- 6/21/2025
From heartwarming family moments to groundbreaking television history, join us as we celebrate the most impactful LGBTQIA coming out scenes that changed TV forever. These powerful moments showcase acceptance, love, and the courage to live authentically, featuring beloved characters from your favorite series.
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00:00No candles? Well, I brought one.
00:03Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at the most impactful TV scenes where LGBTQIA plus characters come out.
00:10There will be spoilers.
00:20Number 10. Sensible Heels, Glee.
00:23What are you wearing?
00:24It's a unitard. Guys wear them to work out nowadays, do sports.
00:30They wick sweat from the body.
00:33When we first meet his father, Bert, it's clear why Kurt has struggled to communicate with him.
00:38Bert comes off as a distant, somewhat intimidating figure who likely wouldn't understand.
00:43To his surprise, Bert is not only supportive, but he's known the truth about Kurt all along.
00:48I've known since you were three.
00:51All you wanted for your birthday was a pair of sensible heels.
00:54Now that he's finally said it out loud to his dad, the barrier separating Kurt and Bert begins to crumble.
00:59While there's still some uncomfortable tension, Bert is quick to accept his son, and only grows more open-minded as the series progresses.
01:07The scene was largely inspired by co-creator Ryan Murphy's coming out to his father.
01:11After seeing so many coming out scenes that end on a negative note, Murphy felt the world needed more positive examples.
01:17If that's who you are, there's nothing I can do about it. And I love you just as much.
01:23Number 9. Rosa's Bisexuality. Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
01:27About a year after actress Stephanie Beatrice publicly came out as bisexual, her character Rosa Diaz shared a similar revelation with her friends and colleagues.
01:34How long have you known?
01:35Since 7th grade. I was watching Saved by the Bell and I thought, Zach Morris is hot. And then I thought, Lisa Turtle, also hot.
01:42The fact that the words Kelly and Kapowski didn't just come out of your mouth is lunacy.
01:45Although they fully embrace her, the usually fearless Rosa has reservations about telling her parents.
01:51Rosa tiptoes around the truth until getting a glimpse of her parents' homophobia, then bluntly telling them that she's bi.
01:57Her parents view the news as a glass-half-full scenario, focusing on the fact that Rosa still likes men.
02:03This is nonetheless a rejection, as her parents dismiss the very idea of bisexuality.
02:08There's no such thing as being bisexual.
02:10Yes, there is. I know there is because that's who I am. I'm attracted to both men and women. I've known this about myself for a really long time, and I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid you were going to react exactly like you are.
02:23The resolution is a glass-half-full, with Rosa's father ultimately accepting all of her. Rosa's mother needs more time, but until then, another family has her back.
02:32Yes, you should be very proud of yourself. I know things aren't exactly the way you want to be right now, but I promise you they will improve.
02:39Thank you, Captain.
02:40Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place.
02:46Number 8. Thanksgiving. Master of None.
02:48In addition to playing Denise, Lena Waithe co-wrote this Emmy-winning episode.
02:52The character was modeled after Waithe, whose own experiences added another layer of honesty to the scene where Denise comes out to her mother Catherine, played by Angela Bassett.
03:00I've always been gay.
03:06But I'm still the same person.
03:10I'm still your daughter.
03:12Being an African-American woman, Catherine knew that her daughter would be vulnerable to racism and sexism.
03:17She wasn't prepared for her to face homophobia, however.
03:19It is hard enough being a black woman in this world. Now you want to add something else to that.
03:26It's not like this was my choice.
03:30It's just who I am.
03:32As uncomfortable as the scene is, Catherine's tearful reaction is mainly driven by concern for her daughter's well-being.
03:39More than anything else, she doesn't want life to be any harder for Denise.
03:43It takes a few more thanksgivings, but Catherine not only comes to accept her daughter,
03:47but genuinely hopes that she finds happiness with the right woman.
03:50I like Michelle.
03:54I like her too.
04:03I'm happy for you.
04:05Number 7.
04:06Tammy Thompson.
04:07Stranger Things.
04:08Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley develop one of the best dynamics in Stranger Things.
04:12From the minute Robin was introduced, though, we worried she'd be a rebound girl,
04:16taking her relationship with Steve in a predictable direction.
04:19What do you think?
04:21About?
04:23This girl.
04:24She sounds awesome.
04:26She is awesome.
04:27And what about the guy?
04:28I think he's on drugs, and he's not thinking straight.
04:32The creatives apparently came to a similar conclusion.
04:35According to actress Maya Hawke, Steve and Robin were seen as a potential couple when they started filming.
04:40It wasn't until about halfway through shooting season 3 that Hawke and the showrunners agreed on how Robin's story arc should play out.
04:47Do you remember what I said about Click's class?
04:49About me being jealous and, like, obsessed?
04:54Yeah.
04:54It isn't because I had a crush on you.
04:59It's because she wouldn't stop staring at you.
05:04In the season's penultimate episode, Steve confesses his feelings for Robin, who reveals she's into somebody else, Tammy Thompson.
05:12It might not be the beginning of a romance, but it does mark a turning point for a beautiful friendship.
05:17And if you can hold me tight, you'll be holding on forever.
05:22Exactly!
05:27Okay.
05:31What the hell?
05:35Number 6.
05:36Max Dance
05:37It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
05:39For several seasons, Max's denial of being gay is a running gag.
05:43In season 12, Max decides to be honest with his friends and himself.
05:47For shallow reasons, but it's a breakthrough nonetheless.
05:50It doesn't matter.
05:51You can just go back in.
05:52You signed the paper.
05:53Yeah, I mean, you got your money.
05:54No, I think I'm out now.
05:57Yeah, I'm...
05:58I'm gay.
06:00Actually feels pretty good.
06:02See you guys.
06:04The true breakthrough arrives the following season, however.
06:07I got something that I gotta tell you, Dad.
06:09And I've been trying to find the best way to do it.
06:12And I just thought instead of saying it, maybe I could just show you how I feel inside.
06:21Dad.
06:24I'm gay.
06:27Mac comes out to his incarcerated father the only way he knows how.
06:30Through interpretive dance.
06:42With Sigur Rós' Varus playing in the background,
06:49Mac and his dance partner unleash a storm of emotion.
06:52For a show that's usually devoid of sentimentality,
06:54it's a jarring tonal shift seeing Mac express his inner struggle and eventual self-acceptance.
06:59Mac's bigoted dad exits before the performance is even over.
07:03But for everyone else in the audience, especially Frank,
07:06it's an eye-opening experience.
07:08Oh my God.
07:13I get it.
07:19I get it.
07:20There's always been an LGBTQIA plus subtext to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
07:35When Buffy tells her mother that she is the Slayer,
07:38it can be seen as an allegory for coming out.
07:40It's because you didn't have a strong father figure, isn't it?
07:43It's just fate, Mom.
07:44I'm the Slayer.
07:45Accepted.
07:46The show moved beyond metaphors in season four,
07:49seeing Willow form a deep bond with a fellow witch, Tara.
07:52When her ex-boyfriend Oz returns,
07:54Willow knows they can't so easily pick up where they left off.
07:57Before telling Oz, Willow confides in her best friend.
08:00There's something between us.
08:03It wasn't something I was looking for.
08:08It's just powerful.
08:10And it's totally different from what Oz and I have.
08:15Buffy is shocked,
08:16but she helps Willow to be honest with Oz,
08:19Tara, and most importantly, herself.
08:21It's a bittersweet ending for Willow and Oz,
08:23but Tilo's candle is just beginning to burn.
08:26Xander and Giles' reaction to Willow's new relationship
08:29is similar to Buffy's.
08:30Surprised, yet supportive.
08:32So, see ya.
08:35Right.
08:35Well, good luck with that.
08:39Okay.
08:40Bye.
08:43Bye.
08:45Number 4.
08:45Danny accepts Jodie.
08:47Soap.
08:47Played by Billy Crystal,
08:49Jodie Dallas was one of the first openly gay characters
08:52to have a regular role on American TV.
08:54Although the character was celebrated,
08:56Jodie initially ignited controversy
08:58from both sides of the political spectrum.
09:00You're probably not gay.
09:01I am.
09:02And it shouldn't make any difference.
09:04And if it does,
09:04and you don't love me now because of it,
09:06then you've never loved me at all.
09:07Pro-gay groups didn't appreciate
09:09that the character's brother Danny
09:10was in such denial about Jodie being gay.
09:13A turning point comes in the eighth episode
09:15when Danny confronts the truth about Jodie
09:17and quarterback Dennis Phillips.
09:19Is that the proof?
09:20For God's sakes, Jodie,
09:22I'm crazy about Joe Namath.
09:24I idolize Mean Joe Green.
09:26I'd give anything to...
09:27We're lovers, Danny.
09:29Dennis Phillips is gay?
09:34Boy, this is a lot for one day.
09:37Danny hears his brother for the first time.
09:40When he looks at his brother though,
09:41Danny doesn't feel any different,
09:43bringing Jodie in for a hug.
09:44This episode aired in 1977,
09:47and few coming out scenes
09:48would have the same impact
09:50for almost two decades.
09:51Thanks, big brother.
09:54You're okay, little brother.
09:56Number three, Nick tells his mom,
09:58Heartstopper.
09:59By the end of the first season,
10:01Nick Nelson is ready to take the first steps
10:03towards letting the world know he's bisexual
10:05and in a relationship with Charlie.
10:07Nick starts with his mother,
10:08played by Olivia Colman.
10:10You know Charlie's like my best friend.
10:11If you're going to ask if he can come
10:13on our menorca holiday this year,
10:14the answer's no,
10:14because I've already booked the ticket.
10:15No, that's not what I was going to say.
10:18Before she even has a chance to say anything,
10:20Nick's mom is practically moved to tears.
10:22So are we,
10:23as she gives her son a loving embrace.
10:25Oh, baby.
10:27Oh, thank you for telling me.
10:32I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like
10:34you couldn't tell me that.
10:35Her words of encouragement and understanding
10:37are precisely what every LGBTQIA plus person
10:40can only hope to hear from a loved one
10:42upon coming out.
10:43As emotionally and beautifully acted
10:45as this scene is,
10:46it's also quite casual.
10:47In a way,
10:48that only makes the moment more heartwarming.
10:50Everything is different
10:51and yet nothing has changed.
10:53How long have you known?
10:55Well, um,
10:58me and Charlie started going out
11:00a couple months ago,
11:02but
11:02I started liking him
11:06way before that.
11:09Oh, I love you.
11:12Number two.
11:13Susan, I'm gay.
11:14Ellen.
11:15We shouldn't ignore the allegations
11:16against Ellen DeGeneres
11:17that have come to light
11:18in the past few years.
11:19That said,
11:20we shouldn't overlook
11:21the impact she's had
11:22on LGBTQIA plus representation either.
11:25Good for you.
11:26You're gay.
11:28So what are you going to do now?
11:30I'm going to Disneyland.
11:31Ellen wasn't the first show
11:33to include a coming out storyline,
11:34yet it was the first network show
11:36to have an openly gay lead character.
11:38So are you saying
11:39what I think you're trying to say?
11:41What do you think I'm trying to say?
11:43Oh, I'm not going to say it again
11:44and be wrong.
11:44No, you're not wrong.
11:45You're right.
11:46The fact that Ellen Morgan
11:47is so closely tied
11:49to Ellen DeGeneres' real-life identity
11:51only made this more unprecedented.
11:53Just as DeGeneres' coming out
11:54made headlines,
11:55her character's confession to Susan
11:57winds up being more public
11:58than she would have preferred.
11:59Why do I have to be so ashamed?
12:01I mean, why can't I just
12:02say the truth?
12:03I mean, be who I am.
12:04I'm 35 years old.
12:06I'm so afraid to tell people.
12:08I mean, I just...
12:10Susan, I'm gay.
12:12Nevertheless, a weight has been lifted.
12:17The heavy lifting was still far from over,
12:19but to give credit where credit's due,
12:21nothing would be the same
12:23after the puppy episode.
12:24Yes, it's very fashionable
12:25to be lesbian now.
12:32Yeah, you know,
12:33that's pretty much why I did it.
12:35You know, it was either that
12:35or getting a nose ring.
12:37I couldn't decide.
12:38Before we unveil our top pick,
12:40here are some honorable mentions.
12:42Prideful, shameless,
12:44Mickey is free,
12:45and his father is back in the slammer.
12:47I've been staying at Ian
12:47since you've been in the camp,
12:49guess what we've been doing, daddy?
12:51Meeting Victor,
12:52the Umbrella Academy.
12:53Elliot Page's coming out
12:54mirrors his characters.
12:55Is that an issue for anyone?
12:58No, I'm good with it.
12:59Yeah, me too.
13:01Cool.
13:02Truly happy for you, Victor.
13:04The talk, one day at a time.
13:06Elena isn't Team Edward or Jacob.
13:08If I was going to be into a boy,
13:10it would be Josh.
13:11I mean, he's cute
13:12and he's sweet
13:13and he's such a gentleman,
13:15but I feel more
13:17when I look at a picture
13:18of Kristen Stewart
13:19than I do when I kiss him.
13:21No wonder you saw
13:22those Twilight movies
13:23so many times.
13:26Definitely wasn't
13:27for the quality storytelling.
13:28Colin's confession.
13:29Ted Lasso.
13:30The team lets Colin
13:31know they care about him.
13:32We care about who you are
13:33and what you must have
13:35been going through.
13:38Yeah.
13:40Hey, from now on,
13:41you don't have to go through it
13:44all by yourself.
13:46Yeah.
13:46All right?
13:47All right.
13:48Yeah.
13:48Head out.
13:49You got us, mate.
13:50We got you.
13:51Cheryl comes out.
13:52Riverdale.
13:53A mean girl suddenly shows
13:55a different side of herself.
13:56Cheryl, I am so sorry.
13:58But you have to know
14:00your mother's wrong.
14:02You're not loveless.
14:04You're not deviant.
14:06Okay?
14:09You're sensational.
14:12Before we continue,
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14:28Number 1.
14:29Patrick's Parents
14:30Schitt's Creek
14:31Patrick's parents
14:32come to town
14:32for their son's surprise party.
14:34They're the ones
14:34in for a surprise, though,
14:35learning that Patrick's
14:36business partner
14:37is much more.
14:38David, I know my parents
14:39are good people.
14:43I just...
14:44Hmm.
14:47I can't shake this fear
14:49that there's a small chance
14:51that this could change everything.
14:53Although the audience
14:54might think they know
14:55where this is going,
14:56co-creator Dan Levy
14:57strove to keep homophobia
14:58out of Schitt's Creek.
14:59Patrick's coming out
15:00is no exception.
15:01David!
15:02He seems like a really
15:02great partner, honey.
15:03Marcy.
15:04In business.
15:06Yeah, he is.
15:08He's also a great partner
15:09outside of business.
15:13We're together.
15:15Patrick's parents
15:15are shocked,
15:16but not because their son
15:17is in a relationship
15:18with another man.
15:19They're saddened
15:20that Patrick felt
15:21this was something
15:21he needed to hide from them.
15:23When Patrick sits
15:24his parents down,
15:24they let him know
15:25that he's accepted
15:26and loved.
15:27What's more,
15:28they like David.
15:29The characters
15:29might be fictional,
15:31but every time
15:31we re-watch this scene,
15:33the world feels
15:34like a better place.
15:35Oh, man.
15:36I didn't know
15:37how I was gonna tell you guys.
15:39Well,
15:40we're just glad
15:41you finally did.
15:43Happy birthday,
15:44my sweet boy.
15:46Which coming out scene
15:47fills you
15:47with the most pride?
15:48Let us know
15:49in the comments.
15:49Hey, Mac rules!
15:51Bullshit!
15:52Gay rich Mac!
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