In honour of Pride Month 2025, here are some LGBTQ+ characters in anime that are living their best lives.
The world of anime is ever-changing, with new characters, plots, and backstories coming up every week. However, over the years, there has been a surprising lack of LGBTQ+ characters in anime. Thankfully, things are changing now, with not only the appearance of more Boys Love and Girls Love shows, but also mainstream series where characters are openly queer. But of course we haven’t forgotten the classical anime characters who fearlessly paved the way for this new era, that’s why, we have combined a list of some amazing queer anime characters (both old and new) whose self expression gives strength to everyone across the world.
Uraume (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Based on Gege Akutami’s manga, Jujutsu Kaisen has a roster of interesting and flamboyant characters that brighten up the screen with their presence.
One such character is Uraume, and although they are one of the newer characters to be introduced to the anime, Uraume is definitely a fascinating personality. At first glance, this character’s gender can’t be determined as they’re quite androgynous. They are an extremely powerful curse user completely dedicated to Sukuna and aids the villain in terrorising the Jujutsu Sorcerers. Throughout the series (even the manga), Uraume’s gender remains shrouded in mystery, making them an iconic androgynous character.
Yukito Tsukishiro (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Although a lot of homosexual relationships between characters were kept as subtext in ‘90s anime, the creator group CLAMP really tried their best to highlight Yukito and Touya’s love in the manga for Cardcaptor Sakura.
Although primarily introduced as Sakura’s crush, Yukito makes it clear that his affections lie with her brother Touya instead. The duo are devoted to each other and in many fan websites, they’re listed as boyfriends/partners. Although it was never explicitly stated in the manga or anime, the subtext is enough to confirm that Yukito is one of the earliest gay characters in mainstream anime, making him a queer icon.
Nao (Skip and Loafer)
In recent years, we have started to see the inclusion of various openly LGBTQIA+ characters in anime, and Nao is one of them. In Skip and Loafer, based on Misaki Takamatsu’s manga, Nao is the paternal aunt of the protagonist Mitsumi Iwakura. However, the anime makes it clear that she’s a transgender woman and faces a lot of problems in society because of that. Despite everything, Nao is an amazing character who dotes on Misaki. She offers her niece advice and comfort whenever she needs it while navigating her own work and life. Although the anime doesn’t focus on Nao a lot, she’s definitely one of the best characters on the show.
Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Revolutionary Girl Utena also fell victim to the ‘90s subtext and censoring, but that hasn’t stopped people from realising that the relationship between Utena and Anthy was more than just friendship. Utena is a girl who’s shown to be tomboyish and tries to embody a ‘princely’ demeanor, causing all the other girls at school to adore her. The relationship between her and Anthy is rocky and often toxic, but it’s clear that the two love each other. Utena is also a confident, honest, and strong person who doesn’t care about stereotypes. Whether a lesbian or not, Utena is definitely a queer icon for a lot of ’90s kids.
Najimi Osana (Komi Can't Communicate)
Another openly LGBTQIA+ character that’s welcomed by their classmates without any prejudice is Najimi Osana from Komi Can’t Communicate. At first we assume that Najimi is a girl, seeing as they wear the girls’ uniform. But then we learn that they were born as a male who likes to dress in feminine or ambiguous clothing.
Najimi is outgoing and extremely friendly, often coming off as nosy. But they have a big heart and are one of the first people to volunteer when Tadano asks them to help Komi make friends. Their ambiguous appearance and happy-go-lucky personality makes them a fan-favourite character from this romcom anime.
Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)
The protagonist of Masamune Shirow’s manga and its several anime adaptations, Motoko Kusanagi is a fiercely independent and powerful cybernetic human with full-body prosthesis. In the original manga for Ghost in the Shell, Motoko is shown to be bisexual, and has relationships with both men and women. This part of her identity is much more subdued, but once again, subtext is there for those who know what to look for. Despite being non-human, Motoko is one of the first canonically bisexual women in manga and anime.
Ryuji Ayukawa (Blue Period)
From Tsubasa Yamaguchi’s manga and its anime adaptation comes our next genderqueer icon Ryuji Ayukawa, often called Yuka-chan by their classmates. Ryuji is male, but likes to dress in feminine clothing and wears the girls’ uniform at school. Much like the protagonist Yatora, Ryuji is passionate about art and takes a non-conformist approach to their work. Their relationship with Yatora isn’t romantic, however, the two of them are a huge part of each other's lives. Ryuji openly challenges social norms and is confident in their identity. But their hidden insecurities and anxieties make them a well-rounded lovable character that we can’t help but cheer for.
Ryoji Fujioka (Ouran High School Host Club)
Ouran High School Host Club gave us the androgynous nonchalant queen Haruhi Fujioka, and when we meet her father, we understand where her attitude about gender norms come from. Ryoji works at a cross-dressing bar and is mostly seen in feminine clothing. He’s also openly bisexual and says that he can never love another woman after the death of Haruhi’s mother. He’s a doting father who loves his daughter and is extremely protective of her. But it is thanks to his open-minded influence that Haruhi could cross-dress in the host club and became a heartthrob. Despite being an older title, Bisco Hatori’s manga and its anime adaptation challenged gender and social norms at every turn.
Tasuku Tsubakino (Wind Breaker)
It’s not common to see an openly queer character in an action-centric anime, but Satoru Nii’s Wind Breaker is indeed breaking all stereotypes. Tasuku Tsubakino is a senior in Bofurin, who likes to wear skirts, paints their nails, has long, coloured hair, and loves wearing makeup. Despite that, they are an amazing fighter who can wipe the floor with any villain that threatens one of their friends and kouhai. As the show is still ongoing, there’s a lot of debate about Tsubaki’s existence in the series and how important their story is. But nobody can refute the fact that not only is Tsubaki one of the strongest characters in the series, but also has a fantastic and emotional backstory. Tsubaki regularly steps on gender stereotypes with her high heels and breaks them into pieces.
Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus (Sailor Moon)
We can’t make an anime queer icons list and not talk about the OG lesbian couple who paved the way. Unfortunately, like in many other '90s manga and anime, the relationship between Sailor Neptune (Haruka Tenou) and Sailor Uranus (Michiru Kaiou) was subtextual. In the USA, the dub turned these two lovers into cousins. But the truth came out later when it was confirmed that these two Outer Sailor Guardians are indeed together.
Haruka and Michiru are a couple who also fight together to protect the Earth. Their relationship in the anime is beautiful and one of the first confirmed lesbian relationships in mainstream manga and anime. To this day, Naoko Takeuchi’s manga and its anime remains iconic not only for being one of the best magical girl titles of all time, but also for accepting different identities with open arms.
