List Of LGBT Characters In Soap Operas

This is a list of soap opera characters who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and the live action television and radio soap operas which feature them. Characters who are pansexual, asexual, non-binary and intersex are also included. Character orientation and gender identity can be portrayed on-screen, described in the dialogue or mentioned. Characters are listed by soap opera, and soap operas by country of origin. The history of LGBT characters that feature in soap operas begins in Australia, with Don Finlayson, portrayed by Joe Hasham, who appeared in the Australian television soap opera ''Number 96'' between 1972 and 1977.

Argentina

''Sos mi hombre''

''Sos mi hombre'' is an Argentine telenovela, which aired on El Trece between August 2012 and June 2013.
* Brenda Garay, portrayed by Gimena Accardi, is the wife of a boxer who develops an attraction towards her personal trainer, Marisa. They begin a relationship and eventually marry.
* Marisa, portrayed by Luciana González Costa, is a personal trainer who begins a relationship with Brenda. They eventually marry.

''Las Estrellas''

''Las Estrellas'' is an Argentine soap opera produced by Pol-Ka Producciones for El Trece between May 2017 and January 2018. Starring Celeste Cid, Marcela Kloosterboer, Natalie Pérez, Violeta Urtizberea, Justina Bustos, and Co-Starring, Esteban Lamothe, Gonzalo Valenzuela, Luciano Castro, Nicolás Riera, Nicolás Francella and Julieta Nair Calvo.
* Florencia Estrella, portrayed by Violeta Urtizberea, is one of the four Estrellas sisters and partial owner of the hotel Estrella. She and Jazmín become friends, later date, get married, and adopt two girls.
* Jazmín del Río, portrayed by Julieta Nair Calvo, is the hotel's sous-chef which Florencia partially owns. They later get married and adopt two girls.

Australia

''The Box''

'' The Box'' is an Australian soap opera produced by Crawford Productions and broadcast by The 0-10 Network, which aired between February 1974 and October 1977.
* Lee Whiteman, portrayed by Paul Karo, appeared in the serial between 1974 and 1976. Lee is a high-camp television producer who is generally well liked and respected by the other characters. He had two same-sex relationships during his time in the series. Whiteman was popular with the show's viewers.
* Vicki Stafford, portrayed by Judy Nunn, is a sardonic bisexual television reporter. She became a popular cult figure among the show's fans. In the premiere episode of the series she engaged in the first lesbian kiss seen on a soap opera anywhere in the world.

''Home and Away''

''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera broadcast by Seven Network, which began airing in January 1988.
* Shannon Reed, portrayed by Isla Fisher, appeared in the serial between 1994 and 1997.
* Mandy Thomas, portrayed by Rachel Blake, appeared in the serial between 1995 and 1997.
* Toni Jarvis, portrayed by Bridie Carter, appeared in the serial briefly in 1995. Toni is the girlfriend of writer, Mandy Thomas.
* Peter Fraser, portrayed by Helmut Bakaitis, appeared in the serial between 1997 and 1999. Peter is married but is revealed to be in an extramarital affair with a family friend.
* Desiree Upton, portrayed by Simone Robertson, appeared in the serial in 2000. Simone is a lesbian whom Gypsy Nash goes out with while exploring her sexuality.
* Stefan Hubert, portrayed by Damen Stephenson, appeared in the serial in 2000.
* Mel Davies, portrayed by Chris Scott, appeared in the serial in 2000.
* Christopher Fletcher , portrayed by Rian McLean, appeared in the serial in 2003. When Christopher returned to the serial, it is revealed he is gay. He tries to kiss a heterosexual Seb Miller, who rejects him but supports him, which leads to his departure.
* Sarah Lewis, portrayed by Luisa Hastings Edge, appeared in the serial in 2004. Sarah was in a relationship with a man, but in a flashback sequence it is revealed that she is also attracted to women.
* Eve Jacobsen, portrayed by Emily Perry, appeared in the serial between 2005 and 2006. Eve falls in love with a bisexual woman and dies trying to avenge the woman's death.
* Charlie McKinnon, portrayed by Matt Levett appeared in the serial in 2006. Charlie is a lonely teenager who becomes obsessed with Kim Hyde.
* Dean Silverman, portrayed by Gary Brun, appeared in the serial in 2006.
* Gareth Westwood, portrayed by Benjamin Ronczka, appeared in the serial in 2006.
* Freya Duric, portrayed by Sophie Hensser, appeared in the serial in 2009.
* Joey Collins, portrayed by Kate Bell, appeared in the serial in 2009.
* Charlie Buckton, portrayed by Esther Anderson, appeared in the serial between 2009 and 2013. Charlie is bisexual and had a relationship with Joey.
* Ty Anderson, portrayed by Darius Williams, appeared in the serial in 2018. Ty is a foster child who dates Raffy Morrison and later kisses a heterosexual Ryder Jackson, who rejects him but supports him which leads him to admit that he is gay.
* Alex Neilson, portrayed by Zoe Ventoura, appeared in the serial between 2019 and 2020. A nurse at the Northern Districts Hospital, Alex enters into a brief relationship with Willow Harris before leaving her when she receives a new job.
* Willow Harris, portrayed by Sarah Roberts, appeared in the serial between 2017 and 2021. Willow initially becomes confused about her feelings when she is kissed by Alex Neilson and later she enters into her first lesbian relationship.
* Allegra Freeman, portrayed by Laura McDonald, appeared in the serial in 2021.

''Neighbours''

''Neighbours'' was an Australian television soap opera, originally broadcast by Seven Network. The network dropped the show and it was picked up by Network Ten, which later aired it on Eleven. The serial began airing in March 1985. The show's last episode aired 28th of July 2022 in Australia
* Andrew MacKenzie, portrayed by John Morris in 1994, was a minor character and is the serial's first homosexual character.
* Alf Taylor, portrayed by Frank Bren, appeared in 1994 as Colin Taylor's twin brother.
* Andrew Watson, portrayed by Chris Uhlmann, appeared as a recurring character between 1995 and 1996.
* Gino Esposito, portrayed by Shane McNamara between 2000 and 2007, is a hairdresser who is in a relationship with Aaron Barkley.
* Aaron Barkley, portrayed by Stewart Adam, appeared as a recurring character between 2003 and 2004. He is introduced as the boyfriend of Gino.
* Lana Crawford, portrayed by Bridget Neval between 2004 and 2005 (with a guest appearance in 2020), is the serial's first lesbian character. She is initially closeted but later shares a kiss with Sky, which received criticism. About 15 years later they get married
* Sky Mangel, portrayed by Miranda Fryer from 1989 to 1991 and Stephanie McIntosh from 2003 to 2007 (with guest appearances in 2015 and 2020), was the show's first regular character to have a same-sex kiss (with Lana), which received controversy from conservative groups. About 15 years later they get married
* Donna Freedman, portrayed by Margot Robbie, appeared between 2008 and 2011. She is openly bisexual and kisses a heterosexual female character, Sunny Lee, as well as male characters Kyle and Zeke. She later has a relationship with Ringo, who she later marries, and also a brief affair with Andrew.
* Stephanie Scully, portrayed by Carla Bonner, appeared in the series between 1999 and 2010, making guest appearances in 2013 and returning full-time in 2015 until 2018. Steph is portrayed as heterosexual until her 2015 return, where she reveals that she had previously been in a relationship with a woman, Belinda Bell. After coming out, Steph engages in relationships with men and women, including Mark Brennan and Victoria Lamb.
* Chris Pappas, portrayed by James Mason, appeared in the series between 2010 and 2015 (with a guest appearance in 2022). He is initially confused about his feelings for his best friend, before coming out as gay. He is the first on-going gay male character in the serial. He has had relationships with Aidan, Hudson and Nate.
* Aidan Foster, portrayed by Bobby Morley between 2011 and 2013, was an openly gay nurse introduced as a love interest for Chris.
* Scotty Boland, portrayed by Rhys Uhlich, was a recurring character between 2012 and 2013. He is a masculine man who is initially depicted a heterosexual and in a relationship with Georgia Brooks although he later makes advances towards Chris.
* Hudson Walsh, portrayed by Remy Hii, appeared in the series between 2013 and 2014. Hudson was introduced as a love interest for Chris.
* Ellen Crabb, portrayed by Louise Crawford, appeared as a recurring character between 2013 and 2017. She is the boss of Mark Brennan at the police station and was married to Victoria Lamb.
* Nate Kinski, portrayed by Meyne Wyatt, appeared between 2014 and 2016. Nate is depicted as an openly gay ex-military soldier with PTSD. During his time on the show, Nate has relationships with Chris and Aaron.
* Aaron Brennan, portrayed by Matt Wilson, joined the serial in 2015. Aaron is the openly gay brother of Mark and Tyler who has been in relationships with Nate, Tom and David. Aaron and David's wedding was the first same sex wedding to be broadcast on Australian television.
* Tom Quill, portrayed by Kane Felsinger, was a recurring character between 2016 and 2017. He was openly gay and had a relationship with Aaron.
* Victoria Lamb, portrayed by Claudia Greenstone, appeared as a recurring character between 2016 and 2017. Victoria is a medical consultant, the partner of Ellen Crabb and mother of their daughter Josie. Claudia is involved in Steph's surrogacy storyline and eventually develops feelings for her.
* David Tanaka, portrayed by Takaya Honda, has appeared since 2016. Although initially closeted, David comes out to his brother and enters into a relationship with Aaron. He and Aaron later marry in an episode that aired shorty after same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia, making David and Aaron the first same sex couple to legally marry on Australian television.
* Rory Zemiro, portrayed by Ash Williams, was a recurring character between 2017 and 2018. He was Aaron Brennan's ex-boyfriend, whom he met when they joined the Rough Trade dance troupe.
* Mick Allsop, portrayed by Joel Creasey, has appeared since 2018. Mick is a superfan of the dance troupe Rough Trade and was thought to have been Aaron Brennan's stalker, but Mick revealed that he liked Rory and was having sex with him while Rory was still dating Aaron.
* Rafael Humphreys, portrayed by Ryan Thomas, appeared in 2018.
* Chloe Brennan, portrayed by April Rose Pengilly, appeared in March 2018. Chloe is the younger sister of Mark, Aaron, and Tyler. Chloe is bisexual, shown mostly to have relationships with men but has dated at least one woman: Mel, is mentioned. She also falls in love with Mark's fiancée, Elly which causes complications in the buildup to their wedding. Later Chloe has flings with both men and woman, but eventually decides to give one more chance to Elly, who returns to Ramsay Street from Sydney for the show's finale and declares her love for Chloe, saying she's proudly queer and has always loved her. They kiss
* Elly Conway, portrayed by Jodi Anasta, is originally portrayed as heterosexual woman, who is dating Aaron Brennan's brother Mark. Their sister Chloe has a huge crush on her and they share what-is-thought-to-be a platonic kiss. Elly doesn't think much about the kiss but later finds out the truth. Before Elly and Mark wedding however, Elly ends up having sex with Chloe when Mark cancels (but later postpones) the wedding due to his personal issues. When this comes to Mark's knowledge just after their wedding ceremony, he has hard time understanding it. Elly later has a one night stand with a guy and becomes pregnant. When Mark finds out it's nit his baby, he and Elly get divorced. Elly then has the baby and tries to get back together with Chloe. They go on dates but Elly being too nervous and scared about being other than straight, it gets them to get apart again and Elly leaves for Sydney. Before the show's finale however Elly comes back to Erinsborough and declares her love for Chloe, saying she's proudly queer and has always loved her. In the finale episode Chloe decides to give Elly one more chance and they get back together, sealing it with multiple kisses.
* Melissa Lohan, portrayed by Jacqui Purvis, appeared in 2019. Mel is Chloe's ex-girlfriend who arrives in Erinsborough when she is called by Chloe's brother Aaron, who believes she can distract Chloe from her feelings for Elly. Chloe and Mel re-ignite their old relationship but Mel is later dumped by Chloe arrested for purposefully trying to burn down a garage.
* Mackenzie Hargreaves, portrayed by Georgie Stone, is the serial's first transgender character.
* Nicolette Stone, portrayed by Charlotte Chimes is the lesbian daughter of character Jane Harris.
* Curtis Perkins, portrayed by Nathan Borg has appeared since 2021 as a teacher at Erinsborough High.
* Jesse Porter, portrayed by Cameron Robbie, appeared in 2021.
* Asher Nesmith, portrayed by Kathleen Ebbs, is the serial's first non-binary character.

''Number 96''

''Number 96'' is an Australian television soap opera broadcast by The 0-10 Network, which aired between March 1972 and August 1977.
* Don Finlayson, portrayed by Joe Hasham, appeared in the serial between 1972 and 1977. He is the first openly gay character on Australian TV. Don is a dependable lawyer who enjoys several gay relationships over the course of the series, the most enduring being with live-in boyfriend Dudley. Don is the first regular gay character on TV anywhere in the world.
* Dudley Butterfield, portrayed by Chard Hayward, appeared in the serial between 1973 and 1977. Dudley is a camp and flighty caterer and fan of old films, who is later revealed to be bisexual.
* Robyn Ross, portrayed by Carlotta, appeared in the serial in 1973. Robyn is revealed to be a transgender woman, which leads to her departure. She is the first trans character played by a trans actress anywhere on TV in the world.
* Bruce Taylor, portrayed by Paul Weingott, is Don's first boyfriend and identifies as bisexual as he is also having an affair with Maggie Cameron.
* Rob Forsyth, portrayed by John McTernan, was Don's final boyfriend.
* Simon Carr, portrayed by John Orcsik, appears in the TV series to be straight, but in the film version of Number 96, he comes out as gay and has an affair with Don.
* Marie Crowther, a guest character portrayed by Hazel Phillips is caught spying on flatmate Vera Elaine Lee in the shower which could make her the first lesbian character ever seen on TV. Sadly, no footage of her exists today.

''Prisoner''

''Prisoner'' is an Australian television soap opera produced by Grundy's and broadcast by Network Ten, which aired between February 1979 and December 1986.
* Franky Doyle, portrayed by Carol Burns, appeared in the serial in 1979. The first lesbian character to appear in the serial.
* Doreen Anderson, appeared in the serial from 1979–1984. Doreen has mostly had relationships with men, but she has also had attractions to Franky Doyle and Lynn Warner.
* Angela Jeffries, portrayed by Jeanie Drynan, appeared in the serial in 1979.
* Sharon Gilmour, portrayed by Margot Knight, appeared in the serial in 1980.
* Judy Bryant, portrayed by Betty Bobbitt, appeared in the serial from 1980–1985. She is the older girlfriend of Sharon Gilmour, she was also sexually attracted to hetrosexual prisoner Georgie Baxter and later fell in love with fellow inmate and friend Pixie Mason.
* Joan Ferguson, portrayed by Maggie Kirkpatrick, she appeared in the serial from 1982–1986. She is a corrupt prison officer who had a relationship with a female prisoner before being transferred to Wentworth Detention Centre. She tried to force herself on new prisoner Hannah Simpson and had even entered into a relationship with another officer, Terri Malone.
* Ray Proctor, portrayed by Alex Menglet, the camp prison cook, appeared in the serial from 1984–1985.
* Terri Malone, portrayed by Margot Knight, she appeared in the serial in 1985.

Brazil

''América''

'' América'' is a Brazilian telenovela broadcast by Rede Globo between March 2005 and November 2005.
* Junior, portrayed by Bruno Gagliasso, is the son of a powerful ranch owner, struggling to accept his homosexuality and agonizing over how to tell his family and friends about it.
* Zeca, portrayed by Erom Cordeiro, is bisexual and develops romantic feelings for Junior.

''Em Família''

''Em Família'' is a Brazilian primetime telenovela broadcast by Rede Globo, which aired between February 2014 and July 2014.
* Marina Meirelles, portrayed by Tainá Müller, is a photographer who forms an attraction to Clara, who later leaves her husband for Clara. They eventually marry.
* Clara Fernandes, portrayed by Giovanna Antonelli, is a married housewife who leaves her husband to form a relationship with Marina. They eventually marry.
* Vanessa, portrayed by Maria Eduarda, is the former girlfriend of Marina, who she has unrequited feelings for. Vanessa later dates Flávia.
* Flávia Campos, portrayed by Luiza Moraes, is the assistant to Marina, who dates Vanessa.

''Malhação: Viva a Diferença''

''Malhação'' a Brazilian soap opera broadcast by Rede Globo, which has aired since April 1995.
* Heloísa Gutierrez (Lica), portrayed by Manoela Aliperti, is initially portrayed as compulsory heterosexual. She has many relationships with men, but falls in love for women. She later comes out as lesbian (in original spin-off series As Five).
* Samantha Lambertini portrayed by Giovanna Grigio, is a bisexual who has a close friendship with Lica, which develops into a relationship after they admit their feelings.
* Gabriel Romano, portrayed by Luis Galves, is gay.
* Guto, portrayed by Bruno Gadiol, was originally portrayed as heterosexual confused until, he later comes out as gay in original spin-off series ''As Five''.

Canada

''Paradise Falls''

''Paradise Falls'' is a Canadian soap opera broadcast by Showcase, which began airing in June 2001 and ceased airing in September 2008.
* Nick Braga, portrayed by Cameron Graham, is the closeted homosexual grandson of the local mayor. He was engaged to a woman before coming out.
* Trish Simpkin, portrayed by Michelle Latimer, is a bisexual goth teen.

Finland

''Rantabaari''

'' Rantabaari (Beach bar)'' is a Finnish daily soap opera broadcast by Sub, which has aired since September 2019.
* Milo Vinberg, portrayed by Eric Barco, is a gay man who begins a secret relationship with his professor, who is married.
* Olivia Pouru, portrayed by Sara Ritala, is a sapphic DJ who dates multiple different women until meeting a Tinder user under a username "Kaarina". Their relationship seems to go well first but then "Kaarina" seemingly disappears. Olivia finds a new woman named "Rosa". Later she finds out that "Rosa" is really her ex-boyfriend Timi who rapes her after revealing he is "Rosa". Later, Olivia and "Kaarina" (Maria Loikala) fall in love.
* Sauli Jokelainen, portrayed by Heikki Slåen, is a university professor who cheats on his wife with his student Milo Vinberg (Eric Barco).
* Pinja Kaarina Koski, portrayed by Maria Loikala, is one of Olivia Pouru's (Sara Ritala) Tinder (where she uses her middle name) matches. They fall in love.
* Salem Khaled, portrayed by Rami Farooq is a foreign asylum seeker (because of his sexual orientation) who falls in love with Milo Vinberg and tells him that he has a wife whom he was forced to marry to hide the fact that he is gay.
* Konsta Syrjä, portrayed by Kaarlo Viheriävaara was a gay teenager who had relationship with Milo Vinberg 10 years prior to third season (aired at 2021). He committed suicide because of their break-up which leads his sister to try murder Milo.
* Luukas Eerola, portrayed by Tatu Arminen is a bisexual chef who likes having threesomes with his girlfriend, Jessi Heino (Anna Tavaila) and different men. Luukas and Jessi both develop feelings towards one of their flings, Jaakko Järviaho and they start polyamoric relationsihp.
* Jaakko Järviaho, portrayed by Joonas B. Snellman, is one of Luukas Eerola and Jessi Heino's one-time stands who becomes infatuated with them. The trio enter into relationship and move to Panama together.

''Salatut elämät''

''Salatut elämät'' is a Finnish daily soap opera broadcast by MTV3, which has aired since January 1999.
* Kalle Laitela, portrayed by Pete Lattu, is originally a closeted (now openly) homosexual, who struggles to seek acceptance. In 2001 Kalle and his then partner, Kuisma Savolainen shared first ever same-sex kiss seen in Finnish television. He is now engaged to Petri Simola.
* Harri Järvi, portrayed by Mikko Leskelä, is a gay gym worker who helped Kalle Laitela with accepting Kalle's homosexuality and coming out.
* Valtteri Elovirta, portrayed first by Matti Ristinen (2000) and then Rami Rusinen (2012, 2013) was Kalle Laitela's boyfriend who only wanted sex. Years later they met again and Valtteri raped Kalle.
* Outi, portrayed by Hanna Koistinen, was a lesbian representative wife of Valtteri Elovirta who (with her female partner) only wanted to have a baby with Valtteri. She later helped Kalle Laitela to get together with Valtteri.
* Niko Bergman, portrayed by Tero Autero, was a photographer who dated Kalle Laitela for a while until he realized that Kalle was in love with his best friend Saku Salin. Niko also told Saku about the matter, which caused a dispute between Kalle and Saku.
* Repe Suorsa, portrayed by Jan Fyhr, was an acquaintance of Kalle Laitela who paid Kalle money for the nights they spent together.
* Kuisma Savolainen, portrayed by Antero Vartia, was a partner of Kalle Laitela whom he met at the army when Kalle was completing his military service. They were unofficially wed by a shaman in Lapland (because same sex marriage wasn't legally possible in Finland back in the beginning of 21st century) and moved to Brazil together. They later break up due Kalle cheating on Kuisma and returning to Finland.
* Heli Sievinen, portrayed by Sannamaija Pekkarinen, is dating her boyfriend Sauli but is unable to have sex with him not knowing why. After kissing her female teacher Teresa, she realizes that she prefers girls and they begin to date.
* Teresa Ala-Uotila, portrayed by Sanna June-Hyde, is a lesbian teacher who develops feelings for Heli and they start to date. Teresa breaks up with her to be with her ex-girlfriend Kirsi.
* Sami Pajola, portrayed by Tommi Saarinen, was Heli Sievinen's school friend. Sami was gay though Heli first thought Sami had a crush on her.
* Kirsi Petäjä, portrayed by Minna Rimpilä, is a ex-girlfriend of Teresa Ala-Uotila whom she broke up with when she moved to London. She and Teresa later get back together.
* Taru Saaristo, portrayed by Minna Turunen is a lesbian teacher who develops feelings for her student Heli and they start to date. They move to Paris together but break up when Heli falls in love with Iiris Kaukovaara.
* Tiina Mäki, portrayed by Hanna Lekander, studied at the same university where Taru Saaristo was working as a teacher. Taru was dating Tiina for a while until she left her because of Heli Sievinen. Tiina wanted to ruin Taru's relationship with Heli without succeeding in her plan.
* Leo Sievinen, portrayed by Jarmo Mäkinen is a man who's living in Nurmes

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