Laughing Towards Progress:
How Comedy Has Shifted LGBTQ+ Perceptions on Screen
Let’s be honest: when you think of major cultural revolutions, you probably don’t think of a sitcom. You think of protest marches, political leaders, courtroom battles, or maybe a particularly impassioned social media thread. But comedy, especially on television, has done more to challenge social norms than it often gets credit for. And when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation, sitcoms have been quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) pushing the envelope, one punchline at a time.
There’s something disarming about comedy. It gets under your skin without you noticing. It makes you laugh first, then think. And if you’re laughing with someone rather than at them, you’re already halfway to understanding them. That’s why LGBTQ+ characters in sitcoms are so powerful. When they’re portrayed with depth, humour, and humanity, they don’t just represent a community - they invite you in. They become friends, family, and for many viewers, a mirror.
Will & Grace: Breaking Ground While Dishing Gossip
When Will & Grace landed on U.S. screens in 1998, it was a revelation. Will Truman, a sharp-suited gay lawyer with great hair and even greater emotional repression, became one of the first openly gay lead characters on network television. Alongside him was his equally glamorous best friend Grace, the flamboyantly fabulous Jack, and the walking martini that was Karen.
Yes, some critics grumbled about stereotypes (Jack could camp with the best of them), but for the first time, gay characters were front and centre, not relegated to tragic subplots or punchline status. They were funny, flawed, successful, ridiculous, and tender. They were human.
Even Joe Biden once said that Will & Grace probably "did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody’s ever done." Not bad for a studio sitcom with a suspiciously enormous New York apartment.
Modern Family: Making the Space for Everyday
By the time Modern Family arrived in 2009, LGBTQ+ representation had come a long way—but there was still plenty of work to be done. Enter Mitchell and Cameron, a gay couple raising an adopted daughter, Lily. They weren’t groundbreaking in the same way Will & Grace had been. What they were, though, was normal. And that, in itself, was revolutionary.
We watched them navigate the school run, family dinners, culture clashes, and more than one argument about furniture arrangements. They were neither saints nor caricatures. They were just two dads trying to raise a kid without losing their minds. Jesse Tyler Ferguson (who played Mitchell) once recalled his father asking, “Why do you have to play so many gay parts?” His answer? “Because I am gay, and it’s important for people to see characters like me on screen.” He further explained on his podcast Dinner’s On Me that playing Mitchell was socially significant to him: “I felt like it was gonna do wonderful things for the marriage equality movement, which it did.”
And audiences listened. In 2009, only about 37% of Americans supported same-sex marriage. By 2019, that number had jumped to 61%. Now, that’s not all thanks to Mitch and Cam, but it shows the quiet power of visibility.
Schitt’s Creek: Love Without Conditions (Or Trauma)
Then came Schitt’s Creek, and with it, David Rose. Played by Dan Levy, David was pansexual, emotionally complex, fashion-forward, and possibly allergic to manual labour. His love story with the equally endearing Patrick was one of the best romances ever portrayed on television, not because it was dramatic, but because it wasn’t.
There were no tragic coming-outs, no homophobic neighbours, no rejection arcs. Just love. Dan Levy deliberately created a world without homophobia, not because it doesn’t exist, but because it doesn’t need to exist in every gay story. “We wanted to show a love story that just exists, without fear,” he said. “It’s about love, plain and simple.” He also described the choice as a “quiet protest against LGBTQ tragedy tropes,” aiming to create something transformational without the looming threat of intolerance or bigotry.
And honestly, isn’t that what we all want?
The U.K. Scene: We’re Getting There (Mostly)
Over the pond, LGBTQ+ representation in comedy has taken a slightly more roundabout route. We had the deliciously camp (and chaotic) worlds of Absolutely Fabulous, where gay characters were part of the social fabric, but often sidelined. We had Gimme Gimme Gimme, which tried (and failed) to be edgy and inclusive at the same time.
More recently, however, U.K. comedies have levelled up. Feel Good, created by and starring Mae Martin, explored addiction, identity, and complicated relationships with raw honesty and jet-black humour. Derry Girls gave us Clare’s beautiful coming-out moment: awkward, tender, and completely in keeping with the show’s heart.
And of course, there’s Sex Education, which, while technically more drama than comedy, deserves a shout-out for its gloriously diverse cast and refusal to sanitise the messy realities of young love.
Why Does This Matter?
Because representation isn’t just about visibility. It’s about how people are seen.
LGBTQ+ characters who are written as fully rounded people. Funny, flawed, tender, weird, heroic - help challenge stereotypes and build empathy. Comedy helps us laugh with them, not at them. And in that laughter, walls come down. Opinions shift. Hearts open.
Humour allows people to let their guard down. It’s hard to hate someone when they make you laugh. And when those characters stick around in your home week after week, they stop being "other" and start being part of the family.
Looking Ahead (Because We’re Not Done Yet)
We’ve come a long way, but let’s not pretend the job’s finished. Representation still skews heavily towards white, gay men. There’s still a need for more intersectional stories in mainstream comedy.
Make no mistake, a push back on this is happening right now.
Let’s keep making space for characters who reflect the beautiful, complicated, hilarious, and messy spectrum of the real world.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
Thank you!
