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From Callie Torres of Grey’s Anatomy to Brittany Pierce of Glee, representation of the bisexual+ community on television has helped to increase visibility and acceptance of bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and queer individuals all over the world. GLAAD’s annual report, Where We Are on TV, of 2016-17 stated that, “Of the 278 regular and recurring LGBTQ characters on scripted broadcast, cable, and streaming programming, 83 (30 percent) are counted as bisexual.” Although there is still more work to be done, diverse and nuanced LGBTQ representation on TV is on the rise and we couldn’t be more excited.

In celebration of #BiWeek, we put together some of our favorite current television shows with bisexual+ (including pansexual, fluid, and queer) characters. This is not comprehensive list of every single the bi+ characters on TV—just our current favorites!

Warning: There are spoilers below!

 

Darryl // Crazy Ex-Girlfriend // The CW

In The CW’s comedy-meets-drama-meets-musical Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, actor Pete Gardner plays Darryl Whitefeather, lead-character Rebecca Bunch’s lovable and often clueless boss. Darryl realizes his bisexuality when he finds himself attracted to White Josh (David Hull). In Season 1 Episode 11 of the GLAAD Media Award-nominated series, Darryl comes out to his entire office in the upbeat, ’80s-esque number “Getting’ Bi“. Becoming one of the few male bisexual characters on TV today, Darryl sings, “It’s not a phase. / I’m not confused. Not indecisive. / Don’t have the gotta choose / Blues! I don’t care if you wear / High heels or a tie. You might / Just catch my eye. Because I’m / Definitely Bi!”

The CW has renewed Crazy Ex-Girlfriend for a third season scheduled to premiere on October 13, 2017. Until then, catch up on Seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix. 

 

Annalise // How to Get Away with Murder // ABC

The suspense-filled drama How to Get Away with Murder, which won a GLAAD Media Award, has showcased groundbreaking representation of the queer community, from transgender narratives to HIV-positive characters. Criminal defense attorney Annalise Keating (Viola Davis), the protagonist of How to Get Away with Murder, is romantically involved with both men and women—after several intimate relationships with men, she is first shown with a woman in Season 2 as her past and present romance with Eve Rothlo (Famke Janssen) unfolds.

How to Get Away with Murder has been renewed for a fourth season, set to premiere on September 28, 2017. You can catch up on the first three seasons on Netflix. Also, Viola Davis is Emmy-nominated (again) this year for her role as Annalise. Watch the Emmy Awards live on September 17, 2017.

 

Lauren // Younger // TV Land

Younger is a comedy-drama centered on Liza Miller’s (Sutton Foster) life as a recently divorced 40-year-old mother masquerading as a 26-year-old to work at a publishing firm. In Season 1 Episode 11, Liza’s best friend, Maggie (Debi Mazar) is kissed by her friend Lauren (Molly Bernard), jumpstarting a relationship between the two. Although Lauren’s identity is never explicitly stated, she maintains relationships with both men and women over Younger’s three seasons. Molly Bernard, the actress who plays Lauren, has stated on the record that, “Lauren is a fluid pansexual female. There’s no preference. She doesn’t skew gay or straight, she just skews Lauren.”

Younger’s fourth season is currently on air every Wednesday at 10p.m. EST on TV Land. You can catch up on Season 4 and watch previous seasons here.

 

Kat // The Bold Type // Freeform

The Bold Type, inspired by the life of former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, is centered on three friends working for a global women’s magazine. In the pilot episode, main character Kat (Aisha Dee) begins to come to terms with her unexpected romantic feelings towards her friend Adena (Nikohl Boosheri) after previously identifying as straight. Aisha Dee, the actress playing Kat, has previously discussed Kat’s sexuality: “I really love the Adena storyline because there’s just something about it that’s really honest. I love the idea that we can kind of see Kat’s sexuality as more fluid.” The Bold Type follows Kat as she begins to discover her sexuality, leading to an intimate kiss between Kat and Adena in Episode 4.

The Bold Type is currently awaiting renewal status. Help its chances for a second season by watching the first season of The Bold Type on Freeform here or on Hulu.

 

Nova // Queen Sugar // OWN

With Oprah Winfrey as the executive producer, the cable drama Queen Sugar chronicles the lives of the three estranged Bordelon siblings as they work together to save their family’s Louisiana sugarcane farm. The show opens with journalist and activist Nova Bordelon (Rutina Wesley) with her secret lover Calvin (Greg Vaughan). However, Nova’s sexuality is further reveled when she embarks on a brief relationship with a woman, Chantal Williams (Reagan Gomez), and responds to her aunt’s dismissal of her identity by saying, “It’s what’s within. Not the package.” 

Queen Sugar returns for a 2-night season premiere on October 3 and 4. Until then, catch up on previous episodes on OWN here.

 

Magnus // Shadowhunters // Freeform

In the hit supernatural drama series Shadowhunters, 400-year-old warlock Magnus Bane (Harry Shum Jr.) falls in love with Alec Lightwood (Matthew Daddario) after a previous relationship with Camille Belcourt (Kaitlyn Leeb). In the book series the show is based on, Magnus refers to himself as a “freewheeling bisexual.” Although he has yet to identify himself explicitly as bisexual in the show, his romantic relationships with a woman and a man are both clearly depicted. Fans of Magnus and Alec’s relationship refer fondly to the couple as “Malec.” (Search #Malec on Twitter to see for yourself.)

The third season of Shadowhunters is scheduled to debut in 2018. Until then, catch up on Seasons 1 and 2 on Freeform.

 

Waverly // Wynonna Earp // Syfy

Canadian supernatural Western series Wynonna Earp follows title character Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano) who inherits the power to battle demons with the ancestral “Peacemaker” revolver. At the start of the GLAAD Media Award-nominated show Waverly Earp (Dominique Provost-Chalkley), Wynonna’s younger sister, is in a relationship with a man, but their relationship ends ands and she finds love with sheriff’s deputy Nicole Haught (Katherine Barrell). Although Waverly declines because she has a boyfriend, later episodes see Waverly break up with boyfriend and begin to date Nicole. Waverly and Nicole’s relationship has become a significant part of the show, and the two (known to fans as #Wayhaught) have an immense following on social media.  

Watch Seasons 1 on Netflix and Season 2 on Syfy before Wynonna Earp returns in 2018.

 

Sarah and Ali // Transparent // Amazon

In addition to being a trailblazer for transgender representation and winning numerous GLAAD Media Awards, Amazon’s comedy-drama Transparent also gives a voice to bisexual+ identities. The inclusion of two leading bi+ characters, Sarah Pfefferman (Amy Landecker) and Ali Pfefferman (Gabby Hoffman), is a significant stride for bisexual visibility in television. Season 1 begins as Sarah rekindles her relationship with past-lover Tammy (Melora Hardin) after a marriage to a man, while Ali starts to question her own sexuality. Both characters have noteworthy relationships with men and women throughout the show’s three seasons, including Ali’s relationship with a trans man.

All seasons of Transparent are available to stream on Amazon Prime, and season four premieres September 22, 2017. This year, Transparent is also nominated for six Emmy awards.

Who are your favorite bisexual+ characters on TV? Tweet us @GLAAD using #BiWeek to let us know.

To learn more about #BiWeek and how you can increase acceptance of the bisexual+ community, visit glaad.org/biweek2017.

GLAAD

Today, #BiWeek (Bisexual+ Awareness Week) launches for the fourth year in a row to accelerate acceptance for the bisexual+ (bi, pansexual, fluid, queer, unlabeled, etc.) community. #BiWeek, the annual viral digital campaign, runs from Sunday, September 17 through Sunday, September 24, and is presented by GLAAD and BiNet USA, America’s oldest advocacy organization for bi+ people.

You can learn more about how to get involved at glaad.org/biweek.

GLAAD and BiNet USA were among the co-founders of #BiWeek in 2014 to draw attention to the bi+ community’s experiences and challenges, including erasure. This year, with the theme, “Past, Present, and Future,” #BiWeek will highlight the community’s strong contributions throughout history, current and up and coming bi+ advocates, and what the future holds for the largest subset of the LGBTQ community.

For the first time since the campaign began, #BiWeek will not include a White House event dedicated to the bisexual+ community. You can check out pictures from and read about the groundbreaking 2015 and 2016 events.

#BiWeek will include a Twitter chat, moderated by the Victory Institute and GLAAD, on Thursday, September 21 at 2 P.M. ET/11 A.M. PT with bi+ history-making politicians, including Governor Kate Brown (OR), Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (WI), and Representative Mary Gonzalez (TX). The chat will focus on the current political climate and its implications for the bi+ community, the importance of bi+ people running for office, and their own experiences as being bisexual+ in American politics.

Gov. Brown is the nation’s first openly bisexual governor, Rep. Zamarripa is the first Latina woman elected to Wisconsin’s legislature, and Rep. Gonzalez is the first openly pansexual elected official in the country. You can submit your own questions to these game-changing women during the chat using #BiWeek on Twitter.

Additionally, GLAAD will debut a video with some of your favorite bi+ celebrities offering heartfelt messages of support to bi+ youth, a photographic spotlight on bisexual people over the age of 50, a collaborative video with Planned Parenthood and BiNet USA, sharable graphics for bisexual+ people and their allies, guest posts from leading bi+ advocates, profiles of notable bi+ change-makers, and much more. Follow GLAAD on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and check GLAAD’s blog for daily updates on #BiWeek.

“BiNet USA is excited to partner with GLAAD for #BiWeek. By working together, we have created great change for our community,” said Lynnette McFadzen, President of BiNet USA. “We anticipate making further strides in improving our community’s issues and concerns.”

“Bisexual+ Awareness Week is a crucial initiative that brings much-need awareness to the erasure and tropes that the bi+ community experiences,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO. “GLAAD is proud to have co-founded #BiWeek and to continue its work to accelerate acceptance for bi+ people.”

“Once again, #BiWeek provides a rare opportunity for bisexual+ people to see the community represented and respected in a national conversation,” said Alexandra Bolles, GLAAD’s Associate Director of Campaigns and co-founder of the campaign. “In a time when bisexual+ people are often erased or excluded, #BiWeek helps amplify diverse experiences fairly and accurately to a broad audience.”

To join in the #BiWeek celebration, show your support on social media all week long using #BiWeek and visit glaad.org/biweek for more ways to take action. To learn more about fairly and accurately covering the bisexual+ community in the media, check out GLAAD’s In Focus: Reporting on the Bisexual Community.

How will you be celebrating bisexuality+ this #BiWeek? Tell @GLAAD on Twitter using the hashtag!