Top 10 Queer Women
It’s Pride month, which means queer representation is on the menu here at Bang2write. My Top 10 female character rundowns are super-popular on this site, yet I realised I don’t have any about queer women.
Oops! Consider my wrist slapped for this massive oversight. But before I share my faves, a disclaimer of sorts.
“iT’s gAy NoT qUeEr!!”
Okay, let’s get one thing straight (arf). Yes, some older members of the LGBTQ+ community still find the word ‘queer’ painful. For them, it brings back memories of the word being weaponised in the ’80s.
That hurt is real and valid. That hurt matters. You won’t find me saying otherwise, because words are powerful.
But here’s the thing: it was also reclaimed back then. “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it!” wasn’t just a slogan; it was a statement of defiance. A turning point.
But today, ‘queer’ is how many younger LGBTQ+ people choose to identify. It’s broad. It’s flexible. It fits.
If you still don’t like the word, that’s totally your prerogative. But this article is probably not for you. (That’s okay, not every single article on a blog will be. Catch you next time!).
Still here? Great! Here’s ten queer women in the spotlight this Pride Month. Ready? Let’s go …
1) Haniwa, See
Set 500 years in the future, See imagines a world where nearly all humans are blind. Society has adapted, including in war and survival. When sighted twins Haniwa and Kofun are born, they’re hunted as witches.
A young, out gay woman in this AppleTV series, Haniwa sees her vision as a gift. She chooses the bow as her weapon. But to survive, she must hide in plain sight, knowing her abilities make her a target. MORE: 8 Powerful Reminders From AppleTV’s SEE
2) Villanelle, Killing Eve
Villanelle is ruthless, skilled, and flamboyant, with a chilling sense of playfulness. She’s as petulant as she is deadly, making her unforgettable.
As a modern antiheroine, she’s dangerously magnetic. Her obsession with Eve only adds to her unpredictability. We absolutely shouldn’t root for her and yet, somehow we do.
3) Lexa, The 100
Lexa is a warrior and a leader who stays true to her values. She’s fair, even when it costs her dearly. Though feelings exist between her and the series’ protagonist Clarke, Lexa chooses her people over personal attachments. Her decisions may hurt, but they are never selfish. That’s what makes her a standout leader.
4) Rosa Diaz, Brooklyn 99
Rosa Diaz is the precinct’s badass: stoic, sharp, and fiercely private. She’s the detective you want in your corner. Her coming out as bisexual was handled with emotional weight and humour. Loving Rosa isn’t always easy, but it’s definitely inevitable. Beneath the gruff exterior is loyalty and care.
5) Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
Many fans interpret Katniss as asexual. Compared to Lucy Gray (A Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes), who uses charm and romance to survive, Katniss struggles with performance. Her loyalty lies in platonic bonds and responsibility. Though Katniss ultimately chooses Peeta, love for her is about stability; not passion. She’s never an ‘ice queen’, just focused on survival and what truly matters.
MORE: 4 Ways The Hunger Games Subverts Expectations
6) Karen, Will & Grace
Karen is a gloriously awful caricature of the rich elite – and she owns it! She’s literally THE WORST, both hilarious and unexpectedly tender. Her relationships with Stan and Rosario hint at a hidden heart.
In the reboot, Karen somehow gets even worse (and as far as I’m concerned, even better). She’s offensive, outrageous, and endlessly watchable. Throughout the eleven series run, she plays around with her sexuality. The writers even hint Karen may be transgender, though this is never confirmed.
7) Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel
Carol is a loyal, no-nonsense badass who finally gave Marvel its first female-led superhero film. She’s dry, powerful, and competent – just like a million male heroes before her. Yet, cue internet backlash labelling her “unlikeable”!
Brie Larson was the perfect choice for the MCU’s interpretation of the character. Though it has not been confirmed (yet), many fans read Carol in the movies as queer. Whatever sexuality she is, Carol challenges double standards just by existing.
8) Lucy Westenra, Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Lucy defies her era’s norms by openly wanting more than one suitor. For that, she becomes a victim of Dracula and a stand-in for the ‘whore’ trope. Her transformation into a monster is punishment; her ‘salvation’ is death at the hands of men who claimed to love her.
Lucy’s arc is brutal, symbolic – and deeply unfair, yet somehow still relatable. After all, too many women suffer like this at the hands of men and patriarchal norms.
9) Callie, Grey’s Anatomy
Love or hate the show, Callie’s journey from identifying as straight to embracing her bisexuality was ground-breaking. Her relationship with Arizona became a fan favourite and vital queer representation.
She normalised fluid attraction in a mainstream show. As a bi viewer myself, her character felt like home. Without her, many fans wouldn’t have seen themselves on screen.
10) Bernadette, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Back in the ’90s, finding out-and-proud trans actors was a tall order for the Priscilla team. Casting Terence Stamp was controversial but pragmatic in a cautious industry, especially as many queer actors did not want to out themselves back then.
Still, the role of Bernadette gave visibility to a community rarely seen on screen. It didn’t fix everything, but it cracked open the door. Visibility has to start somewhere, even if imperfectly. MORE: 30 Years Of Priscilla: What Can Writers Learn From This LGBTQ Classic?
