes on to live her life as a proud and out bisexual person. 

    7. Evelyn Harper played by Holland Taylor from Two and a Half Men.

    (from left) Holland Taylor, Carl Reiner (front), Tim Conway
    Sonja Flemming / ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection

    Evelyn is the mother of Charlie and Alan Harper and has dated multiple men and women in the past. She has been married six times and is currently married to Marty Pepper. 

    8. Carol Willick played by Jane Sibbett from Friends.

    Carol and Susan
    NBC

    Carol is Ross's first ex-wife. She realizes that she is a lesbian while married to Ross. After her separation from Ross, she marries the love of her life, Susan Bunch. The couple raises Carol and Ross's child, Ben.

    9. Fabiola Torres played by Lee Rodriquez from Never Have I Ever.

    Netflix

    Fabiola Torres is one of the best friends of Devi Vishwakumar. She is a nerd and loves robots. She comes out as a lesbian in the second episode of the show but refrains from coming out to her family, fearing rejection. Later she comes to her mother and is lovingly accepted by her. Even after coming out, Fabiola struggles to accept parts of herself and to gel with the queer crowd in her high school. As of now, she is in love with her schoolmate Eve.

    10. Adam Groff played by Connor Swindells from Sex Education.

    Eric and Adam having a picnic
    Sam Taylor/Netflix

    Adam Groff's transition from Eric Effiong's bully to his lover is wonderfully scripted. At the end of Season 1, Adam realizes his queerness. He comes out himself and starts dating Eric in Season 2. In Season 3, we finally see him come out to his mother and start accepting himself with more severity. 

    11. Callie Torres played by Sara Ramirez from Grey's Anatomy.

    callie torres gifs🩺 @calliopegifs

    Reply Retweet Favorite
    ABC

    The longest-running LGBTQ+ character in TV history, Callie Torres is another bisexual icon to stan. Callie becomes aware of her sexuality in the third season of the show. As her storyline progresses, we see her date women, deal with self-acceptance, rejection from family, and more.

    12. Darryl Whitefeather played by Pete Gardner from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

    Mike Yarish / ©The CW Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Daryll comes out as bisexual toward the end of Season 1. While it took time soul searching for him to accept himself, we see that he goes to live as his true self with pride. 

    13. Alex Standall played by Miles Heizer from 13 Reasons Why.

    Alex in the Principal's office
    David Moir /NETFLIX / Getty Images

    Alex Standall has gone through tremendous character development through the show. In Season 4, he realizes a new side to his sexuality after he started dating Winston. While that relationship didn't work out, Alex is happily in love with Charlie St. George. As mentioned earlier, they both were crowned as "Prom King & King" at Alex's senior prom.

    14. Ola Nyman played by Patricia Allison from Sex Education.

    Ola and Lilly looking up
    Sam Taylor / Netflix

    Previously having dated Otis, Ola becomes aware of her pansexuality through a quiz in Season 2. Toward the end of the season, she starts dating Lily. Season 3 showed us that she is proud of her identity and is vocal about it.

    15. Mickey Milkovich played by Noel Fischer from Shameless.

    Paul Sarkis/SHOWTIME

    Mickey is a gay man and has great progress with self-acceptance throughout the series. Although he starts having sex with Ian in Season 1, it is not until Season 4 that he completely accepts himself and comes out publicly. 

    16. Kat Edison played by Aisha Dee from The Bold Type.

    Freeform

    Katherine Edison is another bisexual TV character for us to look up to. She is strong, independent, and vocal about what she believes in.