10 Most Important Modern LGBT+ TV Characters
9. Bill Potts - Doctor Who
Typically, British people are quieter than Americans. When it comes to LGBT+ representation, that often means that American shows do this in a much bigger way, but also means that anti LGBT+ rhetoric is louder in the States too.
By this metric, Bill Potts is the most quintessentially British LGBT+ character in television. Her sexuality is just... there. It’s never particularly mentioned or dwelled upon, and that’s why she’s so important.
The show never winks or implies it, Bill is clearly a lesbian. But it also doesn’t seek to make her an icon for the discrimination lesbians (especially lesbians of colour) face. Something which, in this specific instance, works brilliantly.
There are so few queer roles on TV in general that, aside from people shouting ‘SJW’ and begging you to stop being political and to think of the children, as long as the character is well written, you’re onto a winner.
Several characters here have key arcs regarding their sexuality, and that’s important when it comes to educating people. However, queer people, like straight people, have a lot more going on in their lives.
The fact Bill can be a gay woman without it interfering with her time travelling shows the extent of positive normalisation.