29 Queer Girls On Which Lesbian Characters Made Them Feel Seen

It me.

It's Pride Month, so recently I asked the Buzzfeed Community which lesbian characters made them feel SEEN. Here's what they said.

1. Rosa Diaz from Brooklyn Nine-Nine

NBC

1. She is bi like me.

2. She is one of the few LGBTQ characters I’ve seen that made me feel like I don’t have to come out until I’m older, even if I know right now.

3. She never takes shit for it and doesn’t hesitate to correct someone about what bi means.

—ashsimo556

2. Yara Greyjoy from Game Of Thrones

HBO

Seeing her casually be with women without it being explicitly mentioned that she liked girls was amazing for me. It actually helped me come out as bi. I loved watching a gay character whose gayness didn’t have anything to do with her storyline.

—broadwaybby

3. Peppermint Patty from Peanuts

The Peanuts

I'm non-binary.

Peppermint just does their own thing and as a little kid, I knew I was born a girl but I also knew I was not born an average girl. Peppermint wore green and stripes and Birkenstocks — and everyone liked them.

It was a great role model for us kids who were called "tomboys."

—kittenbags

4. Elena Álvarez from One Day at a Time

Netflix

Elena made me feel identified in many ways, this is one of them. When the series came out, it was when I discovered that I liked girls and had trouble accepting it. I loved that she was not the typical lesbian character that a month after discovering that she likes girls is already open about her sexuality, everyone accepts her and even has a girlfriend. No. Elena is different. Elena has a story behind it, which is also quite similar to mine. I also loved that this was not a topic that was covered in two chapters and that's it. The writers took the time to give it the continuity the story deserved.

—yayitali

5. Poussey from Orange Is the New Black

Netflix

Poussey will always stand out to me as one of the best-written lesbian characters. I couldn't relate to her racially but the way she experienced her emotions and interacted with others really spoke to me, and the gentleness of the way she treated her partners was such a great positivity that you don't always see in wlw-geared media. I wish that she got more time on the show and that it didn't have to end like that. Samira Wiley will always be one of the most attractive celebrities to me lol.

—katherine21121

6. Lexa from The 100

CW

Her fear to be vulnerable and love resonated with me on a whole new level, and seeing a character who was able to let down her guard when she was with a girl that she loved was really special.

—eloisegf2

7. Blair from Rough Night

Sony Pictures Entertainment

This is probably so ridiculous, but the character who made me feel the most seen was Blair (Zoe Kravitz) from that crazy movie Rough Night. I know the movie was definitely not the best and was more than a little ridiculous, but it will forever be one of my favorites because of Blair (and Frankie). I had no idea going into the movie that there was a gay storyline or that two of the central characters were gay. For me, it was the first time I saw myself reflected back in a movie. Most movies before then had featured gay characters as a sideline/sub character or the gay story element was "coming out" or something heavy or sad. But with Blair, she was just one member in a group of friends; her identity wasn't wrapped up in the fact that she was a gay woman. I saw myself reflected back because I felt like I was watching a movie that easily could have been about *my* friend group (minus some of the more outlandish parts, of course). I felt like there was a movie that showed my group.

—jacksone4ae52b55f

8. Randy Dean in The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love

Fine Line Features

Laurel Holloman as Randy Dean in The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995). Such a sweet coming-of-age lesbian movie. Randy was very much a tomboy like I was when I first came out. Dungarees, white vests, short hair, a little bit cocky, a little bit sassy, so I totally related to her and felt she was good representation for most young tomboy lesbians who were just finding their ways in the lesbian world!

—pengispoon81

9. Catra from She-Ra

Netflix

Not only is she a strong lesbian (or at least LGBTQ) character, but she is realistic. She is in denial of her feelings and lashes out because of her anger and fear. She is so true to life. She-Ra truly captures the experience of being LGBTQ+ so well, and Catra truly speaks to me on all levels.

—fandomfishies

10. Callie from Grey’s Anatomy

ABC

Probably Callie from Grey’s Anatomy because she was originally portrayed as straight but realized she liked women later on. She and Arizona were basically the only reason I watched the show, to be honest. Also, I love how Callie is bisexual and makes it clear that it’s OK to like men AND women (I am also bi). Every time there was something queer involving Callie and/or Arizona, I was always super excited. Honestly, if not for Callie and Arizona, I probably wouldn’t have realized I want to marry a woman.

—haylstorm04

11. Nicole Haught from Wynonna Earp

CW

Watching her kick ass and fight demons and fall in love with Waverly was strangely like looking in a mirror. She looks and acts and fights like I do — minus the demons, of course. I was so happy to see a character who was brave, dynamic, and just felt so REAL. Also, bonus points for not burying any gays!

—reaganw02

12. Fabiola from Never Have I Ever

Netflix

The struggle she had coming out was very relatable, especially when she got everyone together in a family meeting and just couldn’t say it. Then, when she came out to Eleanor and her friend was so happy for her, it warmed my heart. And, of course, when she accidentally came out to everyone at the party, I’ve had more than my fair share of slipping up and not thinking before I speak. 10/10 relatable character and loved cheering for her through the whole show.

—ellasophia2510

13. Bette from The L Word

Showtime

I know that the original show was super problematic in their LGBTQ representation, but for some reason I always admired her character. She was strong, fierce, successful, volatile, passionate, and outspoken. As a young queer minority, I remember watching the show and wanting to be like her. She had this sort of beautiful grace and authenticity that I wanted for my life.

—shadowgirl7890

14. Arizona Robbins from Grey's Anatomy

ABC

She was proud and unashamed of who she was. However, she didn't let it define her. I also liked that the show didn't show her coming out, but instead had her dealing with her girlfriend's coming out. I felt so connected to her as someone who came out early in life and had to deal with the same situation with others coming out as she did. Also, she was a freaking boss. Like she was such a good surgeon and amazing person.

—hazelbrown24601

15. Amanita from Sense8

Netflix

It was so refreshing to see a lesbian who has been out for a long time, is diverse and truly loves and supports her girlfriend.

—m42c98ff83

16. Shane from The L Word

Showtime

As cringe as it is, Shane from The L Word. She was butch (most of the time), and had relatively short hair. She wore “boyish” clothes, and these are all the things I did as a baby dyke! I remember thinking “wow, she makes butch look good” and so I started to embrace being a butch dyke!

—justcallmemac

17. Emily Fitch from Skins

Channel 4

Emily Fitch from Skins, no question. At the time I first saw it, I too was in a situation with a "straight" girl and seeing this show was part of what made me come out.

—e4ada6546c

18. Clarissa Vaughan from The Hours

Paramount Pictures

Weirdly, when I was a teenager, the character of Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep) in the film The Hours really made me feel good about my sexuality. I was totally closeted and had no queer women role models, and to see an adult lady living her life with her wife, with a daughter, etc. made me go, "Oh, my life can look like that. I can be both a lesbian AND have a nice life!" It was so comforting. I used to watch that movie so often.

—sashabetancourt

19. Spencer from South of Nowhere

Teen Nick

I might be aging myself with this, but.... Spencer from South of Nowhere. Her struggles with adjusting to life at a new high school, navigating different relationships with both men and women while fighting her true gay self from coming out of the closet — just so she could be accepted by society, her peers, her family and herself — are all too familiar. Eventually, in spite of everything, she learns to accept herself and accept the fact that she’s in love with her best friend, Ashley. Plus, the guy she dated briefly, Aiden, realizes she’s gay, helps gently pull her out of the closet, and turns out to be one of her best friends too. My coming out experience was similar. South of Nowhere was on at a time when I really needed it, when I really didn’t want to be gay, tried to be bi, tried to be straight, and finally stopped fighting who I really am.

—bluesilverblue33

20. Lauren from Lost Girl

Showcase

I feel like a lot of queer characters have their sexuality written as something that is so in your face. But Lauren is much more subtle. It made me realize that sexuality can be a part of who I am without being everything I am.

—katiev42503191e

21. Boo from Orange Is the New Black

Netflix

Boo from Orange Is The New Black is definitely mine. I’d seen queer characters in some of my media growing up, but it was always the lesbian from the straight lens: femme, thin, pretty, with long hair who only dates other similar women. I think Boo was the first real butch lesbian I ever saw on TV and I felt so represented; she wasn’t just a fat lady used for humor, she wasn’t just the butt of jokes, she was a real butch lesbian who still got to be with women instead of just being the center of a “make her feminine so that she’s acceptable” plot.

—babybrass

22. Helen from Drop the Dead Donkey

Channel 4

Helen on the British sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey. She had her own queer storylines, coming out to parents, etc., but her actual character was much more about her being a moral news editor. It made me realise properly for the first time that lesbians and LGBTQ people can have totally normal careers and lives without their sexuality ever being a barrier to happiness. A lot of characters battle with their sexuality or society or something but she just lived her life and dated women.

—positivelyubiquitous

23. Charlie Bradbury from Supernatural

CW

Yes, she was a minor character, but she was the first lesbian character in the series and she didn’t have the common stereotypes people assume of lesbians. Plus, Sam and Dean’s response to her coming out was absolute comedy gold and they reacted so supportively.

—florabelm

24. Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The WB

Most gay characters are overly sexualized, but Tara was introverted and nerdy. She made me feel seen and validated.

—allydolls1993

25. Amy Bradshaw from D.E.B.S.

Screen Gems

I was 15 when I first watched it and have yet to meet someone else who has actually seen it, but it was the first movie I ever saw with lesbians (and tbh, it’s also one of the few I’ve seen where they end up happy).

The movie is admittedly pretty goofy, but at the time, I really needed to watch it. As a teen, I had only dated a guy because I “had” to. So much was expected of me and I was smothered by everyone who thought they knew what was the best thing for me. Amy was a spy because people thought she’d be great at it, but she just wanted to be an artist. She dated this boring dude only because they were the spy equivalent of the head cheerleader and quarterback. Watching her character initially be awkward with a girl she likes, learn who she was, and then have the courage to leave behind everything that was expected of her really just struck a chord. When I cried at the end, I had no idea why until years later, when I realized how happy it made me.

—heysteviex

26. Syd from One Day at a Time

NEtflix

I’m a non-binary lesbian, which is a very confusing and contradictory set of labels. Seeing that identity portrayed in a legitimate and accepting way was so good for my self-esteem. That show has done so much for so many different groups, it’s insane.

—musiicgeek

27. Santana from Glee

Fox

Honestly, Santana Lopez from Glee. I felt myself really relating to her story. When I first came out to my parents, they weren't the most accepting. Plus, there have been times where my parents had asked me to "tone down the gayness." But seeing Santana really come into her own and learn to not only accept but also love herself in terms of her sexuality kind of helped me make sense of how I was feeling internally. Plus, it was a truly awesome sight seeing someone who wasn't straight as a main character.

—lauracg

28. Denise from Master of None

HBO

Lena Waithe in Master of None. Her whole backstory in the series was my exact life experience growing up.

—rjackson26

29. Daja Kisuba from the Circle of Magic books

en.wikipedia.org

The one that most made me feel seen was from a book series — Daja Kisubo from the Circle of Magic series. I grew up with those (I was 11 when I first read the books where she was 11, the book where she was 14 came out when I was 14), and when she discovered her sexuality at the age of 19/20, I was the same age and figuring out the same thing. It was also the first time I'd seen a character coming to terms with being a lesbian in a book that wasn't about sexuality or gender — she's a powerful, clever, talented young woman dealing with her magical gifts and relationships with her friends, and it becomes just another facet of her personality. It didn't ruin her life or turn it upside down, it just made something missing click into place.

It's also one of the few fantasy novels (especially of that era — I'm in my thirties now and this was a while ago) where it wasn't treated as something awful to be overcome or something her friends would hate her for. All my love to Tamora Pierce forever.

—daphnerunning