:LGBTQ representation in The Simpsons

Patty Bouvier was revealed to be lesbian in the season 16 episode "There's Something About Marrying", which follows Homer Simpson as he is ordained to perform same-sex marriages. Producer Al Jean had announced that a character would come out prior to the episode's airing, prompting widespread speculation.{{cite news |date=2004-07-28 |title=Simpsons to reveal gay character |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3932369.stm |access-date=2023-04-14 |archive-date=2022-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512161955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3932369.stm |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=2005-02-21 |title=Simpsons' gay character is Patty |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4285287.stm |access-date=2023-04-14 |archive-date=2022-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703222458/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4285287.stm |url-status=live}} Patty was the character that fans most suspected would come out.{{cite news |last=Waxman |first=Sharon |date=2005-02-21 |title='Simpsons' Animates Gay Nuptials, and a Debate |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/arts/television/simpsons-animates-gay-nuptials-and-a-debate.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2022-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512161958/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/21/arts/television/simpsons-animates-gay-nuptials-and-a-debate.html |url-status=live}} The episode aired in 2005, when same-sex marriage was a major political issue in the United States. The move was controversial, provoking outrage from opponents to same-sex marriage.{{cite book |last=Keslowitz |first=Steven |url=https://archive.org/details/worldaccordingto0000kesl |title=The World According to the Simpsons: What Our Favorite TV Family Says about Life, Love, and the Pursuit of the Perfect Donut |publisher=Sourcebooks |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-4022-0655-9 |pages=25 |language=en}} Entertainment columnist Ray Richmond credited Patty's coming out as a significant milestone for the gay rights movement, as it proved that the movement was prominent enough to feature in an episode of a mainstream sitcom.

The gender and sexuality of the extraterrestrial characters Kang and Kodos has been portrayed in different ways throughout the series. They are typically depicted as male, but Kodos was identified as Kang's sister in the season 8 episode "Treehouse of Horror VII", and they were identified as a lesbian couple in the season 26 episode "Simpsorama". Producer Al Jean has described their gender as intentionally vague, with the show sometimes implying that they were androgynous. After the episode "Simpsorama", Jean confirmed that "they're a gay female couple" and that they "seemed to be married".{{cite magazine |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=2014-11-10 |title='Simpsons' producer on the surprising Kang and Kodos revelation, 'death' of Ralph Wiggum |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/11/10/simpsons-death-ralph-wiggum-kang-kodos/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-date=2020-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122024614/https://ew.com/article/2014/11/10/simpsons-death-ralph-wiggum-kang-kodos/ |url-status=live}}

Waylon Smithers was widely alluded to as gay in the early years of the show, and he was regularly depicted as being attracted to his boss, Mr. Burns.{{cite web |last=Kiehl |first=Stephen |date=2005-01-26 |title='The Simpsons' Prepares for Gay Outing |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2005-01-26-0501260136-story.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Baltimore Sun |archive-date=2021-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622194019/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2005-01-26-0501260136-story.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Owoseje |first=Toyin |date=2021-11-12 |title=Waylon Smithers finally finds love in 'The Simpsons' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/12/entertainment/simpsons-waylon-smithers-romance-intl-scli/index.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628113300/https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/12/entertainment/simpsons-waylon-smithers-romance-intl-scli/index.html |url-status=live}} Even before his character came out, he was generally recognized as a portrayal of a gay man on television,{{cite book |last=Henry |first=Matthew |url=https://archive.org/details/leavingspringfie00albe |title=Leaving Springfield: The Simpsons and the Possibility of Oppositional Culture |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year=2004 |isbn=9780814328491 |editor-last=Alberti |editor-first=John |pages=225–243 |chapter=Looking for Amanda Hugginkiss: Gay Life on The Simpsons}}{{Rp|page=234}} and his character's sexuality was among the earliest examples of a fandom debate on the internet.{{cite book |last=Ortved |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/simpsonsuncensor0000ortv |title=The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized History |publisher=Faber & Faber |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-86547-988-3 |language=en}}{{Rp|page=180}} This was alluded to in the season 7 episode "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular", in which host Troy McClure reads a fictional fan letter that asks "What is the real deal with Mr. Burns' assistant Smithers? You know what I'm talking about."{{cite book |last=Turner |first=Chris |url=https://archive.org/details/planetsimpsonhow0000turn |title=Planet Simpson: How A Cartoon Masterpiece Defined A Generation |publisher=Da Capo Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-306-81341-2 |pages=296 |language=en}}

Because of the regular jokes about Smithers' sexuality, he was one of the characters speculated to be gay after it was announced that a character would come out in 2005. Producer Al Jean described Smithers' sexual orientation for much of the show as "Burns-osexual", explaining that his devotion to Burns outweighs attraction to any particular gender. Allusions to Smithers' sexuality became more direct over the show's run, with Burns explicitly being recognized as a romantic interest for Smithers as early as the season 4 episode "Marge Gets a Job". It is implied more heavily in the season 6 episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts" when Smithers describes conservatism as incompatible with his "choice of lifestyle".{{Rp|page=239}} In the season 9 episode "Lisa the Skeptic", Smithers kisses Burns.{{cite web |last=Stroude |first=Will |date=2022-03-10 |title=The Simpsons' gayest-ever episodes and moments: A timeline |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/the-simpsons-gayest-ever-episodes-and-moments-a-timeline-304655/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Attitude |language=en-GB |archive-date=2023-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414231605/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/the-simpsons-gayest-ever-episodes-and-moments-a-timeline-304655/ |url-status=live}} The character came out in the season 27 episode "The Burns Cage" in 2016.{{cite web |last=McAfee |first=Melonyce |date=2015-09-28 |title=Smithers comes out on 'The Simpsons' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/09/28/entertainment/smithers-comes-out-simpsons-feat/index.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127115729/https://www.cnn.com/2015/09/28/entertainment/smithers-comes-out-simpsons-feat/index.html |url-status=live}} His romantic life was explored again in the season 33 episode "Portrait of a Lackey on Fire". The son of writer Rob LaZebnik was heavily involved in writing Smithers' romantic storyline, drawing from his own experiences as a gay man.{{cite web |last=Schwerdtfeger |first=Conner |date=2021-11-24 |title=How Simpsons Writer's Gay Son Helped Make Smithers' Love Story Authentic |url=https://screenrant.com/simpsons-smithers-love-story-gay-authentic-how-response/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805141748/https://screenrant.com/simpsons-smithers-love-story-gay-authentic-how-response/ |url-status=live}}

File:John Waters 1995.jpg voiced the character John in "Homer's Phobia".]]

File:Harvey Fierstein, author.jpg voiced the character Karl in "Simpson and Delilah".]]

• Michael De Graaf – A fashion designer who began a romantic relationship with Waylon Smithers in the season 33 episode "Portrait of a Lackey on Fire". De Graaf is voiced by Victor Garber.
• Dewey Largo – The music teacher at Springfield Elementary School. He was implied to be gay for much of the show's run. Rather than a formal coming out, the character gradually came to be recognized as an openly gay character.{{cite web |last=Giardina |first=Henry |date=2021-03-02 |title="Smithers & Beyond" Traces Every Queer Moment in "The Simpsons" |url=https://www.logotv.com/news/wveuwz/simpons-queer-moments-smithers-and-beyond |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005123723/https://www.logotv.com/news/wveuwz/simpons-queer-moments-smithers-and-beyond |archive-date=2022-10-05 |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Logo TV |language=en}} His sexual orientation was confirmed after he found a partner at Moe's Tavern while it was converted into a gay bar in the season 22 episode "Flaming Moe".{{cite web |last=Hochberger |first=Eric |date=2011-01-17 |title=The Simpsons Review: "Flaming Moe" |url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/01/the-simpsons-review-flaming-moe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908210334/https://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/01/the-simpsons-review-flaming-moe/ |archive-date=2015-09-08 |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=TV Fanatic |language=en}}
• Evelyn – Patty's girlfriend in the season 31 episode "Livin La Pura Vida". She befriends Homer after she and Patty get into an argument, which mends the relationship between her and Patty.{{cite web |last=Sokol |first=Tony |date=2019-11-18 |title=The Simpsons Season 31 Episode 7 Review: Livin' la Pura Vida |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-31-episode-7-review-livin-la-pura-vida/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205064630/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-simpsons-season-31-episode-7-review-livin-la-pura-vida/ |url-status=live}}
• Grady – A gay man who Homer lived with in the season 14 episode "Three Gays of the Condo". Grady sees Homer as a romantic interest and kisses him, causing Homer to leave.{{cite web |last=Keough |first=Yasmine Evelyn |date=2021-02-24 |title=LGBTQ History Through The Eyes Of The Simpsons |url=https://gamerant.com/the-simpsons-lgbtq-history/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Game Rant |language=en |archive-date=2022-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707181252/https://gamerant.com/the-simpsons-lgbtq-history/ |url-status=live}}
• John – An openly gay man who features in the season 8 episode "Homer's Phobia" in 1997. The episode follows Homer as he comes to accept John as a gay man, and as he allows his son Bart to deviate from traditionally masculine ideas.{{cite journal |last=Padva |first=Gilad |date=2008-07-09 |title=Educating The Simpsons: Teaching Queer Representations in Contemporary Visual Media |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19361650802162227 |journal=Journal of LGBT Youth |language=en |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=57–73 |doi=10.1080/19361650802162227 |s2cid=216116217 |issn=1936-1653 |access-date=2023-04-14 |archive-date=2022-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504091510/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19361650802162227 |url-status=live}} John is voiced by John Waters.
• Julio – A prominent figure within the show's LGBT community.{{cite web |last=Lavin |first=Will |date=2021-04-23 |title='The Simpsons' recasts gay character with gay actor Tony Rodriguez |url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-simpsons-recasts-gay-character-with-gay-actor-tony-rodriguez-2926587 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814135015/https://www.nme.com/news/the-simpsons-recasts-gay-character-with-gay-actor-tony-rodriguez-2926587 |archive-date=2022-08-14 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} The character was originally voiced by Hank Azaria, but the role was recast to Tony Rodriguez in 2021 in an effort to increase the diversity of the cast to better reflect the characters. Like the character of Julio, Rodriguez is an openly gay Cuban man.{{cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Hannah |date=2021-04-22 |title=The Simpsons recasts a gay character with a gay actor |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a36198808/the-simpsons-lgbtq-recast-julio-tony-rodriguez/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808053538/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a36198808/the-simpsons-lgbtq-recast-julio-tony-rodriguez/ |archive-date=2022-08-08 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}} Julio was briefly a romantic interest of Waylon Smithers.
• Grizzly Shawn – A bear, who debuted in the episode season 22 episode "Flaming Moe" as part of the new LGBT customers arriving at Moe's bar.
• Karl – Homer's assistant in the season 2 episode "Simpson and Delilah".{{cite magazine |last=Greenwell |first=Megan |date=August 21, 2014 |title=You've Never Watched The Simpsons Before? That's Unpossible! |url=https://slate.com/culture/2014/08/simpsons-marathon-and-app-a-simpsons-virgin-watches-the-series-for-the-first-time.html |url-status=live |website=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505162214/https://slate.com/culture/2014/08/simpsons-marathon-and-app-a-simpsons-virgin-watches-the-series-for-the-first-time.html |archive-date=2023-05-05 |access-date=April 30, 2023}} The character was voiced by openly gay actor Harvey Fierstein and was originally intended to look like him, but Fierstein insisted that the character look more traditionally handsome. The character was intended to return in the season 14 episode "Three Gays of the Condo", but Fierstein was unsatisfied with the script.{{Rp|pages=248–250}}
• Paula – A friend of Patty who becomes Marge's team partner as lumberjill in the season 31 episode "Marge the Lumberjill". Paula is voiced by the non-binary actor Asia Kate Dillon.{{cite web |title=The Simpsons allows Marge some sweetly forgettable self-esteem |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-allows-marge-some-sweetly-forgettable-self-1839763693 |website=The A.V. Club|first=Dennis|last=Perkins|access-date=November 22, 2019|date=November 10, 2019}}

• List of animated series with LGBTQ characters
• List of recurring The Simpsons characters
• LGBTQ themes in Western animation

{{Reflist}}{{The Simpsons}}{{LGBTQ fiction}}

Category:LGBTQ portrayals in mass media

Category:LGBTQ-related animation

Category:Disney and LGBTQ

{{DEFAULTSORT:LGBT_characters_in_The_Simpsons}}