TV's 5 best gay characters

Regardless of whether or not the onslaught of red equality signs on Facebook last week had you decrying passive activists or cheering in unity, we can all agree it’s a pretty awesome time to be gay.

It’s an even better time to be gay on television, though. No longer are gay characters restricted to stock roles and forced to play flamboyant sidekicks or butch ladies.
Writers are now fleshing out gay characters and giving them defining
characteristics beyond their sexuality.

In honor of the Supreme Court hearing cases regarding same-sex marriage, here are the finest queers television has to offer.

1) Ian Gallagher (portrayed by Cameron Monaghan) on “Shameless”

You don’t get further away from the gay stereotype than Ian. He’s a high school student in Army ROTC who dreams of attending West Point. While sexuality is important to Ian’s character, it hardly labels him. Like most of the Gallagher clan, his focus is keeping his rag-tag family together at all costs. Growing up on the tough streets of Chicago, Ian brawls with the best of them. He conducts a particularly volatile relationship with his on-again-off-again hook-up, Mickey. Their relationship, though rocky and unconventional, is one of the most gritty and beautiful on television.  

2) Elijah Krantz (portrayed by Andrew Rannells) on “Girls”

Just because Elijah is one of television’s best gay characters doesn’t mean he’s the most likable. He’s main character Hannah’s ex-boyfriend and one-time roommate who attempted untimely sex with her best friend, Marnie. Not anyone’s ideal gay BFF by any means. Sure, he shoots out comedic zingers with the greatest of ease, but he comes off as grounded and organic, thanks in most part to Rannells’ performance and Lena Dunham’s writing.

3) Santana Lopez (portrayed by Naya Rivera) on “Glee”

Okay, sure. “Glee” has gone way off the rails since its stellar first season. But fiery Santana has been more than enough reason to stick around. She’s unapologetically crass while still maintaining a vital emotional crux that makes her character one of the most well-rounded on the show. Plus, she says great things like “I am 1000 percent sure that I’m actually going to be famous, just like I’m 1000 percent sure that our man-child piano player keeps a petite Eurasian locked in a trunk underneath his bed.”

4) Lana Winters (portrayed by Sarah Paulson) on “American Horror Story: Asylum”

Lana might be the toughest broad on my list. A lesbian woman in a time where she had to keep her sexuality a secret in order to avoid societal shame, Lana was committed to a mental institution and forced to fight tooth and nail for her freedom. Furthermore, she suffered brutal rape and a pregnancy following her kidnapping by the serial killer and asylum shrink, Dr. Tredson. But after all the death and destruction, it was Lana left standing.

5) Marshall Gregson (portrayed by Keir Gilchrist) on “United States of Tara”

Marshall’s story may the best of them all because of how nonchalant it went down. From the series get-go, we weren’t outright told if he was gay or not. He was just a kid growing up in a dysfunctional family. His sexuality wasn’t important — his sanity was. Sure his sister taunted him because of his cupcakes, but it wasn’t gay bashing. It was commonplace sibling teasing. When Marshall did come out to his father, his dad was headed out to grab dinner and simply replied, “Good. So you want anything?” If that isn’t an indication that things are getting better, then I don’t know what is.