Ten Best Gay and Bisexual Science Fiction Characters

4. The Midnighter, aka Lucas Trent (The Authority; comics)

This trenchcoat-wearing star of Stormwatch, The Authority, as well as his own eponymous series, has been saving the comic book universe for over ten years, albeit at times in fairly grim and violent fashion. As one of the key team members of superhero team The Authority, The Midnighter is a key part of a group of heroes charged with saving the Earth from galactic-level threats.

The Midnighter wins points in forgoing the colorful tights in favor of rocking a trenchcoated, Batmanesque look. In addition to the more common enhanced strength, speed, senses, reflexes, and immune system, our hero also sports a second heart and the ability to determine how a fight will end by calculating over a million possible combat scenarios in his head.

While there are currently several GLBT comic book superheroes, their gayness is often handled in a coy manner, inferring their sexuality in a playful manner that gets played off as an in-joke (see repeated examples in The Young Avengers’ Hulkling and Wiccan). Compared to these types of characters, The Midnighter is noteworthy because his gay identity couldn’t possibly be further from subtle. The very out gay hero is married to team member Apollo, and the pair refreshingly engage in sometimes graphic sexual dialogue, something you wouldn’t find in the “mainstream” pages of Marvel and DC comics.

We left equally out-and-proud hubby Apollo off the list because of his less original character. The blond Superman in need of a haircut is somewhat less interesting than the more morally questionable Midnighter; he’s more of a do-gooder who serves as Midnighter’s moral center – literally his better half.

Character Rating: 8/10

Significance Rating: 7/10

Originality Rating : 7/10

3. Dr. Frank-N-Furter (The Rocky Horror Picture Show)

In the space of 98 minutes, the sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania teaches us a thing or two about living in the moment, gender fluidity, and how to make a man in seven days. Sure, he’s also a psychotic alien cannibal bent on… well, we’re not really sure what exactly because he spends all his time sleeping with his guests and giving them makeovers.

But as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Tim Curry was nothing short of magnificent in his characterization of the strangely loveable homicidal lunatic. Perhaps what most won us over were his last moments, encompassing a bisexual orgy in a swimming pool under clouds of dry ice, during which he tells us, “Give yourself over to absolute pleasure/ Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh / erotic nightmares beyond any measure / and sensual daydreams to treasure forever / Can't you just see it? / Don't dream it, be it.”

Released in 1975, both Rocky Horror and Frank-N-Furter were embraced for their in-your-face sexuality, giving fans an on-screen hero who wasn’t afraid to be out and proud, and wasn’t the punchline to an ongoing series of homophobic gags. Indeed, the role was such a breakthrough that the film itself placed number one on our list of The Twenty Most Groundbreaking Gay Films.

Character Rating: 9/10

Significance Rating: 7/10

Originality Rating : 10/10