Top 10 Lesbian TV Couples

“Queer as Folk” was one of the very first TV shows to depict LGBTQ+ people in a way that was neither a condemnation or a joke. It paved the way for a great deal of other shows to begin incorporating queer characters into their stories, and its legacy still lives on today. It also introduced us to Mel and Lindsay, a couple who showed us the ups and downs of the reality of being two women in a committed, long term relationship. From raising a family, to dealing with the biological fathers of their children, to being persecuted for their sexuality, these two show us that true love will always prevail.  

In one of the longest airing medical dramas on television, there is no shortage of couples getting together, breaking up and getting back together again. But we have to admit that Calzona has by far been one of our favorites. No one can forget their first kiss in the bathroom at Joe’s, or the first time they said “I love you”. While it wasn’t always the easiest road, we like to think that the journey was special and memorable, and these two will always have a place in our hearts.  

If you’ve never seen “Orphan Black” you are missing out on some great content, not least of which is the beautiful relationship between Cosima and Delphine. After meeting at the university where Cosima was doing her Ph.D., these two immediately had some intense chemistry. We knew we were in for the long haul when they started making crazy science together. Between Cosima’s respiratory illness, and Delphine’s secrets, the two of them haven’t always had an easy run of things, but after everything they’ve been through, we know their love is true, and strong enough to hold against whatever the world throws at them.  

When we first met Nomi Marks and her kickass girlfriend Amanita in the Wachowski’s stunning Netflix show, we were struck by the frank and honest portrayal of a cisgender and trans woman in love. These two are the epitome of #relationshipgoals. They hold no secrets from one another, are a powerhouse in the world of hacktivists, and have on occasion saved each other from evil secret organisations. Their relationship is one of the healthiest and strongest we’ve ever seen, and we thank the Wachowskis every day for bringing them into our lives and showing the positive side of “alternative” relationship dynamics.  

The world has never looked more terrifying than in Charlie Brooker’s “Black Mirror”, an anthology series mapping out various scenarios in humanity’s near future where technology can either be an asset...or a catastrophe. In one of the show’s few episodes that aren’t entirely gloomy, we’re introduced to Kelly and Yorkie. What follows is one of the most touching episodes of television to have ever been created. Kelly and Yorkie are drawn to each other, and we find out that although San Junipero is a simulated world, they can’t stop falling in love. They bring out the bravery andhonesty in one another, and the ending of this episode makes us cry every single time.  

A truly iconic couple, these two didn’t even meet until the show’s fourth season, when Willow attends a Wiccan meeting in college. Due to TV censorship rules at the time, their relationship was mostly alluded to through their use of magic, but this did not at all hinder the sensuality that each of the actresses brought to the screen. While we’re never going to forgive Joss Whedon for the stray bullet that hit Tara and caused her death, we are thankful for the existence of this couple as one of the earliest representations of female queerness on a mainstream television show.  

What happens when two best friends fall in love? “The L Word”, a pioneer in TV for LGBTQ+ characters, explores just one possibility when Alice and Dana, long time friends, recognise their attraction to one another. After deciding that they can’t act on it, and laying down some ground rules (like never being alone together) they soon realise that they just can’t fight their feelings. Even though it caused the breakup of an engagement and permanently altered the course of their lives, we had never been so happy to see a couple get together.  

#3 Alex Vause & Piper Chapman … “Orange is the New Black” (2013-)

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It might seem unbelievable, but when Piper ended up at Litchfield penitentiary where and was reunited with her ex-girlfriend, Alex, we were rooting for them right away. Despite Piper having a fiancé, and despite Alex being the reason she’s in prison in the first place, the two work our surprisingly well. Alex isn’t afraid to confront Piper and call out her behaviour, but we think that Piper needs her in her life. As for Alex, she acts tough as nails, but when she lets her guard down with Piper, we realise that she needs Piper and much as Piper needs her.  

#2: Santana Lopez & Brittany S. Pearce … “Glee” (2009-15)

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“Glee” might have had its troubles over its six seasons, but no one will disagree that the one thing they got right was Brittana. Despite each of them starting out as minor characters, their following grew until they ranked among the most popular figures - and couples - on the show. An important step in visibility, Santana’s story about coming to terms with her feelings is one of the most nuanced arcs on the show, and we’ll never be able to listen to Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” without tearing up ever again. When these two bffs got together, we knew that despite any hiccups in their relationship, they were in it for the long haul.   Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honourable mentions:   Alex Danvers & Maggie Sawyer “Supergirl” (2015-)   Bo Dennis & Lauren Lewis “Lost Girl” (2010-16)   Lexa kom Trikru & Clarke Griffin “The 100” (2014-)  

With television’s long history of killing off lesbian and bisexual women, it has never been a more important time for women who love women to be given positive representation. With its puntastic title, “The Fosters” follows a married couple, Stef and Lena, who raise foster children. They might not always see eye to eye about everything, but they are always able to move their poroblems. Their marriage is a strong, compassionate one, with plenty of love to go around. Despite hitting roadblocks, these two are determined to make their family work, and are a great example of a healthy, happy relationship that we should all aspire to emulate- no matter what our sexual orientation.