Supportive Environments for LGBTQ Characters

There is some homophobia in this, but it largely stems from a place of internalized homophobia directed outward, and most of that gets addressed.  Nearly every main character is bi, gay, or genuinely questioning their sexuality, and they're supportive of each other once they get over their internalized issues.  When characters come out, they're typically received with a "wtf" look, followed up with a "well, okay then" attitude on the part of the person they're telling.  When the main characters come out to their parents, one parent is quickly accepting, while the other takes a few scenes to come around but eventually supports them as well. 

• There is a fujoshi in this, but she's a talking dog for most of the series and makes limited fetish-y comments, so that made it easier to bear.  (Most of her comments are limited to the recaps in the beginning of each episode.) 
• One thing that might be uncomfy for trans viewers is that one FL, Rin, insists on misgendering and referring to Yashiro with a girl's name while he's body swapped.  She knows he identifies as a boy and has a boy's name, but *she* wants him to be a girl, so she continues treating him as such.  (He never corrects her about this, though he tells someone else he's basically experiencing dysphoria over having to live as a girl.)

No overt homophobia, but the MLs do feel the need to keep their relationship a secret.  (The exception to the overt homophobia is that in the flashbacks, there are two instances where their high school friends make jokes about the MLs liking each other, with the implication that it would be bad if they actually did like each other.  These scenes are brief.)

Mild homophobia (the villain makes some homophobic comments and vaguely threatens blackmail, but this is limited to a few scenes). No homophobia from other characters, but the leads feel the need to stay closeted. (Although their decision to stay closeted isn't obvious in the English subtitles, since the translators chose to use gendered pronouns whenever the MLs would discuss their crushes with others. My understanding is that in Korean, however, there aren't gender-specific pronouns, so it wouldn't be obvious to others that they were talking about a man).

This title is not light on the homophobia, but the homophobia is mostly implicit as the characters make an effort to live "normal" lives.  The characters remain closeted except for coming out to family members.  Of these, four are immediately supportive, one eventually comes around, and one is about to become the ex-wife of one of the MLs, so she's not terribly happy but she doesn't say anything too hateful, either.

No homophobia onscreen. One ML is openly gay and accepted by everyone he knows, though it's mentioned that he's somewhat estranged from his family because of his orientation. There's one fujoshi who shows up every now and then, but the main characters acknowledge her behavior as annoying. Otherwise, everyone else is *too* supportive - they assume these two men who platonically love each other and live together must be a couple, which they have no problems with. (However, a lot of people do address the main leads as "Mr." and "Mrs.," showing they've transposed their heteronormative framework onto what they assume to be a gay relationship. The main characters often object to being addressed this way, but it happens so often that sometimes they just let it slide.)

Some realistic homophobia, especially internalized, but both main characters have supportive family members and friends.

No homophobia.  The couple doesn't come out, but their friends seem to know anyway and have a short, supportive conversation about it with each other.

No homophobia, but the characters are closeted. They never come out or label their relationship to Minoru's father and brother, but the two are accepting anyway.

Every character onscreen is a queer woman, and they all try to support each other (although one outs another in a way that is meant to be well-meaning).  One character does struggle with the tensions of being closeted and fear of lesbophobia, but no lesbophobia is shown onscreen.

The couple isn't out to many people but of the two people who do know, one is bisexual and the other is a little blank but later seems supportive.  Also there's very little internalized homophobia.  Basically homophobia doesn't show up much in this series.

Nearly all the characters onscreen are queer, and there is no homophobia.

No homophobia other than some possible internalized homophobia

The straight ML starts the movie as a raging homophobe but goes on a journey to become an ally. By the end, the gay ML receives total acceptance from his family and the straight ML, but he does go through realistic homophobia to get there.

One ML has trauma due to a homophobic, violent father (shown in two scenes). Otherwise, no homophobia. The couple doesn't come out publicly, but one friend figures it out early on and advises one ML on how to win the other.

There is very realistic homophobia in this, so be warned. But the MLs manage to find an accepting village (after everyone gets over it), and end the story in a supportive environment.

The mildest of homophobia in like two scenes. Otherwise some internalized homophobia. The characters remain closeted and hide their relationship.

Homophobia and transphobia just...don't exist in these characters' social circle.  There's multiple queer men and one trans woman, and everyone acts like it's normal.  No one struggles with their sexuality or needs to do a coming out, because literally no one cares if someone's new partner is a different gender from their previous partner. The characters do attend a Pride protest and discuss discrimination in wider society (and the whole sequence is beautiful), but no one personally encounters any bigotry onscreen.

Every character onscreen is a queer woman (and they all support each other), so there's no onscreen homophobia.  They do, however, spend a lot of time talking about the tensions of being closeted vs. being out, and they mention a couple instances of past homophobia they've encountered.

The only homophobia is from the villain. The MLs have supportive family and friends and are open about their relationship. They also have a lesbian couple as their good friends.

The characters are queer men and women, a third gender person, & some straight allies. There's very little homophobia or transphobia. There is a small bullying plot line, in which two of the boys are said to "not be good enough" for their popular partners. (No one says anything overtly homophobic, but it's implied. What's actually said is that the boys aren't hot enough.) The parents of the main couple are totally supportive (though the show does make you worried about homophobia at first). The couples are all able to be affectionate in public with no backlash from anyone. 

The third gender character, Daisy, has a story line doesn't come across very well in the English subtitles, both due to Thai having a lot of gender markers that don't translate over into English and to the subbers' unfamiliarity with transness. (The subtitles label Daisy a trans woman but flip flop between "he" & "she" pronouns for Daisy.) This analysis of the original dialogue by a queer speaker of Thai is helpful in understanding what's actually happening (& lets us know that Daisy's love interest is careful to use gender-affirming language). In the story, Daisy overhears transphobic comments offscreen, which lead to Daisy trying to go back into the closet. This is resolved a bit too easily, since Daisy is in the third couple & doesn't get much screen time, but the resolution is careful to affirm Daisy's gender. 

I do need to mention that although Daisy is mostly treated with respect, it seems that Som misgenders Daisy at points (she'll call Daisy "dude" and Daisy will reply, "I'm Daisy!"). Also, there are some background transfeminine characters who are stereotypical & wear clownish makeup, which feels disrespectful. However, everyone is respectful to them and genders them correctly.

Just wlw going about their daily lives falling/being in love while encountering no homophobia (save one comment in ep. 11).

No homophobia.  The couple doesn't come out, but one ML's friends try to tell him in a roundabout way that they know what's going on and that they support him.

No homophobia

The film centers on a group of trans women and trans feminine people who have their own tight-knit community with each other. There's some background transphobia and homophobia, but the main environment is supportive. (It does touch on how trans people are fetishized by sex tourists, and there's a graphic sex scene with a client involving excrement.)

No homophobia

No homophobia

Very little homophobia, even with characters who are openly gay in public. On the other hand, the show is trying to be trans-supportive but doesn't quite know how to do it correctly. Its heart is in the right place, but it make some missteps.  Spoilers: There is an intersex main character who is functionally trans (he doesn't use trans language to identify himself, but he was afab and transitioned to living as a boy after the third grade). He is forced to out himself to one person, and he asks her not to reveal his identity to anyone else. Well, it turns out he eventually gets outed to ALL the main and supporting characters.  The show frames this as the other characters "deserving to know" because they knew him before he transitioned.  Everyone treats him mostly supportively (some need a little time to work through it).  In reality, you should NEVER out a trans or intersex person without their consent.  Also, he's very clear about how he identifies and what name he wants to be called, but when he's not present, some of these characters revert to referring to him by his deadname and the wrong pronouns.  That's not okay, either.  Basically this show has the best, most supportive treatment of a trans main character I've seen in an Asian drama, and it meant well, but we still have a ways to go.

Very limited homophobia. Almost all the supporting straight characters are supportive of not only gay men but also third gender people and lesbians.  It should be noted that the supportive mom thinks it would be wise to fake out her son by pretending to be homophobic at first, but that only lasts for one scene, and then she gives her blessing.

The couple is only out to their friends, who are all either also queer or supportive.  One ML's parent seems like she would be supportive, while the other ML's parents seem like they would be against the relationship, but the boys never come out to them.  No homophobia.

No homophobia.  All the main and supporting characters are gay.  Takes place entirely within the gay districts of Seoul, so no one has anything to say even about one flamboyantly gay ML who talks loudly about his orientation in public.

Everyone with a speaking role is a lesbian except for two people (one of which is a creepy guy who catfishes a lesbian, but he's quickly run off.  There's no other homophobia.).

One character, whom we later find out is dealing with internalized homophobia, makes some heteronormative statements (but seems to work through it by the end).  Otherwise, it's a supportive environment.

A few heteronormative comments, but once the characters making them realize they're dealing with a queer boy, they reverse course and are totally fine with him not being straight. Otherwise no homophobia.

Literally everyone (minus one person) who learns about the main characters' sexuality and relationship is not only accepting but also super supportive. All the main boys' friends are totally accepting. And the one person who is the exception (a teacher) is only around for one episode, and by the end of that episode, he's done enough thinking to realize he needs to back off on the homophobia.

No homophobia whatsoever.  Everyone who finds out about the gay relationship is neutral or supportive.

The two gay couples only come out to other members of the LGBTQ community and one very supportive ally.  Their environment is pretty light on the homophobia, but they do choose to stay mostly closeted.

Almost no homophobia. (It's funny because nearly all their friends and family still have a strong reaction against the ML's relationship, but instead of "You're dating a MAN?!?", it's "You're dating our RIVAL?!?")  The MLs are able to show affection openly in public with no homophobia from others.

Homophobia does not exist in this universe. Neither does the need to come out. The gender of the person someone is dating literally matters to no one, whether a couple is doing PDA in public, friends are finding out their friend is in love with someone who's a different gender from his last crush, or disapproving parents are listing off reasons they don't approve of a relationship.

No homophobia

The boys are only (eventually) out to two people, one of whom has long known and been supportive of it since the beginning.  The other takes a minute to wrap his head around the idea that his cool friend is attracted to a male dork, but he's not particularly homophobic about it.  There is a cringey side scene of two boys playing the pocky game while a group of girls squeal over them.

No homophobia.  There's only three characters: two sapphic FLs and a secondary FL who's supportive of their budding relationship.

No homophobia, and they even visit what appears to be a lesbian nightclub!

Seven-minute short film with no homophobia

It's only four minutes long, but there's no homophobia in those four minutes!

No homophobia whatsoever

No homophobia; characters are able to be openly together.

The MLs are conscious that they live in a homophobic society and are careful not to be public about their relationship; however, everyone who finds out about them is supportive. No actual homophobia is shown.

Very little homophobia

No homophobia, and the main character has gay friends he can talk to about his love life.

No homophobia, with one FL being an out lesbian whose identity is supported by those around her.

No homophobia (it's alluded to as a possible outcome if the characters take a certain action, however).

Very little homophobia

Another short film, but five homophobia-free minutes!

No homophobia

Some homophobia, and the main couple feels the need to stay closeted, but they're surrounded by supportive friends (which they find out as they come out to them).

There is a little homophobia (mostly internalized and in joking form from a supporting character), but the only person the MLs come out to is one of their moms, who is immediately accepting and supportive.

No homophobia

No homophobia, plus supportive friends

Very little homophobia and transphobia, all of which is balanced out by lots of support for LGBTQ+ people and relationships (including polyamorous ones). This is one of the rare shows in which trans people aren't left behind in the acceptance - the show respectfully features a trans woman who is not a punchline or sensationalized, and who is accepted and supported by the two supporting characters that are part of her story.

The characters are able to be openly gay and affectionate in public with only supportive or neutral reactions from literally everyone.  There's also a third gender character who is mostly accepted by everyone (after a few initial weird looks in one scene).

No homophobia, and everyone who comments about the gay relationship is supportive.  One offhand fujoshi comment.

No homophobia in addition to supportive family and friends. The MLs are able to openly date each other and be affectionate in public.

No homophobia

There IS homophobia in this, so tread lightly, but I'm adding because it ends with everyone close to the MLs supporting their relationship.  (The mother has an unrealistically quick change of mind and goes from trying to break up their relationship one minute to declaring her support the next minute.)

Honestly, I debated adding this, because it's only supportive for gay people, not trans people.  But none of the main or supporting characters are trans, so all the gay/bi men get to be out and fully supported or just neutrally accepted, including in public.  There are even older queer uncles that one of the MLs can go to for advice. 

The transphobia is limited to about three scenes.  In one, all of Mork's coworkers refuse to serve a seemingly kathoey customer (Mork gets up to serve them, and this is never addressed again.).  The other two scenes relate to Mork's friend having a meltdown over finding out his love interest is trans.  (Thankfully, she's not onscreen to see/hear this.)  He consistently misgenders her throughout this meltdown, and Mork joins him in this by telling him that gender doesn't matter in love, so his friend shouldn't care if his love interest is a "man."  (In reality, Mork's friend is a straight man who likes a woman, so nothing about his sexuality has changed, and it's shitty to misgender her.)  Mork's friend does eventually decide to keep pursuing the trans woman but continues to think of her as the wrong gender.  She never gets a speaking role, so we don't know how she'll feel about this when she finds out.

I just wish that the queer imagination of public gay acceptance in this series extended to trans acceptance as well! :'(

No homophobia except for one veiled remark (but also the MLs are totally closeted).

No onscreen homophobia, though the MLs don't feel comfortable coming out at work.  Both MLs identify as gay and are out to trusted individuals.  One ML in particular is shown being involved in an LGBTQ group in college, having a lesbian bestie, and talking about his gay relationship to her and another supportive female friend who's either an ally or also a member of the community.

Every time someone comes out, they receive a supportive or neutral reaction.  One ML also has all supportive family members (of those who appear onscreen).  No overt homophobia, but there is one scene of peers pushing heteronormativity on one ML (like "why haven't you gotten married yet?") and a fujoshi shows up for one episode.

Mild, realistic homophobia with a lot of internalized homophobia, but the characters who do find out about the gay MLs are supportive after taking a day to adjust.

No homophobia

No homophobia. Also a supportive best friend.

No homophobia

No homophobia in this or both of its sequels.

No homophobia

No homophobia

Literally everyone onscreen is gay.

The gay ML is accepted from the beginning by nearly everyone, including his sister. The only exception is his mother, who is homophobic for awhile but comes around in the end to be totally supportive of him and his relationship.

Okay so this is censored but like...not really in some parts (there's a confession and the ending is undeniably gay). One ML's mother and the other ML's female friend are immediately supportive. The other ML's mother is initially against the relationship but comes around to offer her support as well. (Spoiler: The immediately supportive mother convinces the unsupportive mother to change her stance by meeting with her and telling her their sons are happier and better together, which I really enjoyed seeing.)

(Each season is standalone.) No homophobia, and the couple in the first episode is able to affectionate in public.

Some homophobia, but it's mostly queer women, an ally, and a gay guy moving through the world and supporting each other.  There is a homophobia parent who becomes supportive by the end of the film.

Mild internalized homophobia from a supporting character. Otherwise no homophobia, and one ML has a supportive best friend to whom he can vent about his love life.

No overt homophobia (all supporting characters are either also queer or supportive).  However, there is a bit of fetishizing going on - the campus ships the MLs together, even though everyone knows they're not together and one is known as a straight man with a girlfriend.  During this period, their friends also tease them about who would be the top and who would be the bottom in their hypothetical relationship.

Some mild homophobia but everyone's accepting by the end.

One ML comes out and is emphatically supported by his mother and best friends.  The other comes out to his girlfriend at the time and is also supported.  No homophobia other than a little internalized homophobia.

(This only applies to the first season, since I didn't watch the rest.)  All the MLs' friends are either also gay or allies (the two straight friends do have a "WTF" expression upon immediately hearing about the new relationship, but this could also be chalked up to surprise that a ML who hated the other is suddenly dating him. Their first words about it are supportive, though).  One ML has all supportive relatives.  It's implied that the other ML's father is not supportive, but the scene cuts before we see his father's reaction to the news that his son is dating a man (I'm sure that comes up in the next season).  The two MLs are also shown cuddling and kissing in public, and no one has a negative reaction to them.

Nearly everyone is accepting of homosexuality, and those who aren't are quickly called out by others.  Both families are totally supportive.  There is discussion about how the lack of marriage equality in their country impacts the main characters.

When the FL and a SFL begin dating, there are a few disgruntled men who are upset the SFL didn't choose them, but they're not lesbophobic about it.  There is no lesbophobia at all, and everyone else reacts neutrally.

No homophobia

Characters are able to be openly gay while experiencing no homophobia or fetishization.

No homophobia, several characters are openly queer in public.

All the gay characters are closeted and only come out to each other. No homophobia.

Every character onscreen is a queer woman, so no homophobia.

There is some homophobia, but by the end all the family and friends have worked through it to be accepting and supportive of the main characters.  There is a gay uncle who is estranged from his father due to homophobia, but he also mentions at the end that their relationship is improving (all this is mentioned but not shown).

A mixed bag in that the kathoeys are the stereotypical funny sidekicks being laughed *at*, not *with,* although they're mostly correctly gendered. The straight friends are also way over invested in getting their friend to admit he's gay. However, the coming out scene is very touching, and they all give him a group hug, and wouldn't we all like that?  Also, the mom is supportive without her son ever having to come out to her, and he's very touched when she makes her support known.

No homophobia, and the gay characters are able to be affectionate in public.

No homophobia because all the characters are gay.

No homophobia

No homophobia (plus a massive Pride flag hanging in the living room lol)

No homophobia

No homophobia because apparently everyone is a lesbian.