There’s no doubt that anime has always been a popular medium for LGBTQ+ characters, and with good reason. From the lighthearted and fun to the more serious and dark, there’s something for everyone in anime. So without further ado, here are 20 of the most iconic gay & lesbian anime characters – from the everyday to the iconic.

  1. Naruto Uzumaki – The protagonist of Naruto is a gay man who is not ashamed to show his love for other men. He is also one of the most powerful ninja in the world, and has faced many challenges along his journey.
  2. Ichigo Kurosaki – Ichigo is a Bleach character who is bisexual and has a complicated relationship with Renji Abarai, one of Japan’s most powerful shinobi. He also falls in love with Rukia Kuchiki, an Quincy witch who is also bisexual.
  3. Sailor Moon – One of Japan’s most popular manga and anime series, Sailor Moon features a wide range of LGBTQ+ characters including lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people and more. The series ran from 1986-1998 and was followed by several spin-off manga and an animated series that aired from 2002-2011.
  4. Sonic X – Sonic X is an American animated television series created by Drifters Productions which aired on Cartoon Network from 1997-2001. The show follows Sonic the Hedgehog as he tries to save Eggman from being taken over by Dr Robotnik (voiced by Donny Osmond).
  5. Death Note – Death Note features a wide range of LGBTQ+ characters including murderers who are turned into ghosts after committing suicide, lesbians who use their powers to kill people they love, plus many more! The show ran from 2006-2007 and was followed by two movies which were released in 2009 and 2013 respectively.
  6. Fullmetal Alchemist – Fullmetal Alchemist features a wide range of LGBTQ+ characters including vampires who are turned into