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{{about|the Republic of Finland}}
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{{short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name    = Republic of Finland
| common_name                = Finland
| native_name                = {{ubl|{{native name|fi|Suomen tasavalta}}|{{native name|sv|Republiken Finland}}}}
| image_flag                = Flag of Finland.svg
| image_coat                = Coat of arms of Finland.svg
| national_anthem                = <br />{{native name|fi|[[Maamme]]|nolink=yes}}<br />{{native name|sv|[[Maamme|Vårt land]]|nolink=yes}}<br />({{Lang-en|"Our Land"}})<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:United States Navy Band - Maamme.ogg|center]]</div>
| image_map                = {{Switcher|[[File:EU-Finland (orthographic projection).svg|frameless]]|Show globe|[[File:EU-Finland.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show map of Europe|default=2}}
| map_caption                = {{map caption|location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Finland.svg}}
| capital                = [[Helsinki]]
| coordinates                = {{Coord|60|10|N|24|56|E|type:city}}
| largest_city                = capital
| official_languages                = [[Finnish language|Finnish]] • [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| national_languages      = [[Finnish Sign Language|Viittomakieli]] • [[Sami languages|Sámi]] • [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language|Teckenspråk]] • [[Karelian language|Karelian]] • [[Finnish Kalo language]]
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list
|91.33% [[Finnish people|Finnish]]
|4.90% Other [[Europe]]an
|2.50% [[Asia]]n
|0.90% [[Africa]]n
|0.37% [[Demographics of Africa|Other]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_year      = 2017
| ethnic_groups_ref      = <ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_032.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 |title=032 -- Syntyperä ja taustamaa sukupuolen mukaan maakunnittain ja kunnittain 1990 - 2017| work = Tilastokeskuksen PX-Web-tietokannat | publisher = Statistics Finland|language=fi |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212214837/http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_032.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="un">{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates17.shtml|title=United Nations Population Division &#124; Department of Economic and Social Affairs|website=un.org|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>
| religion                = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
  |70.7% [[Christianity]]
  |—68.7% [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Lutheranism]]
  |—1.1% [[Finnish Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]]
  |—0.9% Other [[Christians|Christian]]
  |28.5% [[Irreligion|No religion]]
  | 0.8% [[Religion in Finland|Other]]}}
| religion_year          = 2019
| religion_ref              = <ref name="stnin">{{cite web |title=Belonging to a religious community by age and sex, 2000-2019 |url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11rx.px/ |website=Tilastokeskuksen PX-Web tietokannat |publisher=Government |access-date=28 March 2020}} Note these are state religious registration numbers, people may be registered yet not practicing/believing and they may be believing/practicing but not registered.</ref>
| demonym                = {{hlist|[[Demographics of Finland|Finnish]]|[[Finns|Finn]]}}
| government_type                = [[Unitary parliamentary republic]]<ref name="Parliamentary"/>
| leader_title1                = [[President of Finland|President]]
| leader_name1                = [[Sauli Niinistö]]
| leader_title2                = [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2                = [[Sanna Marin]]
| legislature                = [[Parliament of Finland|Eduskunta/Riksdagen]]
| sovereignty_type                = [[History of Finland|Independence]]
| sovereignty_note                = from [[Russian Republic|Russia]]
| established_event1                = [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Autonomy]]
| established_date1                = 29 March 1809
| established_event2                = [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Declared]]
| established_date2                = 6 December 1917
| established_event3                = [[Finnish Civil War|Civil War]]
| established_date3                = January – May 1918
| established_event4                = [[Constitution of Finland|Constitution]]
| established_date4                = 17 July 1919
| established_event5                = [[Winter War]]
| established_date5                = 30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940
| established_event6                = [[Continuation War]]
| established_date6                = 25 June 1941 – 19 September 1944
| established_event7                = [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|Joined]] the [[European Union|EU]]
| established_date7                = 1 January 1995
| area_km2                = 338,455
| area_rank                = 65th <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi                = 130,596 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| percent_water                = 9.71 (as of 2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER#}}</ref>
| population_estimate                = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 5,536,146<ref>{{cite web|title=Birth rate showed a slight growth in 2020|url=https://www.stat.fi/til/vamuu/2020/12/vamuu_2020_12_2021-01-21_tie_001_en.html|publisher=Statistics Finland|access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year                = December 2020
| population_estimate_rank                = 116th
| population_label2              =
| population_data2                =
| population_density_km2                = 16
| population_density_sq_mi                = 41 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank                = 213th
| GDP_PPP                = $257 billion<ref name=imf3>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=59&pr1.y=9&c=172&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |date=17 October 2018|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|publisher=IMF}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year                = 2020
| GDP_PPP_rank                = 60th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita                = $49,334<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank                = 19th
| GDP_nominal                = $277 billion<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_nominal_year                = 2020
| GDP_nominal_rank                = 43rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita                = $48,461<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank                = 14th
| Gini                = 26.2 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year                = 2019
| Gini_change                = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref                = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tessi190&plugin=1 |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income - EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref>
| Gini_rank                = 6th
| HDI                = 0.938<!--number only-->
| HDI_year                = 2019<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change                = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2020|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=15 December 2020|access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank                = 11th
| currency                = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| currency_code                = EUR
| time_zone                = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset                = +2
| utc_offset_DST                = +3
| time_zone_DST                = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| date_format                = d.m.yyyy<ref>[http://www.kielikello.fi/index.php?mid=2&pid=11&aid=1709 Ajanilmaukset] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020033758/http://www.kielikello.fi/index.php?mid=2&pid=11&aid=1709 |date=20 October 2017 }} Kielikello 2/2006. Institute for the Languages of Finland. Retrieved 20 October 2017</ref>
| drives_on                = right
| calling_code                = [[Telephone numbers in Finland|+358]]
| cctld                = [[.fi]]<sup>a</sup>
| footnote_a                = The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
| today                =
}}
'''Finland''' ({{lang-fi|Suomi}} {{IPA-fi|ˈsuo̯mi||fi-suomi.ogg}}; {{lang-sv|Finland}} {{IPA-sv|ˈfɪ̌nland||sv-Finland.ogg}}, {{IPA-sv|ˈfinlɑnd|langfi}}), officially the '''Republic of Finland''' ({{Lang-fi|Suomen tasavalta}}, {{Lang-sv|Republiken Finland}} {{small|({{audio|Suomi Finland.ogg|listen to all|help=no}})}}),{{refn|group=note|"Republic of Finland", or {{lang|fi|Suomen tasavalta}} in Finnish, {{lang|sv|Republiken Finland}} in Swedish, and {{lang|se|Suoma dásseváldi}} in Sami, is the long protocol name, which is however not defined by law. Legislation recognises only the short name.}} is a [[Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]]. It shares land borders with [[Sweden]] to the west, [[Russia]] to the east, [[Norway]] to the north, and is defined by the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the west, and the [[Gulf of Finland]] of the [[Baltic Sea]] across [[Estonia]] to the south. Finland covers an area of {{convert|338455|km2|mi2}}, with a population of 5.5 million. [[Helsinki]] is the country's capital and largest city, but together with the neighboring cities of [[Espoo]], [[Kauniainen]] and [[Vantaa]], it forms a larger [[metropolitan area]]. [[Finnish language|Finnish]], the [[native language]] of the [[Finns]], is among the few [[Finnic languages]] in the world. The climate varies relative to latitude, from the southern [[humid continental climate]] to the northern [[boreal climate]]. The land cover is primarily a [[boreal forest]] [[biome]], with more than 180,000 recorded [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes]].<ref name="thousand">{{cite web|last=Li|first=Leslie|date=16 April 1989|title=A Land of a Thousand Lakes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/16/travel/a-land-of-a-thousand-lakes.html|access-date=20 September 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Finland was inhabited around 9000&nbsp;BC after [[Last glacial period|the Last Glacial Period]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|isbn=978-952-495-363-4|location=Helsinki|page=23}}</ref> The [[Stone Age]] introduced several different ceramic styles and cultures. The [[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] were characterised by extensive contacts with other cultures in [[Fennoscandia]] and the [[Baltic region]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|isbn=978-952-495-363-4|location=Helsinki|page=339}}</ref> From the late 13th century, Finland gradually became an integral part of Sweden as a consequence of the [[Northern Crusades]]. In 1809, as a result of the [[Finnish War]], Finland was annexed by [[Russian Empire|Russia]] as the autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland]], during which [[Golden Age of Finnish Art|Finnish art flourished]] and the idea of [[Independence of Finland|independence]] began to take hold. In 1906, Finland became the first European state to grant [[Universal suffrage#Dates by country|universal suffrage]], and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office.<ref name="eduskunta">{{cite web |url=http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/aboutparliament/presentation/history.htx |work=eduskunta.fi |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2015 |author=Parliament of Finland |title=History of the Finnish Parliament |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151206184816/http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/aboutparliament/presentation/history.htx }}</ref><ref name="full suffrage">Finland was the first nation in the world to give all (adult) citizens full suffrage, in other words the right to vote and to run for office, in 1906. New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant all (adult) citizens the right to vote, in 1893. But women did not get the right to run for the New Zealand legislature, until 1919.</ref> [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], the last [[Tsar]] of Russia, tried to [[Russification of Finland|russify Finland]] and terminate its political autonomy, but after the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], Finland [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|declared independence from Russia]]. In 1918, the fledgling state was divided by the [[Finnish Civil War]]. During [[World War II]], Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] and the [[Continuation War]], and [[Nazi Germany]] in the [[Lapland War]]. After the wars, Finland lost parts of its territory, but maintained its independence.
Finland largely remained an [[Agriculture|agrarian]] country until the 1950s. After World War II, the country rapidly industrialised and developed an advanced economy, while building an extensive [[welfare state]] based on the [[Nordic model]], resulting in widespread prosperity and a high [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|per capita income]].<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=65&pr.y=7&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=172&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a= |title=Finland |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> Finland joined the [[United Nations]] in 1955 and adopted an official policy of neutrality. Finland joined the [[OECD]] in 1969, the [[Partnership for Peace|NATO Partnership for Peace]] in 1994,<ref name="nato.int">[http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49594.htm Relations with Finland]. NATO (13 January 2016)</ref> the European Union in 1995, the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]] in 1997,<ref name="nato.int" /> and the [[Eurozone]] at its inception in 1999. Finland is a top performer in numerous [[International rankings of Finland|metrics of national performance]], including education, economic competitiveness, civil liberties, quality of life and human development.<ref name="World Audit">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/finland.htm |title=Finland: World Audit Democracy Profile |work=WorldAudit.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030113921/http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/finland.htm |archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite document|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/tertiary-education-graduation-rates_20755120-table1 |title=Tertiary education graduation rates—Education: Key Tables from OECD |doi=10.1787/20755120-table1 |publisher=OECD iLibrary |date=14 June 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430055650/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/tertiary-education-graduation-rates_20755120-table1 |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article3803493.ece |title=Her er verdens mest konkurransedyktige land—Makro og politikk |publisher=E24.no |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014010931/http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article3803493.ece |archive-date=14 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=FI |title=The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index |publisher=Prosperity.com |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029140547/http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=FI |archive-date=29 October 2009 }}</ref> In 2015, Finland was ranked first in the World Human Capital<ref>{{cite web |url=http://reports.weforum.org/human-capital-report-2015/rankings/ |title=Human Capital Report 2015 |website=[[World Economic Forum]] |access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> and the [[Press Freedom Index]] and as the most stable country in the world during 2011–2016 in the [[Fragile States Index]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/rankings-2016 |title=Fragile States Index 2016 |publisher=Fundforpeace.org |access-date=27 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204213240/http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/rankings-2016 |archive-date=4 February 2017 }}</ref> and second in the [[Global Gender Gap Report]].<ref>{{cite book |title = Gender Gap Report |url = http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2012.pdf |publisher = WEF }}</ref> It also ranked first on the [[World Happiness Report]] report for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last= Hetter|first=Katia|date=26 March 2019|title=This is the world's happiest country in 2019|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-happiest-countries-united-nations-2019/index.html|work=[[CNN]] |access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://happiness-report.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/WHR20.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2020|editor-last=Helliwell|editor-first=John F.|editor2-last=Sachs|editor2-first=Jeffrey|editor3-last=De Neve|editor3-first=Jan-Emmanuel|date=2020|publisher=Sustainable Development Solutions Network|location=New York|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref>
== Etymology ==
=== Finland ===
[[File:Hic Fabricatur Naves.jpg|310px|thumb|Finland on a medieval map, which is part of the ''[[Carta marina]]'' (1539)]]
{{See also|Finns#Etymology}}
The earliest written appearance of the name ''Finland'' is thought to be on three [[runestone]]s. Two were found in the Swedish province of [[Uppland]] and have the inscription ''finlonti'' ([[Runestone U 582|U 582]]). The third was found in [[Gotland]]. It has the inscription ''finlandi'' ([[Runestone G 319|G 319]]) and dates back to the 13th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkisto.fi/ |title=National Archives Service, Finland (in English) |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> The name can be assumed to be related to the tribe name ''[[Finnish tribes|Finns]]'', which is mentioned at first known time AD 98 (disputed meaning).
=== Suomi ===
The name ''Suomi'' ({{Langnf|fi|2=Finnish|3=Finland}}) has uncertain origins, but a common etymology with ''saame'' ([[Sami people|Sami]], a [[Finno-Ugric peoples|Finno-Ugric people]] in [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]]) and ''[[Tavastia (historical province)|Häme]]'' (a province in the inland) has been suggested ([[Proto-Finnic]] [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/hämä|''*hämä'']] from older ''*šämä'', possibly loaned into Proto-Saami as [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Samic/sāmē|''*sāmē'']]), whose source could be the Proto-Baltic word [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Balto-Slavic/źemē|''*źemē'']], meaning '(low) land'.<ref>[http://www.kotikielenseura.fi/virittaja/hakemistot/jutut/1998_613.pdf kotikielenseura.fi], SUOMI (TTAVIA ETYMOLOGIOITA).</ref> According to the hypothesis, ''*sāmē'' – or ''*šämä'' directly – was loaned back into Baltic as ''*sāma-'' (compare Latvian ''sāms'' 'Finn, [[Saaremaa|Öselian]]'), from which Northern Finnic reborrowed it (perhaps via a Germanic intermediate ''*sōma-'') as ''*sōma-'' > ''*sōme-'' 'Finland'.<ref name=deSmit>{{cite web |last1=de Smit |first1=Merlijn |title=De Vanitate Etymologiae. On the origins of Suomi, Häme, Sápmi. |url=https://www.academia.edu/36858309 |website=Academia.edu |publisher=Academia, Inc. |access-date=6 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In addition to the close relatives of Finnish (the [[Finnic languages]]), this name is also used in the [[Baltic languages]] [[Latvian language|Latvian]] (''soms'', ''Somija'') and [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] (''suomis'', ''Suomija''), although these are evidently later borrowings. An alternative hypothesis by Petri Kallio suggests the Proto-Indo-European word [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ǵʰmṓ|*''(dʰ)ǵʰm-on-'']] 'human' (cf. Gothic ''guma'', Latin ''homo''), being borrowed into Uralic as *''ćoma''.<ref name=deSmit />
It has been suggested that the Finnish word ''Suomi'' is first attested the [[Royal Frankish Annals]] annal for 811, which mentions a person called ''Suomi'' among the Danish delegation at a peace treaty with the Franks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/annalesregnifrancorum.html|title=Annesl Regni Francorum|website=thelatinlibrary.com|access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> If so, it is also the earliest evidence for the change from the proto-Finnic [[monophthong]] {{IPA|/oː/}} to the Finnish [[diphthong]] {{IPA|/uo/}}.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Keskiajan suomen kielen dokumentoitu sanasto ensiesiintymisvuosineen'' |last=Heikkilä |first=Mikko K. |publisher=Mediapinta |year=2017 |isbn=978-952-236-859-1 |page=44}}</ref><ref>Mikko Heikkilä, '[https://journal.fi/sananjalka/article/download/86749/45497/ Varhaissuomen äännehistorian kronologiasta]', ''Sananjalka'', 58 (2016), 136–158 (p. 147).</ref> However, some historical linguists view this interpretation of the name as unlikely, supposing another etymology or that the spelling originated as a scribal error (in which case the sound-change {{IPA|/oː/}} > {{IPA|/uo/}} could have happened much later).<ref>Petri Kallio, '[https://journal.fi/sananjalka/article/download/66609/27008 Äännehistoriaa suomen kielen  erilliskehityksen alkutaipaleilta]', ''Sananjalka'', 59 (2017), 7–24 (p. 12).</ref>
=== Concept ===
In the earliest historical sources, from the 12th and 13th centuries, the term Finland refers to the coastal region around [[Turku]] from [[Perniö]] to [[Uusikaupunki]]. This region later became known as [[Southwest Finland|Finland Proper]] in distinction from the country name Finland. Finland became a common name for the whole country in a centuries-long process that started when the [[Catholic Church]] established a missionary diocese in [[Nousiainen]] in the northern part of the province of Suomi possibly sometime in the 12th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Suomen museo 2003: "The Origins of Finland and Häme" |last=Salo |first=Unto |publisher=Suomen muinaismuistoyhdistys |year=2004 |isbn=978-951-9057-55-2 |location=Helsinki |page=55}}</ref>
The devastation of [[Finland during the Great Northern War]] (1714–1721) and during the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)]] caused Sweden to begin carrying out major efforts to defend its eastern half from Russia. These 18th-century experiences created a sense of a shared destiny that when put in conjunction with the unique Finnish language, led to the adoption of an expanded concept of Finland.<ref name=UppslagsFi>{{cite web |url=http://www.uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-FinlandsHistoria1700Talet |title=Finlands historia: 1700-talet |last=Lindberg |first=Johan |date=26 May 2016 |website=[[Uppslagsverket Finland]] |access-date=30 November 2017 |language=sv}}</ref>
== History ==
{{Main|History of Finland}} {{see also|Åland Islands}}
===Prehistory===
{{Main|History of Finland#Prehistory}}
[[File:Kierikki Stone Age Centre Oulu Finland 02.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of [[Stone Age]] dwelling from [[Kierikki]], Oulu]]
If the [[Archaeology|archeological]] finds from [[Wolf Cave]] are the result of [[Neanderthal|Neanderthals']] activities, the first people inhabited Finland approximately 120,000–130,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |isbn=978-952-495-363-4 |location=Helsinki |page=21}}</ref> The area that is now Finland was settled in, at the latest, around 8,500 BC during the [[Stone Age]] towards the end of the [[last glacial period]]. The [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] the first settlers left behind present characteristics that are shared with those found in [[Estonia]], Russia, and Norway.<ref name=":1">[http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514281411/isbn9514281411.pdf Herkules.oulu.fi]. People, material, culture and environment in the north. Proceedings of the 22nd Nordic Archaeological Conference, University of Oulu, 18–23 August 2004 Edited by Vesa-Pekka Herva Gummerus Kirjapaino</ref> The earliest people were [[hunter-gatherer]]s, using stone tools.<ref name="VF-Pre">Dr. Pirjo Uino of the National Board of Antiquities, ThisisFinland—"Prehistory: The ice recedes—man arrives". Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref>
The first pottery appeared in 5200&nbsp;BC, when the Comb Ceramic culture was introduced.<ref name="Hist-Fin-Geo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20071123072314/http://www.geocities.com/ojoronen/EARLYFIN.HTM History of Finland and the Finnish People from stone age to WWII]. Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> The arrival of the [[Corded Ware culture]] in Southern coastal Finland between 3000 and 2500 BC may have coincided with the start of agriculture.<ref name="Virt-Mino">Professor Frank Horn of the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law University of Lappland writing for Virtual Finland on [https://web.archive.org/web/20080611022047/http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26470 National Minorities of Finland]. Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> Even with the introduction of agriculture, hunting and fishing continued to be important parts of the subsistence economy.
In the [[Bronze Age]] permanent all-year-round cultivation and [[animal husbandry]] spread, but the cold climate phase slowed the change.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |pages=199, 210–211}}</ref> Cultures in Finland shared common features in pottery and also axes had similarities but local features existed. [[Seima-Turbino phenomenon|Seima-Turbino-phenomenon]] brought first bronze artifacts to the region and possibly also the [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric-Languages]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=171–178}}</ref> Commercial contacts that had so far mostly been to [[Estonia]] started to extend to Scandinavia. Domestic manufacture of bronze artifacts started 1300 BC with {{ill|Maaninka-type bronze axe|fi|Maaningan kirves|lt=Maaninka-type bronze axes}}. Bronze was imported from [[Volga River|Volga]] region and from Southern Scandinavia.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=189–190}}</ref>
[[File:Northern Europe in 814.jpg|thumb|left|[[Northern Europe]] in 814 AD]]
In the [[Iron Age]] population grew especially in Häme and Savo regions. Finland proper was the most densely populated area. Cultural contacts to the Baltics and Scandinavia became more frequent. Commercial contacts in the [[Baltic Sea]] region grew and extended during the 8th and 9th centuries.
Main exports from Finland were furs, slaves, [[castoreum]], and falcons to European courts. Imports included silk and other fabrics, jewelry, [[Ulfberht swords]], and, in lesser extent, glass. Production of iron started approximately in 500 BC.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |pages=332, 364–365}}</ref>
At the end of the 9th century, indigenous artifact culture, especially women's jewelry and weapons, had more common local features than ever before. This has been interpreted to be expressing common Finnish identity which was born from an image of common origin.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |page=269}}</ref>
[[File:Late Iron Age swords found from Finland.jpg|thumb|Late [[Iron Age]] swords found in Finland]]
An early form of [[Finnic languages]] spread to the Baltic Sea region approximately 1900 BC with the [[Seima-Turbino phenomenon|Seima-Turbino-phenomenon]]. Common Finnic language was spoken around [[Gulf of Finland]] 2000 years ago. The dialects from which the modern-day Finnish language was developed came into existence during the Iron Age.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=211–212}}</ref> Although distantly related, the [[Sami people|Sami]] retained the hunter-gatherer lifestyle longer than the Finns. The Sami cultural identity and the [[Sami languages|Sami language]] have survived in Lapland, the northernmost province, but the Sami have been displaced or assimilated elsewhere.
The 12th and 13th centuries were a violent time in the northern Baltic Sea. The [[Livonian Crusade]] was ongoing and the [[Finnish tribes]] such as the [[Tavastians]] and [[Karelia (historical province of Finland)|Karelians]] were in [[Early Finnish wars|frequent conflicts]] with [[Republic of Novgorod|Novgorod]] and with each other. Also, during the 12th and 13th centuries several crusades from the Catholic realms of the Baltic Sea area were made against the Finnish tribes. According to historical sources, [[Danes]] waged at least three crusades to Finland, in 1187 or slightly earlier,<ref name=":3">{{cite book| author = Kurt Villads Jensen| title = Ristiretket| publisher = Turun Historiallinen Yhdistys| year = 2019| pages = 126–127}}</ref> in 1191 and in 1202,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |page=380}}</ref> and [[Swedes]], possibly the so-called [[Second Swedish Crusade|second crusade to Finland]], in 1249 against [[Tavastians]] and the [[Third Swedish Crusade|third crusade to Finland]] in 1293 against the Karelians. The so-called [[First Swedish Crusade|first crusade to Finland]], possibly in 1155, is most likely an unreal event. Also, it is possible that Germans made violent conversion of Finnish pagans in the 13th century.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Ruotsin itämaa'' |last=Tarkiainen |first=Kari |publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |location=Helsinki |page=88}}</ref> According to a papal letter from 1241, the king of Norway was also fighting against "nearby pagans" at that time.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Suomen varhaiskeskiajan lähteitä'' |last=Compiled by Martti Linna |publisher=Historian aitta |year=1989 |page=69}}</ref>
=== Swedish era ===
{{Main|Finland under Swedish rule}}
{{See also|Swedish colonisation of Finland}}
[[File:Swedish Empire (1560-1815) en2.png|thumb|left|The [[Swedish Empire]] following the [[Treaty of Roskilde]] of 1658.<br />Dark green: [[Sweden proper]], as represented in the [[Riksdag of the Estates]]. Other greens: [[Dominions of Sweden|Swedish dominions]] and [[Possessions of Sweden|possessions]]]]
As a result of the crusades and the colonisation of some Finnish coastal areas with Christian [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish population]] during the Middle Ages,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruotsin itämaa|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |isbn=978-951-583-212-2 |location=Helsinki|pages=104–147}}</ref> including the old capital [[Turku]], Finland gradually became part of the kingdom of Sweden and the sphere of influence of the [[Catholic Church]]. Due to the Swedish conquest, the Finnish upper class lost its position and lands to the new Swedish and German nobility and to the Catholic Church.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruotsin itämaa|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |isbn=978-951-583-212-2 |location=Porvoo |pages=167–170}}</ref> In Sweden even in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was clear that Finland was a conquered country and its inhabitants could be treated arbitrarily. Swedish kings visited Finland rarely and in Swedish contemporary texts Finns were portrayed to be primitive and their language inferior.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://journal.fi/tt/article/view/57138/19187|title=Kansallinen identiteetti Ruotsissa ja Suomessa 1600-1700-luvuilla |last=Kemiläinen |first=Aira|publisher=Tieteessä tapahtuu 8/2004|year=2004|pages=25–26|language=fi}}</ref>
[[Finland Swedish|Swedish]] became the dominant language of the nobility, administration, and education; [[Finnish language|Finnish]] was chiefly a language for the [[peasant]]ry, clergy, and local [[court]]s in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas. During the [[Protestant Reformation]], the [[Finns]] gradually converted to [[Lutheranism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europe-cities.com/en/657/finland/history/chronology|title=History of Finland. Finland chronology |publisher=Europe-cities.com |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427060720/http://www.europe-cities.com/en/657/finland/history/chronology |archive-date=27 April 2011}}</ref>
In the 16th century, [[Mikael Agricola]] published the first written works in Finnish, and Finland's current capital city, [[Helsinki]], was founded by [[Gustav I of Sweden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/409531/ |title=Ruttopuisto&nbsp;– Plague Park |publisher=Tabblo.com |access-date=3 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411112934/http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/409531/ |archive-date=11 April 2008 }}</ref> The first university in Finland, the [[Royal Academy of Turku]], was established in 1640. The Finns reaped a reputation in the [[Thirty Years' War]] (1618–1648) as a well-trained [[cavalry]]men called "[[Hakkapeliitta]]", that division excelled in sudden and savage attacks, [[raid (military)|raiding]] and [[reconnaissance]], which [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|King Gustavus Adolphus]] took advantage of in his significant battles, like in the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] (1631) and the [[Battle of Rain]] (1632).<ref>{{cite book|author=Joose Olavi Hannula|year=1939|title=Hakkapeliittoja ja karoliineja – Kuvia Suomen sotahistoriasta|publisher=[[Otava (publisher)|Otava]]| location=Helsinki|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Matti J. Kankaanpää|year=2016|title=Suomalainen ratsuväki Ruotsin ajalla|publisher=T:mi Toiset aijat| location=Porvoo | page = 790 |isbn = 978-952-99106-9-4|language=fi}}</ref> Finland suffered a severe [[Great Famine of Finland (1695–1697)|famine in 1696–1697]], during which about one third of the Finnish population died,<ref name="empire"/> and a [[The plague during the Great Northern War|devastating plague a few years later]].
[[File:Suomenlinna.jpg|thumb|right|Now lying within Helsinki, [[Suomenlinna]] is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] consisting of an inhabited 18th-century sea fortress built on six islands. It is one of Finland's most popular tourist attractions.]]
In the 18th century, wars between Sweden and Russia twice led to the occupation of Finland by Russian forces, times known to the Finns as the [[Greater Wrath]] (1714–1721) and the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)|Lesser Wrath]] (1742–1743).<ref name="empire">"[http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm Finland and the Swedish Empire]". ''Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]]''.</ref> It is estimated that almost an entire generation of young men was lost during the Great Wrath, due mainly to the destruction of homes and farms, and to the burning of Helsinki.<ref name="Nordstrom, Scandinavia">{{cite book|last=Nordstrom|first=Byron J.|title=Scandinavia Since 1500|year=2000|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|location=Minneapolis, US|isbn=978-0-8166-2098-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/142 142]|url=https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/142}}</ref> By this time Finland was the predominant term for the whole area from the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the Russian border.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
Two Russo-Swedish wars in twenty-five years served as reminders to the Finnish people of the precarious position between Sweden and Russia. An increasingly vocal elite in Finland soon determined that Finnish ties with Sweden were becoming too costly, and following [[Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)|Russo-Swedish War]] (1788–1790), the Finnish elite's desire to break with Sweden only heightened.<ref name="a1">{{cite book |last=Nordstrom |first=Byron J. |title=Scandinavia Since 1500 |year=2000 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis, US |isbn=978-0-8166-2098-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/143 143] |url=https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/143 }}</ref>
Even before the war there were conspiring politicians, among them [[Georg Magnus Sprengtporten|Col G. M. Sprengtporten]], who had supported [[Gustav III of Sweden#Coup d'état|Gustav III's coup in 1772]]. Sprengporten fell out with the king and resigned his commission in 1777. In the following decade he tried to secure Russian support for an autonomous Finland, and later became an adviser to Catherine II.<ref name="a1"/> In the spirit of the notion of [[Adolf Ivar Arwidsson]] (1791–1858), "we are not Swedes, we do not want to become Russians, let us therefore be Finns", the Finnish national identity started to become established.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lefaivre|first1=Liane|last2=Tzonis|first2=Alexander|title=Architecture of Regionalism in the Age of Globalization: Peaks and Valleys in the Flat World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkYHEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT144|year=2020|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|isbn=978-1-00-022106-0|page=144}}</ref>
Notwithstanding the efforts of Finland's elite and nobility to break ties with Sweden, there was no genuine independence movement in Finland until the early 20th century. As a matter of fact, at this time the Finnish peasantry was outraged by the actions of their elite and almost exclusively supported Gustav's actions against the conspirators. (The High Court of Turku condemned Sprengtporten as a traitor c. 1793.)<ref name="a1"/> The Swedish era ended in the [[Finnish War]] in 1809.
=== Russian era ===
{{Main|Grand Duchy of Finland}}
{{See also|Diet of Porvoo|Finland's language strife|Russification of Finland}}
[[File:Pekka Halonen - Tienraivaajia Karjalassa.jpg|thumb|''Pioneers in Karelia'' (1900) by [[Pekka Halonen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/tQFrkK28QHoc9w|title=Pioneers in Karelia - Pekka Halonen|website=Google Arts & Culture}}</ref>]]
On 29 March 1809, having been taken over by the armies of [[Alexander I of Russia]] in the [[Finnish War]], Finland became an autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] in the [[Russian Empire]] with the recognition given at [[Diet of Porvoo|the Diet]] held in [[Porvoo]]. This situation lasted until the end of 1917. In 1811, Alexander I incorporated the Russian [[Vyborg Governorate|Vyborg province]] into the Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1854, Finland became involved in Russia's involvement in the [[Crimean War]], when the British and French navies bombed the Finnish coast and Åland during the so-called [[Åland War]]. During the Russian era, the Finnish language began to gain recognition. From the 1860s onwards, a strong Finnish [[Ethnic nationalism|nationalist movement]] known as the [[Fennoman movement]] grew, and one of its most prominent leading figures of the movement was the philosopher [[J. V. Snellman]], who was strictly inclined to [[Hegelianism|Hegel's idealism]], and who pushed for the stabilization of the status of the Finnish language and its own currency, the [[Finnish markka]], in the Grand Duchy of Finland.<ref>{{cite book| author = Olavi Junnila | title = Suomen historia 5 | year = 1986 | chapter = Autonomian rakentaminen ja kansallisen nousun aika | page = 151 | location = Helsinki | publisher = Weilin + Göös | isbn = 951-35-2494-9 | language = fi }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.suomenpankki.fi/fi/media-ja-julkaisut/puheet-ja-haastattelut/2006/pankinjohtaja-sinikka-salon-puhe-snellman-ja-suomen-markka--nayttelyn-avajaisissa-suomen-pankin-rahamuseossa/ | title = Pankinjohtaja Sinikka Salon puhe Snellman ja Suomen markka -näyttelyn avajaisissa Suomen Pankin rahamuseossa | publisher = [[Bank of Finland]] | date = 10 January 2006 | access-date = 7 December 2020 | language = fi }}</ref> Milestones included the publication of what would become Finland's [[national epic]] – the ''[[Kalevala]]'' – in 1835, and the Finnish language's achieving equal legal status with Swedish in 1892.
The [[Finnish famine of 1866–1868]] killed approximately 15% of the population, making it one of the worst [[famine]]s in European history. The famine led the Russian Empire to ease financial regulations, and investment rose in following decades. Economic and political development was rapid.<ref name="equity">{{cite web |url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTRANETSOCIALDEVELOPMENT/Resources/finland.pdf |title=Growth and Equity in Finland |publisher=World Bank}}</ref> The [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) per capita was still half of that of the United States and a third of that of Britain.<ref name="equity" />
In 1906, [[universal suffrage]] was adopted in the Grand Duchy of Finland. However, the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Russian Empire soured when the Russian government made moves to restrict Finnish [[Autonomous area|autonomy]]. For example, the universal suffrage was, in practice, virtually meaningless, since the tsar did not have to approve any of the laws adopted by the Finnish parliament. Desire for independence gained ground, first among radical liberals<ref>Mickelsson, Rauli (2007). ''Suomen puolueet—Historia, muutos ja nykypäivä''. Vastapaino.</ref> and socialists. The case is known as the "[[Russification of Finland]]", driven by the last tsar of Russian Empire, [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]].<ref>Alenius, Kari. "Russification in Estonia and Finland Before 1917," ''Faravid,'' 2004, Vol. 28, pp 181–194</ref>
=== Civil war and early independence ===
{{Main|Independence of Finland|Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic|Finnish Civil War}}
[[File:Firing squad in Lankipohja.jpg|thumb|[[White Guard (Finland)|White firing squad]] executing [[Red Guard (Finland)|Red soldiers]] after the [[Battle of Länkipohja]] (1918)]]
After the 1917 [[February Revolution]], the position of Finland as part of the Russian Empire was questioned, mainly by [[Russian Social Democratic Labour Party|Social Democrats]]. Since the head of state was the [[tsar]] of Russia, it was not clear who the chief executive of Finland was after the revolution. The Parliament, controlled by social democrats, passed the so-called [[Independence of Finland#Power act|Power Act]] to give the highest authority to the Parliament. This was rejected by the [[Russian Provisional Government]] which decided to dissolve the Parliament.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/finland/15.htm The Finnish Civil War, Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress]. Countrystudies.us. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
New elections were conducted, in which right-wing parties won with a slim majority. Some social democrats refused to accept the result and still claimed that the dissolution of the parliament (and thus the ensuing elections) were extralegal. The two nearly equally powerful political blocs, the right-wing parties and the social democratic party, were highly antagonized.
The [[October Revolution]] in Russia changed the geopolitical situation once more. Suddenly, the right-wing parties in Finland started to reconsider their decision to block the transfer of highest executive power from the Russian government to Finland, as the [[Bolsheviks]] took power in Russia. Rather than acknowledge the authority of the Power Act of a few months earlier, the right-wing government, led by [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] [[P. E. Svinhufvud]], presented [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] on 4 December 1917, which was officially approved two days later, on 6 December, by the [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]]. The [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic]] (RSFSR), led by [[Vladimir Lenin]], recognized independence on 4 January 1918.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=107215&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI | title = Uudenvuodenaatto Pietarin Smolnassa – Itsenäisyyden tunnustus 31.12.1917 | publisher = Ulkoministieriö | access-date = 14 September 2020 | language = fi }}</ref>
[[File:The victory parade of the White Army 1918.jpg|thumb|Finnish military leader and statesman [[C. G. E. Mannerheim]] as [[general officer]] leading the [[White Victory Parade]] at the end of the [[Finnish Civil War]] in Helsinki, 1918]]
On 27 January 1918, the official opening shots of the [[Finnish Civil War|civil war]] were fired in two simultaneous events: on the one hand the government's beginning to disarm the Russian forces in [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Pohjanmaa]], and on the other, a coup launched by the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]].{{failed verification |date=December 2010 |reason=No mention of coup in the section The Finnish Civil War, which should cover this. The actions by the reds are not characterized.}} The latter gained control of southern Finland and Helsinki, but the White government continued in exile from [[Vaasa]]. This sparked the brief but bitter civil war. The [[White Guard (Finland)|Whites]], who were supported by [[German Empire|Imperial Germany]], prevailed over the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Reds]],<ref>{{cite web |title=A Country Study: Finland—The Finnish Civil War |url=http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/fitoc.html |work=Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]] |access-date=11 December 2008}}</ref> which were guided by [[Kullervo Manner]]'s desire to make the newly independent country a [[Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic]] (also known as "Red Finland") and  part of the RSFSR.<ref>[https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/sdpn-puheenjohtaja-halusi-punadiktaattoriksi-mutta-kuoli-stalinin-vankileirilla-69089/#cd1f8043 SDP:n puheenjohtaja halusi punadiktaattoriksi, mutta kuoli Stalinin vankileirillä] (in Finnish)</ref> After the war, tens of thousands of Reds and suspected sympathizers were interned in camps, where thousands were executed or  died from malnutrition and disease. Deep social and political enmity was sown between the Reds and Whites and would last until the [[Winter War]] and beyond. Even nowadays, the civil war remains a sensitive topic.<ref>[https://www.is.fi/paakirjoitus/art-2000005492424.html Pääkirjoitus: Kansalaissota on arka muistettava] (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8831374 Punaisten ja valkoisten perintöä vaalitaan yhä – Suomalaiset lähettivät yli 400 muistoa vuoden 1918 sisällissodasta] (in Finnish)</ref> The civil war and the 1918–1920 activist expeditions called "[[Heimosodat|Kinship Wars]]" into Soviet Russia strained Eastern relations. At that time, the idea of a [[Greater Finland]] also emerged for the first time.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Manninen | first=Ohto | title=Suur-Suomen ääriviivat: Kysymys tulevaisuudesta ja turvallisuudesta Suomen Saksan-politiikassa 1941 | location=Helsinki | publisher=Kirjayhtymä | year=1980 | isbn= 951-26-1735-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | last=Nygård | first=Toivo | title=Suur-Suomi vai lähiheimolaisten auttaminen: Aatteellinen heimotyö itsenäisessä Suomessa | location=Helsinki | publisher=Otava | year=1978 | isbn=951-1-04963-1}}</ref>
[[File:Juho kusti paasikivi and Pehr Evind Svinhufvud 1918.jpg|thumb|[[Juho Kusti Paasikivi|J. K. Paasikivi]] and [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud|P. E. Svinhufvud]], both at the time future [[President of Finland|presidents of the Republic of Finland]], discuss the [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|Finnish monarchy project]] in 1918.]]
After [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|a brief experimentation with monarchy]], when an attempt to make [[Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse]]  King of Finland proved to be a poor success, Finland became a [[presidential republic]], with [[K. J. Ståhlberg]] elected as its first president in 1919. As a [[liberal nationalist]] and with a legal background, Ståhlberg anchored the state in [[liberal democracy]], guarded the fragile shoot of the [[rule of law]], and embarked on internal reforms.<ref>{{cite web | first = Juha | last = Mononen | title = War or Peace for Finland? Neoclassical Realist Case Study of Finnish Foreign Policy in the Context of the Anti-Bolshevik Intervention in Russia 1918–1920 | url = https://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/80491 | date = 2 February 2009 | publisher = [[University of Tampere]] | access-date = 25 August 2020 | archive-date = 7 June 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150607035630/http://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/80491 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Finland was also one of the first European countries to strongly aim for [[Women's rights|equality for women]], with [[Miina Sillanpää]] serving in [[Tanner Cabinet|Väinö Tanner's cabinet]] as the first female minister in Finnish history in 1926–1927.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://finland.fi/life-society/real-bridge-builder-became-finlands-first-female-government-minister/|title=Real bridge-builder became Finland's first female government minister - thisisFINLAND|date=29 September 2017|work=thisisFINLAND|access-date=7 December 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> The Finnish–Russian border was defined in 1920 by the [[Treaty of Tartu (Finland–Russia)|Treaty of Tartu]], largely following the historic border but granting [[Pechengsky District|Pechenga]] ({{lang-fi|Petsamo}}) and its [[Barents Sea]] harbour to Finland. Finnish democracy did not experience any Soviet coup attempts and likewise survived the anti-communist [[Lapua Movement]]. Nevertheless, the relationship between Finland and the Soviet Union remained tense. Army officers were trained in France, and relations with Western Europe and Sweden were strengthened.
In 1917, the population was three million. Credit-based [[land reform]] was enacted after the civil war, increasing the proportion of the capital-owning population.<ref name="equity" /> About 70% of workers were occupied in agriculture and 10% in industry.<ref>{{cite web |author=Finland 1917–2007 |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suomi90/helmikuu_en.html |title=From slash-and-burn fields to post-industrial society—90 years of change in industrial structure |publisher=Stat.fi |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The largest export markets were the United Kingdom and Germany.
===World War II and after===
{{Main|Finland during World War II|Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|Finlandization|Early 1990s depression in Finland}}
[[File:Finnish areas ceded in 1944.png|thumb|Areas ceded by Finland to the [[Soviet Union]] after [[World War II]]. The [[Porkkala]] land lease was returned to Finland in 1956.]]
Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] of 1939–1940 after the Soviet Union attacked Finland and in the [[Continuation War]] of 1941–1944, following [[Operation Barbarossa]], when Finland aligned with Germany following Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. For 872 days, the German army, aided indirectly by Finnish forces, [[Siege of Leningrad|besieged Leningrad]], the USSR's second-largest city.<ref>Michael Jones (2013). "''[https://books.google.com/books?id=uGzfnIm97vQC&pg=PA38 Leningrad: State of Siege]''". Basic Books. p. 38. {{ISBN|0-7867-2177-4}}</ref> After Finnish resistance to [[Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive|a major Soviet offensive]] in June and July 1944 led to a standstill, the two sides reached an armistice. This was followed by the [[Lapland War]] of 1944–1945, when Finland fought retreating German forces in northern Finland. Perhaps the most famous war heroes during the aforementioned wars were [[Simo Häyhä]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R948DQAAQBAJ&q=simo+hayha+219+kills&pg=PT35|title=The White Sniper|first=Tapio|last=Saarelainen|date=31 October 2016|publisher=Casemate|isbn=978-1-61200-429-7|access-date=12 March 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rdIgAQAAIAAJ|title=Journal of Information Warfare|first1=Edith Cowan University School of Management Information|last1=Systems|first2=Teamlink|last2=Australia|date=12 March 2019|publisher=Teamlink Australia Pty Limited|access-date=12 March 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> [[Aarne Juutilainen]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=Marokon Kauhu|trans-title=Terror of Morocco|last=Mäkelä|first=Jukka L.|publisher=W. Söderström|location=Porvoo|language=fi|year=1969|oclc=3935082}}</ref> and [[Lauri Törni]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cleverley|first=J. Michael|title=Born a Soldier: The Times and Life of Larry Thorne|year=2008|publisher=Booksurge|isbn=978-1-4392-1437-4|oclc=299168934}}</ref>
The treaties signed with the Soviet Union in 1947 and 1948  included Finnish obligations, restraints, and reparations, as well as further Finnish territorial concessions in addition to those in the [[Moscow Peace Treaty]] of 1940. As a result of the two wars, Finland ceded the [[Pechengsky District|Petsamo]], along with parts of [[Finnish Karelia]] and [[Salla]]. This amounted to 10% of Finland's  land area and 20% of its industrial capacity, including the ports of [[Vyborg]] (Viipuri) and the ice-free [[Liinakhamari]] (Liinahamari). Almost the whole Finnish population, some 400,000 people, [[Evacuation of Finnish Karelia|fled these areas]]. The former Finnish territory now constitutes part of Russia's [[Republic of Karelia]], [[Leningrad Oblast]], and [[Murmansk Oblast]]. Finland was never occupied by Soviet forces and it retained its independence, but at a loss of about 97,000 soldiers. The [[Finnish war reparations to the Soviet Union|war reparations demanded by the Soviet Union]] amounted to $300 million ({{Inflation|US|300|1938|fmt=c}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).
Finland rejected [[Marshall Plan|Marshall aid]], in apparent [[Finlandization|deference to Soviet desires]]. However, in the hope of preserving Finland's independence, the United States provided secret development aid and helped the Social Democratic Party.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hidden+help+from+across+the+Atlantic/1135223633788 Hidden help from across the Atlantic] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129165823/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hidden+help+from+across+the+Atlantic/1135223633788 |date=29 January 2007 }}, Helsingin Sanomat</ref> Establishing trade with the Western powers, such as the United Kingdom, and paying reparations to the Soviet Union produced a transformation of Finland from a primarily [[agrarian economy]] to an industrialised one. [[Valmet]] was founded to create materials for war reparations. After the reparations had been paid off, Finland continued to trade with the Soviet Union in the framework of [[bilateral trade]].
[[File:Urho-Kekkonen-1975.jpg|thumb|left|[[Urho Kekkonen]], the eighth president of Finland (1956–1982)]]
In 1950, 46% of Finnish workers worked in agriculture and a third lived in urban areas.<ref name="populationdevelopment">{{cite web |author=Finland 1917–2007 |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suomi90/joulukuu_en.html |title=Population development in independent Finland—greying Baby Boomers |publisher=Stat.fi |date=5 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The new jobs in manufacturing, services, and trade quickly attracted people to the towns. The average number of births per woman declined from a [[baby boom]] peak of 3.5 in 1947 to 1.5 in 1973.<ref name="populationdevelopment" /> When baby-boomers entered the workforce, the economy did not generate jobs quickly enough, and hundreds of thousands emigrated to the more industrialized Sweden, with emigration peaking in 1969 and 1970.<ref name="populationdevelopment" /> The [[1952 Summer Olympics]] brought international visitors. Finland took part in trade liberalization in the [[World Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade]].
Officially claiming to be [[Neutral country|neutral]], Finland lay in the grey zone between the [[Western world|Western countries]] and the Soviet bloc. The [[Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|YYA Treaty]] (Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance) gave the Soviet Union some leverage in Finnish domestic politics. This was extensively exploited by president [[Urho Kekkonen]] against his opponents. He maintained an effective monopoly on Soviet relations from 1956 on, which was crucial for his continued popularity. In politics, there was a tendency to avoid any policies and statements that could be interpreted as anti-Soviet. This phenomenon was given the name "[[Finlandization]]" by the West German press. During the [[Cold War]], Finland also developed into one of the centers of the [[Cold War espionage|East-West espionage]], in which both the [[KGB]] and the [[CIA]] played their parts.<ref>{{Citation|last=Ford|first=Hal|title=ESAU -LVI - ''FINLANDIZATION'' IN ACTION: HELSINKI'S EXPERIENCE WITH MOSCOW|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/esau-55.pdf|series=DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE|date=August 1972}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/eastern-approaches/2011/12/01/secret-history|title=Finland and American intelligence - Secret history|work=[[The Economist]]|date=1 December 2011|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://intelnews.org/2011/08/19/01-794/|title=Former Finnish diplomat reveals she worked for the CIA|first=Joseph|last=Fitsanakis|website=Intelnews.org|date=19 August 2011|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9692396|title=Naisia, autoja ja piilopirttejä – Norjalainen vakoili CIA:n laskuun kylmän sodan Suomessa|first=Satu|last=Helin|publisher=[[YLE]]|date=2 July 2017|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/10/14/kylman-sodan-suomalaisagentit-kasikirjoitus|title=Kylmän sodan suomalaisagentit: käsikirjoitus|first=Kai|last=Byman|work=MOT|publisher=[[YLE]]|date=14 October 2019|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005833479.html|title=Näin Neuvostoliitto vakoili Suomessa – Supo seurasi "Jakkea", joka johdatti uusille jäljille|first=Mika|last=Lehto|work=[[Ilta-Sanomat]]|date=19 September 2018|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref> The 1949 established [[Finnish Security Intelligence Service]] (''SUPO, Suojelupoliisi''), an operational [[Security agency|security]] authority and a police unit under the [[Ministry of the Interior (Finland)|Interior Ministry]], whose core areas of activity are [[counter-Intelligence]], [[counter-terrorism]] and [[national security]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supo.fi/en/frontpage?p_p_id=fi_yja_language_version_tool_web_portlet_LanguageVersionToolMissingNotificationPortlet&_fi_yja_language_version_tool_web_portlet_LanguageVersionToolMissingNotificationPortlet_missingLanguageVersion=1|title=Frontpage|website=Supo}}</ref> also participated in this activity in some places.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tuomioja.org/kirjavinkit/2009/09/matti-simola-toimittanut-ratakatu-12-suojelupoliisi-1949-2009-wsoy-319-s-hameenlinna-2009/|title=Salaisen palvelun tutkimuksen haasteet|last=Tuomioja|first=Erkki|date=8 September 2009|work=Tuomioja.org|access-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153602/https://tuomioja.org/kirjavinkit/2009/09/matti-simola-toimittanut-ratakatu-12-suojelupoliisi-1949-2009-wsoy-319-s-hameenlinna-2009/|archive-date=24 October 2017|url-status=live|language=fi-FI|trans-title=Challenges in secret service research}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10224/4054|title=The Cold War and the Politics of History|last=Rentola|first=Kimmo|publisher=Edita Publishing Ltd|year=2008|isbn=978-952-10-4637-7|editor-last=Aunesluoma|editor-first=Juhani|location=Helsinki|pages=269–289|chapter=President Urho Kekkonen of Finland and the KGB|editor-last2=Kettunen|editor-first2=Pauli|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010917/https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10224/4054|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
Despite close relations with the Soviet Union, Finland maintained a market economy. Various industries benefited from [[Bilateral trade|trade privileges]] with the Soviets, which explains the widespread support that pro-Soviet policies enjoyed among business interests in Finland. Economic growth was rapid in the postwar era, and by 1975 Finland's GDP per capita was the 15th-highest in the world. In the 1970s and 1980s, Finland built one of the most extensive [[welfare state]]s in the world. Finland negotiated with the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC, a predecessor of the European Union) a treaty that mostly abolished customs duties towards the EEC starting from 1977, although Finland did not fully join. In 1981, President Urho Kekkonen's failing health forced him to retire after holding office for 25 years.
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and signed the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in 2007.]]
Finland reacted cautiously to the collapse of the Soviet Union, but swiftly began increasing integration with the West. On 21 September 1990, Finland unilaterally declared the [[Paris Peace Treaty]] obsolete, following the German reunification decision nine days earlier.<ref>[http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=55802&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI formin.finland.fi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105213131/http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=55802&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI |date=5 January 2016 }}; ''Suurlähettiläs Jaakko Blomberg: Kylmän sodan päättyminen, Suomi ja Viro – Ulkoasiainministeriö: Ajankohtaista''. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
Miscalculated macroeconomic decisions, [[Finnish banking crisis of 1990s|a banking crisis]], the collapse of its largest trading partner (the Soviet Union), and a global economic downturn caused a deep [[Early 1990s depression in Finland|early 1990s recession in Finland]]. The depression bottomed out in 1993, and Finland saw steady economic growth for more than ten years.<ref>{{Citation|last=Uusitalo|first=Hannu|title=Economic Crisis and Social Policy in Finland in the 1990s|journal=Working Paper Series|url=https://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/SPRCFile/dp070.pdf|series=SPRC Discussion Paper No. 70|date=October 1996|issn=1037-2741}}</ref> Like other Nordic countries, Finland decentralised its economy since the late 1980s. Financial and product market regulation were loosened. Some state enterprises have been privatized and there have been some modest tax cuts.{{Citation needed |date=August 2017}} Finland joined the [[European Union]] in 1995, and the [[Eurozone]] in 1999. Much of the late 1990s economic growth was fueled by the success of the mobile phone manufacturer [[Nokia]], which held a unique position of representing 80% of the market capitalization of the [[Helsinki Stock Exchange]].
== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Finland}}
{{See also|List of cities and towns in Finland|List of lakes of Finland|List of national parks of Finland|Environmental issues in Finland}}
[[File:Map of Finland-en.svg|thumb|upright|Topographic map of Finland]]
Lying approximately between latitudes [[60th parallel north|60°]] and [[70th parallel north|70° N]], and longitudes [[20th meridian east|20°]] and [[32nd meridian east|32° E]], Finland is one of the world's northernmost countries. Of world capitals, only [[Reykjavík]] lies more to the north than Helsinki. The distance from the southernmost point – [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]] in Uusimaa – to the northernmost – [[Nuorgam]] in Lapland – is {{convert|1160|km|mi}}.
Finland has about 168,000 lakes (of area larger than {{convert|500|m2|acre|2|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and 179,000 islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_alue_en.html |title=Statistics Finland, Environment and Natural Resources|access-date=4 April 2013}}</ref> Its largest lake, [[Saimaa]], is the fourth largest in Europe. The [[Finnish Lakeland]] is the area with the most lakes in the country; many of the major cities in the area, most notably [[Tampere]], [[Jyväskylä]] and [[Kuopio]], are located in the immediate vicinity of the large lakes. The greatest concentration of islands is found in the southwest, in the [[Archipelago Sea]] between continental Finland and the main island of Åland.
Much of the geography of Finland is a result of the Ice Age. The glaciers were thicker and lasted longer in [[Fennoscandia]] compared with the rest of Europe. Their eroding effects have left the Finnish landscape mostly flat with few hills and fewer mountains. Its highest point, the [[Halti]] at {{convert|1324|m|ft|0}}, is found in the extreme north of Lapland at the border between Finland and [[Norway]]. The highest mountain whose peak is entirely in Finland is [[Ridnitšohkka]] at {{convert|1316|m|ft|abbr=on}}, directly adjacent to Halti.
[[File:Imatran kylpylä.jpg|thumb|There are some 187,888 [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes in Finland]] larger than 500 square metres and 75,818 [[List of islands of Finland|islands]] of over 0,5 km2 area, leading to the denomination "the land of a thousand lakes".<ref name="thousand"/>]]
The retreating glaciers have left the land with [[moraine|morainic]] deposits in formations of [[esker]]s. These are ridges of stratified gravel and sand, running northwest to southeast, where the ancient edge of the glacier once lay. Among the biggest of these are the three [[Salpausselkä]] ridges that run across southern Finland.
Having been compressed under the enormous weight of the glaciers, terrain in Finland is rising due to the [[post-glacial rebound]]. The effect is strongest around the Gulf of Bothnia, where land steadily rises about {{convert|1|cm|1|abbr=on}} a year. As a result, the old sea bottom turns little by little into dry land: the surface area of the country is expanding by about {{convert|7|km2|sqmi}} annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |title=Trends in sea level variability |work=Finnish Institute of Marine Research |date=24 August 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227172733/http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |archive-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref> Relatively speaking, Finland is rising from the sea.<ref name="EB">"Finland." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011.</ref>
The landscape is covered mostly by coniferous [[taiga]] forests and [[fen]]s, with little cultivated land. Of the total area 10% is lakes, rivers and ponds, and 78% forest. The forest consists of [[pine]], [[spruce]], [[birch]], and other species.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metla.fi/suomen-metsat/ |title=Euroopan metsäisin maa |date=2013 |website= Luke |language=fi |access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> Finland is the largest producer of wood in Europe and among the largest in the world. The most common type of rock is [[granite]]. It is a ubiquitous part of the scenery, visible wherever there is no soil cover. Moraine or [[till]] is the most common type of soil, covered by a thin layer of [[humus]] of biological origin. [[Podzol]] profile development is seen in most forest soils except where drainage is poor. [[Gleysol]]s and peat [[bog]]s occupy poorly drained areas.
=== Biodiversity ===
{{Main|Fauna of Finland|Wildlife of Finland}}
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Finland is shared between the Arctic, central European, and northern European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Finland can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Scandinavian and Russian taiga]], [[Sarmatic mixed forests]], and [[Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287}}</ref> Taiga covers most of Finland from northern regions of southern provinces to the north of Lapland. On the southwestern coast, south of the Helsinki-[[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] line, forests are characterized by mixed forests, that are more typical in the Baltic region. In the extreme north of Finland, near the [[tree line]] and Arctic Ocean, Montane Birch forests are common. Finland had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.08/10, ranking it 109th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057}}</ref>
[[File:Ähtärin karhut 7.jpg|thumb|The [[brown bear]] (''Ursus arctos'') is Finland's national animal. It is also the largest [[carnivora]] in Finland.]]
Similarly, Finland has a diverse and extensive range of fauna. There are at least sixty native [[mammal]]ian species, 248 breeding bird species, over 70 fish species, and 11 reptile and frog species present today, many migrating from neighboring countries thousands of years ago.
Large and widely recognized wildlife mammals found in Finland are the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[wolverine]], and [[Moose|elk]]. The brown bear, which is also nicknamed as the "king of the forest" by the Finns, is the country's official national animal,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://finland.fi/life-society/iconic-finnish-nature-symbols-stand-out/ | title=Iconic Finnish nature symbols stand out | publisher=This is Finland | access-date=24 December 2020}}</ref> which also occur on the coat of arms of the [[Satakunta]] [[Regions of Finland|region]] is a crown-headed black bear carrying a sword,<ref>Iltanen, Jussi: ''Suomen kuntavaakunat'' (2013), Karttakeskus, {{ISBN|951-593-915-1}}</ref> possibly referring to the regional capital city of [[Pori]], whose Swedish name ''Björneborg'' and the Latin name ''Arctopolis'' literally means "bear city" or "bear fortress".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Savoring Heritage: A Memphis writer explores her daughter's Finnish roots |last=Maki |first=Aisling |work=Memphis magazine |date=27 March 2020 |url= https://memphismagazine.com/travel/savoring-heritage/ }}</ref> Three of the more striking birds are the [[whooper swan]], a large European swan and the national bird of Finland; the [[Western capercaillie]], a large, black-plumaged member of the [[grouse]] family; and the [[Eurasian eagle-owl]]. The latter is considered an indicator of [[old-growth forest]] connectivity, and has been declining because of landscape fragmentation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514259904/html/x288.html |title=Nutritional and genetic adaptation of galliform birds: implications for hand-rearing and restocking |work=Oulu University Library (2000) |access-date=23 May 2008}}</ref> The most common breeding birds are the [[willow warbler]], [[common chaffinch]], and [[redwing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.fi/lintuharrastus/faq-muut.shtml#pesimalinnut |title=BirdLife Finland |work=BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. Cambridge, UK. (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12) |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> Of some seventy species of freshwater fish, the [[northern pike]], [[perch]], and others are plentiful. [[Atlantic salmon]] remains the favourite of [[Fly fishing|fly rod]] enthusiasts.
The endangered [[Saimaa ringed seal]] (''Pusa hispida saimensis''), one of only three lake seal species in the world, exists only in the [[Saimaa]] lake system of southeastern Finland, down to only 390 seals today.<ref>{{cite web |title= Saimaa Ringed Seal |url= https://wwf.fi/en/saimaaringedseal/ |access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref> Ever since the species was protected in 1955,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalparks.fi/saimaa-ringed-seal|title=Saimaa Ringed Seal|website=Nationalparks.fi}}</ref> it has become the emblem of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=SOS: Save our seals |work=this is Finland ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910195719/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=10 September 2015 }}</ref> The Saimaa ringed seal lives nowadays mainly in two Finnish national parks, [[Kolovesi National Park|Kolovesi]] and [[Linnansaari National Park|Linnansaari]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jarvisydan.com/en/Nature-Adventures/National-Parks |title=Welcome to Linnansaari and Kolovesi National Parks |date=2016 |website=Järvisydän |access-date=2016-05-01 |archive-date=26 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926180335/http://www.jarvisydan.com/en/Nature-Adventures/National-Parks |url-status=dead }}</ref>  but strays have been seen in a much larger area, including near [[Savonlinna]]'s town centre.
=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Finland}}
[[File:Finland Köppen.svg|thumb|upright|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Finland]]
The main factor influencing Finland's climate is the country's geographical position between the 60th and 70th northern parallels in the [[Eurasia]]n continent's coastal zone. In the [[Köppen climate classification]], the whole of Finland lies in the [[subarctic climate|boreal zone]], characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. Within the country, the [[temperateness]] varies considerably between the southern coastal regions and the extreme north, showing characteristics of both a [[Oceanic climate|maritime]] and a [[continental climate]]. Finland is near enough to the Atlantic Ocean to be continuously warmed by the [[Gulf Stream]]. The Gulf Stream combines with the moderating effects of the Baltic Sea and numerous inland lakes to explain the unusually warm climate compared with other regions that share the same [[latitude]], such as [[Alaska]], [[Siberia]], and southern [[Greenland]].<ref name="Finland's climate">{{cite web |title=Finland's climate |url=http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |publisher=Finnish Meteorological Institute |access-date=3 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721105549/http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Winters in southern Finland (when mean daily temperature remains below {{convert|0|°C|disp=or}}) are usually about 100 days long, and in the inland the snow typically covers the land from about late November to April, and on the coastal areas such as Helsinki, snow often covers the land from late December to late March.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://ilmasto-opas.fi/fi/ilmastonmuutos/suomen-muuttuva-ilmasto/-/artikkeli/08848977-fd1a-4e85-8389-7ecf3ca7de7d/uusimaa-merellisen-ilmaston-maakunta.html|title = The climate in Finland (finnish)|access-date = 3 January 2015}}</ref> Even in the south, the harshest winter nights can see the temperatures fall to {{convert|-30|°C}} although on coastal areas like Helsinki, temperatures below {{convert|-30|°C|0}} are rare. Climatic summers (when mean daily temperature remains above {{convert|10|°C|disp=or}}) in southern Finland last from about late May to mid-September, and in the inland, the warmest days of July can reach over {{convert|35|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> Although most of Finland lies on the [[taiga]] belt, the southernmost coastal regions are sometimes classified as [[hemiboreal]].<ref name="Havas">{{cite web|url=http://www.oulu.fi/northnature/finnish/Suomi/luma1.html|title=Pohjoiset alueet / yleiskuvaus|last=Havas|first=Paavo|language=fi|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref>
In northern Finland, particularly in Lapland, the winters are long and cold, while the summers are relatively warm but short. The most severe winter days in Lapland can see the temperature fall down to {{convert|-45|°C}}. The winter of the north lasts for about 200 days with permanent snow cover from about mid-October to early May. Summers in the north are quite short, only two to three months, but can still see maximum daily temperatures above {{convert|25|°C}} during heat waves.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> No part of Finland has [[Arctic tundra]], but [[Alpine tundra]] can be found at the [[fell]]s Lapland.<ref name="Havas" />
The Finnish climate is suitable for cereal farming only in the southernmost regions, while the northern regions are suitable for [[animal husbandry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|title=Finland's Northern Conditions: Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture|publisher=Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland|pages=1–4|access-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407022547/http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|archive-date=7 April 2012 }}</ref>
A quarter of Finland's territory lies within the [[Arctic Circle]] and the [[midnight sun]] can be experienced for more days the farther north one travels. At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during summer, and does not rise at all for 51 days during winter.<ref name="Finland's climate" />
=== Regions ===
{{Main|Regions of Finland}}
Finland consists of 19 [[Regions of Finland|regions]], called {{lang|fi|maakunta}} in Finnish and {{lang|sv|landskap}} in Swedish. The regions are governed by regional councils which serve as forums of cooperation for the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] of a region. The main tasks of the regions are regional planning and development of enterprise and education. In addition, the public health services are usually organized on the basis of regions. Currently, the only region where a popular election is held for the council is Kainuu. Other regional councils are elected by municipal councils, each municipality sending representatives in proportion to its population.
In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, which is the responsibility of regional councils, each region has a state Employment and Economic Development Centre which is responsible for the local administration of labour, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and entrepreneurial affairs. The [[Finnish Defence Forces]] regional offices are responsible for the regional defence preparations and for the administration of conscription within the region.
Regions represent dialectal, cultural, and economic variations better than the former [[Provinces of Finland|provinces]], which were purely administrative divisions of the central government. Historically, regions are divisions of [[historical provinces of Finland]], areas which represent dialects and culture more accurately.
Six [[Regional State Administrative Agencies of Finland|Regional State Administrative Agencies]] were created by the state of Finland in 2010, each of them responsible for one of the regions called {{lang|fi|alue}} in Finnish and {{lang|sv|region}} in Swedish; in addition, Åland was designated a seventh region. These take over some of the tasks of the earlier [[Provinces of Finland]] (''lääni''/''län''), which were abolished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |title=Tervetuloa aluehallintoviraston verkkosivuille! |publisher=State Provincial Office |language=fi |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315151138/http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |archive-date=15 March 2012 }}</ref>
{| style="with:90%"
| style="width:50%" |{{Finnish Regions|options=float:top}}
| style="width:50%" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Official English name<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/3457861/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyviä+termejä+sekä+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29/974f7fc5-1466-c667-9787-381c5bd57603/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyviä+termejä+sekä+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29.pdf|title=Suomen hallintorakenteeseen ja maakuntauudistukseen liittyviä termejä sekä maakuntien ja kuntien nimet fi-sv-en-(ru)|website=vnk.fi|pages=8–9|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>
! Finnish name
! Swedish name
! Capital
! Regional state administrative agency
|-
| [[Lapland, Finland|Lapland]]
| '''Lapland'''
| {{lang|fi|Lappi}}
| {{lang|sv|Lappland}}
| [[Rovaniemi]]
| [[Municipalities of Lapland|Lapland]]
|-
| [[North Ostrobothnia]]
| '''North Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Österbotten}}
| [[Oulu]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kainuu]]
|'''Kainuu'''
| {{lang|fi|Kainuu}}
| {{lang|sv|Kajanaland}}
| [[Kajaani]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[North Karelia]]
| '''North Karelia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Karelen}}
| [[Joensuu]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[Northern Savonia]]
| '''North Savo'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Savo}}
| |{{lang|sv|Norra Savolax}}
| [[Kuopio]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[Southern Savonia]]
| '''South Savo'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Savo}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Savolax}}
| [[Mikkeli]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[South Ostrobothnia]]
| '''South Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Österbotten}}
| [[Seinäjoki]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Ostrobothnia]]
| '''Central Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Österbotten}}
| [[Kokkola]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Ostrobothnia (region)|Ostrobothnia]]
| '''Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Österbotten}}
| [[Vaasa]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Pirkanmaa]]
| '''Pirkanmaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Pirkanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Birkaland}}
| [[Tampere]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Finland]]
| '''Central Finland'''
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Finland}}
| [[Jyväskylä]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Satakunta (region)|Satakunta]]
| '''Satakunta'''
| {{lang|fi|Satakunta}}
| {{lang|sv|Satakunta}}
| [[Pori]]
| [[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|South-Western Finland]]
|-
| [[Southwest Finland]]
| '''Southwest Finland'''
| {{lang|fi|Varsinais-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Finland}}
| [[Turku]]
| [[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|South-Western Finland]]
|-
| [[South Karelia]]
| '''South Karelia'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Karelen}}
| [[Lappeenranta]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Päijänne Tavastia]]
| '''Päijät-Häme'''
| {{lang|fi|Päijät-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Päijänne-Tavastland}}
| [[Lahti]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Tavastia Proper]]
| '''Kanta-Häme'''
| {{lang|fi|Kanta-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Tavastland}}
| [[Hämeenlinna]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Uusimaa (region)|Uusimaa]]
| '''Uusimaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Uusimaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Nyland}}
| [[Helsinki]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kymenlaakso]]
| '''Kymenlaakso'''
| {{lang|fi|Kymenlaakso}}
| {{lang|sv|Kymmenedalen}}
| [[Kotka]] and [[Kouvola]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Åland Islands]]<ref name="åland_note">The role that the regional councils serve on [[Mainland Finland]] are on the Åland Islands handled by the autonomous [[Government of Åland]].</ref>
| '''Åland'''
| {{lang|fi|Ahvenanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Åland}}
| [[Mariehamn]]
| [[Municipalities of Åland|Åland]]
|}
|}
The region of [[Eastern Uusimaa|Eastern Uusimaa (Itä-Uusimaa)]] was consolidated with Uusimaa on 1 January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |title=''Valtioneuvosto päätti Uudenmaan ja Itä-Uudenmaan maakuntien yhdistämisestä'' |date=22 October 2009 |publisher=Ministry of Finance |language=fi |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084712/http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref>
=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Finland|Regions of Finland|Sub-regions of Finland|Municipalities of Finland|Historical provinces of Finland}}
The fundamental administrative divisions of the country are the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]], which may also call themselves towns or cities. They account for half of public spending. Spending is financed by municipal income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. {{As of|2021}}, there are 309 municipalities,<ref name="Suomen Kuntaliitto">{{cite web|title=Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot|url=https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot|access-date=7 March 2021|publisher=Suomen Kuntaliitto – Association of Finnish Municipalities|language=fi}}</ref> and most have fewer than 6,000 residents.
In addition to municipalities, two intermediate levels are defined. Municipalities co-operate in seventy [[Sub-regions of Finland|sub-regions]] and nineteen [[Regions of Finland|regions]]. These are governed by the member municipalities and have only limited powers. The autonomous province of Åland has a permanent democratically elected regional council. Sami people have a semi-autonomous [[Sami native region (Finland)|Sami native region]] in Lapland for issues on language and culture.
In the following chart, the number of inhabitants includes those living in the entire municipality (''kunta/kommun''), not just in the built-up area. The land area is given in km<sup>2</sup>, and the density in inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup> (land area). The figures are as of {{#time:d F Y |{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}}}}. The [[capital region]] – comprising Helsinki, [[Vantaa]], [[Espoo]] and [[Kauniainen]] – forms a continuous [[conurbation]] of over 1.1 million people. However, common administration is limited to voluntary cooperation of all municipalities, e.g. in [[Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council]].
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
! City !! Population{{Data Finland municipality/population count}} !! Land area{{Data Finland municipality/total area}} !! Density !! Regional map !! Population density map
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Helsinki.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Helsinki]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Helsinki }} }}|| {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Helsinki }} round 2}} }}
| rowspan ="15" |
[[File:Finland administrative divisions 2.svg|thumb|x410px|center|[[Municipalities of Finland|Municipalities]] (thin borders) and [[Regions of Finland|regions]] (thick borders) of Finland (2021)]]
| rowspan ="15" |
[[File:Population map of Finland.svg|thumb|center|x410px|The population densities of Finnish municipalities (2010)]]
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Espoo.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Espoo]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Espoo }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Espoo }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Tampere.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Tampere]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tampere }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Tampere }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Tampere }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Vantaa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Vantaa]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vantaa }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vantaa }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Oulu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Oulu]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulu }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Oulu }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Oulu }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Turku.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Turku]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Turku }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Turku }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Turku }} round 2}}
}}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Jyväskylä.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Jyväskylä]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Jyväskylä }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Jyväskylä }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Jyväskylä }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Kuopio.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Kuopio]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kuopio }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kuopio }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kuopio }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Lahti.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Lahti]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lahti }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lahti }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Lahti }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Porin vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Pori]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Pori }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Pori }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Pori }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Kouvola.vaakuna.2009.svg|20px]] '''[[Kouvola]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kouvola }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kouvola }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kouvola }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Joensuu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Joensuu]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Joensuu }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Joensuu }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Joensuu }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Lappeenranta.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Lappeenranta]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lappeenranta }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lappeenranta }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Lappeenranta }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Hämeenlinna.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Hämeenlinna]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hämeenlinna }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Hämeenlinna }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Hämeenlinna }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Vaasa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Vaasa]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vaasa }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vaasa }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vaasa}} round 2}} }}
|}
== Politics ==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| caption_align = center
| image1 = President Trump Meets with the President of the Republic of Finland (48834234637) (cropped).jpg
| width1 = 115
| caption1 = [[Sauli Niinistö]]<br /><small>12th [[President of Finland|President]]<br />since 1 March 2012</small>
| image2 = Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin 2019 (cropped).jpg
| width2 = 113
| caption2 = [[Sanna Marin]]<br /><small>46th [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]]<br />since 10 December 2019</small>
}}
{{Main|Politics of Finland}}
{{See also|List of political parties in Finland|Human rights in Finland}}
[[File:BlueEurozone.svg|thumb|Finland is a member of:<br/>
{{legend2|#039|the [[Eurozone]]}}
{{legend2|#039}}{{legend2|#36C|the [[European Union]]}}]]
=== Constitution ===
The [[Constitution of Finland]] defines the political system; Finland is a [[parliamentary republic]] within the framework of a [[representative democracy]]. The [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] is the country's most powerful person. The current version of the constitution was enacted on 1 March 2000, and was amended on 1 March 2012. Citizens can run and vote in parliamentary, municipal, presidential and [[Elections in the European Union|European Union elections]].
=== President ===
{{Main|President of Finland}}
The [[head of state]] of Finland is [[President of Finland|President of the Republic of Finland]] (in Finnish: ''Suomen tasavallan presidentti''; in Swedish: ''Republiken Finlands president''). Finland has had for most of its independence a [[semi-presidential system]], but in the last few decades the powers of the President have been diminished. Constitutional amendments, which came into effect in 1991 and 1992, as well as a new drafted constitution of 2000 (amended in 2012), have made the presidency a primarily ceremonial office. However, the President still leads the nation's foreign politics together with the Council of State and is the commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces.<ref name="Parliamentary">Formerly a semi-presidential republic, it is now a parliamentary republic according to David Arter, First Chair of Politics at Aberdeen University. In his "Scandinavian Politics Today" (Manchester University Press, revised 2008 {{ISBN|978-0-7190-7853-8}}), he quotes {{Cite journal |last=Nousiainen |first=Jaakko |date=June 2001 |title=From semi-presidentialism to parliamentary government: political and constitutional developments in Finland |journal=[[Scandinavian Political Studies]] |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=95–109 |doi=10.1111/1467-9477.00048 }} as follows: "There are hardly any grounds for the epithet 'semi-presidential'." Arter's own conclusions are only slightly more nuanced: "The adoption of a new constitution on 1 March 2000 meant that Finland was no longer a case of semi-presidential government other than in the minimalist sense of a situation where a popularly elected fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament (Elgie 2004: 317)". According to the Finnish Constitution, the president has no possibility to rule the government without the ministerial approval, and does not have the power to dissolve the parliament under his or her own desire. Finland is actually represented by its prime minister, and not by its president, in the Council of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union. The 2012 constitutional amendments reduced the powers of the president even further.</ref> The position still does entail some powers, including responsibility for [[Foreign relations of Finland|foreign policy]] (excluding affairs related to the [[European Union]]) in cooperation with [[Cabinet of Finland|the cabinet]], being [[Commander-in-Chief|the head of the armed forces]], some decree and pardoning powers, and some appointive powers. Direct, one- or two-stage elections are used to elect the president for a term of six years and for a maximum of two consecutive 6-year terms. The current president is [[Sauli Niinistö]]; he took office on 1 March 2012. Former presidents were [[Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg|K. J. Ståhlberg]] (1919–1925), [[Lauri Kristian Relander|L. K. Relander]] (1925–1931), [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud|P. E. Svinhufvud]] (1931–1937), [[Kyösti Kallio]] (1937–1940), [[Risto Ryti]] (1940–1944), [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|C. G. E. Mannerheim]] (1944–1946), [[Juho Kusti Paasikivi|J. K. Paasikivi]] (1946–1956), [[Urho Kekkonen]] (1956–1982), [[Mauno Koivisto]] (1982–1994), [[Martti Ahtisaari]] (1994–2000), and [[Tarja Halonen]] (2000–2012)<!-- don't add Sauli Niinistö here, because he is not a former president -->.
The current president was elected from the ranks of the [[National Coalition Party]] for the first time since 1946. The presidency between 1946 and the present was instead held by a member of the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]] or the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]].
=== Parliament ===
{{Main|Parliament of Finland}}
[[File:Eduskuntatalo Helsinki.jpg|thumb|The [[Parliament of Finland]]'s main building along [[Mannerheimintie]] in [[Töölö]], [[Helsinki]]]]
[[File:Eduskunta istuntosali.jpg|thumb|The Session Hall of the Parliament of Finland]]
The 200-member [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[Parliament of Finland]] ({{Lang-fi|Eduskunta}}, {{Lang-sv|Riksdag}}) exercises supreme legislative authority in the country. It may alter the constitution and ordinary laws, dismiss the cabinet, and override presidential vetoes. Its acts are not subject to judicial review; the constitutionality of new laws is assessed by the parliament's [[Parliament of Finland#Committees|constitutional law committee]]. The parliament is elected for a term of four years using the proportional [[D'Hondt method]] within a number of multi-seat constituencies through the [[Open list#Most open|most open list]] multi-member districts. Various parliament committees listen to experts and prepare legislation.
Since [[universal suffrage]] was introduced in 1906, the parliament has been dominated by the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]] (former Agrarian Union), the [[National Coalition Party]], and the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democrats]]. These parties have enjoyed approximately equal support, and their combined vote has totalled about 65–80% of all votes. Their lowest common total of MPs, 121, was reached in the 2011 elections. For a few decades after 1944, the [[Communist Party of Finland|Communists]] were a strong fourth party. Due to the electoral system of proportional representation, and the relative reluctance of voters to switch their support between parties, the relative strengths of the parties have commonly varied only slightly from one election to another. However, there have been some long-term trends, such as the rise and fall of the Communists during the Cold War; the steady decline into insignificance of the [[Liberals (Finland)|Liberals]] and their predecessors from 1906 to 1980; and the rise of the [[Green League]] since 1983.
The [[Marin Cabinet]] is the incumbent 76th [[government of Finland]]. It was formed following the collapse of the [[Rinne Cabinet]] and officially took office on 10 December 2019.<ref name=NYT1>{{Cite news| last1 = Lemola | first1 = Johanna | last2 = Specia | first2 = Megan | date=10 December 2019| title=Who Is Sanna Marin, Finland's 34-Year-Old Prime Minister? | work=[[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/world/europe/finland-sanna-marin.html | access-date=4 February 2020 | language = en | issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=NYT2>{{Cite news| last=Specia |first=Megan | date=10 December 2019| title=Sanna Marin of Finland to Become World's Youngest Prime Minister|work=[[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/world/europe/finland-prime-minister-sanna-marin.html | access-date=4 February 2020 | language = en | issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The cabinet consists of a coalition formed by the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]], the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]], the [[Green League]], the [[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]], and the [[Swedish People's Party of Finland|Swedish People's Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaatuneen hallituksen kaikki puolueet halukkaita jatkoon samalla hallitusohjelmalla – vanhan opposition puolueet eivät hyväksy ohjelmaa |url=https://www.savonsanomat.fi/kotimaa/Kaatuneen-hallituksen-kaikki-puolueet-halukkaita-jatkoon-samalla-hallitusohjelmalla-%E2%80%93-vanhan-opposition-puolueet-eiv%C3%A4t-hyv%C3%A4ksy-ohjelmaa/1479764 |work=Savon Sanomat |language= fi |access-date=10 December 2019 |date=7 December 2019}}</ref>
=== Cabinet ===
{{See also|List of female cabinet ministers of Finland}}
After parliamentary elections, the parties negotiate among themselves on forming a new cabinet (the [[Finnish Government]]), which then has to be approved by a simple majority vote in the parliament. The cabinet can be dismissed by a parliamentary vote of no confidence, although this rarely happens (the last time in 1957), as the parties represented in the cabinet usually make up a majority in the parliament.<ref>[[:fi:Epäluottamuslause|The Finnish Wikipedia's article on Motion of no confidence]]</ref>{{circular reference|date=December 2020}}
The cabinet exercises most executive powers, and originates most of the bills that the parliament then debates and votes on. It is headed by the [[Prime Minister of Finland]], and consists of him or her, of other ministers, and of the [[Chancellor of Justice (Finland)|Chancellor of Justice]]. The current prime minister is [[Sanna Marin]] (Social Democratic Party). Each minister heads his or her ministry, or, in some cases, has responsibility for a subset of a ministry's policy. After the prime minister, the most powerful minister is the [[Minister of Finance (Finland)|minister of finance]]. The incumbent Minister of Finance is [[Matti Vanhanen]].
As no one party ever dominates the parliament, Finnish cabinets are multi-party coalitions. As a rule, the post of prime minister goes to the leader of the biggest party and that of the minister of finance to the leader of the second biggest.
=== Law ===
{{Main|Law of Finland|Judicial system of Finland}}
[[File:Supreme Court of Finland.jpg|thumb|right|The Court House of the [[Supreme Court of Finland|Supreme Court]]]]
The judicial system of Finland is a [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] system divided between [[court]]s with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and [[administrative court]]s with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and the public administration. Finnish law is codified and based on [[Judiciary of Sweden|Swedish law]] and in a wider sense, civil law or [[Roman law]]. The court system for civil and criminal jurisdiction consists of local courts (''käräjäoikeus'', ''tingsrätt''), [[Hovrätt|regional appellate courts]] (''hovioikeus'', ''hovrätt''), and the [[Supreme Court of Finland|Supreme Court]] (''korkein oikeus'', ''högsta domstolen''). The administrative branch of justice consists of administrative courts (''hallinto-oikeus'', ''förvaltningsdomstol'') and the [[Supreme Administrative Court of Finland|Supreme Administrative Court]] (''korkein hallinto-oikeus'', ''högsta förvaltningsdomstolen''). In addition to the regular courts, there are a few special courts in certain branches of administration. There is also a [[Judicial system of Finland#High Court of Impeachment|High Court of Impeachment]] for criminal charges against certain high-ranking officeholders.
Around 92% of residents have confidence in Finland's security institutions.<ref name="corruptionpolicing">Policing corruption, International Perspectives.</ref> The overall [[Crime in Finland|crime rate of Finland]] is not high in the EU context. Some crime types are above average, notably the high [[homicide]] rate for Western Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/3/3e/Intentional_homicides%2C_2016_%28police-recorded_offences_per_100_000_inhabitants%29.png |title=File:Intentional homicides, 2016 (police-recorded offences per 100 000 inhabitants).png |access-date=10 December 2010}}</ref> A [[day fine]] system is in effect and also applied to offenses such as [[speeding]].
Finland has successfully fought against government corruption, which was more common in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="corruption">The History of Corruption in Central Government By Seppo Tiihonen, International Institute of Administrative Sciences</ref>{{verify source|date=March 2011|reason=Surprising, not clear what part of the work is used.}} For instance, economic reforms and EU membership introduced stricter requirements for open bidding and many public monopolies were abolished.<ref name="corruption" /> Today, Finland has a very low number of corruption charges; [[Transparency International]] ranks Finland as one of the least corrupt countries in Europe.
In 2008, Transparency International criticized the lack of transparency of the system of Finnish political finance.<ref>[http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/oikea/id90735.html Vaalijohtaja: Vaalirahoituslain rikkominen melko yleistä] YLE 15 May 2008</ref> According to [[GRECO]] in 2007, corruption should be taken into account in the Finnish system of election funds better.<ref>Evaluation Report on Finland on Incriminations, Theme I, s. 21, GRECO 3–7.12.2007</ref> [[2007 Finnish campaign finance scandal|A scandal revolving around campaign finance of the 2007 parliamentary elections]] broke out in spring 2008. Nine cabinet ministers submitted incomplete funding reports and even more of the members of parliament. The law includes no punishment of false funds reports of the elected politicians.
=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Finland}}
[[File:Nobel Peace Prize 2008 Ole Danbolt Mjøs & Martti Ahtisaari 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Martti Ahtisaari]] receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008]]
According to the 2012 constitution, the president (currently [[Sauli Niinistö]]) leads foreign policy in cooperation with the government, except that the president has no role in EU affairs.<ref name="Finnish constitution.">[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf Finnish constitution], Section 93.</ref>
In 2008, president [[Martti Ahtisaari]] was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]].<ref name="Nobelprize">{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2008/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2008|work=The Nobel Foundation|publisher=Nobelprize.org|access-date=10 May 2009}}</ref> Finland was considered a cooperative model state, and Finland did not oppose proposals for a common EU defence policy.<ref name="foreignpolicyidea" /> This was reversed in the 2000s, when Tarja Halonen and [[Erkki Tuomioja]] made Finland's official policy to resist other EU members' plans for common defence.<ref name="foreignpolicyidea">"Finland's foreign policy idea" ("Suomen ulkopolitiikan idea"), [[Risto E. J. Penttilä]], 2008.</ref>
=== Military ===
{{Main|Finnish Defence Forces|Military history of Finland}}
{{See also|List of wars involving Finland}}
[[File:Taistelunäytös Leopard 2A4 Kokonaisturvallisuus 2015 05.JPG|thumb|left|Finnish [[Leopard 2A4]] tank Ps 273–106 in a combat demonstration at Comprehensive security exhibition 2015 in [[Tampere]].]]
The Finnish Defence Forces consist of a [[Cadre (military)|cadre]] of professional soldiers (mainly officers and technical personnel), currently serving conscripts, and a large reserve. The standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform, of which 25% are professional soldiers. A universal male [[Conscription in Finland|conscription]] is in place, under which all male Finnish nationals above 18 years of age serve for 6 to 12 months of armed service or 12 months of [[Siviilipalvelus|civilian]] (non-armed) service.
Voluntary post-conscription overseas peacekeeping service is popular, and troops serve around the world in UN, NATO, and EU missions. Approximately 500 women choose voluntary military service every year.<ref>[http://www.mil.fi/varusmies/naisten_vapaaehtoinen_asepalvelus.dsp Women's voluntary service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409182820/http://www.mil.fi/varusmies/naisten_vapaaehtoinen_asepalvelus.dsp |date=9 April 2008 }} (in Finnish)</ref> Women are allowed to serve in all combat arms including front-line infantry and special forces.
The army consists of a highly mobile field army backed up by local defence units. The army defends the national territory and its military strategy employs the use of the heavily forested terrain and numerous lakes to wear down an aggressor, instead of attempting to hold the attacking army on the frontier.
[[File:Tracked transport vehicle Sisu NA 110.JPG|thumb|right|[[Sisu Nasu]] NA-110 tracked transport vehicle of the Finnish Army. Most conscripts receive training for warfare in winter, and transport vehicles such as this give mobility in heavy snow.]]
Finnish defence expenditure per capita is one of the highest in the European Union.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/artikkelit/2007/art_2007-06-01_005.html Työvoimakustannukset puuttuvat puolustusmenoista], Statistics Finland (in Finnish): Eurostat ranking is sixth, but the third when conscription is accounted.</ref> The Finnish military doctrine is based on the concept of total defence. The term total means that all sectors of the government and economy are involved in the defence planning. The armed forces are under the command of the [[Chief of Defence (Finland)|Chief of Defence]] (currently General [[Jarmo Lindberg]]), who is directly subordinate to the president in matters related to military command. The branches of the military are [[Finnish Army|the army]], [[Finnish Navy|the navy]], and [[Finnish Air Force|the air force]]. The [[Finnish Border Guard|border guard]] is under the Ministry of the Interior but can be incorporated into the Defence Forces when required for defence readiness.
Even while Finland hasn't joined the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], the country has joined the [[NATO Response Force]], the [[EU Battlegroup]],<ref>{{cite web|title=European Union battlegroups|url=http://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/international-crisis-management/eu-battle-group|publisher=Finnish Defence Forces|access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> the NATO [[Partnership for Peace]] and in 2014 signed a NATO [[memorandum of understanding]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://natowatch.org/sites/default/files/briefing_paper_no.51_finland_and_nato.pdf |title=Is Finland taking a step closer to NATO membership |first=Nigel |last=Chamberlain |publisher=NATO Watch |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=27 May 2018}}</erf></ref><ref name="eduskunta.fi">[https://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/lakiensaataminen/valiokunnat/ulkoasiainvaliokunta/Documents/HNS_MOU_FINLAND.pdf MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND AND HEADQUARTERS, SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER TRANSFORMATION]. NATO</ref> thus forming a practical coalition.<ref name="nato.int" /> In 2015, the Finland-NATO ties were strengthened with a host nation support agreement allowing assistance from NATO troops in emergency situations.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweden-and-finland-forge-closer-ties-with-nato-1409237354 |title = Sweden and Finland Forge Closer Ties With NATO |newspaper = Wall Street Journal }}</ref> Finland has been an active participant in the Afghanistan and Kosovo.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/finnish_soldiers_involved_in_20-minute_gunfight_in_afghanistan/7702492 Finnish soldiers involved in 20-minute gunfight in Afghanistan |Yle Uutiset]. yle.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160105231045/http://formin.finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=115832&nodeid=49302&contentlan=2&culture=en-US Finland's participation in NATO-led crisis management operations]. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland</ref>
=== Social security ===
{{Main|Social security in Finland}}
Finland has one of the world's most extensive welfare systems, one that guarantees decent living conditions for all residents: Finns, and non-citizens. Since the 1980s the social security has been cut back, but still the system is one of the most comprehensive in the world. Created almost entirely during the first three decades after World War II, the social security system was an outgrowth of the traditional Nordic belief that the state was not inherently hostile to the well-being of its citizens, but could intervene benevolently on their behalf. According to some social historians, the basis of this belief was a relatively benign history that had allowed the gradual emergence of a free and independent peasantry in the Nordic countries and had curtailed the dominance of the nobility and the subsequent formation of a powerful right wing. Finland's history has been harsher than the histories of the other Nordic countries, but not harsh enough to bar the country from following their path of social development.<ref name="LOC">Text from PD source: US Library of Congress: ''[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/fitoc.html A Country Study: Finland]'', Library of Congress Call Number DL1012 .A74 1990.</ref>
=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Finland|Women's suffrage in Finland|LGBT rights in Finland}}
[[File:Helsinki Pride Parade I (5897488480).jpg|thumb|People gathering at the [[Senate Square, Helsinki|Senate Square]], [[Helsinki]], right before the [[Helsinki Pride|2011 Helsinki Pride parade]] started.]]
§ 6 in two sentences of the [[Finnish Constitution]] states: ''"No one shall be placed in a different position on situation of sex, age, origin, language, religion, belief, opinion, state of health, disability or any other personal reason without an acceptable reason."''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1999/19990731 | title = Perustuslaki: 2. luku Perusoikeudet, 6 § Yhdenvertaisuus 2 momentti | date = 1999 | publisher = Finlex | access-date = 27 August 2020 | language = fi }}</ref>
Finland has been ranked above average among the world's countries in [[democracy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.democracyranking.org/downloads/2012/Scores_of_the_Democracy-Ranking-2012.htm |title=Scores of the Democracy Ranking 2012 |publisher= Global Democracy Ranking |year=2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> [[press freedom]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/finland |title=Freedom of the Press: Finland |publisher= [[Freedom House]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> and [[human development (economics)|human development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/FIN.html |title=Statistics of the Human Development Report |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128081803/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/FIN.html |archive-date=28 November 2013 }}</ref>
[[Amnesty International]] has expressed concern regarding some issues in Finland, such as alleged permitting of stopovers of [[CIA]] [[Extraordinary rendition|rendition flights]], the imprisonment of [[conscientious objector]]s, and societal discrimination against [[Romani people]] and members of other ethnic and linguistic minorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/finland/report-2013 |title=Annual Report 2013: Finland |publisher= [[Amnesty International]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012: Finland |publisher= U.S. State of Department [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]] |year=2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Finland}}
{{See also|List of companies of Finland|List of largest companies in Finland|Helsinki Stock Exchange}}
[[File:Angry Birds Land Särkänniemi 11.jpg|thumb|Angry Birds Land, a [[theme park]] in the [[Särkänniemi]] amusement park, in [[Tampere]], [[Pirkanmaa]]; the mobile phone game ''[[Angry Birds]]'', developed in Finland, has become a commercial hit both domestically and internationally.]]
The economy of Finland has a per capita output equal to that of other European economies such as those of France, Germany, [[Belgium]], or the UK. The largest sector of the economy is the [[service sector]] at 66% of GDP, followed by manufacturing and refining at 31%. [[Primary sector of the economy|Primary production]] represents 2.9%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_kansantalous_en.html |title=Finland in Figures—National Accounts |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> With respect to [[International trade|foreign trade]], the key economic sector is manufacturing. The largest industries in 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_teollisuus_en.html |title=Finland in Figures—Manufacturing |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> were [[electronics]] (22%); machinery, vehicles, and other engineered metal products (21.1%); forest industry (13%); and chemicals (11%). The gross domestic product peaked in 2008. {{As of|2015}}, the country's economy is at the 2006 level.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/finlands_lost_decade_continueseconomy_same_size_as_in_2006/8044629 |title = Finland's 'lost decade' continues—economy same size as in 2006 |work = yle.fi |date = 4 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/35c8560c-c62f-11e4-add0-00144feab7de.html |title = Finland's economy: In search of the sunny side |work=Financial Times |location=London |date = 11 March 2015 }}</ref>
Finland has significant timber, mineral ([[iron]], [[chromium]], [[copper]], [[nickel]], and [[gold]]), and freshwater resources. [[Forestry]], paper factories, and the agricultural sector (on which taxpayers spend{{clarify|subsidize?|date=June 2017}} around €3 billion annually) are important for rural residents so any policy changes affecting these sectors are politically sensitive for politicians dependent on rural votes. The [[Greater Helsinki]] area generates around one third of Finland's GDP. In a 2004 OECD comparison, high-technology manufacturing in Finland ranked second largest after Ireland. Knowledge-intensive services have also resulted in the smallest and slow-growth sectors – especially agriculture and low-technology manufacturing – being ranked the second largest after Ireland.<ref name="oecd2004">Finland Economy 2004, OECD</ref>
Finland's climate and soils make growing crops a particular challenge. The country lies between the latitudes 60°N and 70°N, and it has severe winters and relatively short growing seasons that are sometimes interrupted by frost. However, because the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift Current moderate the climate, Finland contains half of the world's arable land north of 60° north latitude. Annual precipitation is usually sufficient, but it occurs almost exclusively during the winter months, making summer droughts a constant threat. In response to the climate, farmers have relied on quick-ripening and frost-resistant varieties of crops, and they have cultivated south-facing slopes as well as richer bottomlands to ensure production even in years with summer frosts. Most farmland was originally either forest or swamp, and the soil has usually required treatment with lime and years of cultivation to neutralize excess acid and to improve fertility. Irrigation has generally not been necessary, but drainage systems are often needed to remove excess water. Finland's agriculture has been efficient and productive—at least when compared with farming in other European countries.<ref name="LOC" />
[[File:Finland Exports Treemap 2017.svg|thumb|upright=1.45|A treemap representing the exports of Finland in 2017]]
Forests play a key role in the country's economy, making it one of the world's leading wood producers and providing raw materials at competitive prices for the crucial wood-processing industries. As in agriculture, the government has long played a leading role in forestry, regulating tree cutting, sponsoring technical improvements, and establishing long-term plans to ensure that the country's forests continue to supply the wood-processing industries. To maintain the country's comparative advantage in forest products, Finnish authorities moved to raise lumber output toward the country's ecological limits. In 1984, the government published the Forest 2000 plan, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The plan aimed at increasing forest harvests by about 3% per year, while conserving forestland for recreation and other uses.<ref name="LOC" />
Private sector employees amount to 1.8 million, out of which around a third with tertiary education. The average cost of a private sector employee per hour was €25.10 in 2004.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/til/tvtutk/2004/tvtutk_2004_2006-09-15_tie_001.html Tehdyn työtunnin hinta 23–27 euroa], Statistics Finland</ref> {{As of|2008}}, average purchasing power-adjusted income levels are similar to those of Italy, Sweden, Germany, and France.<ref name="incomecomparison">{{cite web |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2008/art_2008-06-09_001.html |title=Suomalaisten tulot Euroopan keskitasoa. Hyvinvointipalvelut eivät paranna sijoitusta |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=9 June 2008 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> In 2006, 62% of the workforce worked for enterprises with less than 250 employees and they accounted for 49% of total business turnover and had the strongest rate of growth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=895:small-enterprises-grow-faster-than-the-big-ones&catid=33:general&Itemid=201 |title=Small enterprises grow faster than the big ones |publisher=Helsinkitimes.fi |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The female employment rate is high. Gender segregation between male-dominated professions and female-dominated professions is higher than in the US.<ref name="niels">The Nordic Model of Welfare: A Historical Reappraisal, by Niels Finn Christiansen</ref> The proportion of part-time workers was one of the lowest in OECD in 1999.<ref name="niels" /> In 2013, the 10 largest private sector employers in Finland were [[Itella]], [[Nokia]], [[OP Financial Group|OP-Pohjola]], [[ISS A/S|ISS]], [[VR (company)|VR]], [[Kesko]], [[UPM-Kymmene]], [[YIT]], [[Metso]], and [[Nordea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/sata-suurinta-tyonantajaa-nokia-jai-kakkoseksi/72619deb-427d-3852-8a82-edfa4a7e818e|title=Sata suurinta työnantajaa: Nokia jäi kakkoseksi|first=Antti|last=Mikkonen|website=Talouselämä}}</ref>
The unemployment rate was 9.4% in 2015, having risen from 8.7% in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author=Finland in Figures |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_tyoelama_en.html |title=Statistics Finland: Labour Market |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Youth unemployment rate rose from 16.5% in 2007 to 20.5% in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towards employment |work=SixDegrees |date=2016-01-16 |access-date=2016-07-21 |url= https://www.6d.fi/index.php/society/945-towards-employment |language=en }}</ref> A fifth of residents are outside the job market at the age of 50 and less than a third are working at the age of 61.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_2649_34747_28023113_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=OECD recommends Finland to do more to help older people stay in work |publisher=Oecd.org |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> In 2014, nearly one million people were living with minimal wages or unemployed not enough to cover their costs of living.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/suomessa_on_liki_miljoona_koyhaa_heikoimmassa_asemassa_olevista_on_tullut_muukalaisia/7436047 yle.fi]; ''Suomessa on liki miljoona köyhää –"Heikoimmassa asemassa olevista on tullut muukalaisia"'' |Yle Uutiset. (28 August 2014). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
[[File:Mall of Tripla sisäkuvia 2.jpg|thumb|[[Mall of Tripla]] (in [[Pasila]], Helsinki), the largest [[shopping mall]] in Northern Europe in terms of total leasable units<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yitgroup.com/siteassets/investors/reports-and-presentations/presentations_2016_eng/analyst-lunch_commercial-concept-of-the-mall-of-tripla_pirjo-aalto_web.pdf|last=Aalto|first=Pirjo|title=Mall of Tripla: The best shopping centre in Finland|publisher=[[YIT]]|access-date=11 January 2021|date=12 December 2016}}</ref><ref name = pasilanasema>{{cite web|title=Pasilan asema|url=http://www.pasilanasema.fi/en/pasila-station |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/artikkeli/759018-pasilan-kauppakeskus-triplan-avajaispaiva-julki-samaan-aikaan-avautuu-myos-pasilan|title=Pasilan kauppakeskus Triplan avajaispäivä julki – samaan aikaan avautuu myös Pasilan uusi asema|last=Hämäläinen|first=Jukka|website=Helsingin Uutiset|language=fi|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>]]
{{As of|2006}}, 2.4 million households reside in Finland. The average size is 2.1 persons; 40% of households consist of a single person, 32% two persons and 28% three or more persons. Residential buildings total 1.2 million, and the average residential space is {{convert|38|m2}} per person. The average residential property without land costs €1,187 per sq metre and residential land €8.60 per sq metre. 74% of households had a car. There are 2.5 million cars and 0.4 million other vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|author=Finland in Figures |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_liikenne_en.html |title=Statistics Finland: Transport and Tourism|publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
Around 92% have a mobile phone and 83.5% (2009) [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet connection at home]]. The average total household consumption was €20,000, out of which housing consisted of about €5,500, transport about €3,000, food and beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages) at around €2,500, and recreation and culture at around €2,000.<ref>{{cite web |author=Households' consumption |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/til/ktutk/2006/ktutk_2006_2007-12-19_tie_001_en.html |title=Own-account worker households' consumption has grown most in 2001–2006 |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=19 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> According to Invest in Finland, private consumption grew by 3% in 2006 and consumer trends included durables, high-quality products, and spending on well-being.<ref>"Retail growth best in Finland for five years". For updates, see the [http://www.investinfinland.fi/ Invest in Finland] website.</ref>
In 2017, Finland's GDP reached €224 billion. However, second quarter of 2018 saw a slow economic growth. Unemployment rate fell to a near one-decade low in June, marking private consumption growth much higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.focus-economics.com/countries/finland|title=Finland Economic Outlook|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>
Finland has the highest concentration of [[cooperative]]s relative to its population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maine.coop/Finland.php |title=Finland: Globalization Insurance: Finland's Leap of Caution |website=Cooperatives Build a Better Maine|publisher=Cooperative Maine Business Alliance & Cooperative Development Institute |access-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042001/http://maine.coop/Finland.php |archive-date=2 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The largest retailer, which is also the largest private employer, [[S Group|S-Group]], and the largest bank, OP-Group, in the country are both cooperatives.
=== Energy ===
{{See also|Nordic energy market|Peat energy in Finland|Nuclear power in Finland}}
[[File:EPR OLK3 TVO fotomont 2 Vogelperspektive.jpg|thumb|The two existing units of the [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]]. On the far left is a visualization of a third unit, which, when completed, will become Finland's fifth commercial nuclear reactor.<ref name="olkiluoto_delayed">{{cite web |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/olkiluoto3_delayed_till_2016/6489784 |title=Olkiluoto3 delayed till 2016 |publisher=YLE |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref>]]
The free and largely privately owned financial and physical [[Nordic energy market]]s traded in [[NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe]] and [[Nord Pool Spot]] exchanges, have provided competitive prices compared with other EU countries. {{As of|2007}}, Finland has roughly the lowest industrial electricity prices in the [[EU-15]] (equal to France).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080204033032/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996%2C39140985&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=detailref&language=en&product=STRIND_ECOREF&root=STRIND_ECOREF%2Fecoref%2Fer02b1 Electricity prices—industrial users]. Web.archive.org. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In 2006, the energy market was around 90 terawatt hours and the peak demand around 15 [[gigawatt]]s in winter. This means that the [[List of countries by energy consumption per capita|energy consumption per capita]] is around 7.2 tons of oil equivalent per year. Industry and construction consumed 51% of total consumption, a relatively high figure reflecting Finland's industries.<ref>{{cite web |author=Energy consumption |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/ekul/2006/ekul_2006_2007-12-12_kuv_009_en.html |title=Statistics Finland |publisher=Stat.fi |date= 12 December 2007|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Energy consumption |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/ekul/2006/ekul_2006_2007-12-12_tie_001_en.html |title=Total energy consumption |publisher=Stat.fi |date=12 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Finland's [[hydrocarbon]] resources are limited to [[peat]] and wood. About 10–15% of the electricity is produced by [[hydropower]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metsavastaa.net/vattenkraft |title=Metsävastaa: Vattenkraft |language=sv |publisher=Metsavastaa.net |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303204918/http://www.metsavastaa.net/vattenkraft |archive-date=3 March 2009 }}</ref> which is low compared with more mountainous Sweden or Norway. In 2008, [[renewable energy]] (mainly hydropower and various forms of wood energy) was high at 31% compared with the EU average of 10.3% in final energy consumption.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energy.eu/#renewable |title=Europe's Energy Portal |publisher=energy.eu |access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> [[Russia in the European energy sector|Russia]] supplies more than 75% of Finland's [[List of countries by oil exports|oil imports]] and 100% of total [[List of countries by natural gas exports|gas imports]].<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/46126.pdf|title=EU imports of energy products - recent developments|date=4 July 2018|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|pages=3–4}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Europe helps fund non-Russia gas line for Finland |url=https://www.upi.com/Energy-News/2016/08/10/Europe-helps-fund-non-Russia-gas-line-for-Finland/6271470828765/ |work=[[United Press International]] |date=10 August 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Statistics of the energy supply in Finland.jpg|thumb|Supply and total consumption of electricity in Finland<ref name="Statistics Finland, Energy">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_energia_en.html |title=Finland Energy supply |publisher=Statistics Finland|date=20 April 2015 |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>]]
Finland has four privately owned nuclear reactors producing 18% of the country's energy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tilastokeskus.fi/tk/yr/yeenergiakuviot_en.pdf |title=Energy Consumption in 2001 |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108043546/http://tilastokeskus.fi/tk/yr/yeenergiakuviot_en.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2006 }}</ref> and one research reactor (decommissioned 2018 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vtt.fi/palvelut/v%C3%A4h%C3%A4hiilinen-energia/ydinvoima/tutkimusreaktorin-purku |title = FiR 1 -ydinreaktorin käytöstä poisto}}</ref>) at the [[Otaniemi]] campus. The fifth [[AREVA]]-[[Siemens AG|Siemens]]-built reactor – the world's largest at 1600 [[MWe]] and a focal point of Europe's nuclear industry – has faced many delays and is currently scheduled to be operational by 2018–2020, a decade after the original planned opening.<ref name="kauppalehti-02-2014">{{cite news |title = Areva ajaa Olkiluodon työmaata alas |author = Paula Nikula |url = http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/areva+ajaa+olkiluodon+tyomaata+alas/201402652139 |language = fi |publisher = Kauppalehti |date = 28 February 2014 |access-date = 28 February 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140304095114/http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/areva+ajaa+olkiluodon+tyomaata+alas/201402652139 |archive-date = 4 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A varying amount (5–17%) of electricity has been imported from Russia (at around 3 gigawatt power line capacity), Sweden and Norway.
The [[Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository]] is currently under construction at the [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]] in the municipality of [[Eurajoki]], on the west coast of Finland, by the company [[Posiva]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Journey deep into the Finnish caverns where nuclear waste will be buried for millenia |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/olkiluoto-island-finland-nuclear-waste-onkalo |work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=24 April 2017}}</ref> Energy companies are about to increase nuclear power production, as in July 2010 the Finnish parliament granted permits for additional two new reactors.
=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Finland}}
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| alignment = left
| width = 180
| footer = The state-owned [[VR (company)|VR]] operates a railway network serving all major cities in Finland.
| image3 = VR Sr1 3089.jpg
| caption3 = Soviet-made electric locomotive [[VR Class Sr1]] model from 1981
| image2 = Vr sr3 3304 3307 3306.jpg
| caption2 = Three [[VR Class Sr3]] locomotives
| image1 = VR Sr2 3202 Tampere 2012-06-22.JPG
| caption1 = A [[VR Class Sr2]] locomotive
}}
Finland's road system is utilized by most internal cargo and passenger traffic. The annual state operated road network expenditure of around €1 billion is paid for with vehicle and fuel taxes which amount to around €1.5 billion and €1 billion, respectively. Among the [[Highways in Finland|Finnish highways]], the most significant and busiest main roads include the [[Turku Highway]] ([[European route E18|E18]]), the [[Tampere Highway]] ([[European route E12|E12]]), the [[Lahti Highway]] ([[European route E75|E75]]), and the ring roads ([[Ring I]] and [[Ring III]]) of the Helsinki metropolitan area and the [[Tampere Ring Road]] of the [[Tampere urban area]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsnowfinland.fi/domestic/top-gear-finlands-busiest-roads-revealed|title=Top Gear: Finland's Busiest Roads Revealed &#124; News Now Finland|first=News Now|last=Staff|date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
The main international passenger gateway is [[Helsinki Airport]], which handled about 17 million passengers in 2016. [[Oulu Airport]] is the second largest, whilst another [[List of airports in Finland|25 airports]] have scheduled passenger services.<ref name="finavia_pass_stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.finavia.fi/files/finavia/vuosikertomukset_pdf/Finavia_vsk_2008_GB_LR.pdf |title=Airport operations |work=Annual report 2008 |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=28 July 2009 |location=Vantaa |publisher=Finavia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807205454/http://www.finavia.fi/files/finavia/vuosikertomukset_pdf/Finavia_vsk_2008_GB_LR.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref> The Helsinki Airport-based [[Finnair]], [[Blue1]], and [[Nordic Regional Airlines]], [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]] sell air services both domestically and internationally. Helsinki has an optimal location for [[great circle]] (i.e. the shortest and most efficient) routes between Western Europe and the Far East.
Despite having a low population density, the Government annually spends around €350 million to maintain the {{convert|5865|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} network of railway tracks. Rail transport is handled by the state owned [[VR Group]], which has a 5% passenger market share (out of which 80% are from urban trips in Greater Helsinki) and 25% cargo market share.<ref name="ljvr">Transport and communications ministry—Rail. For year 2009 update: [http://rhk-fi-bin.directo.fi/@Bin/a7268406c6d22495230bb875bdf04c78/1299812171/application/pdf/4036970/Finnish%20Railway%20Statistics%202010.pdf Finnish Railway Statistics 2010]. For subsequent years when available: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110712060937/http://portal.liikennevirasto.fi/sivu/www/e/fta/statistics Finnish Railway Statistics.] liikennevirasto.fi</ref> Since 12 December 2010, [[Karelian Trains]], a joint venture between [[Russian Railways]] and VR Group, has been running [[Karelian Trains Class Sm6|Alstom Pendolino]] operated high-speed services between Saint Petersburg's [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal|Finlyandsky]] and Helsinki's [[Helsinki Central railway station|Central]] railway stations. These services are branded as "Allegro" trains. The journey from Helsinki to [[Saint Petersburg]] takes only three and a half hours. A [[high-speed rail]] line is planned between [[ELSA-rata|Helsinki and Turku]], with a line from the capital to Tampere also proposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/16167-finland-earmarks-funds-for-new-rail-links-between-helsinki-turku-and-tampere.html|title=Finland earmarks funds for new rail links between Helsinki, Turku and Tampere|website=Helsinki Times|date=4 February 2019}}</ref> Helsinki opened the world's northernmost [[Helsinki Metro|metro system]] in 1982, which also serves the neighbouring city of Espoo since 2017.
The majority of international cargo shipments are handled at ports. [[Vuosaari Harbour]] in Helsinki is the largest container port in Finland; others include [[Kotka]], [[Hamina]], [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]], [[Pori]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]], and [[Oulu]]. There is passenger traffic from Helsinki and Turku, which have ferry connections to [[Tallinn]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Stockholm]] and [[Travemünde]]. The Helsinki-Tallinn route – one of the busiest passenger sea routes in the world – has also been served by a helicopter line, and the [[Helsinki-Tallinn Tunnel]] has been proposed to provide railway services between the two cities.<ref name="busiest">{{Cite web |title=The Busiest Crossing |work=Discover the Baltic |date=2009-04-24 |url= http://discoverthebaltic.com/travel/bblog.htm#280409 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326210756/http://www.discoverthebaltic.com/travel/bblog.htm |archive-date=2010-03-26 |language=en }}</ref> Largely following the example of the [[Øresund Bridge]] between [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]], the [[Kvarken Bridge]] connecting [[Umeå]] in Sweden and [[Vaasa]] in Finland to cross the Gulf of Bothnia has also been planned for decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2020-07-19-politicians-disagree-on-bridge-over-kvarken.rkOCYVt-ew.html|title=Politicians disagree on bridge over Kvarken &#124; tellerreport.com|website=www.tellerreport.com}}</ref>
=== Industry ===
{{Main|Economy of Finland}}
[[File:Oasis of the Seas.jpg|thumb|The [[Oasis of the Seas]] was built at the [[Perno shipyard]] in [[Turku]].]]
Finland rapidly industrialized after World War II, achieving GDP per capita levels comparable to that of Japan or the UK in the beginning of the 1970s. Initially, most of the economic development was based on two broad groups of export-led industries, the "metal industry" (''metalliteollisuus'') and "forest industry" (''metsäteollisuus''). The "metal industry" includes shipbuilding, metalworking, the [[automotive industry]], engineered products such as motors and [[Electronics industry|electronics]], and production of metals and alloys including [[steel]], [[copper]] and [[chromium]]. Many of the world's biggest [[cruise ship]]s, including [[MS Freedom of the Seas]] and the [[Oasis of the Seas]] have been built in Finnish shipyards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |title=Oasis of the Seas: Fast Facts |work=OasisoftheSeas.com |date=10 September 2009 |access-date=24 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220080037/http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Freedom of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center|url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/5/freedom-of-the-seas/|access-date=16 June 2020|website=royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com}}</ref> The "forest industry" includes forestry, timber, pulp and paper, and is often considered a logical development based on Finland's extensive forest resources, as 73% of the area is covered by forest. In the [[pulp and paper industry]], many major companies are based in Finland; [[Ahlstrom-Munksjö]], [[Metsä Board]], and [[UPM (company)|UPM]] are all Finnish forest-based companies with revenues exceeding €1 billion. However, in recent decades, the Finnish economy has diversified, with companies expanding into fields such as electronics ([[Nokia]]), metrology ([[Vaisala]]), petroleum ([[Neste]]), and video games ([[Rovio Entertainment]]), and is no longer dominated by the two sectors of metal and forest industry. Likewise, the structure has changed, with the service sector growing, with manufacturing declining in importance; agriculture remains a minor part. Despite this, production for export is still more prominent than in Western Europe, thus making Finland possibly more vulnerable to global economic trends.
In 2017, the Finnish economy was estimated to consist of approximately 2.7% agriculture, 28.2% manufacturing and 69.1% services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Europe :: Finland — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/|access-date=16 June 2020|website=cia.gov}}</ref> In 2019, the per-capita income of Finland was estimated to be $48,869. In 2020, Finland was ranked 20th on the [[ease of doing business index]], among 190 jurisdictions.
=== Public policy ===
{{See also|Nordic model}}
[[File:Nordiske-flag.jpg|thumb|Flags of the [[Nordic countries]] from left to right: Finland, [[Iceland]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]]]]
Finnish politicians have often emulated the Nordic model.<ref name="nordicmodel">[http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf The Nordic Model] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905212132/http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf |date=5 September 2012 }} by Torben M. Andersen, Bengt Holmström, Seppo Honkapohja, Sixten Korkman, Hans Tson Söderström, Juhana Vartiainen</ref> Nordics have been free-trading and relatively welcoming to skilled migrants for over a century, though in Finland [[immigration]] is relatively new. The level of protection in commodity trade has been low, except for agricultural products.<ref name="nordicmodel" />
Finland has top levels of economic freedom in many areas.{{clarify|date=April 2011|I have the impression that the Finnish labour market is quite flexible compared with other European countries—is this meant to be in relation to USA?}} Finland is ranked 16th in the 2008 global [[Index of Economic Freedom]] and 9th in Europe.<ref name="freedom" /> While the manufacturing sector is thriving, the OECD points out that the service sector would benefit substantially from policy improvements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kilpailuvirasto.fi/cgi-bin/suomi.cgi?sivu=uut/u-2005-3-1 |title=Kilpailuvirasto.fi |publisher=Kilpailuvirasto.fi |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
The 2007 [[International Institute for Management Development|IMD]] World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Finland 17th most [[Competitiveness|competitive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/announcing.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612031526/http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/announcing.cfm |archive-date=12 June 2007 |title=World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 |publisher=Imd.ch |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[World Economic Forum]] 2008 index ranked Finland the 6th most competitive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2007–2008 |publisher=[[World Economic Forum]] |access-date=8 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619083349/http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%2BCompetitiveness%2BReport/index.htm |archive-date=19 June 2008 }}</ref> In both indicators, Finland's performance was next to Germany, and significantly higher than most European countries. In the Business competitiveness index 2007–2008 Finland ranked third in the world.
Economists attribute much growth to reforms in the product markets. According to the OECD, only four [[EU-15]] countries have less regulated [[product market]]s (UK, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden) and only one has less regulated [[financial market]]s (Denmark). Nordic countries were pioneers in liberalizing energy, postal, and other markets in Europe.<ref name="nordicmodel" /> The legal system is clear and business bureaucracy less than most countries.<ref name="freedom">{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Finland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041208/http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Finland |archive-date=29 June 2011 |title=Finland economy |publisher=The Heritage Foundation |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Property rights are well protected and contractual agreements are strictly honoured.<ref name="freedom" /> Finland is rated the least corrupt country in the world in the [[Corruption Perceptions Index]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 – Results |publisher=Transparency.org |access-date=12 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129013918/http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ |archive-date=29 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 13th in the [[Ease of doing business index]]. This indicates exceptional ease in cross-border trading (5th), contract enforcement (7th), business closure (5th), tax payment (83rd), and low worker hardship (127th).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/economyrankings/|title=Ranking of economies – Doing Business – World Bank Group|work=doingbusiness.org}}</ref>
Finnish law [[Universal validity of collective labour agreements|forces all workers to obey the national contracts]] that are drafted every few years for each profession and seniority level. The agreement becomes universally enforceable provided that more than 50% of the employees support it, in practice by being a member of a relevant trade union. The unionization rate is high (70%), especially in the middle class ([[AKAVA]]—80%). A lack of a national agreement in an industry is considered an exception.<ref name="oecd2004" /><ref name="nordicmodel" />
=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Finland}}
[[File:Porvoon tuomiokirkko Näsinmäeltä.JPG|thumb|[[Medieval]] old town in [[Porvoo]] is one of the most popular tourist destinations in summers for those who are fascinated by the old look.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitfinland.com/article/summertown-porvoo/|title=Summertown Porvoo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://independenttravelcats.com/porvoo-finland-easy-day-trip-from-helsinki/|title=Porvoo Finland: An Easy Day Trip From Helsinki|date=5 November 2015|website=Independent Travel Cats}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelofinland.com/activities/porvoo-city-tour/|title=Porvoo City Tour &#124; Best To Do Activities in Finland - Finland Tour|website=www.travelofinland.com/}}</ref>]]
[[File:Hameenlinna.JPG|thumb|The historical [[Tavastia Castle]] (or Häme Castle) in [[Hämeenlinna]], [[Tavastia Proper]] is located close to the [[Lake Vanajavesi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visithame.fi/en/companies/|title=company|website=Visit Häme}}</ref>]]
In 2017, tourism in Finland grossed approximately €15.0 billion with a 7% increase from the previous year. Of this, €4.6 billion (30%) came from foreign tourism.<ref name="Matkailutilinpito">{{cite report|author=[[Business Finland]]|year=2019|title=Matkailutilinpito: Matkailun talous- ja työllisyysvaikutukset 2016–2017|url= https://www.businessfinland.fi/499c03/contentassets/4b07e15186484a69b62e991ed85a6c45/matkailutilinpito_2016-2017.pdf|publisher=[[Business Finland]], Visit Finland|access-date=2 April 2020|language = fi}}</ref> In 2017, there were 15.2 million overnight stays of domestic tourists and 6.7 million overnight stays of foreign tourists.<ref name="TEM"/> Much of the sudden growth can be attributed to the [[globalisation]] of the country as well as a rise in positive publicity and awareness. While Russia remains the largest market for foreign tourists, the biggest growth came from Chinese markets (35%).<ref name="TEM">{{cite web|url=https://tem.fi/en/finnish-tourism-in-numbers|title=Finnish tourism in numbers|author=[[Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Finland)]]|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Tourism contributes roughly 2.7% to Finland's GDP, making it comparable to agriculture and forestry.<ref name="Tourism_infographic"/>
[[Baltic Sea cruiseferries|Commercial cruises]] between major coastal and port cities in the Baltic region, including Helsinki, [[Turku]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Tallinn]], [[Stockholm]], and [[Travemünde]], play a significant role in the local tourism industry. There are also separate ferry connections dedicated to tourism in the vicinity of Helsinki and its region, such as the connection to the fortress island of [[Suomenlinna]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/maps-and-transport/transport/ferry/|title=Ferries|website=Helsingin kaupunki}}</ref> or the connection to the old town of [[Porvoo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msjlruneberg.fi/cruises/helsinki-porvoo/|title=Helsinki - Porvoo|website=m/s J.L. Runeberg}}</ref> By passenger counts, the [[Port of Helsinki]] is the [[World's busiest ports|busiest port in the world]] after the [[Port of Dover]] in the United Kingdom and the [[Port of Tallinn]] in Estonia.<ref name="POH">{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/6652.pdf|title=Maritime ports freight and passenger statistics|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> The [[Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport]] is the fourth busiest airport in the [[Nordic countries]] in terms of passenger numbers,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinki-airport.com/|title=Helsinki Airport (HEL)|publisher=[[Helsinki Airport]]|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> and about 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through the airport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helsinki Airport is designed for smooth travelling|url=https://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/in-brief/|publisher=Finavia|access-date=25 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004015600/http://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/in-brief/|archive-date=4 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] has the highest tourism consumption of any Finnish region.<ref name="Tourism_infographic">{{cite report|author=[[Business Finland]]|year=2019|title=Tourism as Export Infographic 2019|url=https://www.businessfinland.fi/494339/globalassets/julkaisut/visit-finland/tutkimukset/2020/2019-tourism-as-export-infographic.pdf|publisher=[[Business Finland]], Visit Finland|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Above the [[Arctic Circle]], in midwinter, there is a [[polar night]], a period when the sun does not rise for days or weeks, or even months, and correspondingly, [[midnight sun]] in the summer, with no sunset even at midnight (for up to 73 consecutive days, at the northernmost point). Lapland is so far north that the [[aurora borealis]], [[fluorescence]] in the high atmosphere due to [[solar wind]], is seen regularly in the fall, winter, and spring. Finnish Lapland is also locally regarded as the home of Saint Nicholas or [[Santa Claus]], with several theme parks, such as [[Santa Claus Village]] and [[Santa Park]] in [[Rovaniemi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Real Home of Santa Claus in Finland |url=http://www.lifeinlapland.com/articles/lapland-travel-tips/real-home-santa-korvatunturi.html|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> Other significant tourist destinations in Lapland also include [[ski resort]]s (such as [[Ylläs]], [[Levi, Finland|Levi]] and [[Ruka, Finland|Ruka]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/top-12-ski-resorts-in-finland/|title=The Top 12 Ski Resorts in Finland|first=Jessica|last=Wood|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> and [[sleigh]] rides led by either [[reindeer]] or [[Husky|huskies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://santaclausvillage.info/services/activity-services/santa-claus-reindeer-rides-safaris-rovaniemi/|title=Santa Claus Reindeer rides & excursions in Rovaniemi Lapland Finland|website=Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Finland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yllas.fi/en/activities/husky-safaris-and-reindeers.html|title=Discover the winter magic with Huskies and Reindeers|website=www.yllas.fi}}</ref>
Tourist attractions in Finland include the natural landscape found throughout the country as well as urban attractions. Finland is covered with thick [[pine]] forests, rolling hills, and lakes. Finland contains 40 [[List of national parks of Finland|national parks]] (such as the [[Koli National Park]] in [[North Karelia]]), from the Southern shores of the [[Gulf of Finland]] to the high [[fell]]s of Lapland. Outdoor activities range from [[Nordic skiing]], golf, fishing, [[yachting]], lake cruises, hiking, and [[kayaking]], among many others. [[Bird-watching]] is popular for those fond of avifauna, however hunting is also popular. [[Moose|Elk]] and [[hare]] are common game in Finland.
Finland also has urbanised regions with many cultural events and activities. The most famous [[List of tourist attractions in Helsinki|tourist attractions in Helsinki]] include the [[Helsinki Cathedral]] and the [[Suomenlinna]] sea fortress. The most well-known Finnish amusement parks include [[Linnanmäki]] in Helsinki, [[Särkänniemi]] in [[Tampere]], [[PowerPark]] in [[Kauhava]], [[Tykkimäki]] in [[Kouvola]] and [[Nokkakivi]] in [[Laukaa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trip101.com/article/theme-parks-in-finland|title=Top 6 Theme Parks And Amusement Parks In Finland|date=30 December 2019|website=Trip101}}</ref> [[St. Olaf's Castle]] (''Olavinlinna'') in [[Savonlinna]] hosts the annual [[Savonlinna Opera Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://operafestival.fi/en/|title=Home - Savonlinna Opera Festival|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> and the [[medieval]] milieus of the cities of [[Turku]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] and [[Porvoo]] also attract curious spectators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foreigner.fi/articulo/tourism/five-finnish-cities-worth-touristic-visit/20190623190002002246.html|title=5 Finnish cities that deserve a tourist visit|website=Foreigner.fi|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref>
== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Finland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Population by ethnic background in 2017<ref name="auto"/><ref name="un"/>
|label1 = Finnish
|value1 = 91.33
|color1 = #003399
|label2 = Other European
|value2 = 4.90
|color2 = #4080bf
|label3 = Asian
|value3 = 2.50
|color3 = #ff471a
|label4 = African
|value4 = 0.90
|color4 = #ffff00
|label5 = Other
|value5 = 0.37
}}
The population of Finland is currently about 5.5 million. The current [[birth rate]] is 10.42 per 1,000 residents, for a [[Total fertility rate|fertility rate]] of 1.49 children born per woman,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__kuol/?tablelist=true|title=PxWeb - Select table|website=pxnet2.stat.fi}}</ref> one of the lowest in the world, significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1. In 1887 Finland recorded its highest rate, 5.17 children born per woman.<ref>{{citation|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=FIN|title=Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries|author=Max Roser|date=2014|work=[[Our World In Data]], [[Gapminder Foundation]]|access-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205121631/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=FIN|archive-date=5 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Finland has one of the oldest populations in the world, with a median age of 42.6 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : FINLAND|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018}}</ref> Approximately half of voters are estimated to be over 50 years old.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html Tilastokeskus – Population]. Stat.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref name="populationdevelopment" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=81 |title=Median Age (Years) |publisher=GlobalHealthFacts.org |access-date=22 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403123202/http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=81 |archive-date=3 April 2013 }}</ref><ref name="pop_stat">{{cite web|date=4 June 2020|title=Finland in Figures > Population|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html|access-date=12 August 2020|website=stat.fi|publisher=Statistics Finland}}</ref> Finland has an average population density of 18 inhabitants per square kilometre. This is the third-lowest population density of any European country, behind those of Norway and [[Iceland]], and the lowest population density of any European Union member country. Finland's population has always been concentrated in the southern parts of the country, a phenomenon that became even more pronounced during 20th-century urbanisation. Two of the three largest cities in Finland are situated in the [[Greater Helsinki]] [[metropolitan area]]—Helsinki and [[Espoo]],  and some municipalities in the metropolitan area have also shown clear growth of population year after year, the most notable being [[Järvenpää]], [[Nurmijärvi]], [[Kirkkonummi]], [[Kerava]] and [[Sipoo]].<ref>[http://www.kirkkonummensanomat.fi/neo/?app=NeoDirect&com=6/159/55218/ab3d2d5ebf Kirkkonummen Sanomat: Nurmijärvi - ilmiö voimistui heinäkuussa - Kirkkonummella väkiluvun kasvu 1,2 %] (in Finnish)</ref> In the largest cities of Finland, [[Tampere]] holds the third place after Helsinki and Espoo while also Helsinki-neighbouring [[Vantaa]] is the fourth. Other cities with population over 100,000 are [[Turku]], [[Oulu]], [[Jyväskylä]], [[Kuopio]], and [[Lahti]]. On the other hand, [[Sottunga]] of the [[Åland Islands]] is the smallest municipality in Finland in terms of population ([[Luhanka]] in [[mainland Finland]]),<ref>[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tietotuotteet-ja-palvelut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)</ref> and [[Savukoski]] of [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] is sparsely populated in terms of [[population density]].<ref>[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot/kuntien-pinta-alat-ja-asukastiheydet Kuntien pinta-alat ja asukastiheydet – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)</ref>
{{As of|2019}}, there were 423,494 people with a foreign background living in Finland (7.7% of the population), most of whom are from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Somalia, Iraq and former Yugoslavia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ulkomaalaistaustaiset |publisher=Tilastokeskus |access-date= 2021-04-25 |url= https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset.html |language=fi  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Population |publisher=Statistics Finland |date=2021-04-23 |access-date=2021-04-25 |url= https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html |language=en }}</ref> The children of foreigners are not automatically given Finnish citizenship, as Finnish nationality law practices and maintain ''[[jus sanguinis]]'' policy where only children born to at least one Finnish parent are granted citizenship. If they are born in Finland and cannot get citizenship of any other country, they become citizens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Child born in Finland |publisher=Finnish Immigration Service |access-date=2021-04-25 |url= https://migri.fi/en/child-born-in-finland |language=en }}</ref> Additionally, certain persons of Finnish descent who reside in countries that were once part of [[Soviet Union]], retain the [[Right of return#Finland|right of return]], a right to establish permanent residency in the country, which would eventually entitle them to qualify for citizenship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475 |title=Finnish Directorate of Immigration |date=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110122502/http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475 |archive-date=10 November 2011 }}</ref> 387,215 people in Finland in 2018 were born in another country, representing 7% of the population. The 10 largest foreign born groups are (in order) from [[Russia]], [[Estonia]], [[Sweden]], [[Iraq]], [[Somalia]], [[China]], [[Thailand]], [[Serbia]], [[Vietnam]] and [[Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/?tablelist|title=PxWeb - Select table|website=pxnet2.stat.fi}}</ref>
Finland's immigrant population is growing. By 2035, the three largest cites in Finland are projected to have over a quarter of residents of a foreign-speaking background: in Helsinki, they are projected to form 26% of the population; in [[Espoo]], 30%; and in [[Vantaa]], 34%. The Helsinki region is projected to have 437,000 people of a foreign linguistic background, compared to 201,000 in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/uutiset/fi/kaupunginkanslia/helsingin-seudun-vieraskielinen-vaesto-yli-kaksinkertaistuu-vuoteen-2035-mennessa|title=Helsingin seudun vieraskielinen väestö yli kaksinkertaistuu vuoteen 2035 mennessä|website=Helsingin kaupunki}}</ref>
=== Language ===
{{Main|Finnish language|Finland Swedish|Languages of Finland}}
{{See also|List of municipalities of Finland in which Finnish is not the sole official language}}
[[File:Languages of Finnish municipalities (2016).svg|thumb|Municipalities of Finland: {{legend|#EEEEC1|unilingually Finnish}}{{legend|#37ABC8|bilingual with Finnish as majority language, Swedish as minority language}}{{legend|#0055D4|bilingual with Swedish as majority language, Finnish as minority language}}{{legend|#000080|unilingually Swedish}}{{legend|#800033|bilingual with Finnish as majority language, Sami as minority language}}]]
Finnish and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] are the official languages of Finland. Finnish predominates nationwide while Swedish is spoken in some coastal areas in the west and south (such as [[Raseborg]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/the-10-most-beautiful-towns-in-finland/|title=The 10 Most Beautiful Towns In Finland|first=Lani|last=Seelinger|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> [[Pargas]],<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/18417-twice-a-minority-foreign-immigration-to-swedish-speaking-communities-in-finland.html|title=Twice a minority: foreign immigration to Swedish-speaking communities in Finland|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> [[Närpes]],<ref name="auto1"/> [[Kristinestad]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/12675-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-kristinestad.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Kristinestad|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> [[Jakobstad]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/13124-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-jakobstad.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Jakobstad|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> and [[Nykarleby]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/12953-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-nykarleby.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Nykarleby|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref>) and in the autonomous region of [[Åland]], which is the only monolingual Swedish-speaking region in Finland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/info-norden/swedish-language-courses-foreigners-aland|title=Swedish language courses for foreigners in Åland &#124; Nordic cooperation|website=www.norden.org}}</ref> The [[native language]] of 87.3% of the population is Finnish,<ref name="Population according to language">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2015/vaerak_2015_2016-04-01_tau_002_en.html |title=Appendix table 2. Population according to language 1980–2015 |work=Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Population structure |access-date=27 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201900_2019_21461_net.pdf |title=Finland in Figures 2019 |work=Statistics Finland |date=June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711184650/https://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201900_2019_21461_net.pdf |archive-date=11 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> which is part of the Finnic subgroup of the Uralic languages. The language is one of only four official [[Languages of the European Union|EU languages]] not of [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin, and has no relation to the other [[North Germanic languages|national languages]] of the [[Nordic countries|Nordics]]. Conversely, Finnish is closely related to [[Estonian language|Estonian]] and [[Karelian language|Karelian]], and more distantly to [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] and the Sami languages.
Swedish is the native language of 5.2% of the population ([[Swedish-speaking Finns]]).<ref name="population-2016">[http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html Statistics Finland, Population] Retrieved on 18 October 2017.</ref> Finnish is dominant in all the country's larger cities; though Helsinki, [[Turku]] and [[Vaasa]] were once predominantly Swedish-speaking, they have undergone a language shift since the 19th century to become largely Finnish-speaking.
Swedish is a compulsory school subject and general knowledge of the language is good among non-native speakers. In 2005, a total of 47% of Finnish citizens reported the ability to speak Swedish, either as primary or a secondary language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf|title=Europeans and their languages, situation in 2005|publisher=[[European Commission]]|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> Likewise, a majority of mainland Sweden Finns are able to speak Finnish. However, most Sweden Finnish youth reported seldom using Finnish: 71% reported always or mostly speaking Swedish in social settings outside of their households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/finlandssvenska-ungdomar-talar-sallan-finska-sarskilt-pa-natet-ar-finskan-ovanlig/| title=Finlandssvenska ungdomar talar sällan finska - särskilt på nätet är finskan ovanlig|publisher=Hufvudstadsbladet|last=Piippo|first=Mikael|date=12 December 2018|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> The Finnish side of the land border with Sweden is unilingually Finnish-speaking, with a stark language divide over the [[Torne River]]: on the Swedish side, a Northern Swedish accent can be heard that is distinct from the Swedish spoken in other parts of Finland. There is a sizeable pronunciation difference between the varieties of Swedish spoken in the two countries, although their [[mutual intelligibility]] is nearly universal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infofinland.fi/sv/livet-i-finland/finska-och-svenska-spraket/det-svenska-spraket-i-finland|title=Det svenska språket i Finland|publisher=InfoFinland|language=sv|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref>
The [[Nordic countries#Languages|Nordic]] languages and [[Karelian language|Karelian]] are also specially recognized in parts of Finland.
[[Finnish Kalo language|Finnish Romani]] is spoken by some 5,000–6,000 people; Romani and [[Finnish Sign Language]] are also recognized in the constitution. There are two sign languages: Finnish Sign Language, spoken natively by 4,000–5,000 people,<ref>{{cite web |title=''Forskningscentralen för de inhemska språken—Teckenspråken i Finland'' |language=sv |url=http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=sv&s=206 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318084839/http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=sv&s=206 |archive-date=18 March 2015 }}</ref> and [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language]], spoken natively by about 150 people. [[Mishar Tatar dialect|Tatar]] is spoken by a [[Finnish Tatars|Finnish Tatar]] minority of about 800 people whose ancestors moved to Finland mainly during Russian rule from the 1870s to the 1920s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forum.hunturk.net/national-minorities-of-finland-the-tatars-2491.html |title=National Minorities of Finland, The Tatars |publisher=Forum.hunturk.net |access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>
The [[Sami languages|Sami language]] has an official status in Lapland where the Sami people predominate, numbering around 7,000<ref>According to the Finnish Population Registry Centre and the Finnish Sami parliament, the Sami population living in Finland was 7,371 in 2003. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20080306223521/http://www.samediggi.fi/vanha/suomi/toimieli/vaali/lukumaara_vuoden_2003_vaaleissa.pdf Regional division of Sami people in Finland by age in 2003] (in Finnish).</ref> and recognized as an [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous people]]. About a quarter of them speak a Sami language as their mother tongue.<ref name="Population 2006-12-31">{{cite web |url=http://tilastokeskus.fi/til/vaerak/2006/vaerak_2006_2007-03-23_tie_001_en.html |title=The population of Finland in 2006 |work=Statistics Finland |date=31 December 2006 |access-date=4 September 2007}}</ref> The Sami languages that are spoken in Finland are [[Northern Sami]], [[Inari Sami language|Inari Sami]], and [[Skolt Sami language|Skolt Sami]].{{refn|group=note|The names for Finland in its Sami languages are: {{lang|se|Suopma}} ([[Northern Sami]]), {{lang|smn|Suomâ}} ([[Inari Sami language|Inari Sami]]) and {{lang|sms|Lää'ddjânnam}} ([[Skolt Sami language|Skolt Sami]]). See [http://www.geonames.de/coufi.html Geonames.de].}}
The rights of minority groups (in particular [[Sami people#Finland|Sami]], [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish speakers]], and [[Finnish Kale|Romani people]]) are protected by the constitution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf |title=The Constitution of Finland, 17 § and 121 § |work=FINLEX Data Bank |access-date=4 September 2007}}</ref>
The largest immigrant languages are [[Russian language|Russian]] (1.5%), [[Estonian language|Estonian]] (0.9%), [[Arabic]] (0.6%), [[Somali language|Somali]] (0.4%) and [[English language|English]] (0.4%).<ref name="population-2016" /> English is studied by most pupils as a compulsory subject from the first grade (at seven years of age) in the comprehensive school (in some schools other languages can be chosen instead),<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15462-finland-s-first-graders-to-start-learning-foreign-language-in-spring-2020.html|title=Finland's first-graders to start learning foreign language in spring 2020|last=Teivainen|first=Aleksi|date=13 April 2019|work=[[Helsinki Times]]|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Yang|first=Junyi|title=Teachers' Role in Developing Healthy Self-esteem in Young Learners: A study of English language teachers in Finland|date=Spring 2018|degree=Master’s Degree Program in Early Language Education for Intercultural Communication|publisher=University of Eastern Finland|url=http://epublications.uef.fi/pub/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20180513/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20180513.pdf}}</ref> as a result of which [[Finns]]' English language skills have been significantly strengthened over several decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finlandtoday.fi/finland-places-among-the-top-four-english-speaking-countries-in-the-world/|title=Finland Places Among the Top Four English-Speaking Countries in the World|first=Tony|last=Öhberg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_ranks_sixth_in_english_skills_early_instruction_crucial/10071036|title=Finland ranks sixth in English skills, early instruction crucial|website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> German, French, Spanish and Russian can be studied as second foreign languages from the fourth grade (at 10 years of age; some schools may offer other options).<ref>{{Cite conference|last=Nuolijärvi|first=Pirkko|date=Fall 2011|title=Language education policy and practice in Finland|url=http://www.efnil.org/documents/conference-publications/london-2011/the-role-of-language-education-in-creating-a/15-Pirkko-Nuolijarvi.pdf|conference=European Federation of National Institutions for Language}}</ref>
About 93% of Finns can speak a second language.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/more_than_90_percent_of_finnish_residents_are_at_least_bilingual/10550664 |title=More than 90 percent of Finnish residents are at least bilingual |publisher=YLE |access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref> The figures in this section should be treated with caution, as they come from the official Finnish population register. People can only register one language and so bilingual or multilingual language users' language competencies are not properly included. A citizen of Finland that speaks bilingually Finnish and Swedish will often be registered as a Finnish only speaker in this system. Similarly "old domestic language" is a category applied to some languages and not others for political not linguistic reasons, for example Russian.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ling.helsinki.fi/~fkarlsso/Languages%20of%20Finland_1917-2017.pdf |title=THE LANGUAGES OF FINLAND 1917–2017 |work=Lingsoft Language Library publications |access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>
=== Largest cities ===
{{Largest cities of Finland}}
=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Finland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religions in Finland (2019)<ref name="stnin"/>
|label1 = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
|value1 = 68.72
|color1 = DodgerBlue
|label2 = Orthodox Church
|value2 = 1.10
|color2 = Orchid
|label3 = Other Christian
|value3 = 0.93
|color3 = DarkOrchid
|label4 = Other religions
|value4 = 0.76
|color4 = Chartreuse
|label5 = Unaffiliated
|value5 = 28.49
|color5 = Honeydew
}}
With 3.9 million members,<ref>[https://www.kirkontilastot.fi/viz?id=54 Seurakuntien jäsentilasto 2018] Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</ref> the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]] is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world and is also by far Finland's largest religious body; at the end of 2019, 68.7% of Finns were members of the church.<ref name="relig_stat">[http://tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html#structure Population structure] Statistics Finland</ref> The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has seen its share of the country's population declining by roughly one percent annually in recent years.<ref name="relig_stat" /> The decline has been due to both church membership resignations and falling baptism rates.<ref>[http://eroakirkosta.fi/media/none/tiedote_13_2015.html?year=2015 Eroakirkosta.fi – Kirkosta eronnut tänä vuonna 40 000 ihmistä] (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[http://www.karjalainen.fi/uutiset/uutis-alueet/kotimaa/item/108142-kastettujen-maara-romahtanut-kirkollisista-ristiaisista-luopuu-yha-useampi ''Karjalainen – Kastettujen määrä romahtanut – kirkollisista ristiäisistä luopuu yhä useampi''] 13 June 2016 (in Finnish)</ref> The second largest group, accounting for 26.3% of the population<ref name="relig_stat" /> in 2017, has no religious affiliation. The irreligious group rose quickly from just below 13% in the year 2000. A small minority belongs to the [[Finnish Orthodox Church]] (1.1%). Other [[Protestant]] denominations and the [[Catholic Church in Finland|Roman Catholic Church]] are significantly smaller, as are the [[Jewish]] and other non-Christian communities (totalling 1.6%); for example, in the Protestant trend, there are about 1,500 [[Baptists]] concentrated in the region of [[Central Finland]],<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=26| title= Baptismi| work= Uskonnot Suomessa | access-date=6 January 2021 | language=fi}}</ref> and there are only about 2,000 [[Methodism|Methodists]] who are scattered around the country.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=24| title= Metodismi| work= Uskonnot Suomessa| access-date= 6 January 2021| language= fi| archive-date= 8 January 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210108084048/http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=24| url-status= dead}}</ref> The [[Pew Research Center]] estimated the Muslim population at 2.7% in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Muslim Population Growth in Europe|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2017/11/29/europes-growing-muslim-population/|website=pewforum.org}}</ref> The main Lutheran and Orthodox churches are [[national church]]es of Finland with special roles such as in state ceremonies and schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=160099&nodeid=41800&culture=en-US |title=The Church in Finland today |author=Salla Korpela |date=May 2005 |access-date=11 January 2011 |publisher=Finland Promotion Board; Produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Communications and Culture}}</ref>
In 1869, Finland was the first Nordic country to [[disestablishment|disestablish]] its Evangelical Lutheran church by introducing the Church Act, followed by the [[Church of Sweden]] in 2000. Although the church still maintains a special relationship with the state, it is not described as a [[state religion]] in the [[Constitution of Finland|Finnish Constitution]] or other laws passed by the [[Finnish Parliament]].<ref name=FinlandConstitution>{{cite web|url=https://servat.unibe.ch/icl/fi00000_.html |title=Finland > Constitution: Chapter 1 Fundamental provisions (Section 76 The Church Act) |last=Tschentscher |first=Axel |date=27 June 2020}}</ref> Finland's state church was the Church of Sweden until 1809. As an autonomous Grand Duchy under Russia 1809–1917, Finland retained the Lutheran State Church system, and a state church separate from Sweden, later named the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, was established. It was detached from the state as a separate judicial entity when the new church law came to force in 1869. After Finland had gained independence in 1917, religious freedom was declared in the constitution of 1919 and a separate law on religious freedom in 1922. Through this arrangement, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland lost its position as a state church but gained a constitutional status as a national church alongside the Finnish Orthodox Church, whose position however is not codified in the constitution.
[[File:Catedral Luterana de Helsinki, Finlandia, 2012-08-14, DD 01.JPG|thumb|The Evangelical Lutheran [[Helsinki Cathedral]]]]
In 2016, 69.3% of Finnish children were [[Baptism|baptized]]<ref>[http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/FFEDB75916EB394AC22576CC003D875E/$FILE/Vaestonmuutokset_koko%20kirkko_2016.xlsx Lutheran church member statistics (2016)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122035/http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/FFEDB75916EB394AC22576CC003D875E/$FILE/Vaestonmuutokset_koko%20kirkko_2016.xlsx |date=15 December 2018 }} evl.fi</ref> and 82.3% were [[Confirmation (Lutheran Church)|confirmed]] in 2012 at the age of 15,<ref>[http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/8A75CE045AD09FE4C22577AE00256611/$FILE/KKH_Tilastollinen_vuosikirja2012_toiminta_lopullinen%20versio.pdf Church statistical yesrbook 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320170001/http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/8A75CE045AD09FE4C22577AE00256611/$FILE/KKH_Tilastollinen_vuosikirja2012_toiminta_lopullinen%20versio.pdf |date=20 March 2014 }} The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</ref> and over 90% of the funerals are Christian. However, the majority of Lutherans attend church only for special occasions like Christmas ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 1.8% of its members attend church services weekly.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/church_attendance_falls_religion_seen_as_private/5539349 Church Attendance Falls; Religion Seen as Private] 3 June 2012 YLE</ref> The average number of church visits per year by church members is approximately two.<ref name="state2004">{{cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35453.htm |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2004 |work=[[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] |date=15 September 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref>
According to a 2010 [[Eurobarometer]] poll, 33% of Finnish citizens responded that they "believe there is a God"; 42% answered that they "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"; and 22% that they "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".<ref name="EUROBAROMETER">{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |title=Special Eurobarometer Biotechnology |page=204 |edition=Fieldwork: January–February 2010 |date=October 2010 |access-date=16 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}</ref> According to ISSP survey data (2008), 8% consider themselves "highly religious", and 31% "moderately religious". In the same survey, 28% reported themselves as "agnostic" and 29% as "non-religious".<ref>Kimmo, Ketola et al. (2011). [http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65683/uskonto_suomalaisten_elamassa_2011.pdf?sequence=1 Uskonto suomalaisten elämässä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916015652/http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65683/uskonto_suomalaisten_elamassa_2011.pdf?sequence=1 |date=16 September 2018 }}. Tampereen yliopistopaino Oy . {{ISBN|978-951-44-8483-4}}</ref>
=== Health ===
{{Main|Healthcare in Finland}}
[[File:Meilahdensairaala2.jpg|thumb|The [[Meilahti Tower Hospital]], part of the [[Helsinki University Central Hospital]] (HUCH) in [[Töölö]], Helsinki]]
[[Life expectancy]] has increased from 71 years for men and 79 years for women in 1990 to 79 years for men and 84 years for women in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201800_2018_19693_net.pdf |title=Finland in Figures 2018 |publisher=Finnish Population Centre|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The under-five mortality rate has decreased from 51 per 1,000 live births in 1950 to 2.3 per 1,000 live births in 2017, ranking Finland's rate among the lowest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.unicef.org/country/fin/|title=Trends in Under five Mortality Rate |publisher=UNICEF|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The [[fertility rate]] in 2014 stood at 1.71 children born/per woman and has been below [[Sub-replacement fertility|the replacement rate]] of 2.1 since 1969.<ref name="stat.fi">[http://www.stat.fi/til/synt/2014/synt_2014_2015-04-14_tie_001_en.html Statistics Finland – Births 2014]. Stat.fi (14 April 2015). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> With a low birth rate women also become mothers at a later age, the mean age at first live birth being 28.6 in 2014.<ref name="stat.fi" /> A 2011 study published in ''[[The Lancet]]'' medical journal found that Finland had the lowest [[stillbirth]] rate out of 193 countries, including the UK, France and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62187-3/fulltext#article_upsell |title=Stillbirths: Where? When? Why? How to make the data count? |journal=[[The Lancet]] |access-date=6 December 2011 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62187-3 |pmid=21496911 |volume=377 |issue=9775 |pages=1448–1463|year=2011 |last1=Lawn |first1=Joy E. |last2=Blencowe |first2=Hannah |last3=Pattinson |first3=Robert |last4=Cousens |first4=Simon |last5=Kumar |first5=Rajesh |last6=Ibiebele |first6=Ibinabo |last7=Gardosi |first7=Jason |last8=Day |first8=Louise T. |last9=Stanton |first9=Cynthia |hdl=2263/16343 |s2cid=14278260 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
There has been a slight increase or no change in welfare and health inequalities between population groups in the 21st century. Lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise. More than half a million Finns suffer from [[diabetes]], [[type 1 diabetes]] being globally the most common in Finland. Many children are diagnosed with [[type 2 diabetes]]. The number of [[musculoskeletal disease]]s and [[cancer]]s are increasing, although the cancer prognosis has improved. Allergies and dementia are also growing health problems in Finland. One of the most common reasons for work disability are due to mental disorders, in particular [[Major depressive disorder|depression]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=6511570&name=DLFE-26813.pdf |title=Health care in Finland |publisher=STM |access-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317183526/http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=6511570&name=DLFE-26813.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2015 }}</ref> Treatment for depression has improved and as a result the historically high suicide rates have declined to 13 per 100 000 in 2017, closer to the North European average.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/eurostat_falling_suicide_rate_in_finland_nears_european_average/10324113|title=Eurostat: Falling suicide rate in Finland nears European average |publisher=YLE|access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> Suicide rates are still among the highest among developed countries in the OECD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.MHSUICIDEASDR?lang=en|title=GHO {{!}} By category {{!}} Suicide rate estimates, age-standardized - Estimates by country|website=WHO|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref>
There are 307 residents for each doctor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_terveys_en.html |title=Health (2004) |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> About 19% of health care is funded directly by households and 77% by taxation.
In April 2012, Finland was ranked 2nd in Gross National Happiness in a report published by The Earth Institute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakblog.net/2012/04/pakistan-ranked-85th-happiest-nation-in.html |title=World Happiness report |year=2012 |access-date=7 April 2012}}</ref> Since 2012, Finland has every time ranked at least in the top 5 of world's happiest countries in the annual [[World Happiness Report]] by the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/|title=World Happiness Report 2017|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2016/HR-V1_web.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2016 {{pipe}} Volume I (page 22)|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2012/World_Happiness_Report_2012.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2012 (page 30) |access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> as well as ranking as the happiest country in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2018/|title=World Happiness Report 2018|access-date=21 May 2018|date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
=== Education and science ===
{{Main|Education in Finland}}
{{See also|List of universities in Finland|List of schools in Finland}}
[[File:Oodi July 2019 2.jpg|thumb|[[Helsinki Central Library Oodi]] was chosen as the best new [[public library]] in the world in 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2019/5654132/helsinki-central-library-oodi-finland/|title=World's Greatest Places: Helsinki Central Library Oodi|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref>]]
[[File:Helsinki University of Technology auditorium.jpg|thumb|Auditorium in [[Aalto University]]'s main building, designed by [[Alvar Aalto]]]]
[[File:Itä-Suomen yliopiston kirjasto - Kuopion kampuskirjasto - Snellmania - Yliopistonranta 1 E - Savilahti - Kuopio - 2.jpg|thumb|The library of the [[University of Eastern Finland]] in Snellmania, the [[Kuopio]] campus of the university]]
[[File:Torvisen kansakoulu 1924-26.jpg|thumb|Pupils at the school of Torvinen in [[Sodankylä]], Finland, in the 1920s]]
Most pre-tertiary education is arranged at municipal level. Even though many or most schools were started as private schools, today only around 3 percent of students are enrolled in private schools (mostly specialist language and international schools), much less than in Sweden and most other developed countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/047DN/047_NL_EN.pdf |title=Summary sheets on education systems in Europe |publisher=Eurydice.org |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910005807/http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/047DN/047_NL_EN.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref> Pre-school education is rare compared with other EU countries and formal education is usually started at the age of 7. Primary school takes normally six years and lower secondary school three years. Most schools are managed by municipal officials.
The flexible curriculum is set by the [[Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland)|Ministry of Education and Culture]] and the Education Board. Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16. After lower secondary school, graduates may either enter the workforce directly, or apply to trade schools or [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasiums]] (upper secondary schools). Trade schools offer a [[vocational education]]: approximately 40% of an age group choose this path after the lower secondary school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/worldtvetdatabase1.php?ct=FIN |title=Vocational Education in Finland |date=18 November 2013 |access-date=9 May 2014 |author=UNESCO-UNEVOC}}</ref> Academically oriented gymnasiums have higher entrance requirements and specifically prepare for [[Abitur]] and tertiary education. Graduation from either formally qualifies for tertiary education.
In tertiary education, two mostly separate and non-interoperating sectors are found: the profession-oriented polytechnics and the research-oriented universities. Education is free and living expenses are to a large extent financed by the government through [[student benefit]]s. There are 15 universities and 24 Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scholarshipsineurope.com/list-of-university-in-finland/ |title=List of University in Finland |website=scholarshipsineurope.com |access-date=4 August 2018|date=July 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studyinfinland.fi/where_to_study/universities_of_applied_sciences |title=Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland |website=studyinfinland.fi |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808092603/http://studyinfinland.fi/where_to_study/universities_of_applied_sciences |archive-date=8 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[University of Helsinki]] is ranked 75th in the Top University Ranking of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university/258/university-of-helsinki |title=Top University Ranking of 2010: University of Helsinki |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102111112/http://topuniversities.com/university/258/university-of-helsinki |archive-date=2 January 2010 }}</ref> The [[World Economic Forum]] ranks Finland's tertiary education No. 1 in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2013-14.pdf |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014 |access-date=9 May 2014 |author=World Economic Forum |page=36|author-link=World Economic Forum }}</ref> Around 33% of residents have a tertiary degree, similar to Nordics and more than in most other OECD countries except Canada (44%), United States (38%) and Japan (37%).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2006/art_2006-07-06_001.html |title=Tilastokeskus.fi |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> The proportion of foreign students is 3% of all tertiary enrollments, one of the lowest in OECD, while in advanced programs it is 7.3%, still below OECD average 16.5%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/24/52/39315711.pdf|title=Education at Glance 2007: Finland|publisher=OECD}}</ref> Other reputable universities of Finland include [[Aalto University]] in [[Espoo]], both [[University of Turku]] and [[Åbo Akademi University]] in [[Turku]], [[University of Jyväskylä]], [[University of Oulu]], [[LUT University]] in [[Lappeenranta]] and [[Lahti]], [[University of Eastern Finland]] in [[Kuopio]] and [[Joensuu]], and [[Tampere University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.study.eu/best-universities/finland|title=The top 9 best universities in Finland: 2021 rankings|website=www.study.eu}}</ref>
More than 30% of tertiary graduates are in science-related fields. Forest improvement, materials research, environmental sciences, neural networks, low-temperature physics, brain research, biotechnology, genetic technology, and communications showcase fields of study where Finnish researchers have had a significant impact.<ref name="innovation">{{cite web|author=Kari Sipilä |title=A country that innovates |url=http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=99637 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707031053/http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=99637 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |work=Virtual Finland |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs / Department for Communication and Culture / Unit for Promotion and Publications / Embassy and Consulates General of Finland in China |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Finland has a long tradition of adult education, and by the 1980s nearly one million Finns were receiving some kind of instruction each year. Forty percent of them did so for professional reasons. Adult education appeared in a number of forms, such as secondary evening schools, civic and workers' institutes, study centres, vocational course centres, and folk high schools. Study centres allowed groups to follow study plans of their own making, with educational and financial assistance provided by the state. [[Folk high school]]s are a distinctly Nordic institution. Originating in Denmark in the 19th century, folk high schools became common throughout the region. Adults of all ages could stay at them for several weeks and take courses in subjects that ranged from handicrafts to economics.<ref name="LOC" />
Finland is highly productive in scientific research. In 2005, Finland had the fourth most scientific publications per capita of the OECD countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.research.fi/en/performance/scientific_publication.html |title=Scientific publication—Finnish science and technology Information Service |language=fi |publisher=Research.fi |date=15 November 2007 |access-date=3 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113085004/http://www.research.fi/en/performance/scientific_publication.html |archive-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> In 2007, 1,801 patents were filed in Finland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.research.fi/en/performance/patents/patents_with%20numbers |title=Patents with numbers—Finnish science and technology Information Service |language=fi |publisher=Research.fi |date=8 December 2009 |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011194752/http://www.research.fi/en/performance/patents/patents_with%20numbers |archive-date=11 October 2009 }}</ref>
In addition, 38 percent of Finland's population has a university or [[college degree]], which is among the highest percentages in the world.<ref>Sauter, Michael B. (24 September 2012) [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world.html;_ylt=AlaWy8IcyeBaviKi7_.WJyhE6odG;_ylu=X3oDMTJrY2d2NGZyBG1pdANDeFMgRmluYW5jaWFsbHkgRml0IEFydGljbGUgQXJ0aWNsZSBCb2R5IFByb2QEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNjdGVoaXJqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDY2IyOTRhMGEtYmY2OS0zYTdlLThlYTUtZWFlNTU3YWI1ZTc3BHBzdGNhdANleGNsdXNpdmVzfGZpbmFuY2lhbGx5Zml0BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3?page=1 The Most Educated Countries in the World] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820025707/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world.html;_ylt=AlaWy8IcyeBaviKi7_.WJyhE6odG;_ylu=X3oDMTJrY2d2NGZyBG1pdANDeFMgRmluYW5jaWFsbHkgRml0IEFydGljbGUgQXJ0aWNsZSBCb2R5IFByb2QEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNjdGVoaXJqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDY2IyOTRhMGEtYmY2OS0zYTdlLThlYTUtZWFlNTU3YWI1ZTc3BHBzdGNhdANleGNsdXNpdmVzfGZpbmFuY2lhbGx5Zml0BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3?page=1 |date=20 August 2016 }}. Finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>[http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/27/and-the-worlds-most-educated-country-is/ And the World's Most Educated Country Is...]. Newsfeed.time.com (27 September 2012). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In 2010 a new law was enacted considering the universities, which defined that there are 16 of them as they were excluded from the public sector to be autonomous legal and financial entities, however enjoying special status in the legislation.<ref>[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2009/20090558 . finlex.fi]; ''Yliopistolaki 558/2009 – Säädökset alkuperäisinä – FINLEX''. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> As result many former state institutions were driven to collect funding from private sector contributions and partnerships. The change caused deep rooted discussions among the academic circles.<ref>[http://teivo.net/2013/08/08/edu-schizo/ Educational Schizophrenia in Finland |Teivo Teivainen]. Teivo.net (8 August 2013). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
English language is important in Finnish education. There are a number of degree programs that are taught in English, which attracts thousands of degree and exchange students every year.
In December 2017 the [[OECD]] reported that Finnish fathers spend an average of eight minutes a day more with their school-aged children than mothers do.<ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Bremner |title=Finland is the first country where fathers do most of the childcare |work=[[The Times]] |date=9 December 2017 |page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/04/finland-only-country-world-dad-more-time-kids-moms |title=Finland: the only country where fathers spend more time with kids than mothers |access-date=23 December 2017 |date=4 October 2017 |newspaper= The Guardian}}</ref>
== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Finland}}
=== Sauna ===
{{Main|Finnish sauna}}
[[File:Smoke Sauna (395139052).jpg|thumb|A [[smoke sauna]] in [[Ruka, Finland|Ruka]], [[Kuusamo]]]]
The Finns' love for [[Finnish sauna|sauna]]s is generally associated with Finnish cultural tradition in the world. Sauna is a type of dry steam bath practiced widely in Finland, which is especially evident in the strong tradition around [[Midsummer]] and [[Christmas]]. In Finland, the sauna has been a traditional cure or part of the treatment for many different diseases, thanks to the heat, which why the sauna has been a very [[Hygiene|hygienic]] place. There is an old Finnish saying: ''"Jos sauna, terva ja viina ei auta, on tauti kuolemaksi."'' ("If sauna, [[tar]] and [[Liquor|booze]] doesn't help you, then a disease is deadly").<ref>[https://www.potilaanlaakarilehti.fi/uutiset/sauna-viina-ja-terva/ Sauna, viina ja terva – Potilaan Lääkärilehti] (in Finnish)</ref> The word is of Proto-Finnish origin (found in Finnic and Sámi languages) dating back 7,000 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sauna – A Finnish national institution |last1=Helamaa |first1=Erkki |last2=Pentikäinen |first2=Juha |work=Virtual Finland |date=November 2001 |url= http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26074 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209130410/http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26074 |archive-date=2008-02-09 |language=en }}</ref> Steam baths have been part of European tradition elsewhere as well, but the sauna has survived best in Finland, in addition to Sweden, the [[Baltic states|Baltic States]], Russia, Norway, and parts of the United States and Canada. Moreover, nearly all Finnish houses have either their own sauna or in multistory apartment houses, a timeshare sauna. Public saunas were previously common, but the tradition has declined when saunas have been built nearly everywhere (private homes, municipal swimming halls, hotels, corporate headquarters, gyms, etc.). At one time, the [[World Sauna Championships]] were held in [[Heinola]], Finland, but the death of a Russian competitor in 2010 finally stopped organizing the competitions as too dangerous.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/08/sauna-championship-russian-dead Sauna contest leaves Russian dead and champion Finn in hospital] - ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref>
The [[Finnish sauna culture]] was inscribed on the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists]] at the 17 December 2020 meeting of the [[UNESCO]] Intergovernmental Committee [[Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage|for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage]]. As authorized by the state, the [[Finnish Heritage Agency]] commits, together with Finnish sauna communities and promoters of the sauna culture, to safeguard the vitality of the sauna tradition and to highlight its importance as part of customs and wellbeing.<ref>{{cite web| title= Sauna culture in Finland |url= https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/sauna-culture-in-finland-01596 |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title= Finnish sauna culture steams up UNESCO Heritage List |url= https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_sauna_culture_steams_up_unesco_heritage_list/11703917 |publisher=[[YLE]] |date=17 December 2020|access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>
=== Literature ===
{{Main|Finnish literature}}
[[File:Mikael Agricola by Albert Edelfelt.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|[[Mikael Agricola]] (1510–1557), [[List of bishops of Turku|Bishop of Turku]], a prominent Lutheran Protestant reformer and the father of the Finnish written language]]
Written Finnish could be said to have existed since [[Mikael Agricola]] translated the [[New Testament]] into Finnish during the [[Protestant Reformation]], but few notable works of literature were written until the 19th century and the beginning of a Finnish national [[Romanticism|Romantic Movement]]. This prompted [[Elias Lönnrot]] to collect Finnish and Karelian folk poetry and arrange and publish them as the ''[[Kalevala]]'', the Finnish [[national epic]]. The era saw a rise of poets and novelists who wrote in Finnish, notably [[Aleksis Kivi]] (''[[The Seven Brothers]]''), [[Minna Canth]] (''[[Anna Liisa]]''), [[Eino Leino]] (''{{ill|Helkavirsiä|fi}}''), [[Johannes Linnankoski]] (''[[The Song of the Blood-Red Flower]]'') and [[Juhani Aho]] (''[[The Railroad (novel)|The Railroad]]'' and ''[[Juha (novel)|Juha]]''). Many writers of the national awakening wrote in Swedish, such as the national poet [[J. L. Runeberg]] (''[[The Tales of Ensign Stål]]'') and [[Zachris Topelius]] (''[[The Tomten in Åbo Castle]]'').
After Finland became independent, there was a rise of [[Modernist literature|modernist writers]], most famously the Finnish-speaking [[Mika Waltari]] and Swedish-speaking [[Edith Södergran]]. [[Frans Eemil Sillanpää]] was awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] in 1939. World War II prompted a return to more national interests in comparison to a more international line of thought, characterized by [[Väinö Linna]] with his ''[[The Unknown Soldier (novel)|The Unknown Soldier]]'' and [[Under the North Star trilogy|''Under the North'' Star trilogy]]. Besides Lönnrot's ''Kalevala'' and Waltari, the Swedish-speaking [[Tove Jansson]], best known as the creator of ''[[The Moomins]]'', is the most translated Finnish writer;<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_post_honours_moomin_creator_jansson/7061316 Finnish post honours Moomin creator Jansson] - YLE News</ref> her books have been translated into more than 40 languages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/tove-jansson-and-the-moomin-story/|title=Finland's Tove Jansson and the Moomin story|date=11 March 2014|website=thisisFINLAND}}</ref> <!--Pure opinion?: Literature in modern Finland is in a healthy state.--> Popular modern writers include [[Arto Paasilinna]], [[Veikko Huovinen]], [[Antti Tuuri]], [[Ilkka Remes]], [[Kari Hotakainen]], [[Sofi Oksanen]], [[Tuomas Kyrö]], and [[Jari Tervo]], while the best novel is annually awarded the prestigious [[Finlandia Prize]].
=== Visual arts, design, and architecture ===
{{See also|Architecture of Finland|Finnish art}}
[[File:Sammon puolustus.jpg|thumb|right|[[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]], ''[[The Defense of the Sampo]]'', 1896, [[Turku Art Museum]]]]
The visual arts in Finland started to form their individual characteristics in the 19th century, when Romantic nationalism was rising in autonomic Finland. The best known of Finnish painters, [[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]], started painting in a naturalist style, but moved to national romanticism. Other notable world-famous Finnish painters include [[Magnus Enckell]], [[Pekka Halonen]], [[Eero Järnefelt]], [[Helene Schjerfbeck]] and [[Hugo Simberg]]. Finland's best-known sculptor of the 20th century was [[Wäinö Aaltonen]], remembered for his monumental [[Bust (sculpture)|busts]] and sculptures. Finns have made major contributions to [[handicraft]]s and [[industrial design]]: among the internationally renowned figures are [[Timo Sarpaneva]], [[Tapio Wirkkala]] and [[Ilmari Tapiovaara]]. Finnish architecture is famous around the world, and has contributed significantly to several styles internationally, such as [[Jugendstil]] (or [[Art Nouveau]]), [[Nordic Classicism]] and [[Functionalism (architecture)|Functionalism]]. Among the top 20th-century Finnish architects to gain international recognition are [[Eliel Saarinen]] and his son [[Eero Saarinen]]. Architect [[Alvar Aalto]] is regarded as among the most important 20th-century designers in the world;<ref>James Stevens Curl, ''Dictionary of Architecture'', Grange Books, Rochester, 2005, p. 1.</ref> he helped bring [[Functionalism (architecture)|functionalist architecture]] to Finland, but soon was a pioneer in its development towards an organic style.<ref>Sigfried Giedion, ''Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition'', Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2nd edition, 1949.</ref> Aalto is also famous for his work in furniture, lamps, textiles and [[glassware]], which were usually incorporated into his buildings.
=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Finland|Rock music in Finland|Sami music}}
[[File:Jean Sibelius, 1913.jpg|thumb|upright|The Finnish composer [[Jean Sibelius]] (1865–1957) was a significant figure in the history of [[European classical music|classical music]].]]
;Classical
Much of Finland's classical music is influenced by traditional Karelian melodies and lyrics, as comprised in the ''[[Kalevala]]''. Karelian culture is perceived as the purest expression of the [[Baltic Finns|Finnic]] myths and beliefs, less influenced by [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] influence than the [[Nordic folk dance music]] that largely replaced the kalevaic tradition. Finnish [[folk music]] has undergone a [[roots revival]] in recent decades, and has become a part of [[popular music]].
The people of northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway, the [[Sami people|Sami]], are known primarily for highly spiritual songs called [[joik]]. The same word sometimes refers to [[lavlu]] or vuelie songs, though this is technically incorrect.
The first Finnish opera was written by the German-born composer [[Fredrik Pacius]] in 1852. Pacius also wrote the music to the poem [[Maamme|''Maamme/Vårt land'' (Our Country)]], Finland's [[national anthem]]. In the 1890s Finnish nationalism based on the ''Kalevala'' spread, and [[Jean Sibelius]] became famous for his vocal symphony ''[[Kullervo (Sibelius)|Kullervo]]''. He soon received a grant to study ''runo singers'' in Karelia and continued his rise as the first prominent Finnish musician. In 1899 he composed ''[[Finlandia]]'', which played its important role in Finland gaining independence. He remains one of Finland's most popular national figures and is a symbol of the nation. Another one of the most significant and internationally best-known Finnish-born classical composers long before Sibelius was [[Bernhard Crusell]].<ref>See {{cite web|url=http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Crusell_Contemp.htm|title=Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838)|last=Asiado|first=Tel|work=Mozart Forum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708192751/http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Crusell_Contemp.htm |archive-date=8 July 2009|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref>
;Modern
[[File:Apocalyptica1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Perttu Kivilaakso]] of [[Apocalyptica]]]]
''Iskelmä'' (coined directly from the German word ''[[Schlager]]'', meaning "hit") is a traditional Finnish word for a light popular song.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suomalainen iskelmä |last=Kaivanto |first=Petri |work=Pomus.net |access-date=18 July 2020 |url= http://pomus.net/kehityslinjat/suomalaineniskelma |language=fi }}</ref> Finnish popular music also includes various kinds of [[dance music]]; [[Tango music|tango]], a style of [[Music of Argentina|Argentine music]], is also popular.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explaining the Finnish love of tango |author=C.G. |work=The Economist |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=18 July 2020 |url= https://www.economist.com/prospero/2017/10/11/explaining-the-finnish-love-of-tango }}</ref> The light music in Swedish-speaking areas has more influences from Sweden. Modern Finnish popular music includes a number of prominent rock bands, [[jazz]] musicians, [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] performers, dance music acts, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2014|title=Don't mess with Finnish jazz|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/dont-mess-with-finnish-jazz/|access-date=1 September 2020|website=thisisFINLAND|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=September 2020}} Also, at least a couple of Finnish [[polka]]s are known worldwide, such as ''[[Säkkijärven polkka]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/how-the-finns-stopped-the-soviets-with-this-polka-song/|title=How the Finns stopped the Soviets with this polka song|date=6 August 2020}}</ref> and ''[[Ievan polkka]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musicfinland.com/en/news/finnish-jenkka-song-took-over-japans-department-stores|title=Finnish jenkka song took over Japan's department stores|website=Music Finland}}</ref>
During the early 1960s, the first significant wave of Finnish rock groups emerged, playing [[instrumental rock]] inspired by groups such as [[The Shadows]]. Around 1964, [[Beatlemania]] arrived in Finland, resulting in further development of the local rock scene. During the late 1960s and '70s, Finnish rock musicians increasingly wrote their own music instead of translating international hits into Finnish. During the decade, some [[progressive rock]] groups such as [[Tasavallan Presidentti]] and [[Wigwam (Finnish band)|Wigwam]] gained respect abroad but failed to make a commercial breakthrough outside Finland. This was also the fate of the [[rock and roll]] group [[Hurriganes]]. The Finnish punk scene produced some internationally acknowledged names including [[Terveet Kädet]] in the 1980s. [[Hanoi Rocks]] was a pioneering 1980s [[glam rock]] act that inspired the American [[hard rock]] group [[Guns N' Roses]], among others.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304587704577333813382925678|title=Guns N' Roses Can Agree on at Least One Thing: This Finnish Saxophonist Rocks |last=Shah|first=Neil|date=15 April 2012|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref>
Many Finnish metal bands have gained international recognition; Finland has been often called the "Promised Land of Heavy Metal", because there are more than 50 metal Bands for every 100,000 inhabitants – more than any other nation in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/finnish-metropolises-vie-to-win-capital-of-metal/|title=Finnish metropolises vie to win Capital of Metal|date=8 May 2018|website=thisisFINLAND}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famouscampaigns.com/2019/07/finlands-stage-worlds-first-heavy-metal-knitting-championship/|title=Finland stage world's first heavy metal knitting championship|first=Famous|last=Campaigns}}</ref>
=== Cinema and television ===
{{Main|Cinema of Finland|Television in Finland}}
{{See also|Lists of Finnish films}}
[[File:Edvin-Laine-Matti-Kassila-1955.jpg|thumb|upright|The Finnish filmmakers [[Edvin Laine]] and [[Matti Kassila]] in 1955]]
In the film industry, notable directors include brothers [[Mika Kaurismäki|Mika]] and [[Aki Kaurismäki]], [[Dome Karukoski]], [[Antti Jokinen]], [[Jalmari Helander]], [[Mauritz Stiller]], [[Edvin Laine]], [[Teuvo Tulio]], [[Spede Pasanen]], and Hollywood film director and producer [[Renny Harlin]]. Internationally well-known Finnish actors and actresses include [[Jasper Pääkkönen]], [[Peter Franzén]], [[Laura Birn]], [[Irina Björklund]], [[Samuli Edelmann]], [[Krista Kosonen]], [[Ville Virtanen (actor)|Ville Virtanen]] and [[Joonas Suotamo]]. Around twelve feature films are made each year.<ref name="Media moves">{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162833&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=Media moves |work=ThisisFINLAND ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501141049/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162833&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=1 May 2011 }}</ref>
One of the most internationally successful Finnish films are ''[[The White Reindeer]]'', directed by [[Erik Blomberg]] in 1952, which won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film]] in 1956, five years after its limited release in the [[United States]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/best-foreign-film-506.html |title=List of Winners – Golden Globes Best Foreign Film |access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sundholm|first1=John|last2=Thorsen|first2=Isak|last3=Andersson|first3=Lars Gustaf|last4=Hedling|first4=Olof|last5=Iversen|first5=Gunnar|last6=Møller|first6=Birgir Thor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QktG6a4YnQYC&q=1957+golden+globe+best+foreign+film+white+reindeer&pg=PA390 |title= Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Cinema (Google eBook) |access-date=12 December 2013|date = 20 September 2012| page=389 et seq|isbn = 978-0-8108-7899-0}}</ref> ''[[The Man Without a Past]]'', directed by [[Aki Kaurismäki]] in 2002, which was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] in 2002 and won the [[Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)|Grand Prix]] at the [[2002 Cannes Film Festival]];<ref>{{cite web|last=Fauth|first=Jurgen|url=http://worldfilm.about.com/od/scandinavianfilm/fr/manwithoutpast.htm|title=The Man Without a Past|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906125603/http://worldfilm.about.com/od/scandinavianfilm/fr/manwithoutpast.htm |archive-date=6 September 2015|work=[[About.com]]|access-date=5 February 2008}}</ref> and ''[[The Fencer]]'', directed by [[Klaus Härö]] in 2015, which was nominated for the [[73rd Golden Globe Awards#Film|73rd Golden Globe Awards]] in the Best Foreign Language Film category as a Finnish/German/Estonian co-production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/fencer|title=The Fencer|website=www.goldenglobes.com}}</ref>
In Finland, the most significant films include ''[[The Unknown Soldier (1955 film)|The Unknown Soldier]]'', directed by [[Edvin Laine]] in 1955, which is shown on television every [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_independence_day_galas_protests_and_war_memories/7671639|title=Finnish Independence Day: Galas, protests and war memories|website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> ''[[Here, Beneath the North Star]]'' from 1968, also directed by Laine, which includes the Finnish Civil War from the perspective of the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red Guards]], is also one of the most significant works in Finnish history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lfq.salisbury.edu/_issues/48_1/agreeing_on_history_adaptation_as_restorative_truth_in_finnish_reconciliation.html|title=Agreeing on History Adaptation as Restorative Truth in Finnish Reconciliation, Mads Larsen, Literature Film Quarterly|website=lfq.salisbury.edu}}</ref> A 1960 [[Crime film|crime]] [[comedy film]] ''[[Inspector Palmu's Mistake (film)|Inspector Palmu's Mistake]]'', directed by [[Matti Kassila]], was voted in 2012 the best Finnish film of all time by Finnish film critics and journalists in a poll organized by [[Yle Uutiset]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kriitikot_valitsivat_kaikkien_aikojen_parhaan_kotimaisen_elokuvan/6372726 | title=Kriitikot valitsivat kaikkien aikojen parhaan kotimaisen elokuvan | publisher=Yle Uutiset | date=12 November 2012 | access-date=9 May 2014 | author=Sundqvist, Janne | language=fi}}</ref> but the 1984 comedy film ''[[Uuno Turhapuro in the Army]]'', the ninth film in the [[Uuno Turhapuro|''Uuno Turhapuro'' film series]], remains Finland's most seen domestic film made since 1968 by Finnish audience.<ref>[https://sketsi.net/uuno-turhapuro-armeijan-leivissa-elokuvat/ Uuno armeijan leivissä ja muut Turhapuro elokuvat] (in Finnish)</ref>
Although Finland's television offerings are largely known for their domestic [[Drama (film and television)|dramas]], such as the long-running [[soap opera]] series ''[[Salatut elämät]]'',<ref>Juha Suoranta & Hanna Lehtimäki: Children in the Information Society: The Case of Finland (New Literacies and Digital Epistemologies). Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers, 2004. {{ISBN|978-0-8204-6829-7}}.</ref><ref>Elisabeth Eide & Kaarina Nikunen: Media in Motion: Cultural Complexity and Migration in the Nordic Region (Research in Migration and Ethnic Relations). Routledge, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-4094-0446-0}}.</ref> there are also internationally known drama series, such as ''{{ill|Syke (TV series)|fi|Syke (televisiosarja)|lt=Syke}}'' and ''[[Bordertown (Finnish TV series)|Bordertown]]''.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9433336 YLE: Syke, Sorjonen ja Suomi Love myyvät maailmalla, mutta Presidentti ei maistunut kriitikoille] (in Finnish)</ref> One of Finland's most internationally successful TV shows are the backpacking travel documentary series ''[[Madventures (Finnish TV program)|Madventures]]'' and the reality TV show ''[[The Dudesons]]''.
=== Media and communications ===
{{See also|Telecommunications in Finland|List of newspapers in Finland}}
[[File:Linus Torvalds.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Linus Torvalds]], the Finnish [[Software engineering|software engineer]] best known for creating the popular [[Open-source software|open-source]] [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] [[Linux]]]]
<!--Press freedom does not necessarily require wealth: Due to Finland's being one of the world's wealthiest countries and-->Thanks to its emphasis on transparency and equal rights, Finland's press has been rated the freest in the world.<ref>[http://www.newseum.org/news/2011/05/world-press-freedom.html 2010 Freedom of the Press Survey] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105114819/http://newseum.org/news/2011/05/world-press-freedom.html |date=5 November 2011}} (retrieved 4 May 2011).</ref>
Today, there are around 200 newspapers, 320 popular magazines, 2,100 professional magazines, 67 commercial radio stations, three [[digital radio]] channels and one nationwide and five national [[Public broadcasting|public service radio channels]].
Each year, around 12,000 book titles are published and 12 million records are sold.<ref name="Media moves" />
[[Sanoma]] publishes the newspapers ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' (its circulation of 412,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Circulation Statistics |url=http://www.levikintarkastus.fi/english/statistics.php |publisher=The Finnish Audit Bureau of Circulations (Levikintarkastus Oy) |access-date=25 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601160935/http://www.levikintarkastus.fi/english/statistics.php |archive-date=1 June 2009 }}</ref> making it the largest) and ''[[Aamulehti]]'', the [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'', the commerce-oriented ''[[Taloussanomat]]'' and the television channel [[Nelonen]]. The other major publisher [[Alma Media]] publishes over thirty magazines, including the tabloid ''[[Iltalehti]]'' and commerce-oriented ''[[Kauppalehti]]''. Worldwide, Finns, along with other Nordic peoples and the Japanese, spend the most time reading newspapers.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Press Trends: Newspapers Still Reach More Than Internet |url=http://www.wan-ifra.org/press-releases/2011/10/12/world-press-trends-newspapers-still-reach-more-than-internet |publisher=World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-date=23 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123093454/http://www.wan-ifra.org/press-releases/2011/10/12/world-press-trends-newspapers-still-reach-more-than-internet |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Yle]], the Finnish Broadcasting Company, operates five television channels and thirteen radio channels in both national languages. Yle is funded through a mandatory television license and fees for private broadcasters. All TV channels are broadcast [[Digital television|digitally]], both terrestrially and on cable. The commercial television channel [[MTV3]] and commercial radio channel [[Radio Nova (Finland)|Radio Nova]] are owned by [[Nordic Broadcasting]] ([[Bonnier Group|Bonnier]] and [[Proventus]]).
In regards to telecommunication infrastructure, Finland is the highest ranked country in the World Economic Forum's [[Network Readiness Index]] (NRI) – an indicator for determining the development level of a country's information and communication technologies. Finland ranked 1st overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, unchanged from the year before.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GITR/2014/GITR_OverallRanking_2014.pdf |title=NRI Overall Ranking 2014 |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=28 June 2014}}</ref> This is shown in its penetration throughout the country's population. Around 79% of the population use the Internet (2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/til/sutivi/2007/sutivi_2007_2007-09-28_tie_001_en.html |title=Internet used by 79 per cent of the population at the beginning of 2007|work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 December 2007}}</ref> Finland had around 1.52 million broadband Internet connections by the end of June 2007 or around 287 per 1,000 inhabitants.<ref name="FICORA">{{cite web |url=http://www.ficora.fi/attachments/englanti/5ruZDB5VP/Files/CurrentFile/Market_review_2_2007.pdf |title=Market Review 2/2007 |work=Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) |date=31 August 2007 |access-date=4 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925220234/http://www.ficora.fi/attachments/englanti/5ruZDB5VP/Files/CurrentFile/Market_review_2_2007.pdf |archive-date=25 September 2007 }}</ref> All Finnish schools and public libraries have Internet connections and computers and most residents have a mobile phone.<ref>[http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/ajk/tiedotteet/v2006/tiedote_017_2006-09-05_en.html Information technology has become part of Finns' everyday life] (Statistics Finland).</ref>
=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Finnish cuisine}}
[[File:Karjalanpiirakka-20060227.jpg|thumb|[[Karjalanpiirakat|Karelian pasty]] (''karjalanpiirakka'') is a traditional Finnish dish made from a thin rye crust with a filling of rice. Butter, often mixed with boiled egg (eggbutter or munavoi), is spread over the hot pastries before eating.]]
Finnish cuisine is notable for generally combining traditional country fare and ''[[haute cuisine]]'' with contemporary style cooking. [[Fish (food)|Fish]] and meat play a prominent role in traditional Finnish dishes from the western part of the country, while the dishes from the eastern part have traditionally included various vegetables and [[Edible mushroom|mushrooms]]. Refugees from Karelia contributed to foods in eastern Finland. Many regions have strongly branded traditional delicacies, such as [[Tampere]] has ''[[mustamakkara]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/eat-and-drink/4311-the-black-sausage-is-the-pride-of-tampere|title=The black sausage is the pride of Tampere|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> and [[Kuopio]] has ''[[kalakukko]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/top-10-finnish-pastries-try/|title=Top 10 Finnish Pastries You Have to Try|first=Jessica|last=Wood|website=Culture Trip}}</ref>
Finnish foods often use [[wholemeal]] products ([[rye]], [[barley]], [[oat]]s) and berries (such as [[bilberry|bilberries]], [[lingonberry|lingonberries]], [[cloudberry|cloudberries]], and [[sea buckthorn]]). Milk and its derivatives like [[buttermilk]] are commonly used as food, drink, or in various recipes. Various [[turnip]]s were common in traditional cooking, but were replaced with the potato after its introduction in the 18th century.
According to the statistics, red meat consumption has risen, but still Finns eat less beef than many other nations, and more fish and poultry. This is mainly because of the high cost of meat in Finland.
Finland has the world's highest per capita consumption of [[coffee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fusiontables.google.com/DataSource?docid=1C-fn6nSe21acP0xJIO1T1x0wohqfMYCQyJjbqdk#rows:id=1|title=Google Fusion Tables|website=fusiontables.google.com}}</ref> Milk consumption is also high, at an average of about {{convert|112|litre}}, per person, per year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luke.fi/en/news/what-was-eaten-in-finland-in-2017|title=What was eaten in Finland in 2017|website=Luonnonvarakeskus}}</ref> even though 17% of the Finns are [[lactose intolerant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/5-odd-facts-finland/|title=Odd Facts about Finland|website=edunation.co|date=19 September 2017|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-date=17 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117153004/https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/5-odd-facts-finland/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Public holidays ===
{{Main|Public holidays in Finland|Flag flying days in Finland}}
There are several holidays in Finland, of which perhaps the most characteristic of Finnish culture include Christmas (''joulu''), Midsummer (''juhannus''), [[Vappu|May Day]] (''vappu'') and [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]] (''itsenäisyyspäivä''). Of these, Christmas and Midsummer are special in Finland because the actual festivities take place on eves, such as [[Christmas Eve]] (''jouluaatto'')<ref>''Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2010 to Mabon 2011'' p.64. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2010</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5JF_kT43LjcC&pg=PA202&dq=Jultomten&hl=en&ei=X5ITTePQONO2hAezpOy3Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Jultomten&f=false Festivals of Western Europe] p.202. Forgotten Books, 1973</ref> and [[Juhannus|Midsummer's Eve]] (''juhannusaatto''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/kokko.htm |title=Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura: Juhannuskokko |publisher=Finlit.fi |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031052/http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/kokko.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/koriste.htm |title=Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura: Koivunoksia ja maitoruokia |publisher=Finlit.fi |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031056/http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/koriste.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref> while Christmas Day (''joulupäivä'') and Midsummer's Day (''juhannuspäivä'') are more consecrated to rest. Other public holidays in Finland are [[New Year's Day]] (''uudenvuodenpäivä''), [[Epiphany (holiday)#Finland|Epiphany]] (''loppiainen''), [[Good Friday]] (''pitkäperjantai''), [[Easter Sunday]] (''pääsiäissunnuntai'') and [[Easter Monday]] (''pääsiäismaanantai''), [[Ascension Day]] (''helatorstai''), [[All Saints' Day]] (''pyhäinpäivä'') and [[Saint Stephen's Day#Finland|Saint Stephen's Day]] (''tapaninpäivä''). All official holidays in Finland are established by Acts of Parliament. On the other hand, ''[[laskiainen]]'' that is strongly part of the Finnish tradition is not defined as a public holiday in relation to the above-mentioned holidays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/a5ada22b-379b-4b8b-83ca-51bf6f97213c|title=Tänään on vietetty laskiaista – mutta tiedätkö, mistä päivässä on oikein kyse?|first=Samppa|last=Rautio|work=Iltalehti|date=5 March 2019|access-date=26 November 2020|language=fi}}</ref>
=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Finland}}
[[File:Finlandhockeybronze2010WinterOlympics.jpg|thumb|Finland's [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|men's national ice hockey team]] is [[IIHF World Ranking|ranked]] as one of the best in the world. The team has won three world championship titles (in 1995, 2011 and 2019) and six Olympic medals.]]
[[File:Rally Finland 2010 - EK 1 - Juha Kankkunen.jpg|thumb|right|[[Juha Kankkunen|Kankkunen]] on the Laajavuori stage of the [[2010 Rally Finland]]]]
Various sporting events are popular in Finland. [[Pesäpallo]], resembling baseball, is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular sport in terms of spectators is [[ice hockey]]. The [[2016 IIHF World Championship|Ice Hockey World Championships 2016]] final, Finland-Canada, was watched by 69% of Finnish people on TV.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://mtv.fi/sport/mm2016/uutiset/artikkeli/leijonien-mm-finaalista-kaikkien-aikojen-katsotuin-jaakiekko-ottelu-suomessa/5908282 |title = Leijonien MM-finaalista historian katsotuin jääkiekko-ottelu Suomessa!| work = mtv.fi| date = 23 May 2016| access-date = 23 May 2016}}</ref> Other popular sports include [[Track and field|athletics]], [[cross-country skiing]], [[ski jumping]], [[association football|football]], [[volleyball]] and [[basketball]].<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/a1393470059062 Valta vaihtui urheilussa: Suomalaiset arvostavat nyt enemmän futista kuin jääkiekkoa |Jalkapallo |HS]. Hs.fi (27 February 2014). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> While ice hockey is the most popular sport when it comes to attendance at games, [[association football]] is the most played team sport in terms of the number of players in the country and is also the most appreciated sport in Finland.<ref>[http://yle.fi/urheilu/jalkapallo_nousi_arvostetuimmaksi_urheilulajiksi/7113110 Jalkapallo nousi arvostetuimmaksi urheilulajiksi |Yle Urheilu]. yle.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>{{in lang|fi}} [http://www.lansivayla.fi/artikkeli/369185-jalkapallolla-eniten-harrastajia-se-lyo-latkan-hiihto-on-alamaessa Jalkapallolla eniten harrastajia – se lyö lätkän, hiihto on alamäessä |Länsiväylä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826183108/https://www.lansivayla.fi/artikkeli/369185-jalkapallolla-eniten-harrastajia-se-lyo-latkan-hiihto-on-alamaessa |date=26 August 2018 }}. Lansivayla.fi (28 February 2016). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In terms of medals and gold medals won per capita, Finland is the best performing country in Olympic history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medalspercapita.com/#medals-per-capita:all-time|title=Olympic Medals per Capita|website=medalspercapita.com}}</ref> Finland first participated as a nation in its own right at the [[Olympic Games]] in 1908, while still an autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] within the [[Russian Empire]]. At the [[1912 Summer Olympics]], great pride was taken in the three gold medals won by the original "[[Flying Finn]]" [[Hannes Kolehmainen]].
Finland was one of the most successful countries at the Olympic Games before [[World War II]]. At the [[1924 Summer Olympics]], Finland, a nation then of only 3.2 million people, came second in the medal count. In the 1920s and '30s, Finnish long-distance runners dominated the Olympics, with [[Paavo Nurmi]] winning a total of nine Olympic gold medals between 1920 and 1928 and setting 22 official world records between 1921 and 1931. Nurmi is often considered the greatest Finnish sportsman and one of the greatest athletes of all time.
For over 100 years, Finnish male and female athletes have consistently excelled at the [[javelin throw]]. The event has brought Finland nine Olympic gold medals, five world championships, five European championships, and 24 world records.
The [[1952 Summer Olympics]] were held in Helsinki. Other notable sporting events held in Finland include the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983]] and [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]].
Finland also has a notable history in [[figure skating]]. Finnish skaters have won 8 world championships and 13 junior world cups in synchronized skating, and Finland is considered one of the best countries at the sport.
Some of the most popular recreational sports and activities include [[floorball]], [[Nordic walking]], running, cycling, and skiing ([[alpine skiing]], [[cross-country skiing]], and [[ski jumping]]).
Floorball, in terms of registered players, occupies third place after football and ice hockey. According to the Finnish Floorball Federation, floorball is the most popular school, youth, club and workplace sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expat-finland.com/events/finnish_sports.html|title=Finnish Sports: Try the sports Finns love!|first=Stuart Allt Web Design, Turku|last=Finland|website=expat-finland.com}}</ref> {{as of|2016}}, the total number of licensed players reaches 57,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floorball.org/pages/EN/Finland|title=IFF|last=IFF|website=floorball.org}}</ref>
Especially since the [[2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup]], [[Finland national basketball team|Finland's national basketball team]] has received widespread public attention. More than 8,000 Finns travelled to Spain to support their team. Overall, they chartered more than 40 airplanes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014/news/Fan-power-Finn-power-The-tournament--begins--on-win |title= Fan power! Finn power! The tournament "begins" on a winning note for Dettman's team |author=FIBA |date=31 August 2014 |publisher=FIBA.com |access-date=2 November 2014}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal |Finland|Arctic}}
<!--{{Wikipedia books|Finland}}-->
* [[Bibliography of Finland]]
* [[List of Finland-related topics]]
* [[Outline of Finland]]
{{Clear}}
== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Chew, Allen F. ''The White Death: The Epic of the Soviet-Finnish Winter War'' ({{ISBN|0-87013-167-2}}).
* Engle, Eloise and Paananen, Pauri. ''The Winter War: The Soviet Attack on Finland 1939–1940'' ({{ISBN|0-8117-2433-6}}).
* ''Insight Guide: Finland'' ({{ISBN|981-4120-39-1}}).
* [[Max Jakobson|Jakobson, Max]]. ''Finland in the New Europe'' ({{ISBN|0-275-96372-1}}).
* Jutikkala, Eino; Pirinen, Kauko. ''A History of Finland'' ({{ISBN|0-88029-260-1}}).
* [[Matti Klinge|Klinge, Matti]]. ''Let Us Be Finns: Essays on History'' ({{ISBN|951-1-11180-9}}).
* Lavery, Jason. ''The History of Finland'', Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations, Greenwood Press, 2006 ({{ISBN|0-313-32837-4}}, {{ISSN|1096-2905}}).
* Lewis, Richard D. ''Finland: Cultural Lone Wolf'' ({{ISBN|1-931930-18-X}}).
* ''[[Lonely Planet]]: Finland'' ({{ISBN|1-74059-791-5}})
* Mann, Chris. ''Hitler's Arctic War: The German Campaigns in Norway, Finland, and the USSR 1940–1945'' ({{ISBN|0-312-31100-1}}).
* Rusama, Jaakko. ''Ecumenical Growth in Finland'' ({{ISBN|951-693-239-8}}).
* Singleton, Fred. ''A Short History of Finland'' ({{ISBN|0-521-64701-0}}).
* [[Jean-Jacques Subrenat|Subrenat, Jean-Jacques]]. ''Listen, there's music from the forest; a brief presentation of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival'' ({{ISBN|952-92-0564-3}}).
* Swallow, Deborah. ''Culture Shock! Finland: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette'' ({{ISBN|1-55868-592-8}}).
* [[William R. Trotter|Trotter, William R.]] ''A Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939–1940'' ({{ISBN|1-56512-249-6}}).
{{refend}}
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Finland|voy=Finland}}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/ Finland]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* {{curlie|Regional/Europe/Finland}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17288360 Finland profile] from the [[BBC News]]
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=FI Key Development Forecasts for Finland] from [[International Futures]]
* [http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2010/vaerak_2010_2011-03-18_kuv_001_en.html Population in Finland 1750–2010]
* [http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2011/vaerak_2011_2012-03-16_kuv_002_en.html Appendix figure 2. The largest groups by native language 2001 and 2011] (Statistics Finland)
* [http://findikaattori.fi/en Official statistical information about Finland] from [[Findicator]].
'''Government'''
* [http://finland.fi/ This is Finland], the official English-language online portal (administered by the Finnish [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080703233731/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/finland.htm Finland] ([[University of Colorado Boulder]] Libraries Government Publications)
'''Maps'''
* {{osmrelation-inline|54224}}
* {{wikiatlas|Finland}}
'''Travel'''
* [http://www.visitfinland.com/ Official Travel Site of Finland]
{{Finland topics}}
{{Navboxes
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{{Authority control}}
{{coord|64|N|26|E|region:FI_type:country|display=title}}
[[Category:Finland| ]]
[[Category:Northern European countries]]
[[Category:Members of the Nordic Council]]
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{{about|the Republic of Finland}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name    = Republic of Finland
| common_name                = Finland
| native_name                = {{ubl|{{native name|fi|Suomen tasavalta}}|{{native name|sv|Republiken Finland}}}}
| image_flag                = Flag of Finland.svg
| image_coat                = Coat of arms of Finland.svg
| national_anthem                = <br />{{native name|fi|[[Maamme]]|nolink=yes}}<br />{{native name|sv|[[Maamme|Vårt land]]|nolink=yes}}<br />({{Lang-en|"Our Land"}})<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:United States Navy Band - Maamme.ogg|center]]</div>
| image_map                = {{Switcher|[[File:EU-Finland (orthographic projection).svg|frameless]]|Show globe|[[File:EU-Finland.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show map of Europe|default=2}}
| map_caption                = {{map caption|location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Finland.svg}}
| capital                = [[Helsinki]]
| coordinates                = {{Coord|60|10|N|24|56|E|type:city}}
| largest_city                = capital
| official_languages                = [[Finnish language|Finnish]] • [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| national_languages      = [[Finnish Sign Language|Viittomakieli]] • [[Sami languages|Sámi]] • [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language|Teckenspråk]] • [[Karelian language|Karelian]] • [[Finnish Kalo language]]
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list
|91.33% [[Finnish people|Finnish]]
|4.90% Other [[Europe]]an
|2.50% [[Asia]]n
|0.90% [[Africa]]n
|0.37% [[Demographics of Africa|Other]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_year      = 2017
| ethnic_groups_ref      = <ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_032.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 |title=032 -- Syntyperä ja taustamaa sukupuolen mukaan maakunnittain ja kunnittain 1990 - 2017| work = Tilastokeskuksen PX-Web-tietokannat | publisher = Statistics Finland|language=fi |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212214837/http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_032.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="un">{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates17.shtml|title=United Nations Population Division &#124; Department of Economic and Social Affairs|website=un.org|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>
| religion                = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
  |70.7% [[Christianity]]
  |—68.7% [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Lutheranism]]
  |—1.1% [[Finnish Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]]
  |—0.9% Other [[Christians|Christian]]
  |28.5% [[Irreligion|No religion]]
  | 0.8% [[Religion in Finland|Other]]}}
| religion_year          = 2019
| religion_ref              = <ref name="stnin">{{cite web |title=Belonging to a religious community by age and sex, 2000-2019 |url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11rx.px/ |website=Tilastokeskuksen PX-Web tietokannat |publisher=Government |access-date=28 March 2020}} Note these are state religious registration numbers, people may be registered yet not practicing/believing and they may be believing/practicing but not registered.</ref>
| demonym                = {{hlist|[[Demographics of Finland|Finnish]]|[[Finns|Finn]]}}
| government_type                = [[Unitary parliamentary republic]]<ref name="Parliamentary"/>
| leader_title1                = [[President of Finland|President]]
| leader_name1                = [[Sauli Niinistö]]
| leader_title2                = [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2                = [[Sanna Marin]]
| legislature                = [[Parliament of Finland|Eduskunta/Riksdagen]]
| sovereignty_type                = [[History of Finland|Independence]]
| sovereignty_note                = from [[Russian Republic|Russia]]
| established_event1                = [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Autonomy]]
| established_date1                = 29 March 1809
| established_event2                = [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Declared]]
| established_date2                = 6 December 1917
| established_event3                = [[Finnish Civil War|Civil War]]
| established_date3                = January – May 1918
| established_event4                = [[Constitution of Finland|Constitution]]
| established_date4                = 17 July 1919
| established_event5                = [[Winter War]]
| established_date5                = 30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940
| established_event6                = [[Continuation War]]
| established_date6                = 25 June 1941 – 19 September 1944
| established_event7                = [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|Joined]] the [[European Union|EU]]
| established_date7                = 1 January 1995
| area_km2                = 338,455
| area_rank                = 65th <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi                = 130,596 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| percent_water                = 9.71 (as of 2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER#}}</ref>
| population_estimate                = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 5,536,146<ref>{{cite web|title=Birth rate showed a slight growth in 2020|url=https://www.stat.fi/til/vamuu/2020/12/vamuu_2020_12_2021-01-21_tie_001_en.html|publisher=Statistics Finland|access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year                = December 2020
| population_estimate_rank                = 116th
| population_label2              =
| population_data2                =
| population_density_km2                = 16
| population_density_sq_mi                = 41 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank                = 213th
| GDP_PPP                = $257 billion<ref name=imf3>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=59&pr1.y=9&c=172&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |date=17 October 2018|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|publisher=IMF}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year                = 2020
| GDP_PPP_rank                = 60th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita                = $49,334<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank                = 19th
| GDP_nominal                = $277 billion<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_nominal_year                = 2020
| GDP_nominal_rank                = 43rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita                = $48,461<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank                = 14th
| Gini                = 26.2 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year                = 2019
| Gini_change                = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref                = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tessi190&plugin=1 |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income - EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref>
| Gini_rank                = 6th
| HDI                = 0.938<!--number only-->
| HDI_year                = 2019<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change                = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2020|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=15 December 2020|access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank                = 11th
| currency                = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| currency_code                = EUR
| time_zone                = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset                = +2
| utc_offset_DST                = +3
| time_zone_DST                = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| date_format                = d.m.yyyy<ref>[http://www.kielikello.fi/index.php?mid=2&pid=11&aid=1709 Ajanilmaukset] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020033758/http://www.kielikello.fi/index.php?mid=2&pid=11&aid=1709 |date=20 October 2017 }} Kielikello 2/2006. Institute for the Languages of Finland. Retrieved 20 October 2017</ref>
| drives_on                = right
| calling_code                = [[Telephone numbers in Finland|+358]]
| cctld                = [[.fi]]<sup>a</sup>
| footnote_a                = The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
| today                =
}}
'''Finland''' ({{lang-fi|Suomi}} {{IPA-fi|ˈsuo̯mi||fi-suomi.ogg}}; {{lang-sv|Finland}} {{IPA-sv|ˈfɪ̌nland||sv-Finland.ogg}}, {{IPA-sv|ˈfinlɑnd|langfi}}), officially the '''Republic of Finland''' ({{Lang-fi|Suomen tasavalta}}, {{Lang-sv|Republiken Finland}} {{small|({{audio|Suomi Finland.ogg|listen to all|help=no}})}}),{{refn|group=note|"Republic of Finland", or {{lang|fi|Suomen tasavalta}} in Finnish, {{lang|sv|Republiken Finland}} in Swedish, and {{lang|se|Suoma dásseváldi}} in Sami, is the long protocol name, which is however not defined by law. Legislation recognises only the short name.}} is a [[Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]]. It shares land borders with [[Sweden]] to the west, [[Russia]] to the east, [[Norway]] to the north, and is defined by the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the west, and the [[Gulf of Finland]] of the [[Baltic Sea]] across [[Estonia]] to the south. Finland covers an area of {{convert|338455|km2|mi2}}, with a population of 5.5 million. [[Helsinki]] is the country's capital and largest city, but together with the neighboring cities of [[Espoo]], [[Kauniainen]] and [[Vantaa]], it forms a larger [[metropolitan area]]. [[Finnish language|Finnish]], the [[native language]] of the [[Finns]], is among the few [[Finnic languages]] in the world. The climate varies relative to latitude, from the southern [[humid continental climate]] to the northern [[boreal climate]]. The land cover is primarily a [[boreal forest]] [[biome]], with more than 180,000 recorded [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes]].<ref name="thousand">{{cite web|last=Li|first=Leslie|date=16 April 1989|title=A Land of a Thousand Lakes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/16/travel/a-land-of-a-thousand-lakes.html|access-date=20 September 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Finland was inhabited around 9000&nbsp;BC after [[Last glacial period|the Last Glacial Period]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|isbn=978-952-495-363-4|location=Helsinki|page=23}}</ref> The [[Stone Age]] introduced several different ceramic styles and cultures. The [[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] were characterised by extensive contacts with other cultures in [[Fennoscandia]] and the [[Baltic region]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|isbn=978-952-495-363-4|location=Helsinki|page=339}}</ref> From the late 13th century, Finland gradually became an integral part of Sweden as a consequence of the [[Northern Crusades]]. In 1809, as a result of the [[Finnish War]], Finland was annexed by [[Russian Empire|Russia]] as the autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland]], during which [[Golden Age of Finnish Art|Finnish art flourished]] and the idea of [[Independence of Finland|independence]] began to take hold. In 1906, Finland became the first European state to grant [[Universal suffrage#Dates by country|universal suffrage]], and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office.<ref name="eduskunta">{{cite web |url=http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/aboutparliament/presentation/history.htx |work=eduskunta.fi |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2015 |author=Parliament of Finland |title=History of the Finnish Parliament |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151206184816/http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/aboutparliament/presentation/history.htx }}</ref><ref name="full suffrage">Finland was the first nation in the world to give all (adult) citizens full suffrage, in other words the right to vote and to run for office, in 1906. New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant all (adult) citizens the right to vote, in 1893. But women did not get the right to run for the New Zealand legislature, until 1919.</ref> [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], the last [[Tsar]] of Russia, tried to [[Russification of Finland|russify Finland]] and terminate its political autonomy, but after the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], Finland [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|declared independence from Russia]]. In 1918, the fledgling state was divided by the [[Finnish Civil War]]. During [[World War II]], Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] and the [[Continuation War]], and [[Nazi Germany]] in the [[Lapland War]]. After the wars, Finland lost parts of its territory, but maintained its independence.
Finland largely remained an [[Agriculture|agrarian]] country until the 1950s. After World War II, the country rapidly industrialised and developed an advanced economy, while building an extensive [[welfare state]] based on the [[Nordic model]], resulting in widespread prosperity and a high [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|per capita income]].<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=65&pr.y=7&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=172&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a= |title=Finland |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> Finland joined the [[United Nations]] in 1955 and adopted an official policy of neutrality. Finland joined the [[OECD]] in 1969, the [[Partnership for Peace|NATO Partnership for Peace]] in 1994,<ref name="nato.int">[http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49594.htm Relations with Finland]. NATO (13 January 2016)</ref> the European Union in 1995, the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]] in 1997,<ref name="nato.int" /> and the [[Eurozone]] at its inception in 1999. Finland is a top performer in numerous [[International rankings of Finland|metrics of national performance]], including education, economic competitiveness, civil liberties, quality of life and human development.<ref name="World Audit">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/finland.htm |title=Finland: World Audit Democracy Profile |work=WorldAudit.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030113921/http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/finland.htm |archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite document|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/tertiary-education-graduation-rates_20755120-table1 |title=Tertiary education graduation rates—Education: Key Tables from OECD |doi=10.1787/20755120-table1 |publisher=OECD iLibrary |date=14 June 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430055650/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/tertiary-education-graduation-rates_20755120-table1 |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article3803493.ece |title=Her er verdens mest konkurransedyktige land—Makro og politikk |publisher=E24.no |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014010931/http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article3803493.ece |archive-date=14 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=FI |title=The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index |publisher=Prosperity.com |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029140547/http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=FI |archive-date=29 October 2009 }}</ref> In 2015, Finland was ranked first in the World Human Capital<ref>{{cite web |url=http://reports.weforum.org/human-capital-report-2015/rankings/ |title=Human Capital Report 2015 |website=[[World Economic Forum]] |access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> and the [[Press Freedom Index]] and as the most stable country in the world during 2011–2016 in the [[Fragile States Index]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/rankings-2016 |title=Fragile States Index 2016 |publisher=Fundforpeace.org |access-date=27 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204213240/http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/rankings-2016 |archive-date=4 February 2017 }}</ref> and second in the [[Global Gender Gap Report]].<ref>{{cite book |title = Gender Gap Report |url = http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2012.pdf |publisher = WEF }}</ref> It also ranked first on the [[World Happiness Report]] report for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last= Hetter|first=Katia|date=26 March 2019|title=This is the world's happiest country in 2019|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-happiest-countries-united-nations-2019/index.html|work=[[CNN]] |access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://happiness-report.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/WHR20.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2020|editor-last=Helliwell|editor-first=John F.|editor2-last=Sachs|editor2-first=Jeffrey|editor3-last=De Neve|editor3-first=Jan-Emmanuel|date=2020|publisher=Sustainable Development Solutions Network|location=New York|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref>
== Etymology ==
=== Finland ===
[[File:Hic Fabricatur Naves.jpg|310px|thumb|Finland on a medieval map, which is part of the ''[[Carta marina]]'' (1539)]]
{{See also|Finns#Etymology}}
The earliest written appearance of the name ''Finland'' is thought to be on three [[runestone]]s. Two were found in the Swedish province of [[Uppland]] and have the inscription ''finlonti'' ([[Runestone U 582|U 582]]). The third was found in [[Gotland]]. It has the inscription ''finlandi'' ([[Runestone G 319|G 319]]) and dates back to the 13th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkisto.fi/ |title=National Archives Service, Finland (in English) |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> The name can be assumed to be related to the tribe name ''[[Finnish tribes|Finns]]'', which is mentioned at first known time AD 98 (disputed meaning).
=== Suomi ===
The name ''Suomi'' ({{Langnf|fi|2=Finnish|3=Finland}}) has uncertain origins, but a common etymology with ''saame'' ([[Sami people|Sami]], a [[Finno-Ugric peoples|Finno-Ugric people]] in [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]]) and ''[[Tavastia (historical province)|Häme]]'' (a province in the inland) has been suggested ([[Proto-Finnic]] [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/hämä|''*hämä'']] from older ''*šämä'', possibly loaned into Proto-Saami as [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Samic/sāmē|''*sāmē'']]), whose source could be the Proto-Baltic word [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Balto-Slavic/źemē|''*źemē'']], meaning '(low) land'.<ref>[http://www.kotikielenseura.fi/virittaja/hakemistot/jutut/1998_613.pdf kotikielenseura.fi], SUOMI (TTAVIA ETYMOLOGIOITA).</ref> According to the hypothesis, ''*sāmē'' – or ''*šämä'' directly – was loaned back into Baltic as ''*sāma-'' (compare Latvian ''sāms'' 'Finn, [[Saaremaa|Öselian]]'), from which Northern Finnic reborrowed it (perhaps via a Germanic intermediate ''*sōma-'') as ''*sōma-'' > ''*sōme-'' 'Finland'.<ref name=deSmit>{{cite web |last1=de Smit |first1=Merlijn |title=De Vanitate Etymologiae. On the origins of Suomi, Häme, Sápmi. |url=https://www.academia.edu/36858309 |website=Academia.edu |publisher=Academia, Inc. |access-date=6 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In addition to the close relatives of Finnish (the [[Finnic languages]]), this name is also used in the [[Baltic languages]] [[Latvian language|Latvian]] (''soms'', ''Somija'') and [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] (''suomis'', ''Suomija''), although these are evidently later borrowings. An alternative hypothesis by Petri Kallio suggests the Proto-Indo-European word [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ǵʰmṓ|*''(dʰ)ǵʰm-on-'']] 'human' (cf. Gothic ''guma'', Latin ''homo''), being borrowed into Uralic as *''ćoma''.<ref name=deSmit />
It has been suggested that the Finnish word ''Suomi'' is first attested the [[Royal Frankish Annals]] annal for 811, which mentions a person called ''Suomi'' among the Danish delegation at a peace treaty with the Franks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/annalesregnifrancorum.html|title=Annesl Regni Francorum|website=thelatinlibrary.com|access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> If so, it is also the earliest evidence for the change from the proto-Finnic [[monophthong]] {{IPA|/oː/}} to the Finnish [[diphthong]] {{IPA|/uo/}}.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Keskiajan suomen kielen dokumentoitu sanasto ensiesiintymisvuosineen'' |last=Heikkilä |first=Mikko K. |publisher=Mediapinta |year=2017 |isbn=978-952-236-859-1 |page=44}}</ref><ref>Mikko Heikkilä, '[https://journal.fi/sananjalka/article/download/86749/45497/ Varhaissuomen äännehistorian kronologiasta]', ''Sananjalka'', 58 (2016), 136–158 (p. 147).</ref> However, some historical linguists view this interpretation of the name as unlikely, supposing another etymology or that the spelling originated as a scribal error (in which case the sound-change {{IPA|/oː/}} > {{IPA|/uo/}} could have happened much later).<ref>Petri Kallio, '[https://journal.fi/sananjalka/article/download/66609/27008 Äännehistoriaa suomen kielen  erilliskehityksen alkutaipaleilta]', ''Sananjalka'', 59 (2017), 7–24 (p. 12).</ref>
=== Concept ===
In the earliest historical sources, from the 12th and 13th centuries, the term Finland refers to the coastal region around [[Turku]] from [[Perniö]] to [[Uusikaupunki]]. This region later became known as [[Southwest Finland|Finland Proper]] in distinction from the country name Finland. Finland became a common name for the whole country in a centuries-long process that started when the [[Catholic Church]] established a missionary diocese in [[Nousiainen]] in the northern part of the province of Suomi possibly sometime in the 12th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Suomen museo 2003: "The Origins of Finland and Häme" |last=Salo |first=Unto |publisher=Suomen muinaismuistoyhdistys |year=2004 |isbn=978-951-9057-55-2 |location=Helsinki |page=55}}</ref>
The devastation of [[Finland during the Great Northern War]] (1714–1721) and during the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)]] caused Sweden to begin carrying out major efforts to defend its eastern half from Russia. These 18th-century experiences created a sense of a shared destiny that when put in conjunction with the unique Finnish language, led to the adoption of an expanded concept of Finland.<ref name=UppslagsFi>{{cite web |url=http://www.uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-FinlandsHistoria1700Talet |title=Finlands historia: 1700-talet |last=Lindberg |first=Johan |date=26 May 2016 |website=[[Uppslagsverket Finland]] |access-date=30 November 2017 |language=sv}}</ref>
== History ==
{{Main|History of Finland}} {{see also|Åland Islands}}
===Prehistory===
{{Main|History of Finland#Prehistory}}
[[File:Kierikki Stone Age Centre Oulu Finland 02.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of [[Stone Age]] dwelling from [[Kierikki]], Oulu]]
If the [[Archaeology|archeological]] finds from [[Wolf Cave]] are the result of [[Neanderthal|Neanderthals']] activities, the first people inhabited Finland approximately 120,000–130,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |isbn=978-952-495-363-4 |location=Helsinki |page=21}}</ref> The area that is now Finland was settled in, at the latest, around 8,500 BC during the [[Stone Age]] towards the end of the [[last glacial period]]. The [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] the first settlers left behind present characteristics that are shared with those found in [[Estonia]], Russia, and Norway.<ref name=":1">[http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514281411/isbn9514281411.pdf Herkules.oulu.fi]. People, material, culture and environment in the north. Proceedings of the 22nd Nordic Archaeological Conference, University of Oulu, 18–23 August 2004 Edited by Vesa-Pekka Herva Gummerus Kirjapaino</ref> The earliest people were [[hunter-gatherer]]s, using stone tools.<ref name="VF-Pre">Dr. Pirjo Uino of the National Board of Antiquities, ThisisFinland—"Prehistory: The ice recedes—man arrives". Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref>
The first pottery appeared in 5200&nbsp;BC, when the Comb Ceramic culture was introduced.<ref name="Hist-Fin-Geo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20071123072314/http://www.geocities.com/ojoronen/EARLYFIN.HTM History of Finland and the Finnish People from stone age to WWII]. Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> The arrival of the [[Corded Ware culture]] in Southern coastal Finland between 3000 and 2500 BC may have coincided with the start of agriculture.<ref name="Virt-Mino">Professor Frank Horn of the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law University of Lappland writing for Virtual Finland on [https://web.archive.org/web/20080611022047/http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26470 National Minorities of Finland]. Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> Even with the introduction of agriculture, hunting and fishing continued to be important parts of the subsistence economy.
In the [[Bronze Age]] permanent all-year-round cultivation and [[animal husbandry]] spread, but the cold climate phase slowed the change.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |pages=199, 210–211}}</ref> Cultures in Finland shared common features in pottery and also axes had similarities but local features existed. [[Seima-Turbino phenomenon|Seima-Turbino-phenomenon]] brought first bronze artifacts to the region and possibly also the [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric-Languages]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=171–178}}</ref> Commercial contacts that had so far mostly been to [[Estonia]] started to extend to Scandinavia. Domestic manufacture of bronze artifacts started 1300 BC with {{ill|Maaninka-type bronze axe|fi|Maaningan kirves|lt=Maaninka-type bronze axes}}. Bronze was imported from [[Volga River|Volga]] region and from Southern Scandinavia.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=189–190}}</ref>
[[File:Northern Europe in 814.jpg|thumb|left|[[Northern Europe]] in 814 AD]]
In the [[Iron Age]] population grew especially in Häme and Savo regions. Finland proper was the most densely populated area. Cultural contacts to the Baltics and Scandinavia became more frequent. Commercial contacts in the [[Baltic Sea]] region grew and extended during the 8th and 9th centuries.
Main exports from Finland were furs, slaves, [[castoreum]], and falcons to European courts. Imports included silk and other fabrics, jewelry, [[Ulfberht swords]], and, in lesser extent, glass. Production of iron started approximately in 500 BC.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |pages=332, 364–365}}</ref>
At the end of the 9th century, indigenous artifact culture, especially women's jewelry and weapons, had more common local features than ever before. This has been interpreted to be expressing common Finnish identity which was born from an image of common origin.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |page=269}}</ref>
[[File:Late Iron Age swords found from Finland.jpg|thumb|Late [[Iron Age]] swords found in Finland]]
An early form of [[Finnic languages]] spread to the Baltic Sea region approximately 1900 BC with the [[Seima-Turbino phenomenon|Seima-Turbino-phenomenon]]. Common Finnic language was spoken around [[Gulf of Finland]] 2000 years ago. The dialects from which the modern-day Finnish language was developed came into existence during the Iron Age.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=211–212}}</ref> Although distantly related, the [[Sami people|Sami]] retained the hunter-gatherer lifestyle longer than the Finns. The Sami cultural identity and the [[Sami languages|Sami language]] have survived in Lapland, the northernmost province, but the Sami have been displaced or assimilated elsewhere.
The 12th and 13th centuries were a violent time in the northern Baltic Sea. The [[Livonian Crusade]] was ongoing and the [[Finnish tribes]] such as the [[Tavastians]] and [[Karelia (historical province of Finland)|Karelians]] were in [[Early Finnish wars|frequent conflicts]] with [[Republic of Novgorod|Novgorod]] and with each other. Also, during the 12th and 13th centuries several crusades from the Catholic realms of the Baltic Sea area were made against the Finnish tribes. According to historical sources, [[Danes]] waged at least three crusades to Finland, in 1187 or slightly earlier,<ref name=":3">{{cite book| author = Kurt Villads Jensen| title = Ristiretket| publisher = Turun Historiallinen Yhdistys| year = 2019| pages = 126–127}}</ref> in 1191 and in 1202,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |page=380}}</ref> and [[Swedes]], possibly the so-called [[Second Swedish Crusade|second crusade to Finland]], in 1249 against [[Tavastians]] and the [[Third Swedish Crusade|third crusade to Finland]] in 1293 against the Karelians. The so-called [[First Swedish Crusade|first crusade to Finland]], possibly in 1155, is most likely an unreal event. Also, it is possible that Germans made violent conversion of Finnish pagans in the 13th century.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Ruotsin itämaa'' |last=Tarkiainen |first=Kari |publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |location=Helsinki |page=88}}</ref> According to a papal letter from 1241, the king of Norway was also fighting against "nearby pagans" at that time.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Suomen varhaiskeskiajan lähteitä'' |last=Compiled by Martti Linna |publisher=Historian aitta |year=1989 |page=69}}</ref>
=== Swedish era ===
{{Main|Finland under Swedish rule}}
{{See also|Swedish colonisation of Finland}}
[[File:Swedish Empire (1560-1815) en2.png|thumb|left|The [[Swedish Empire]] following the [[Treaty of Roskilde]] of 1658.<br />Dark green: [[Sweden proper]], as represented in the [[Riksdag of the Estates]]. Other greens: [[Dominions of Sweden|Swedish dominions]] and [[Possessions of Sweden|possessions]]]]
As a result of the crusades and the colonisation of some Finnish coastal areas with Christian [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish population]] during the Middle Ages,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruotsin itämaa|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |isbn=978-951-583-212-2 |location=Helsinki|pages=104–147}}</ref> including the old capital [[Turku]], Finland gradually became part of the kingdom of Sweden and the sphere of influence of the [[Catholic Church]]. Due to the Swedish conquest, the Finnish upper class lost its position and lands to the new Swedish and German nobility and to the Catholic Church.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruotsin itämaa|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |isbn=978-951-583-212-2 |location=Porvoo |pages=167–170}}</ref> In Sweden even in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was clear that Finland was a conquered country and its inhabitants could be treated arbitrarily. Swedish kings visited Finland rarely and in Swedish contemporary texts Finns were portrayed to be primitive and their language inferior.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://journal.fi/tt/article/view/57138/19187|title=Kansallinen identiteetti Ruotsissa ja Suomessa 1600-1700-luvuilla |last=Kemiläinen |first=Aira|publisher=Tieteessä tapahtuu 8/2004|year=2004|pages=25–26|language=fi}}</ref>
[[Finland Swedish|Swedish]] became the dominant language of the nobility, administration, and education; [[Finnish language|Finnish]] was chiefly a language for the [[peasant]]ry, clergy, and local [[court]]s in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas. During the [[Protestant Reformation]], the [[Finns]] gradually converted to [[Lutheranism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europe-cities.com/en/657/finland/history/chronology|title=History of Finland. Finland chronology |publisher=Europe-cities.com |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427060720/http://www.europe-cities.com/en/657/finland/history/chronology |archive-date=27 April 2011}}</ref>
In the 16th century, [[Mikael Agricola]] published the first written works in Finnish, and Finland's current capital city, [[Helsinki]], was founded by [[Gustav I of Sweden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/409531/ |title=Ruttopuisto&nbsp;– Plague Park |publisher=Tabblo.com |access-date=3 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411112934/http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/409531/ |archive-date=11 April 2008 }}</ref> The first university in Finland, the [[Royal Academy of Turku]], was established in 1640. The Finns reaped a reputation in the [[Thirty Years' War]] (1618–1648) as a well-trained [[cavalry]]men called "[[Hakkapeliitta]]", that division excelled in sudden and savage attacks, [[raid (military)|raiding]] and [[reconnaissance]], which [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|King Gustavus Adolphus]] took advantage of in his significant battles, like in the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] (1631) and the [[Battle of Rain]] (1632).<ref>{{cite book|author=Joose Olavi Hannula|year=1939|title=Hakkapeliittoja ja karoliineja – Kuvia Suomen sotahistoriasta|publisher=[[Otava (publisher)|Otava]]| location=Helsinki|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Matti J. Kankaanpää|year=2016|title=Suomalainen ratsuväki Ruotsin ajalla|publisher=T:mi Toiset aijat| location=Porvoo | page = 790 |isbn = 978-952-99106-9-4|language=fi}}</ref> Finland suffered a severe [[Great Famine of Finland (1695–1697)|famine in 1696–1697]], during which about one third of the Finnish population died,<ref name="empire"/> and a [[The plague during the Great Northern War|devastating plague a few years later]].
[[File:Suomenlinna.jpg|thumb|right|Now lying within Helsinki, [[Suomenlinna]] is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] consisting of an inhabited 18th-century sea fortress built on six islands. It is one of Finland's most popular tourist attractions.]]
In the 18th century, wars between Sweden and Russia twice led to the occupation of Finland by Russian forces, times known to the Finns as the [[Greater Wrath]] (1714–1721) and the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)|Lesser Wrath]] (1742–1743).<ref name="empire">"[http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm Finland and the Swedish Empire]". ''Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]]''.</ref> It is estimated that almost an entire generation of young men was lost during the Great Wrath, due mainly to the destruction of homes and farms, and to the burning of Helsinki.<ref name="Nordstrom, Scandinavia">{{cite book|last=Nordstrom|first=Byron J.|title=Scandinavia Since 1500|year=2000|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|location=Minneapolis, US|isbn=978-0-8166-2098-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/142 142]|url=https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/142}}</ref> By this time Finland was the predominant term for the whole area from the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the Russian border.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
Two Russo-Swedish wars in twenty-five years served as reminders to the Finnish people of the precarious position between Sweden and Russia. An increasingly vocal elite in Finland soon determined that Finnish ties with Sweden were becoming too costly, and following [[Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)|Russo-Swedish War]] (1788–1790), the Finnish elite's desire to break with Sweden only heightened.<ref name="a1">{{cite book |last=Nordstrom |first=Byron J. |title=Scandinavia Since 1500 |year=2000 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis, US |isbn=978-0-8166-2098-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/143 143] |url=https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/143 }}</ref>
Even before the war there were conspiring politicians, among them [[Georg Magnus Sprengtporten|Col G. M. Sprengtporten]], who had supported [[Gustav III of Sweden#Coup d'état|Gustav III's coup in 1772]]. Sprengporten fell out with the king and resigned his commission in 1777. In the following decade he tried to secure Russian support for an autonomous Finland, and later became an adviser to Catherine II.<ref name="a1"/> In the spirit of the notion of [[Adolf Ivar Arwidsson]] (1791–1858), "we are not Swedes, we do not want to become Russians, let us therefore be Finns", the Finnish national identity started to become established.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lefaivre|first1=Liane|last2=Tzonis|first2=Alexander|title=Architecture of Regionalism in the Age of Globalization: Peaks and Valleys in the Flat World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkYHEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT144|year=2020|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|isbn=978-1-00-022106-0|page=144}}</ref>
Notwithstanding the efforts of Finland's elite and nobility to break ties with Sweden, there was no genuine independence movement in Finland until the early 20th century. As a matter of fact, at this time the Finnish peasantry was outraged by the actions of their elite and almost exclusively supported Gustav's actions against the conspirators. (The High Court of Turku condemned Sprengtporten as a traitor c. 1793.)<ref name="a1"/> The Swedish era ended in the [[Finnish War]] in 1809.
=== Russian era ===
{{Main|Grand Duchy of Finland}}
{{See also|Diet of Porvoo|Finland's language strife|Russification of Finland}}
[[File:Pekka Halonen - Tienraivaajia Karjalassa.jpg|thumb|''Pioneers in Karelia'' (1900) by [[Pekka Halonen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/tQFrkK28QHoc9w|title=Pioneers in Karelia - Pekka Halonen|website=Google Arts & Culture}}</ref>]]
On 29 March 1809, having been taken over by the armies of [[Alexander I of Russia]] in the [[Finnish War]], Finland became an autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] in the [[Russian Empire]] with the recognition given at [[Diet of Porvoo|the Diet]] held in [[Porvoo]]. This situation lasted until the end of 1917. In 1811, Alexander I incorporated the Russian [[Vyborg Governorate|Vyborg province]] into the Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1854, Finland became involved in Russia's involvement in the [[Crimean War]], when the British and French navies bombed the Finnish coast and Åland during the so-called [[Åland War]]. During the Russian era, the Finnish language began to gain recognition. From the 1860s onwards, a strong Finnish [[Ethnic nationalism|nationalist movement]] known as the [[Fennoman movement]] grew, and one of its most prominent leading figures of the movement was the philosopher [[J. V. Snellman]], who was strictly inclined to [[Hegelianism|Hegel's idealism]], and who pushed for the stabilization of the status of the Finnish language and its own currency, the [[Finnish markka]], in the Grand Duchy of Finland.<ref>{{cite book| author = Olavi Junnila | title = Suomen historia 5 | year = 1986 | chapter = Autonomian rakentaminen ja kansallisen nousun aika | page = 151 | location = Helsinki | publisher = Weilin + Göös | isbn = 951-35-2494-9 | language = fi }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.suomenpankki.fi/fi/media-ja-julkaisut/puheet-ja-haastattelut/2006/pankinjohtaja-sinikka-salon-puhe-snellman-ja-suomen-markka--nayttelyn-avajaisissa-suomen-pankin-rahamuseossa/ | title = Pankinjohtaja Sinikka Salon puhe Snellman ja Suomen markka -näyttelyn avajaisissa Suomen Pankin rahamuseossa | publisher = [[Bank of Finland]] | date = 10 January 2006 | access-date = 7 December 2020 | language = fi }}</ref> Milestones included the publication of what would become Finland's [[national epic]] – the ''[[Kalevala]]'' – in 1835, and the Finnish language's achieving equal legal status with Swedish in 1892.
The [[Finnish famine of 1866–1868]] killed approximately 15% of the population, making it one of the worst [[famine]]s in European history. The famine led the Russian Empire to ease financial regulations, and investment rose in following decades. Economic and political development was rapid.<ref name="equity">{{cite web |url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTRANETSOCIALDEVELOPMENT/Resources/finland.pdf |title=Growth and Equity in Finland |publisher=World Bank}}</ref> The [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) per capita was still half of that of the United States and a third of that of Britain.<ref name="equity" />
In 1906, [[universal suffrage]] was adopted in the Grand Duchy of Finland. However, the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Russian Empire soured when the Russian government made moves to restrict Finnish [[Autonomous area|autonomy]]. For example, the universal suffrage was, in practice, virtually meaningless, since the tsar did not have to approve any of the laws adopted by the Finnish parliament. Desire for independence gained ground, first among radical liberals<ref>Mickelsson, Rauli (2007). ''Suomen puolueet—Historia, muutos ja nykypäivä''. Vastapaino.</ref> and socialists. The case is known as the "[[Russification of Finland]]", driven by the last tsar of Russian Empire, [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]].<ref>Alenius, Kari. "Russification in Estonia and Finland Before 1917," ''Faravid,'' 2004, Vol. 28, pp 181–194</ref>
=== Civil war and early independence ===
{{Main|Independence of Finland|Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic|Finnish Civil War}}
[[File:Firing squad in Lankipohja.jpg|thumb|[[White Guard (Finland)|White firing squad]] executing [[Red Guard (Finland)|Red soldiers]] after the [[Battle of Länkipohja]] (1918)]]
After the 1917 [[February Revolution]], the position of Finland as part of the Russian Empire was questioned, mainly by [[Russian Social Democratic Labour Party|Social Democrats]]. Since the head of state was the [[tsar]] of Russia, it was not clear who the chief executive of Finland was after the revolution. The Parliament, controlled by social democrats, passed the so-called [[Independence of Finland#Power act|Power Act]] to give the highest authority to the Parliament. This was rejected by the [[Russian Provisional Government]] which decided to dissolve the Parliament.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/finland/15.htm The Finnish Civil War, Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress]. Countrystudies.us. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
New elections were conducted, in which right-wing parties won with a slim majority. Some social democrats refused to accept the result and still claimed that the dissolution of the parliament (and thus the ensuing elections) were extralegal. The two nearly equally powerful political blocs, the right-wing parties and the social democratic party, were highly antagonized.
The [[October Revolution]] in Russia changed the geopolitical situation once more. Suddenly, the right-wing parties in Finland started to reconsider their decision to block the transfer of highest executive power from the Russian government to Finland, as the [[Bolsheviks]] took power in Russia. Rather than acknowledge the authority of the Power Act of a few months earlier, the right-wing government, led by [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] [[P. E. Svinhufvud]], presented [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] on 4 December 1917, which was officially approved two days later, on 6 December, by the [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]]. The [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic]] (RSFSR), led by [[Vladimir Lenin]], recognized independence on 4 January 1918.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=107215&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI | title = Uudenvuodenaatto Pietarin Smolnassa – Itsenäisyyden tunnustus 31.12.1917 | publisher = Ulkoministieriö | access-date = 14 September 2020 | language = fi }}</ref>
[[File:The victory parade of the White Army 1918.jpg|thumb|Finnish military leader and statesman [[C. G. E. Mannerheim]] as [[general officer]] leading the [[White Victory Parade]] at the end of the [[Finnish Civil War]] in Helsinki, 1918]]
On 27 January 1918, the official opening shots of the [[Finnish Civil War|civil war]] were fired in two simultaneous events: on the one hand the government's beginning to disarm the Russian forces in [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Pohjanmaa]], and on the other, a coup launched by the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]].{{failed verification |date=December 2010 |reason=No mention of coup in the section The Finnish Civil War, which should cover this. The actions by the reds are not characterized.}} The latter gained control of southern Finland and Helsinki, but the White government continued in exile from [[Vaasa]]. This sparked the brief but bitter civil war. The [[White Guard (Finland)|Whites]], who were supported by [[German Empire|Imperial Germany]], prevailed over the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Reds]],<ref>{{cite web |title=A Country Study: Finland—The Finnish Civil War |url=http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/fitoc.html |work=Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]] |access-date=11 December 2008}}</ref> which were guided by [[Kullervo Manner]]'s desire to make the newly independent country a [[Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic]] (also known as "Red Finland") and  part of the RSFSR.<ref>[https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/sdpn-puheenjohtaja-halusi-punadiktaattoriksi-mutta-kuoli-stalinin-vankileirilla-69089/#cd1f8043 SDP:n puheenjohtaja halusi punadiktaattoriksi, mutta kuoli Stalinin vankileirillä] (in Finnish)</ref> After the war, tens of thousands of Reds and suspected sympathizers were interned in camps, where thousands were executed or  died from malnutrition and disease. Deep social and political enmity was sown between the Reds and Whites and would last until the [[Winter War]] and beyond. Even nowadays, the civil war remains a sensitive topic.<ref>[https://www.is.fi/paakirjoitus/art-2000005492424.html Pääkirjoitus: Kansalaissota on arka muistettava] (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8831374 Punaisten ja valkoisten perintöä vaalitaan yhä – Suomalaiset lähettivät yli 400 muistoa vuoden 1918 sisällissodasta] (in Finnish)</ref> The civil war and the 1918–1920 activist expeditions called "[[Heimosodat|Kinship Wars]]" into Soviet Russia strained Eastern relations. At that time, the idea of a [[Greater Finland]] also emerged for the first time.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Manninen | first=Ohto | title=Suur-Suomen ääriviivat: Kysymys tulevaisuudesta ja turvallisuudesta Suomen Saksan-politiikassa 1941 | location=Helsinki | publisher=Kirjayhtymä | year=1980 | isbn= 951-26-1735-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | last=Nygård | first=Toivo | title=Suur-Suomi vai lähiheimolaisten auttaminen: Aatteellinen heimotyö itsenäisessä Suomessa | location=Helsinki | publisher=Otava | year=1978 | isbn=951-1-04963-1}}</ref>
[[File:Juho kusti paasikivi and Pehr Evind Svinhufvud 1918.jpg|thumb|[[Juho Kusti Paasikivi|J. K. Paasikivi]] and [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud|P. E. Svinhufvud]], both at the time future [[President of Finland|presidents of the Republic of Finland]], discuss the [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|Finnish monarchy project]] in 1918.]]
After [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|a brief experimentation with monarchy]], when an attempt to make [[Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse]]  King of Finland proved to be a poor success, Finland became a [[presidential republic]], with [[K. J. Ståhlberg]] elected as its first president in 1919. As a [[liberal nationalist]] and with a legal background, Ståhlberg anchored the state in [[liberal democracy]], guarded the fragile shoot of the [[rule of law]], and embarked on internal reforms.<ref>{{cite web | first = Juha | last = Mononen | title = War or Peace for Finland? Neoclassical Realist Case Study of Finnish Foreign Policy in the Context of the Anti-Bolshevik Intervention in Russia 1918–1920 | url = https://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/80491 | date = 2 February 2009 | publisher = [[University of Tampere]] | access-date = 25 August 2020 | archive-date = 7 June 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150607035630/http://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/80491 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Finland was also one of the first European countries to strongly aim for [[Women's rights|equality for women]], with [[Miina Sillanpää]] serving in [[Tanner Cabinet|Väinö Tanner's cabinet]] as the first female minister in Finnish history in 1926–1927.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://finland.fi/life-society/real-bridge-builder-became-finlands-first-female-government-minister/|title=Real bridge-builder became Finland's first female government minister - thisisFINLAND|date=29 September 2017|work=thisisFINLAND|access-date=7 December 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> The Finnish–Russian border was defined in 1920 by the [[Treaty of Tartu (Finland–Russia)|Treaty of Tartu]], largely following the historic border but granting [[Pechengsky District|Pechenga]] ({{lang-fi|Petsamo}}) and its [[Barents Sea]] harbour to Finland. Finnish democracy did not experience any Soviet coup attempts and likewise survived the anti-communist [[Lapua Movement]]. Nevertheless, the relationship between Finland and the Soviet Union remained tense. Army officers were trained in France, and relations with Western Europe and Sweden were strengthened.
In 1917, the population was three million. Credit-based [[land reform]] was enacted after the civil war, increasing the proportion of the capital-owning population.<ref name="equity" /> About 70% of workers were occupied in agriculture and 10% in industry.<ref>{{cite web |author=Finland 1917–2007 |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suomi90/helmikuu_en.html |title=From slash-and-burn fields to post-industrial society—90 years of change in industrial structure |publisher=Stat.fi |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The largest export markets were the United Kingdom and Germany.
===World War II and after===
{{Main|Finland during World War II|Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|Finlandization|Early 1990s depression in Finland}}
[[File:Finnish areas ceded in 1944.png|thumb|Areas ceded by Finland to the [[Soviet Union]] after [[World War II]]. The [[Porkkala]] land lease was returned to Finland in 1956.]]
Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] of 1939–1940 after the Soviet Union attacked Finland and in the [[Continuation War]] of 1941–1944, following [[Operation Barbarossa]], when Finland aligned with Germany following Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. For 872 days, the German army, aided indirectly by Finnish forces, [[Siege of Leningrad|besieged Leningrad]], the USSR's second-largest city.<ref>Michael Jones (2013). "''[https://books.google.com/books?id=uGzfnIm97vQC&pg=PA38 Leningrad: State of Siege]''". Basic Books. p. 38. {{ISBN|0-7867-2177-4}}</ref> After Finnish resistance to [[Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive|a major Soviet offensive]] in June and July 1944 led to a standstill, the two sides reached an armistice. This was followed by the [[Lapland War]] of 1944–1945, when Finland fought retreating German forces in northern Finland. Perhaps the most famous war heroes during the aforementioned wars were [[Simo Häyhä]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R948DQAAQBAJ&q=simo+hayha+219+kills&pg=PT35|title=The White Sniper|first=Tapio|last=Saarelainen|date=31 October 2016|publisher=Casemate|isbn=978-1-61200-429-7|access-date=12 March 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rdIgAQAAIAAJ|title=Journal of Information Warfare|first1=Edith Cowan University School of Management Information|last1=Systems|first2=Teamlink|last2=Australia|date=12 March 2019|publisher=Teamlink Australia Pty Limited|access-date=12 March 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> [[Aarne Juutilainen]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=Marokon Kauhu|trans-title=Terror of Morocco|last=Mäkelä|first=Jukka L.|publisher=W. Söderström|location=Porvoo|language=fi|year=1969|oclc=3935082}}</ref> and [[Lauri Törni]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cleverley|first=J. Michael|title=Born a Soldier: The Times and Life of Larry Thorne|year=2008|publisher=Booksurge|isbn=978-1-4392-1437-4|oclc=299168934}}</ref>
The treaties signed with the Soviet Union in 1947 and 1948  included Finnish obligations, restraints, and reparations, as well as further Finnish territorial concessions in addition to those in the [[Moscow Peace Treaty]] of 1940. As a result of the two wars, Finland ceded the [[Pechengsky District|Petsamo]], along with parts of [[Finnish Karelia]] and [[Salla]]. This amounted to 10% of Finland's  land area and 20% of its industrial capacity, including the ports of [[Vyborg]] (Viipuri) and the ice-free [[Liinakhamari]] (Liinahamari). Almost the whole Finnish population, some 400,000 people, [[Evacuation of Finnish Karelia|fled these areas]]. The former Finnish territory now constitutes part of Russia's [[Republic of Karelia]], [[Leningrad Oblast]], and [[Murmansk Oblast]]. Finland was never occupied by Soviet forces and it retained its independence, but at a loss of about 97,000 soldiers. The [[Finnish war reparations to the Soviet Union|war reparations demanded by the Soviet Union]] amounted to $300 million ({{Inflation|US|300|1938|fmt=c}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).
Finland rejected [[Marshall Plan|Marshall aid]], in apparent [[Finlandization|deference to Soviet desires]]. However, in the hope of preserving Finland's independence, the United States provided secret development aid and helped the Social Democratic Party.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hidden+help+from+across+the+Atlantic/1135223633788 Hidden help from across the Atlantic] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129165823/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hidden+help+from+across+the+Atlantic/1135223633788 |date=29 January 2007 }}, Helsingin Sanomat</ref> Establishing trade with the Western powers, such as the United Kingdom, and paying reparations to the Soviet Union produced a transformation of Finland from a primarily [[agrarian economy]] to an industrialised one. [[Valmet]] was founded to create materials for war reparations. After the reparations had been paid off, Finland continued to trade with the Soviet Union in the framework of [[bilateral trade]].
[[File:Urho-Kekkonen-1975.jpg|thumb|left|[[Urho Kekkonen]], the eighth president of Finland (1956–1982)]]
In 1950, 46% of Finnish workers worked in agriculture and a third lived in urban areas.<ref name="populationdevelopment">{{cite web |author=Finland 1917–2007 |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suomi90/joulukuu_en.html |title=Population development in independent Finland—greying Baby Boomers |publisher=Stat.fi |date=5 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The new jobs in manufacturing, services, and trade quickly attracted people to the towns. The average number of births per woman declined from a [[baby boom]] peak of 3.5 in 1947 to 1.5 in 1973.<ref name="populationdevelopment" /> When baby-boomers entered the workforce, the economy did not generate jobs quickly enough, and hundreds of thousands emigrated to the more industrialized Sweden, with emigration peaking in 1969 and 1970.<ref name="populationdevelopment" /> The [[1952 Summer Olympics]] brought international visitors. Finland took part in trade liberalization in the [[World Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade]].
Officially claiming to be [[Neutral country|neutral]], Finland lay in the grey zone between the [[Western world|Western countries]] and the Soviet bloc. The [[Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|YYA Treaty]] (Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance) gave the Soviet Union some leverage in Finnish domestic politics. This was extensively exploited by president [[Urho Kekkonen]] against his opponents. He maintained an effective monopoly on Soviet relations from 1956 on, which was crucial for his continued popularity. In politics, there was a tendency to avoid any policies and statements that could be interpreted as anti-Soviet. This phenomenon was given the name "[[Finlandization]]" by the West German press. During the [[Cold War]], Finland also developed into one of the centers of the [[Cold War espionage|East-West espionage]], in which both the [[KGB]] and the [[CIA]] played their parts.<ref>{{Citation|last=Ford|first=Hal|title=ESAU -LVI - ''FINLANDIZATION'' IN ACTION: HELSINKI'S EXPERIENCE WITH MOSCOW|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/esau-55.pdf|series=DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE|date=August 1972}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/eastern-approaches/2011/12/01/secret-history|title=Finland and American intelligence - Secret history|work=[[The Economist]]|date=1 December 2011|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://intelnews.org/2011/08/19/01-794/|title=Former Finnish diplomat reveals she worked for the CIA|first=Joseph|last=Fitsanakis|website=Intelnews.org|date=19 August 2011|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9692396|title=Naisia, autoja ja piilopirttejä – Norjalainen vakoili CIA:n laskuun kylmän sodan Suomessa|first=Satu|last=Helin|publisher=[[YLE]]|date=2 July 2017|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/10/14/kylman-sodan-suomalaisagentit-kasikirjoitus|title=Kylmän sodan suomalaisagentit: käsikirjoitus|first=Kai|last=Byman|work=MOT|publisher=[[YLE]]|date=14 October 2019|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005833479.html|title=Näin Neuvostoliitto vakoili Suomessa – Supo seurasi "Jakkea", joka johdatti uusille jäljille|first=Mika|last=Lehto|work=[[Ilta-Sanomat]]|date=19 September 2018|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref> The 1949 established [[Finnish Security Intelligence Service]] (''SUPO, Suojelupoliisi''), an operational [[Security agency|security]] authority and a police unit under the [[Ministry of the Interior (Finland)|Interior Ministry]], whose core areas of activity are [[counter-Intelligence]], [[counter-terrorism]] and [[national security]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supo.fi/en/frontpage?p_p_id=fi_yja_language_version_tool_web_portlet_LanguageVersionToolMissingNotificationPortlet&_fi_yja_language_version_tool_web_portlet_LanguageVersionToolMissingNotificationPortlet_missingLanguageVersion=1|title=Frontpage|website=Supo}}</ref> also participated in this activity in some places.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tuomioja.org/kirjavinkit/2009/09/matti-simola-toimittanut-ratakatu-12-suojelupoliisi-1949-2009-wsoy-319-s-hameenlinna-2009/|title=Salaisen palvelun tutkimuksen haasteet|last=Tuomioja|first=Erkki|date=8 September 2009|work=Tuomioja.org|access-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153602/https://tuomioja.org/kirjavinkit/2009/09/matti-simola-toimittanut-ratakatu-12-suojelupoliisi-1949-2009-wsoy-319-s-hameenlinna-2009/|archive-date=24 October 2017|url-status=live|language=fi-FI|trans-title=Challenges in secret service research}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10224/4054|title=The Cold War and the Politics of History|last=Rentola|first=Kimmo|publisher=Edita Publishing Ltd|year=2008|isbn=978-952-10-4637-7|editor-last=Aunesluoma|editor-first=Juhani|location=Helsinki|pages=269–289|chapter=President Urho Kekkonen of Finland and the KGB|editor-last2=Kettunen|editor-first2=Pauli|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010917/https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10224/4054|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
Despite close relations with the Soviet Union, Finland maintained a market economy. Various industries benefited from [[Bilateral trade|trade privileges]] with the Soviets, which explains the widespread support that pro-Soviet policies enjoyed among business interests in Finland. Economic growth was rapid in the postwar era, and by 1975 Finland's GDP per capita was the 15th-highest in the world. In the 1970s and 1980s, Finland built one of the most extensive [[welfare state]]s in the world. Finland negotiated with the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC, a predecessor of the European Union) a treaty that mostly abolished customs duties towards the EEC starting from 1977, although Finland did not fully join. In 1981, President Urho Kekkonen's failing health forced him to retire after holding office for 25 years.
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and signed the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in 2007.]]
Finland reacted cautiously to the collapse of the Soviet Union, but swiftly began increasing integration with the West. On 21 September 1990, Finland unilaterally declared the [[Paris Peace Treaty]] obsolete, following the German reunification decision nine days earlier.<ref>[http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=55802&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI formin.finland.fi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105213131/http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=55802&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI |date=5 January 2016 }}; ''Suurlähettiläs Jaakko Blomberg: Kylmän sodan päättyminen, Suomi ja Viro – Ulkoasiainministeriö: Ajankohtaista''. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
Miscalculated macroeconomic decisions, [[Finnish banking crisis of 1990s|a banking crisis]], the collapse of its largest trading partner (the Soviet Union), and a global economic downturn caused a deep [[Early 1990s depression in Finland|early 1990s recession in Finland]]. The depression bottomed out in 1993, and Finland saw steady economic growth for more than ten years.<ref>{{Citation|last=Uusitalo|first=Hannu|title=Economic Crisis and Social Policy in Finland in the 1990s|journal=Working Paper Series|url=https://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/SPRCFile/dp070.pdf|series=SPRC Discussion Paper No. 70|date=October 1996|issn=1037-2741}}</ref> Like other Nordic countries, Finland decentralised its economy since the late 1980s. Financial and product market regulation were loosened. Some state enterprises have been privatized and there have been some modest tax cuts.{{Citation needed |date=August 2017}} Finland joined the [[European Union]] in 1995, and the [[Eurozone]] in 1999. Much of the late 1990s economic growth was fueled by the success of the mobile phone manufacturer [[Nokia]], which held a unique position of representing 80% of the market capitalization of the [[Helsinki Stock Exchange]].
== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Finland}}
{{See also|List of cities and towns in Finland|List of lakes of Finland|List of national parks of Finland|Environmental issues in Finland}}
[[File:Map of Finland-en.svg|thumb|upright|Topographic map of Finland]]
Lying approximately between latitudes [[60th parallel north|60°]] and [[70th parallel north|70° N]], and longitudes [[20th meridian east|20°]] and [[32nd meridian east|32° E]], Finland is one of the world's northernmost countries. Of world capitals, only [[Reykjavík]] lies more to the north than Helsinki. The distance from the southernmost point – [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]] in Uusimaa – to the northernmost – [[Nuorgam]] in Lapland – is {{convert|1160|km|mi}}.
Finland has about 168,000 lakes (of area larger than {{convert|500|m2|acre|2|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and 179,000 islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_alue_en.html |title=Statistics Finland, Environment and Natural Resources|access-date=4 April 2013}}</ref> Its largest lake, [[Saimaa]], is the fourth largest in Europe. The [[Finnish Lakeland]] is the area with the most lakes in the country; many of the major cities in the area, most notably [[Tampere]], [[Jyväskylä]] and [[Kuopio]], are located in the immediate vicinity of the large lakes. The greatest concentration of islands is found in the southwest, in the [[Archipelago Sea]] between continental Finland and the main island of Åland.
Much of the geography of Finland is a result of the Ice Age. The glaciers were thicker and lasted longer in [[Fennoscandia]] compared with the rest of Europe. Their eroding effects have left the Finnish landscape mostly flat with few hills and fewer mountains. Its highest point, the [[Halti]] at {{convert|1324|m|ft|0}}, is found in the extreme north of Lapland at the border between Finland and [[Norway]]. The highest mountain whose peak is entirely in Finland is [[Ridnitšohkka]] at {{convert|1316|m|ft|abbr=on}}, directly adjacent to Halti.
[[File:Imatran kylpylä.jpg|thumb|There are some 187,888 [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes in Finland]] larger than 500 square metres and 75,818 [[List of islands of Finland|islands]] of over 0,5 km2 area, leading to the denomination "the land of a thousand lakes".<ref name="thousand"/>]]
The retreating glaciers have left the land with [[moraine|morainic]] deposits in formations of [[esker]]s. These are ridges of stratified gravel and sand, running northwest to southeast, where the ancient edge of the glacier once lay. Among the biggest of these are the three [[Salpausselkä]] ridges that run across southern Finland.
Having been compressed under the enormous weight of the glaciers, terrain in Finland is rising due to the [[post-glacial rebound]]. The effect is strongest around the Gulf of Bothnia, where land steadily rises about {{convert|1|cm|1|abbr=on}} a year. As a result, the old sea bottom turns little by little into dry land: the surface area of the country is expanding by about {{convert|7|km2|sqmi}} annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |title=Trends in sea level variability |work=Finnish Institute of Marine Research |date=24 August 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227172733/http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |archive-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref> Relatively speaking, Finland is rising from the sea.<ref name="EB">"Finland." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011.</ref>
The landscape is covered mostly by coniferous [[taiga]] forests and [[fen]]s, with little cultivated land. Of the total area 10% is lakes, rivers and ponds, and 78% forest. The forest consists of [[pine]], [[spruce]], [[birch]], and other species.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metla.fi/suomen-metsat/ |title=Euroopan metsäisin maa |date=2013 |website= Luke |language=fi |access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> Finland is the largest producer of wood in Europe and among the largest in the world. The most common type of rock is [[granite]]. It is a ubiquitous part of the scenery, visible wherever there is no soil cover. Moraine or [[till]] is the most common type of soil, covered by a thin layer of [[humus]] of biological origin. [[Podzol]] profile development is seen in most forest soils except where drainage is poor. [[Gleysol]]s and peat [[bog]]s occupy poorly drained areas.
=== Biodiversity ===
{{Main|Fauna of Finland|Wildlife of Finland}}
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Finland is shared between the Arctic, central European, and northern European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Finland can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Scandinavian and Russian taiga]], [[Sarmatic mixed forests]], and [[Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287}}</ref> Taiga covers most of Finland from northern regions of southern provinces to the north of Lapland. On the southwestern coast, south of the Helsinki-[[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] line, forests are characterized by mixed forests, that are more typical in the Baltic region. In the extreme north of Finland, near the [[tree line]] and Arctic Ocean, Montane Birch forests are common. Finland had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.08/10, ranking it 109th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057}}</ref>
[[File:Ähtärin karhut 7.jpg|thumb|The [[brown bear]] (''Ursus arctos'') is Finland's national animal. It is also the largest [[carnivora]] in Finland.]]
Similarly, Finland has a diverse and extensive range of fauna. There are at least sixty native [[mammal]]ian species, 248 breeding bird species, over 70 fish species, and 11 reptile and frog species present today, many migrating from neighboring countries thousands of years ago.
Large and widely recognized wildlife mammals found in Finland are the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[wolverine]], and [[Moose|elk]]. The brown bear, which is also nicknamed as the "king of the forest" by the Finns, is the country's official national animal,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://finland.fi/life-society/iconic-finnish-nature-symbols-stand-out/ | title=Iconic Finnish nature symbols stand out | publisher=This is Finland | access-date=24 December 2020}}</ref> which also occur on the coat of arms of the [[Satakunta]] [[Regions of Finland|region]] is a crown-headed black bear carrying a sword,<ref>Iltanen, Jussi: ''Suomen kuntavaakunat'' (2013), Karttakeskus, {{ISBN|951-593-915-1}}</ref> possibly referring to the regional capital city of [[Pori]], whose Swedish name ''Björneborg'' and the Latin name ''Arctopolis'' literally means "bear city" or "bear fortress".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Savoring Heritage: A Memphis writer explores her daughter's Finnish roots |last=Maki |first=Aisling |work=Memphis magazine |date=27 March 2020 |url= https://memphismagazine.com/travel/savoring-heritage/ }}</ref> Three of the more striking birds are the [[whooper swan]], a large European swan and the national bird of Finland; the [[Western capercaillie]], a large, black-plumaged member of the [[grouse]] family; and the [[Eurasian eagle-owl]]. The latter is considered an indicator of [[old-growth forest]] connectivity, and has been declining because of landscape fragmentation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514259904/html/x288.html |title=Nutritional and genetic adaptation of galliform birds: implications for hand-rearing and restocking |work=Oulu University Library (2000) |access-date=23 May 2008}}</ref> The most common breeding birds are the [[willow warbler]], [[common chaffinch]], and [[redwing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.fi/lintuharrastus/faq-muut.shtml#pesimalinnut |title=BirdLife Finland |work=BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. Cambridge, UK. (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12) |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> Of some seventy species of freshwater fish, the [[northern pike]], [[perch]], and others are plentiful. [[Atlantic salmon]] remains the favourite of [[Fly fishing|fly rod]] enthusiasts.
The endangered [[Saimaa ringed seal]] (''Pusa hispida saimensis''), one of only three lake seal species in the world, exists only in the [[Saimaa]] lake system of southeastern Finland, down to only 390 seals today.<ref>{{cite web |title= Saimaa Ringed Seal |url= https://wwf.fi/en/saimaaringedseal/ |access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref> Ever since the species was protected in 1955,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalparks.fi/saimaa-ringed-seal|title=Saimaa Ringed Seal|website=Nationalparks.fi}}</ref> it has become the emblem of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=SOS: Save our seals |work=this is Finland ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910195719/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=10 September 2015 }}</ref> The Saimaa ringed seal lives nowadays mainly in two Finnish national parks, [[Kolovesi National Park|Kolovesi]] and [[Linnansaari National Park|Linnansaari]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jarvisydan.com/en/Nature-Adventures/National-Parks |title=Welcome to Linnansaari and Kolovesi National Parks |date=2016 |website=Järvisydän |access-date=2016-05-01 |archive-date=26 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926180335/http://www.jarvisydan.com/en/Nature-Adventures/National-Parks |url-status=dead }}</ref>  but strays have been seen in a much larger area, including near [[Savonlinna]]'s town centre.
=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Finland}}
[[File:Finland Köppen.svg|thumb|upright|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Finland]]
The main factor influencing Finland's climate is the country's geographical position between the 60th and 70th northern parallels in the [[Eurasia]]n continent's coastal zone. In the [[Köppen climate classification]], the whole of Finland lies in the [[subarctic climate|boreal zone]], characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. Within the country, the [[temperateness]] varies considerably between the southern coastal regions and the extreme north, showing characteristics of both a [[Oceanic climate|maritime]] and a [[continental climate]]. Finland is near enough to the Atlantic Ocean to be continuously warmed by the [[Gulf Stream]]. The Gulf Stream combines with the moderating effects of the Baltic Sea and numerous inland lakes to explain the unusually warm climate compared with other regions that share the same [[latitude]], such as [[Alaska]], [[Siberia]], and southern [[Greenland]].<ref name="Finland's climate">{{cite web |title=Finland's climate |url=http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |publisher=Finnish Meteorological Institute |access-date=3 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721105549/http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Winters in southern Finland (when mean daily temperature remains below {{convert|0|°C|disp=or}}) are usually about 100 days long, and in the inland the snow typically covers the land from about late November to April, and on the coastal areas such as Helsinki, snow often covers the land from late December to late March.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://ilmasto-opas.fi/fi/ilmastonmuutos/suomen-muuttuva-ilmasto/-/artikkeli/08848977-fd1a-4e85-8389-7ecf3ca7de7d/uusimaa-merellisen-ilmaston-maakunta.html|title = The climate in Finland (finnish)|access-date = 3 January 2015}}</ref> Even in the south, the harshest winter nights can see the temperatures fall to {{convert|-30|°C}} although on coastal areas like Helsinki, temperatures below {{convert|-30|°C|0}} are rare. Climatic summers (when mean daily temperature remains above {{convert|10|°C|disp=or}}) in southern Finland last from about late May to mid-September, and in the inland, the warmest days of July can reach over {{convert|35|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> Although most of Finland lies on the [[taiga]] belt, the southernmost coastal regions are sometimes classified as [[hemiboreal]].<ref name="Havas">{{cite web|url=http://www.oulu.fi/northnature/finnish/Suomi/luma1.html|title=Pohjoiset alueet / yleiskuvaus|last=Havas|first=Paavo|language=fi|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref>
In northern Finland, particularly in Lapland, the winters are long and cold, while the summers are relatively warm but short. The most severe winter days in Lapland can see the temperature fall down to {{convert|-45|°C}}. The winter of the north lasts for about 200 days with permanent snow cover from about mid-October to early May. Summers in the north are quite short, only two to three months, but can still see maximum daily temperatures above {{convert|25|°C}} during heat waves.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> No part of Finland has [[Arctic tundra]], but [[Alpine tundra]] can be found at the [[fell]]s Lapland.<ref name="Havas" />
The Finnish climate is suitable for cereal farming only in the southernmost regions, while the northern regions are suitable for [[animal husbandry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|title=Finland's Northern Conditions: Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture|publisher=Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland|pages=1–4|access-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407022547/http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|archive-date=7 April 2012 }}</ref>
A quarter of Finland's territory lies within the [[Arctic Circle]] and the [[midnight sun]] can be experienced for more days the farther north one travels. At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during summer, and does not rise at all for 51 days during winter.<ref name="Finland's climate" />
=== Regions ===
{{Main|Regions of Finland}}
Finland consists of 19 [[Regions of Finland|regions]], called {{lang|fi|maakunta}} in Finnish and {{lang|sv|landskap}} in Swedish. The regions are governed by regional councils which serve as forums of cooperation for the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] of a region. The main tasks of the regions are regional planning and development of enterprise and education. In addition, the public health services are usually organized on the basis of regions. Currently, the only region where a popular election is held for the council is Kainuu. Other regional councils are elected by municipal councils, each municipality sending representatives in proportion to its population.
In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, which is the responsibility of regional councils, each region has a state Employment and Economic Development Centre which is responsible for the local administration of labour, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and entrepreneurial affairs. The [[Finnish Defence Forces]] regional offices are responsible for the regional defence preparations and for the administration of conscription within the region.
Regions represent dialectal, cultural, and economic variations better than the former [[Provinces of Finland|provinces]], which were purely administrative divisions of the central government. Historically, regions are divisions of [[historical provinces of Finland]], areas which represent dialects and culture more accurately.
Six [[Regional State Administrative Agencies of Finland|Regional State Administrative Agencies]] were created by the state of Finland in 2010, each of them responsible for one of the regions called {{lang|fi|alue}} in Finnish and {{lang|sv|region}} in Swedish; in addition, Åland was designated a seventh region. These take over some of the tasks of the earlier [[Provinces of Finland]] (''lääni''/''län''), which were abolished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |title=Tervetuloa aluehallintoviraston verkkosivuille! |publisher=State Provincial Office |language=fi |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315151138/http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |archive-date=15 March 2012 }}</ref>
{| style="with:90%"
| style="width:50%" |{{Finnish Regions|options=float:top}}
| style="width:50%" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Official English name<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/3457861/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyviä+termejä+sekä+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29/974f7fc5-1466-c667-9787-381c5bd57603/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyviä+termejä+sekä+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29.pdf|title=Suomen hallintorakenteeseen ja maakuntauudistukseen liittyviä termejä sekä maakuntien ja kuntien nimet fi-sv-en-(ru)|website=vnk.fi|pages=8–9|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>
! Finnish name
! Swedish name
! Capital
! Regional state administrative agency
|-
| [[Lapland, Finland|Lapland]]
| '''Lapland'''
| {{lang|fi|Lappi}}
| {{lang|sv|Lappland}}
| [[Rovaniemi]]
| [[Municipalities of Lapland|Lapland]]
|-
| [[North Ostrobothnia]]
| '''North Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Österbotten}}
| [[Oulu]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kainuu]]
|'''Kainuu'''
| {{lang|fi|Kainuu}}
| {{lang|sv|Kajanaland}}
| [[Kajaani]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[North Karelia]]
| '''North Karelia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Karelen}}
| [[Joensuu]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[Northern Savonia]]
| '''North Savo'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Savo}}
| |{{lang|sv|Norra Savolax}}
| [[Kuopio]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[Southern Savonia]]
| '''South Savo'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Savo}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Savolax}}
| [[Mikkeli]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[South Ostrobothnia]]
| '''South Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Österbotten}}
| [[Seinäjoki]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Ostrobothnia]]
| '''Central Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Österbotten}}
| [[Kokkola]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Ostrobothnia (region)|Ostrobothnia]]
| '''Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Österbotten}}
| [[Vaasa]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Pirkanmaa]]
| '''Pirkanmaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Pirkanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Birkaland}}
| [[Tampere]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Finland]]
| '''Central Finland'''
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Finland}}
| [[Jyväskylä]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Satakunta (region)|Satakunta]]
| '''Satakunta'''
| {{lang|fi|Satakunta}}
| {{lang|sv|Satakunta}}
| [[Pori]]
| [[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|South-Western Finland]]
|-
| [[Southwest Finland]]
| '''Southwest Finland'''
| {{lang|fi|Varsinais-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Finland}}
| [[Turku]]
| [[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|South-Western Finland]]
|-
| [[South Karelia]]
| '''South Karelia'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Karelen}}
| [[Lappeenranta]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Päijänne Tavastia]]
| '''Päijät-Häme'''
| {{lang|fi|Päijät-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Päijänne-Tavastland}}
| [[Lahti]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Tavastia Proper]]
| '''Kanta-Häme'''
| {{lang|fi|Kanta-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Tavastland}}
| [[Hämeenlinna]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Uusimaa (region)|Uusimaa]]
| '''Uusimaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Uusimaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Nyland}}
| [[Helsinki]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kymenlaakso]]
| '''Kymenlaakso'''
| {{lang|fi|Kymenlaakso}}
| {{lang|sv|Kymmenedalen}}
| [[Kotka]] and [[Kouvola]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Åland Islands]]<ref name="åland_note">The role that the regional councils serve on [[Mainland Finland]] are on the Åland Islands handled by the autonomous [[Government of Åland]].</ref>
| '''Åland'''
| {{lang|fi|Ahvenanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Åland}}
| [[Mariehamn]]
| [[Municipalities of Åland|Åland]]
|}
|}
The region of [[Eastern Uusimaa|Eastern Uusimaa (Itä-Uusimaa)]] was consolidated with Uusimaa on 1 January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |title=''Valtioneuvosto päätti Uudenmaan ja Itä-Uudenmaan maakuntien yhdistämisestä'' |date=22 October 2009 |publisher=Ministry of Finance |language=fi |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084712/http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref>
=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Finland|Regions of Finland|Sub-regions of Finland|Municipalities of Finland|Historical provinces of Finland}}
The fundamental administrative divisions of the country are the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]], which may also call themselves towns or cities. They account for half of public spending. Spending is financed by municipal income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. {{As of|2021}}, there are 309 municipalities,<ref name="Suomen Kuntaliitto">{{cite web|title=Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot|url=https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot|access-date=7 March 2021|publisher=Suomen Kuntaliitto – Association of Finnish Municipalities|language=fi}}</ref> and most have fewer than 6,000 residents.
In addition to municipalities, two intermediate levels are defined. Municipalities co-operate in seventy [[Sub-regions of Finland|sub-regions]] and nineteen [[Regions of Finland|regions]]. These are governed by the member municipalities and have only limited powers. The autonomous province of Åland has a permanent democratically elected regional council. Sami people have a semi-autonomous [[Sami native region (Finland)|Sami native region]] in Lapland for issues on language and culture.
In the following chart, the number of inhabitants includes those living in the entire municipality (''kunta/kommun''), not just in the built-up area. The land area is given in km<sup>2</sup>, and the density in inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup> (land area). The figures are as of {{#time:d F Y |{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}}}}. The [[capital region]] – comprising Helsinki, [[Vantaa]], [[Espoo]] and [[Kauniainen]] – forms a continuous [[conurbation]] of over 1.1 million people. However, common administration is limited to voluntary cooperation of all municipalities, e.g. in [[Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council]].
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
! City !! Population{{Data Finland municipality/population count}} !! Land area{{Data Finland municipality/total area}} !! Density !! Regional map !! Population density map
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Helsinki.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Helsinki]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Helsinki }} }}|| {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Helsinki }} round 2}} }}
| rowspan ="15" |
[[File:Finland administrative divisions 2.svg|thumb|x410px|center|[[Municipalities of Finland|Municipalities]] (thin borders) and [[Regions of Finland|regions]] (thick borders) of Finland (2021)]]
| rowspan ="15" |
[[File:Population map of Finland.svg|thumb|center|x410px|The population densities of Finnish municipalities (2010)]]
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Espoo.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Espoo]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Espoo }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Espoo }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Tampere.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Tampere]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tampere }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Tampere }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Tampere }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Vantaa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Vantaa]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vantaa }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vantaa }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Oulu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Oulu]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulu }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Oulu }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Oulu }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Turku.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Turku]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Turku }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Turku }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Turku }} round 2}}
}}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Jyväskylä.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Jyväskylä]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Jyväskylä }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Jyväskylä }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Jyväskylä }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Kuopio.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Kuopio]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kuopio }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kuopio }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kuopio }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Lahti.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Lahti]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lahti }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lahti }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Lahti }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Porin vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Pori]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Pori }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Pori }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Pori }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Kouvola.vaakuna.2009.svg|20px]] '''[[Kouvola]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kouvola }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kouvola }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kouvola }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Joensuu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Joensuu]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Joensuu }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Joensuu }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Joensuu }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Lappeenranta.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Lappeenranta]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lappeenranta }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lappeenranta }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Lappeenranta }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Hämeenlinna.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Hämeenlinna]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hämeenlinna }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Hämeenlinna }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Hämeenlinna }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Vaasa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Vaasa]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vaasa }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vaasa }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vaasa}} round 2}} }}
|}
== Politics ==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| caption_align = center
| image1 = President Trump Meets with the President of the Republic of Finland (48834234637) (cropped).jpg
| width1 = 115
| caption1 = [[Sauli Niinistö]]<br /><small>12th [[President of Finland|President]]<br />since 1 March 2012</small>
| image2 = Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin 2019 (cropped).jpg
| width2 = 113
| caption2 = [[Sanna Marin]]<br /><small>46th [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]]<br />since 10 December 2019</small>
}}
{{Main|Politics of Finland}}
{{See also|List of political parties in Finland|Human rights in Finland}}
[[File:BlueEurozone.svg|thumb|Finland is a member of:<br/>
{{legend2|#039|the [[Eurozone]]}}
{{legend2|#039}}{{legend2|#36C|the [[European Union]]}}]]
=== Constitution ===
The [[Constitution of Finland]] defines the political system; Finland is a [[parliamentary republic]] within the framework of a [[representative democracy]]. The [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] is the country's most powerful person. The current version of the constitution was enacted on 1 March 2000, and was amended on 1 March 2012. Citizens can run and vote in parliamentary, municipal, presidential and [[Elections in the European Union|European Union elections]].
=== President ===
{{Main|President of Finland}}
The [[head of state]] of Finland is [[President of Finland|President of the Republic of Finland]] (in Finnish: ''Suomen tasavallan presidentti''; in Swedish: ''Republiken Finlands president''). Finland has had for most of its independence a [[semi-presidential system]], but in the last few decades the powers of the President have been diminished. Constitutional amendments, which came into effect in 1991 and 1992, as well as a new drafted constitution of 2000 (amended in 2012), have made the presidency a primarily ceremonial office. However, the President still leads the nation's foreign politics together with the Council of State and is the commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces.<ref name="Parliamentary">Formerly a semi-presidential republic, it is now a parliamentary republic according to David Arter, First Chair of Politics at Aberdeen University. In his "Scandinavian Politics Today" (Manchester University Press, revised 2008 {{ISBN|978-0-7190-7853-8}}), he quotes {{Cite journal |last=Nousiainen |first=Jaakko |date=June 2001 |title=From semi-presidentialism to parliamentary government: political and constitutional developments in Finland |journal=[[Scandinavian Political Studies]] |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=95–109 |doi=10.1111/1467-9477.00048 }} as follows: "There are hardly any grounds for the epithet 'semi-presidential'." Arter's own conclusions are only slightly more nuanced: "The adoption of a new constitution on 1 March 2000 meant that Finland was no longer a case of semi-presidential government other than in the minimalist sense of a situation where a popularly elected fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament (Elgie 2004: 317)". According to the Finnish Constitution, the president has no possibility to rule the government without the ministerial approval, and does not have the power to dissolve the parliament under his or her own desire. Finland is actually represented by its prime minister, and not by its president, in the Council of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union. The 2012 constitutional amendments reduced the powers of the president even further.</ref> The position still does entail some powers, including responsibility for [[Foreign relations of Finland|foreign policy]] (excluding affairs related to the [[European Union]]) in cooperation with [[Cabinet of Finland|the cabinet]], being [[Commander-in-Chief|the head of the armed forces]], some decree and pardoning powers, and some appointive powers. Direct, one- or two-stage elections are used to elect the president for a term of six years and for a maximum of two consecutive 6-year terms. The current president is [[Sauli Niinistö]]; he took office on 1 March 2012. Former presidents were [[Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg|K. J. Ståhlberg]] (1919–1925), [[Lauri Kristian Relander|L. K. Relander]] (1925–1931), [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud|P. E. Svinhufvud]] (1931–1937), [[Kyösti Kallio]] (1937–1940), [[Risto Ryti]] (1940–1944), [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|C. G. E. Mannerheim]] (1944–1946), [[Juho Kusti Paasikivi|J. K. Paasikivi]] (1946–1956), [[Urho Kekkonen]] (1956–1982), [[Mauno Koivisto]] (1982–1994), [[Martti Ahtisaari]] (1994–2000), and [[Tarja Halonen]] (2000–2012)<!-- don't add Sauli Niinistö here, because he is not a former president -->.
The current president was elected from the ranks of the [[National Coalition Party]] for the first time since 1946. The presidency between 1946 and the present was instead held by a member of the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]] or the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]].
=== Parliament ===
{{Main|Parliament of Finland}}
[[File:Eduskuntatalo Helsinki.jpg|thumb|The [[Parliament of Finland]]'s main building along [[Mannerheimintie]] in [[Töölö]], [[Helsinki]]]]
[[File:Eduskunta istuntosali.jpg|thumb|The Session Hall of the Parliament of Finland]]
The 200-member [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[Parliament of Finland]] ({{Lang-fi|Eduskunta}}, {{Lang-sv|Riksdag}}) exercises supreme legislative authority in the country. It may alter the constitution and ordinary laws, dismiss the cabinet, and override presidential vetoes. Its acts are not subject to judicial review; the constitutionality of new laws is assessed by the parliament's [[Parliament of Finland#Committees|constitutional law committee]]. The parliament is elected for a term of four years using the proportional [[D'Hondt method]] within a number of multi-seat constituencies through the [[Open list#Most open|most open list]] multi-member districts. Various parliament committees listen to experts and prepare legislation.
Since [[universal suffrage]] was introduced in 1906, the parliament has been dominated by the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]] (former Agrarian Union), the [[National Coalition Party]], and the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democrats]]. These parties have enjoyed approximately equal support, and their combined vote has totalled about 65–80% of all votes. Their lowest common total of MPs, 121, was reached in the 2011 elections. For a few decades after 1944, the [[Communist Party of Finland|Communists]] were a strong fourth party. Due to the electoral system of proportional representation, and the relative reluctance of voters to switch their support between parties, the relative strengths of the parties have commonly varied only slightly from one election to another. However, there have been some long-term trends, such as the rise and fall of the Communists during the Cold War; the steady decline into insignificance of the [[Liberals (Finland)|Liberals]] and their predecessors from 1906 to 1980; and the rise of the [[Green League]] since 1983.
The [[Marin Cabinet]] is the incumbent 76th [[government of Finland]]. It was formed following the collapse of the [[Rinne Cabinet]] and officially took office on 10 December 2019.<ref name=NYT1>{{Cite news| last1 = Lemola | first1 = Johanna | last2 = Specia | first2 = Megan | date=10 December 2019| title=Who Is Sanna Marin, Finland's 34-Year-Old Prime Minister? | work=[[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/world/europe/finland-sanna-marin.html | access-date=4 February 2020 | language = en | issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=NYT2>{{Cite news| last=Specia |first=Megan | date=10 December 2019| title=Sanna Marin of Finland to Become World's Youngest Prime Minister|work=[[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/world/europe/finland-prime-minister-sanna-marin.html | access-date=4 February 2020 | language = en | issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The cabinet consists of a coalition formed by the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]], the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]], the [[Green League]], the [[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]], and the [[Swedish People's Party of Finland|Swedish People's Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaatuneen hallituksen kaikki puolueet halukkaita jatkoon samalla hallitusohjelmalla – vanhan opposition puolueet eivät hyväksy ohjelmaa |url=https://www.savonsanomat.fi/kotimaa/Kaatuneen-hallituksen-kaikki-puolueet-halukkaita-jatkoon-samalla-hallitusohjelmalla-%E2%80%93-vanhan-opposition-puolueet-eiv%C3%A4t-hyv%C3%A4ksy-ohjelmaa/1479764 |work=Savon Sanomat |language= fi |access-date=10 December 2019 |date=7 December 2019}}</ref>
=== Cabinet ===
{{See also|List of female cabinet ministers of Finland}}
After parliamentary elections, the parties negotiate among themselves on forming a new cabinet (the [[Finnish Government]]), which then has to be approved by a simple majority vote in the parliament. The cabinet can be dismissed by a parliamentary vote of no confidence, although this rarely happens (the last time in 1957), as the parties represented in the cabinet usually make up a majority in the parliament.<ref>[[:fi:Epäluottamuslause|The Finnish Wikipedia's article on Motion of no confidence]]</ref>{{circular reference|date=December 2020}}
The cabinet exercises most executive powers, and originates most of the bills that the parliament then debates and votes on. It is headed by the [[Prime Minister of Finland]], and consists of him or her, of other ministers, and of the [[Chancellor of Justice (Finland)|Chancellor of Justice]]. The current prime minister is [[Sanna Marin]] (Social Democratic Party). Each minister heads his or her ministry, or, in some cases, has responsibility for a subset of a ministry's policy. After the prime minister, the most powerful minister is the [[Minister of Finance (Finland)|minister of finance]]. The incumbent Minister of Finance is [[Matti Vanhanen]].
As no one party ever dominates the parliament, Finnish cabinets are multi-party coalitions. As a rule, the post of prime minister goes to the leader of the biggest party and that of the minister of finance to the leader of the second biggest.
=== Law ===
{{Main|Law of Finland|Judicial system of Finland}}
[[File:Supreme Court of Finland.jpg|thumb|right|The Court House of the [[Supreme Court of Finland|Supreme Court]]]]
The judicial system of Finland is a [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] system divided between [[court]]s with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and [[administrative court]]s with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and the public administration. Finnish law is codified and based on [[Judiciary of Sweden|Swedish law]] and in a wider sense, civil law or [[Roman law]]. The court system for civil and criminal jurisdiction consists of local courts (''käräjäoikeus'', ''tingsrätt''), [[Hovrätt|regional appellate courts]] (''hovioikeus'', ''hovrätt''), and the [[Supreme Court of Finland|Supreme Court]] (''korkein oikeus'', ''högsta domstolen''). The administrative branch of justice consists of administrative courts (''hallinto-oikeus'', ''förvaltningsdomstol'') and the [[Supreme Administrative Court of Finland|Supreme Administrative Court]] (''korkein hallinto-oikeus'', ''högsta förvaltningsdomstolen''). In addition to the regular courts, there are a few special courts in certain branches of administration. There is also a [[Judicial system of Finland#High Court of Impeachment|High Court of Impeachment]] for criminal charges against certain high-ranking officeholders.
Around 92% of residents have confidence in Finland's security institutions.<ref name="corruptionpolicing">Policing corruption, International Perspectives.</ref> The overall [[Crime in Finland|crime rate of Finland]] is not high in the EU context. Some crime types are above average, notably the high [[homicide]] rate for Western Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/3/3e/Intentional_homicides%2C_2016_%28police-recorded_offences_per_100_000_inhabitants%29.png |title=File:Intentional homicides, 2016 (police-recorded offences per 100 000 inhabitants).png |access-date=10 December 2010}}</ref> A [[day fine]] system is in effect and also applied to offenses such as [[speeding]].
Finland has successfully fought against government corruption, which was more common in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="corruption">The History of Corruption in Central Government By Seppo Tiihonen, International Institute of Administrative Sciences</ref>{{verify source|date=March 2011|reason=Surprising, not clear what part of the work is used.}} For instance, economic reforms and EU membership introduced stricter requirements for open bidding and many public monopolies were abolished.<ref name="corruption" /> Today, Finland has a very low number of corruption charges; [[Transparency International]] ranks Finland as one of the least corrupt countries in Europe.
In 2008, Transparency International criticized the lack of transparency of the system of Finnish political finance.<ref>[http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/oikea/id90735.html Vaalijohtaja: Vaalirahoituslain rikkominen melko yleistä] YLE 15 May 2008</ref> According to [[GRECO]] in 2007, corruption should be taken into account in the Finnish system of election funds better.<ref>Evaluation Report on Finland on Incriminations, Theme I, s. 21, GRECO 3–7.12.2007</ref> [[2007 Finnish campaign finance scandal|A scandal revolving around campaign finance of the 2007 parliamentary elections]] broke out in spring 2008. Nine cabinet ministers submitted incomplete funding reports and even more of the members of parliament. The law includes no punishment of false funds reports of the elected politicians.
=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Finland}}
[[File:Nobel Peace Prize 2008 Ole Danbolt Mjøs & Martti Ahtisaari 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Martti Ahtisaari]] receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008]]
According to the 2012 constitution, the president (currently [[Sauli Niinistö]]) leads foreign policy in cooperation with the government, except that the president has no role in EU affairs.<ref name="Finnish constitution.">[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf Finnish constitution], Section 93.</ref>
In 2008, president [[Martti Ahtisaari]] was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]].<ref name="Nobelprize">{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2008/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2008|work=The Nobel Foundation|publisher=Nobelprize.org|access-date=10 May 2009}}</ref> Finland was considered a cooperative model state, and Finland did not oppose proposals for a common EU defence policy.<ref name="foreignpolicyidea" /> This was reversed in the 2000s, when Tarja Halonen and [[Erkki Tuomioja]] made Finland's official policy to resist other EU members' plans for common defence.<ref name="foreignpolicyidea">"Finland's foreign policy idea" ("Suomen ulkopolitiikan idea"), [[Risto E. J. Penttilä]], 2008.</ref>
=== Military ===
{{Main|Finnish Defence Forces|Military history of Finland}}
{{See also|List of wars involving Finland}}
[[File:Taistelunäytös Leopard 2A4 Kokonaisturvallisuus 2015 05.JPG|thumb|left|Finnish [[Leopard 2A4]] tank Ps 273–106 in a combat demonstration at Comprehensive security exhibition 2015 in [[Tampere]].]]
The Finnish Defence Forces consist of a [[Cadre (military)|cadre]] of professional soldiers (mainly officers and technical personnel), currently serving conscripts, and a large reserve. The standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform, of which 25% are professional soldiers. A universal male [[Conscription in Finland|conscription]] is in place, under which all male Finnish nationals above 18 years of age serve for 6 to 12 months of armed service or 12 months of [[Siviilipalvelus|civilian]] (non-armed) service.
Voluntary post-conscription overseas peacekeeping service is popular, and troops serve around the world in UN, NATO, and EU missions. Approximately 500 women choose voluntary military service every year.<ref>[http://www.mil.fi/varusmies/naisten_vapaaehtoinen_asepalvelus.dsp Women's voluntary service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409182820/http://www.mil.fi/varusmies/naisten_vapaaehtoinen_asepalvelus.dsp |date=9 April 2008 }} (in Finnish)</ref> Women are allowed to serve in all combat arms including front-line infantry and special forces.
The army consists of a highly mobile field army backed up by local defence units. The army defends the national territory and its military strategy employs the use of the heavily forested terrain and numerous lakes to wear down an aggressor, instead of attempting to hold the attacking army on the frontier.
[[File:Tracked transport vehicle Sisu NA 110.JPG|thumb|right|[[Sisu Nasu]] NA-110 tracked transport vehicle of the Finnish Army. Most conscripts receive training for warfare in winter, and transport vehicles such as this give mobility in heavy snow.]]
Finnish defence expenditure per capita is one of the highest in the European Union.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/artikkelit/2007/art_2007-06-01_005.html Työvoimakustannukset puuttuvat puolustusmenoista], Statistics Finland (in Finnish): Eurostat ranking is sixth, but the third when conscription is accounted.</ref> The Finnish military doctrine is based on the concept of total defence. The term total means that all sectors of the government and economy are involved in the defence planning. The armed forces are under the command of the [[Chief of Defence (Finland)|Chief of Defence]] (currently General [[Jarmo Lindberg]]), who is directly subordinate to the president in matters related to military command. The branches of the military are [[Finnish Army|the army]], [[Finnish Navy|the navy]], and [[Finnish Air Force|the air force]]. The [[Finnish Border Guard|border guard]] is under the Ministry of the Interior but can be incorporated into the Defence Forces when required for defence readiness.
Even while Finland hasn't joined the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], the country has joined the [[NATO Response Force]], the [[EU Battlegroup]],<ref>{{cite web|title=European Union battlegroups|url=http://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/international-crisis-management/eu-battle-group|publisher=Finnish Defence Forces|access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> the NATO [[Partnership for Peace]] and in 2014 signed a NATO [[memorandum of understanding]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://natowatch.org/sites/default/files/briefing_paper_no.51_finland_and_nato.pdf |title=Is Finland taking a step closer to NATO membership |first=Nigel |last=Chamberlain |publisher=NATO Watch |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=27 May 2018}}</erf></ref><ref name="eduskunta.fi">[https://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/lakiensaataminen/valiokunnat/ulkoasiainvaliokunta/Documents/HNS_MOU_FINLAND.pdf MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND AND HEADQUARTERS, SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER TRANSFORMATION]. NATO</ref> thus forming a practical coalition.<ref name="nato.int" /> In 2015, the Finland-NATO ties were strengthened with a host nation support agreement allowing assistance from NATO troops in emergency situations.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweden-and-finland-forge-closer-ties-with-nato-1409237354 |title = Sweden and Finland Forge Closer Ties With NATO |newspaper = Wall Street Journal }}</ref> Finland has been an active participant in the Afghanistan and Kosovo.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/finnish_soldiers_involved_in_20-minute_gunfight_in_afghanistan/7702492 Finnish soldiers involved in 20-minute gunfight in Afghanistan |Yle Uutiset]. yle.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160105231045/http://formin.finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=115832&nodeid=49302&contentlan=2&culture=en-US Finland's participation in NATO-led crisis management operations]. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland</ref>
=== Social security ===
{{Main|Social security in Finland}}
Finland has one of the world's most extensive welfare systems, one that guarantees decent living conditions for all residents: Finns, and non-citizens. Since the 1980s the social security has been cut back, but still the system is one of the most comprehensive in the world. Created almost entirely during the first three decades after World War II, the social security system was an outgrowth of the traditional Nordic belief that the state was not inherently hostile to the well-being of its citizens, but could intervene benevolently on their behalf. According to some social historians, the basis of this belief was a relatively benign history that had allowed the gradual emergence of a free and independent peasantry in the Nordic countries and had curtailed the dominance of the nobility and the subsequent formation of a powerful right wing. Finland's history has been harsher than the histories of the other Nordic countries, but not harsh enough to bar the country from following their path of social development.<ref name="LOC">Text from PD source: US Library of Congress: ''[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/fitoc.html A Country Study: Finland]'', Library of Congress Call Number DL1012 .A74 1990.</ref>
=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Finland|Women's suffrage in Finland|LGBT rights in Finland}}
[[File:Helsinki Pride Parade I (5897488480).jpg|thumb|People gathering at the [[Senate Square, Helsinki|Senate Square]], [[Helsinki]], right before the [[Helsinki Pride|2011 Helsinki Pride parade]] started.]]
§ 6 in two sentences of the [[Finnish Constitution]] states: ''"No one shall be placed in a different position on situation of sex, age, origin, language, religion, belief, opinion, state of health, disability or any other personal reason without an acceptable reason."''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1999/19990731 | title = Perustuslaki: 2. luku Perusoikeudet, 6 § Yhdenvertaisuus 2 momentti | date = 1999 | publisher = Finlex | access-date = 27 August 2020 | language = fi }}</ref>
Finland has been ranked above average among the world's countries in [[democracy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.democracyranking.org/downloads/2012/Scores_of_the_Democracy-Ranking-2012.htm |title=Scores of the Democracy Ranking 2012 |publisher= Global Democracy Ranking |year=2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> [[press freedom]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/finland |title=Freedom of the Press: Finland |publisher= [[Freedom House]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> and [[human development (economics)|human development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/FIN.html |title=Statistics of the Human Development Report |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128081803/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/FIN.html |archive-date=28 November 2013 }}</ref>
[[Amnesty International]] has expressed concern regarding some issues in Finland, such as alleged permitting of stopovers of [[CIA]] [[Extraordinary rendition|rendition flights]], the imprisonment of [[conscientious objector]]s, and societal discrimination against [[Romani people]] and members of other ethnic and linguistic minorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/finland/report-2013 |title=Annual Report 2013: Finland |publisher= [[Amnesty International]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012: Finland |publisher= U.S. State of Department [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]] |year=2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Finland}}
{{See also|List of companies of Finland|List of largest companies in Finland|Helsinki Stock Exchange}}
[[File:Angry Birds Land Särkänniemi 11.jpg|thumb|Angry Birds Land, a [[theme park]] in the [[Särkänniemi]] amusement park, in [[Tampere]], [[Pirkanmaa]]; the mobile phone game ''[[Angry Birds]]'', developed in Finland, has become a commercial hit both domestically and internationally.]]
The economy of Finland has a per capita output equal to that of other European economies such as those of France, Germany, [[Belgium]], or the UK. The largest sector of the economy is the [[service sector]] at 66% of GDP, followed by manufacturing and refining at 31%. [[Primary sector of the economy|Primary production]] represents 2.9%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_kansantalous_en.html |title=Finland in Figures—National Accounts |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> With respect to [[International trade|foreign trade]], the key economic sector is manufacturing. The largest industries in 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_teollisuus_en.html |title=Finland in Figures—Manufacturing |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> were [[electronics]] (22%); machinery, vehicles, and other engineered metal products (21.1%); forest industry (13%); and chemicals (11%). The gross domestic product peaked in 2008. {{As of|2015}}, the country's economy is at the 2006 level.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/finlands_lost_decade_continueseconomy_same_size_as_in_2006/8044629 |title = Finland's 'lost decade' continues—economy same size as in 2006 |work = yle.fi |date = 4 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/35c8560c-c62f-11e4-add0-00144feab7de.html |title = Finland's economy: In search of the sunny side |work=Financial Times |location=London |date = 11 March 2015 }}</ref>
Finland has significant timber, mineral ([[iron]], [[chromium]], [[copper]], [[nickel]], and [[gold]]), and freshwater resources. [[Forestry]], paper factories, and the agricultural sector (on which taxpayers spend{{clarify|subsidize?|date=June 2017}} around €3 billion annually) are important for rural residents so any policy changes affecting these sectors are politically sensitive for politicians dependent on rural votes. The [[Greater Helsinki]] area generates around one third of Finland's GDP. In a 2004 OECD comparison, high-technology manufacturing in Finland ranked second largest after Ireland. Knowledge-intensive services have also resulted in the smallest and slow-growth sectors – especially agriculture and low-technology manufacturing – being ranked the second largest after Ireland.<ref name="oecd2004">Finland Economy 2004, OECD</ref>
Finland's climate and soils make growing crops a particular challenge. The country lies between the latitudes 60°N and 70°N, and it has severe winters and relatively short growing seasons that are sometimes interrupted by frost. However, because the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift Current moderate the climate, Finland contains half of the world's arable land north of 60° north latitude. Annual precipitation is usually sufficient, but it occurs almost exclusively during the winter months, making summer droughts a constant threat. In response to the climate, farmers have relied on quick-ripening and frost-resistant varieties of crops, and they have cultivated south-facing slopes as well as richer bottomlands to ensure production even in years with summer frosts. Most farmland was originally either forest or swamp, and the soil has usually required treatment with lime and years of cultivation to neutralize excess acid and to improve fertility. Irrigation has generally not been necessary, but drainage systems are often needed to remove excess water. Finland's agriculture has been efficient and productive—at least when compared with farming in other European countries.<ref name="LOC" />
[[File:Finland Exports Treemap 2017.svg|thumb|upright=1.45|A treemap representing the exports of Finland in 2017]]
Forests play a key role in the country's economy, making it one of the world's leading wood producers and providing raw materials at competitive prices for the crucial wood-processing industries. As in agriculture, the government has long played a leading role in forestry, regulating tree cutting, sponsoring technical improvements, and establishing long-term plans to ensure that the country's forests continue to supply the wood-processing industries. To maintain the country's comparative advantage in forest products, Finnish authorities moved to raise lumber output toward the country's ecological limits. In 1984, the government published the Forest 2000 plan, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The plan aimed at increasing forest harvests by about 3% per year, while conserving forestland for recreation and other uses.<ref name="LOC" />
Private sector employees amount to 1.8 million, out of which around a third with tertiary education. The average cost of a private sector employee per hour was €25.10 in 2004.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/til/tvtutk/2004/tvtutk_2004_2006-09-15_tie_001.html Tehdyn työtunnin hinta 23–27 euroa], Statistics Finland</ref> {{As of|2008}}, average purchasing power-adjusted income levels are similar to those of Italy, Sweden, Germany, and France.<ref name="incomecomparison">{{cite web |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2008/art_2008-06-09_001.html |title=Suomalaisten tulot Euroopan keskitasoa. Hyvinvointipalvelut eivät paranna sijoitusta |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=9 June 2008 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> In 2006, 62% of the workforce worked for enterprises with less than 250 employees and they accounted for 49% of total business turnover and had the strongest rate of growth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=895:small-enterprises-grow-faster-than-the-big-ones&catid=33:general&Itemid=201 |title=Small enterprises grow faster than the big ones |publisher=Helsinkitimes.fi |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The female employment rate is high. Gender segregation between male-dominated professions and female-dominated professions is higher than in the US.<ref name="niels">The Nordic Model of Welfare: A Historical Reappraisal, by Niels Finn Christiansen</ref> The proportion of part-time workers was one of the lowest in OECD in 1999.<ref name="niels" /> In 2013, the 10 largest private sector employers in Finland were [[Itella]], [[Nokia]], [[OP Financial Group|OP-Pohjola]], [[ISS A/S|ISS]], [[VR (company)|VR]], [[Kesko]], [[UPM-Kymmene]], [[YIT]], [[Metso]], and [[Nordea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/sata-suurinta-tyonantajaa-nokia-jai-kakkoseksi/72619deb-427d-3852-8a82-edfa4a7e818e|title=Sata suurinta työnantajaa: Nokia jäi kakkoseksi|first=Antti|last=Mikkonen|website=Talouselämä}}</ref>
The unemployment rate was 9.4% in 2015, having risen from 8.7% in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author=Finland in Figures |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_tyoelama_en.html |title=Statistics Finland: Labour Market |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Youth unemployment rate rose from 16.5% in 2007 to 20.5% in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towards employment |work=SixDegrees |date=2016-01-16 |access-date=2016-07-21 |url= https://www.6d.fi/index.php/society/945-towards-employment |language=en }}</ref> A fifth of residents are outside the job market at the age of 50 and less than a third are working at the age of 61.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_2649_34747_28023113_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=OECD recommends Finland to do more to help older people stay in work |publisher=Oecd.org |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> In 2014, nearly one million people were living with minimal wages or unemployed not enough to cover their costs of living.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/suomessa_on_liki_miljoona_koyhaa_heikoimmassa_asemassa_olevista_on_tullut_muukalaisia/7436047 yle.fi]; ''Suomessa on liki miljoona köyhää –"Heikoimmassa asemassa olevista on tullut muukalaisia"'' |Yle Uutiset. (28 August 2014). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
[[File:Mall of Tripla sisäkuvia 2.jpg|thumb|[[Mall of Tripla]] (in [[Pasila]], Helsinki), the largest [[shopping mall]] in Northern Europe in terms of total leasable units<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yitgroup.com/siteassets/investors/reports-and-presentations/presentations_2016_eng/analyst-lunch_commercial-concept-of-the-mall-of-tripla_pirjo-aalto_web.pdf|last=Aalto|first=Pirjo|title=Mall of Tripla: The best shopping centre in Finland|publisher=[[YIT]]|access-date=11 January 2021|date=12 December 2016}}</ref><ref name = pasilanasema>{{cite web|title=Pasilan asema|url=http://www.pasilanasema.fi/en/pasila-station |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/artikkeli/759018-pasilan-kauppakeskus-triplan-avajaispaiva-julki-samaan-aikaan-avautuu-myos-pasilan|title=Pasilan kauppakeskus Triplan avajaispäivä julki – samaan aikaan avautuu myös Pasilan uusi asema|last=Hämäläinen|first=Jukka|website=Helsingin Uutiset|language=fi|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>]]
{{As of|2006}}, 2.4 million households reside in Finland. The average size is 2.1 persons; 40% of households consist of a single person, 32% two persons and 28% three or more persons. Residential buildings total 1.2 million, and the average residential space is {{convert|38|m2}} per person. The average residential property without land costs €1,187 per sq metre and residential land €8.60 per sq metre. 74% of households had a car. There are 2.5 million cars and 0.4 million other vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|author=Finland in Figures |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_liikenne_en.html |title=Statistics Finland: Transport and Tourism|publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
Around 92% have a mobile phone and 83.5% (2009) [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet connection at home]]. The average total household consumption was €20,000, out of which housing consisted of about €5,500, transport about €3,000, food and beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages) at around €2,500, and recreation and culture at around €2,000.<ref>{{cite web |author=Households' consumption |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/til/ktutk/2006/ktutk_2006_2007-12-19_tie_001_en.html |title=Own-account worker households' consumption has grown most in 2001–2006 |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=19 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> According to Invest in Finland, private consumption grew by 3% in 2006 and consumer trends included durables, high-quality products, and spending on well-being.<ref>"Retail growth best in Finland for five years". For updates, see the [http://www.investinfinland.fi/ Invest in Finland] website.</ref>
In 2017, Finland's GDP reached €224 billion. However, second quarter of 2018 saw a slow economic growth. Unemployment rate fell to a near one-decade low in June, marking private consumption growth much higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.focus-economics.com/countries/finland|title=Finland Economic Outlook|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>
Finland has the highest concentration of [[cooperative]]s relative to its population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maine.coop/Finland.php |title=Finland: Globalization Insurance: Finland's Leap of Caution |website=Cooperatives Build a Better Maine|publisher=Cooperative Maine Business Alliance & Cooperative Development Institute |access-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042001/http://maine.coop/Finland.php |archive-date=2 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The largest retailer, which is also the largest private employer, [[S Group|S-Group]], and the largest bank, OP-Group, in the country are both cooperatives.
=== Energy ===
{{See also|Nordic energy market|Peat energy in Finland|Nuclear power in Finland}}
[[File:EPR OLK3 TVO fotomont 2 Vogelperspektive.jpg|thumb|The two existing units of the [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]]. On the far left is a visualization of a third unit, which, when completed, will become Finland's fifth commercial nuclear reactor.<ref name="olkiluoto_delayed">{{cite web |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/olkiluoto3_delayed_till_2016/6489784 |title=Olkiluoto3 delayed till 2016 |publisher=YLE |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref>]]
The free and largely privately owned financial and physical [[Nordic energy market]]s traded in [[NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe]] and [[Nord Pool Spot]] exchanges, have provided competitive prices compared with other EU countries. {{As of|2007}}, Finland has roughly the lowest industrial electricity prices in the [[EU-15]] (equal to France).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080204033032/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996%2C39140985&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=detailref&language=en&product=STRIND_ECOREF&root=STRIND_ECOREF%2Fecoref%2Fer02b1 Electricity prices—industrial users]. Web.archive.org. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In 2006, the energy market was around 90 terawatt hours and the peak demand around 15 [[gigawatt]]s in winter. This means that the [[List of countries by energy consumption per capita|energy consumption per capita]] is around 7.2 tons of oil equivalent per year. Industry and construction consumed 51% of total consumption, a relatively high figure reflecting Finland's industries.<ref>{{cite web |author=Energy consumption |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/ekul/2006/ekul_2006_2007-12-12_kuv_009_en.html |title=Statistics Finland |publisher=Stat.fi |date= 12 December 2007|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Energy consumption |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/ekul/2006/ekul_2006_2007-12-12_tie_001_en.html |title=Total energy consumption |publisher=Stat.fi |date=12 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Finland's [[hydrocarbon]] resources are limited to [[peat]] and wood. About 10–15% of the electricity is produced by [[hydropower]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metsavastaa.net/vattenkraft |title=Metsävastaa: Vattenkraft |language=sv |publisher=Metsavastaa.net |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303204918/http://www.metsavastaa.net/vattenkraft |archive-date=3 March 2009 }}</ref> which is low compared with more mountainous Sweden or Norway. In 2008, [[renewable energy]] (mainly hydropower and various forms of wood energy) was high at 31% compared with the EU average of 10.3% in final energy consumption.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energy.eu/#renewable |title=Europe's Energy Portal |publisher=energy.eu |access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> [[Russia in the European energy sector|Russia]] supplies more than 75% of Finland's [[List of countries by oil exports|oil imports]] and 100% of total [[List of countries by natural gas exports|gas imports]].<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/46126.pdf|title=EU imports of energy products - recent developments|date=4 July 2018|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|pages=3–4}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Europe helps fund non-Russia gas line for Finland |url=https://www.upi.com/Energy-News/2016/08/10/Europe-helps-fund-non-Russia-gas-line-for-Finland/6271470828765/ |work=[[United Press International]] |date=10 August 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Statistics of the energy supply in Finland.jpg|thumb|Supply and total consumption of electricity in Finland<ref name="Statistics Finland, Energy">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_energia_en.html |title=Finland Energy supply |publisher=Statistics Finland|date=20 April 2015 |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>]]
Finland has four privately owned nuclear reactors producing 18% of the country's energy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tilastokeskus.fi/tk/yr/yeenergiakuviot_en.pdf |title=Energy Consumption in 2001 |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108043546/http://tilastokeskus.fi/tk/yr/yeenergiakuviot_en.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2006 }}</ref> and one research reactor (decommissioned 2018 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vtt.fi/palvelut/v%C3%A4h%C3%A4hiilinen-energia/ydinvoima/tutkimusreaktorin-purku |title = FiR 1 -ydinreaktorin käytöstä poisto}}</ref>) at the [[Otaniemi]] campus. The fifth [[AREVA]]-[[Siemens AG|Siemens]]-built reactor – the world's largest at 1600 [[MWe]] and a focal point of Europe's nuclear industry – has faced many delays and is currently scheduled to be operational by 2018–2020, a decade after the original planned opening.<ref name="kauppalehti-02-2014">{{cite news |title = Areva ajaa Olkiluodon työmaata alas |author = Paula Nikula |url = http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/areva+ajaa+olkiluodon+tyomaata+alas/201402652139 |language = fi |publisher = Kauppalehti |date = 28 February 2014 |access-date = 28 February 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140304095114/http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/areva+ajaa+olkiluodon+tyomaata+alas/201402652139 |archive-date = 4 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A varying amount (5–17%) of electricity has been imported from Russia (at around 3 gigawatt power line capacity), Sweden and Norway.
The [[Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository]] is currently under construction at the [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]] in the municipality of [[Eurajoki]], on the west coast of Finland, by the company [[Posiva]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Journey deep into the Finnish caverns where nuclear waste will be buried for millenia |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/olkiluoto-island-finland-nuclear-waste-onkalo |work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=24 April 2017}}</ref> Energy companies are about to increase nuclear power production, as in July 2010 the Finnish parliament granted permits for additional two new reactors.
=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Finland}}
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| alignment = left
| width = 180
| footer = The state-owned [[VR (company)|VR]] operates a railway network serving all major cities in Finland.
| image3 = VR Sr1 3089.jpg
| caption3 = Soviet-made electric locomotive [[VR Class Sr1]] model from 1981
| image2 = Vr sr3 3304 3307 3306.jpg
| caption2 = Three [[VR Class Sr3]] locomotives
| image1 = VR Sr2 3202 Tampere 2012-06-22.JPG
| caption1 = A [[VR Class Sr2]] locomotive
}}
Finland's road system is utilized by most internal cargo and passenger traffic. The annual state operated road network expenditure of around €1 billion is paid for with vehicle and fuel taxes which amount to around €1.5 billion and €1 billion, respectively. Among the [[Highways in Finland|Finnish highways]], the most significant and busiest main roads include the [[Turku Highway]] ([[European route E18|E18]]), the [[Tampere Highway]] ([[European route E12|E12]]), the [[Lahti Highway]] ([[European route E75|E75]]), and the ring roads ([[Ring I]] and [[Ring III]]) of the Helsinki metropolitan area and the [[Tampere Ring Road]] of the [[Tampere urban area]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsnowfinland.fi/domestic/top-gear-finlands-busiest-roads-revealed|title=Top Gear: Finland's Busiest Roads Revealed &#124; News Now Finland|first=News Now|last=Staff|date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
The main international passenger gateway is [[Helsinki Airport]], which handled about 17 million passengers in 2016. [[Oulu Airport]] is the second largest, whilst another [[List of airports in Finland|25 airports]] have scheduled passenger services.<ref name="finavia_pass_stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.finavia.fi/files/finavia/vuosikertomukset_pdf/Finavia_vsk_2008_GB_LR.pdf |title=Airport operations |work=Annual report 2008 |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=28 July 2009 |location=Vantaa |publisher=Finavia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807205454/http://www.finavia.fi/files/finavia/vuosikertomukset_pdf/Finavia_vsk_2008_GB_LR.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref> The Helsinki Airport-based [[Finnair]], [[Blue1]], and [[Nordic Regional Airlines]], [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]] sell air services both domestically and internationally. Helsinki has an optimal location for [[great circle]] (i.e. the shortest and most efficient) routes between Western Europe and the Far East.
Despite having a low population density, the Government annually spends around €350 million to maintain the {{convert|5865|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} network of railway tracks. Rail transport is handled by the state owned [[VR Group]], which has a 5% passenger market share (out of which 80% are from urban trips in Greater Helsinki) and 25% cargo market share.<ref name="ljvr">Transport and communications ministry—Rail. For year 2009 update: [http://rhk-fi-bin.directo.fi/@Bin/a7268406c6d22495230bb875bdf04c78/1299812171/application/pdf/4036970/Finnish%20Railway%20Statistics%202010.pdf Finnish Railway Statistics 2010]. For subsequent years when available: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110712060937/http://portal.liikennevirasto.fi/sivu/www/e/fta/statistics Finnish Railway Statistics.] liikennevirasto.fi</ref> Since 12 December 2010, [[Karelian Trains]], a joint venture between [[Russian Railways]] and VR Group, has been running [[Karelian Trains Class Sm6|Alstom Pendolino]] operated high-speed services between Saint Petersburg's [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal|Finlyandsky]] and Helsinki's [[Helsinki Central railway station|Central]] railway stations. These services are branded as "Allegro" trains. The journey from Helsinki to [[Saint Petersburg]] takes only three and a half hours. A [[high-speed rail]] line is planned between [[ELSA-rata|Helsinki and Turku]], with a line from the capital to Tampere also proposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/16167-finland-earmarks-funds-for-new-rail-links-between-helsinki-turku-and-tampere.html|title=Finland earmarks funds for new rail links between Helsinki, Turku and Tampere|website=Helsinki Times|date=4 February 2019}}</ref> Helsinki opened the world's northernmost [[Helsinki Metro|metro system]] in 1982, which also serves the neighbouring city of Espoo since 2017.
The majority of international cargo shipments are handled at ports. [[Vuosaari Harbour]] in Helsinki is the largest container port in Finland; others include [[Kotka]], [[Hamina]], [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]], [[Pori]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]], and [[Oulu]]. There is passenger traffic from Helsinki and Turku, which have ferry connections to [[Tallinn]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Stockholm]] and [[Travemünde]]. The Helsinki-Tallinn route – one of the busiest passenger sea routes in the world – has also been served by a helicopter line, and the [[Helsinki-Tallinn Tunnel]] has been proposed to provide railway services between the two cities.<ref name="busiest">{{Cite web |title=The Busiest Crossing |work=Discover the Baltic |date=2009-04-24 |url= http://discoverthebaltic.com/travel/bblog.htm#280409 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326210756/http://www.discoverthebaltic.com/travel/bblog.htm |archive-date=2010-03-26 |language=en }}</ref> Largely following the example of the [[Øresund Bridge]] between [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]], the [[Kvarken Bridge]] connecting [[Umeå]] in Sweden and [[Vaasa]] in Finland to cross the Gulf of Bothnia has also been planned for decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2020-07-19-politicians-disagree-on-bridge-over-kvarken.rkOCYVt-ew.html|title=Politicians disagree on bridge over Kvarken &#124; tellerreport.com|website=www.tellerreport.com}}</ref>
=== Industry ===
{{Main|Economy of Finland}}
[[File:Oasis of the Seas.jpg|thumb|The [[Oasis of the Seas]] was built at the [[Perno shipyard]] in [[Turku]].]]
Finland rapidly industrialized after World War II, achieving GDP per capita levels comparable to that of Japan or the UK in the beginning of the 1970s. Initially, most of the economic development was based on two broad groups of export-led industries, the "metal industry" (''metalliteollisuus'') and "forest industry" (''metsäteollisuus''). The "metal industry" includes shipbuilding, metalworking, the [[automotive industry]], engineered products such as motors and [[Electronics industry|electronics]], and production of metals and alloys including [[steel]], [[copper]] and [[chromium]]. Many of the world's biggest [[cruise ship]]s, including [[MS Freedom of the Seas]] and the [[Oasis of the Seas]] have been built in Finnish shipyards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |title=Oasis of the Seas: Fast Facts |work=OasisoftheSeas.com |date=10 September 2009 |access-date=24 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220080037/http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Freedom of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center|url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/5/freedom-of-the-seas/|access-date=16 June 2020|website=royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com}}</ref> The "forest industry" includes forestry, timber, pulp and paper, and is often considered a logical development based on Finland's extensive forest resources, as 73% of the area is covered by forest. In the [[pulp and paper industry]], many major companies are based in Finland; [[Ahlstrom-Munksjö]], [[Metsä Board]], and [[UPM (company)|UPM]] are all Finnish forest-based companies with revenues exceeding €1 billion. However, in recent decades, the Finnish economy has diversified, with companies expanding into fields such as electronics ([[Nokia]]), metrology ([[Vaisala]]), petroleum ([[Neste]]), and video games ([[Rovio Entertainment]]), and is no longer dominated by the two sectors of metal and forest industry. Likewise, the structure has changed, with the service sector growing, with manufacturing declining in importance; agriculture remains a minor part. Despite this, production for export is still more prominent than in Western Europe, thus making Finland possibly more vulnerable to global economic trends.
In 2017, the Finnish economy was estimated to consist of approximately 2.7% agriculture, 28.2% manufacturing and 69.1% services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Europe :: Finland — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/|access-date=16 June 2020|website=cia.gov}}</ref> In 2019, the per-capita income of Finland was estimated to be $48,869. In 2020, Finland was ranked 20th on the [[ease of doing business index]], among 190 jurisdictions.
=== Public policy ===
{{See also|Nordic model}}
[[File:Nordiske-flag.jpg|thumb|Flags of the [[Nordic countries]] from left to right: Finland, [[Iceland]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]]]]
Finnish politicians have often emulated the Nordic model.<ref name="nordicmodel">[http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf The Nordic Model] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905212132/http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf |date=5 September 2012 }} by Torben M. Andersen, Bengt Holmström, Seppo Honkapohja, Sixten Korkman, Hans Tson Söderström, Juhana Vartiainen</ref> Nordics have been free-trading and relatively welcoming to skilled migrants for over a century, though in Finland [[immigration]] is relatively new. The level of protection in commodity trade has been low, except for agricultural products.<ref name="nordicmodel" />
Finland has top levels of economic freedom in many areas.{{clarify|date=April 2011|I have the impression that the Finnish labour market is quite flexible compared with other European countries—is this meant to be in relation to USA?}} Finland is ranked 16th in the 2008 global [[Index of Economic Freedom]] and 9th in Europe.<ref name="freedom" /> While the manufacturing sector is thriving, the OECD points out that the service sector would benefit substantially from policy improvements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kilpailuvirasto.fi/cgi-bin/suomi.cgi?sivu=uut/u-2005-3-1 |title=Kilpailuvirasto.fi |publisher=Kilpailuvirasto.fi |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
The 2007 [[International Institute for Management Development|IMD]] World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Finland 17th most [[Competitiveness|competitive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/announcing.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612031526/http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/announcing.cfm |archive-date=12 June 2007 |title=World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 |publisher=Imd.ch |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[World Economic Forum]] 2008 index ranked Finland the 6th most competitive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2007–2008 |publisher=[[World Economic Forum]] |access-date=8 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619083349/http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%2BCompetitiveness%2BReport/index.htm |archive-date=19 June 2008 }}</ref> In both indicators, Finland's performance was next to Germany, and significantly higher than most European countries. In the Business competitiveness index 2007–2008 Finland ranked third in the world.
Economists attribute much growth to reforms in the product markets. According to the OECD, only four [[EU-15]] countries have less regulated [[product market]]s (UK, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden) and only one has less regulated [[financial market]]s (Denmark). Nordic countries were pioneers in liberalizing energy, postal, and other markets in Europe.<ref name="nordicmodel" /> The legal system is clear and business bureaucracy less than most countries.<ref name="freedom">{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Finland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041208/http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Finland |archive-date=29 June 2011 |title=Finland economy |publisher=The Heritage Foundation |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Property rights are well protected and contractual agreements are strictly honoured.<ref name="freedom" /> Finland is rated the least corrupt country in the world in the [[Corruption Perceptions Index]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 – Results |publisher=Transparency.org |access-date=12 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129013918/http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ |archive-date=29 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 13th in the [[Ease of doing business index]]. This indicates exceptional ease in cross-border trading (5th), contract enforcement (7th), business closure (5th), tax payment (83rd), and low worker hardship (127th).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/economyrankings/|title=Ranking of economies – Doing Business – World Bank Group|work=doingbusiness.org}}</ref>
Finnish law [[Universal validity of collective labour agreements|forces all workers to obey the national contracts]] that are drafted every few years for each profession and seniority level. The agreement becomes universally enforceable provided that more than 50% of the employees support it, in practice by being a member of a relevant trade union. The unionization rate is high (70%), especially in the middle class ([[AKAVA]]—80%). A lack of a national agreement in an industry is considered an exception.<ref name="oecd2004" /><ref name="nordicmodel" />
=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Finland}}
[[File:Porvoon tuomiokirkko Näsinmäeltä.JPG|thumb|[[Medieval]] old town in [[Porvoo]] is one of the most popular tourist destinations in summers for those who are fascinated by the old look.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitfinland.com/article/summertown-porvoo/|title=Summertown Porvoo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://independenttravelcats.com/porvoo-finland-easy-day-trip-from-helsinki/|title=Porvoo Finland: An Easy Day Trip From Helsinki|date=5 November 2015|website=Independent Travel Cats}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelofinland.com/activities/porvoo-city-tour/|title=Porvoo City Tour &#124; Best To Do Activities in Finland - Finland Tour|website=www.travelofinland.com/}}</ref>]]
[[File:Hameenlinna.JPG|thumb|The historical [[Tavastia Castle]] (or Häme Castle) in [[Hämeenlinna]], [[Tavastia Proper]] is located close to the [[Lake Vanajavesi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visithame.fi/en/companies/|title=company|website=Visit Häme}}</ref>]]
In 2017, tourism in Finland grossed approximately €15.0 billion with a 7% increase from the previous year. Of this, €4.6 billion (30%) came from foreign tourism.<ref name="Matkailutilinpito">{{cite report|author=[[Business Finland]]|year=2019|title=Matkailutilinpito: Matkailun talous- ja työllisyysvaikutukset 2016–2017|url= https://www.businessfinland.fi/499c03/contentassets/4b07e15186484a69b62e991ed85a6c45/matkailutilinpito_2016-2017.pdf|publisher=[[Business Finland]], Visit Finland|access-date=2 April 2020|language = fi}}</ref> In 2017, there were 15.2 million overnight stays of domestic tourists and 6.7 million overnight stays of foreign tourists.<ref name="TEM"/> Much of the sudden growth can be attributed to the [[globalisation]] of the country as well as a rise in positive publicity and awareness. While Russia remains the largest market for foreign tourists, the biggest growth came from Chinese markets (35%).<ref name="TEM">{{cite web|url=https://tem.fi/en/finnish-tourism-in-numbers|title=Finnish tourism in numbers|author=[[Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Finland)]]|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Tourism contributes roughly 2.7% to Finland's GDP, making it comparable to agriculture and forestry.<ref name="Tourism_infographic"/>
[[Baltic Sea cruiseferries|Commercial cruises]] between major coastal and port cities in the Baltic region, including Helsinki, [[Turku]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Tallinn]], [[Stockholm]], and [[Travemünde]], play a significant role in the local tourism industry. There are also separate ferry connections dedicated to tourism in the vicinity of Helsinki and its region, such as the connection to the fortress island of [[Suomenlinna]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/maps-and-transport/transport/ferry/|title=Ferries|website=Helsingin kaupunki}}</ref> or the connection to the old town of [[Porvoo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msjlruneberg.fi/cruises/helsinki-porvoo/|title=Helsinki - Porvoo|website=m/s J.L. Runeberg}}</ref> By passenger counts, the [[Port of Helsinki]] is the [[World's busiest ports|busiest port in the world]] after the [[Port of Dover]] in the United Kingdom and the [[Port of Tallinn]] in Estonia.<ref name="POH">{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/6652.pdf|title=Maritime ports freight and passenger statistics|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> The [[Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport]] is the fourth busiest airport in the [[Nordic countries]] in terms of passenger numbers,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinki-airport.com/|title=Helsinki Airport (HEL)|publisher=[[Helsinki Airport]]|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> and about 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through the airport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helsinki Airport is designed for smooth travelling|url=https://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/in-brief/|publisher=Finavia|access-date=25 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004015600/http://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/in-brief/|archive-date=4 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] has the highest tourism consumption of any Finnish region.<ref name="Tourism_infographic">{{cite report|author=[[Business Finland]]|year=2019|title=Tourism as Export Infographic 2019|url=https://www.businessfinland.fi/494339/globalassets/julkaisut/visit-finland/tutkimukset/2020/2019-tourism-as-export-infographic.pdf|publisher=[[Business Finland]], Visit Finland|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Above the [[Arctic Circle]], in midwinter, there is a [[polar night]], a period when the sun does not rise for days or weeks, or even months, and correspondingly, [[midnight sun]] in the summer, with no sunset even at midnight (for up to 73 consecutive days, at the northernmost point). Lapland is so far north that the [[aurora borealis]], [[fluorescence]] in the high atmosphere due to [[solar wind]], is seen regularly in the fall, winter, and spring. Finnish Lapland is also locally regarded as the home of Saint Nicholas or [[Santa Claus]], with several theme parks, such as [[Santa Claus Village]] and [[Santa Park]] in [[Rovaniemi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Real Home of Santa Claus in Finland |url=http://www.lifeinlapland.com/articles/lapland-travel-tips/real-home-santa-korvatunturi.html|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> Other significant tourist destinations in Lapland also include [[ski resort]]s (such as [[Ylläs]], [[Levi, Finland|Levi]] and [[Ruka, Finland|Ruka]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/top-12-ski-resorts-in-finland/|title=The Top 12 Ski Resorts in Finland|first=Jessica|last=Wood|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> and [[sleigh]] rides led by either [[reindeer]] or [[Husky|huskies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://santaclausvillage.info/services/activity-services/santa-claus-reindeer-rides-safaris-rovaniemi/|title=Santa Claus Reindeer rides & excursions in Rovaniemi Lapland Finland|website=Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Finland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yllas.fi/en/activities/husky-safaris-and-reindeers.html|title=Discover the winter magic with Huskies and Reindeers|website=www.yllas.fi}}</ref>
Tourist attractions in Finland include the natural landscape found throughout the country as well as urban attractions. Finland is covered with thick [[pine]] forests, rolling hills, and lakes. Finland contains 40 [[List of national parks of Finland|national parks]] (such as the [[Koli National Park]] in [[North Karelia]]), from the Southern shores of the [[Gulf of Finland]] to the high [[fell]]s of Lapland. Outdoor activities range from [[Nordic skiing]], golf, fishing, [[yachting]], lake cruises, hiking, and [[kayaking]], among many others. [[Bird-watching]] is popular for those fond of avifauna, however hunting is also popular. [[Moose|Elk]] and [[hare]] are common game in Finland.
Finland also has urbanised regions with many cultural events and activities. The most famous [[List of tourist attractions in Helsinki|tourist attractions in Helsinki]] include the [[Helsinki Cathedral]] and the [[Suomenlinna]] sea fortress. The most well-known Finnish amusement parks include [[Linnanmäki]] in Helsinki, [[Särkänniemi]] in [[Tampere]], [[PowerPark]] in [[Kauhava]], [[Tykkimäki]] in [[Kouvola]] and [[Nokkakivi]] in [[Laukaa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trip101.com/article/theme-parks-in-finland|title=Top 6 Theme Parks And Amusement Parks In Finland|date=30 December 2019|website=Trip101}}</ref> [[St. Olaf's Castle]] (''Olavinlinna'') in [[Savonlinna]] hosts the annual [[Savonlinna Opera Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://operafestival.fi/en/|title=Home - Savonlinna Opera Festival|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> and the [[medieval]] milieus of the cities of [[Turku]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] and [[Porvoo]] also attract curious spectators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foreigner.fi/articulo/tourism/five-finnish-cities-worth-touristic-visit/20190623190002002246.html|title=5 Finnish cities that deserve a tourist visit|website=Foreigner.fi|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref>
== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Finland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Population by ethnic background in 2017<ref name="auto"/><ref name="un"/>
|label1 = Finnish
|value1 = 91.33
|color1 = #003399
|label2 = Other European
|value2 = 4.90
|color2 = #4080bf
|label3 = Asian
|value3 = 2.50
|color3 = #ff471a
|label4 = African
|value4 = 0.90
|color4 = #ffff00
|label5 = Other
|value5 = 0.37
}}
The population of Finland is currently about 5.5 million. The current [[birth rate]] is 10.42 per 1,000 residents, for a [[Total fertility rate|fertility rate]] of 1.49 children born per woman,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__kuol/?tablelist=true|title=PxWeb - Select table|website=pxnet2.stat.fi}}</ref> one of the lowest in the world, significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1. In 1887 Finland recorded its highest rate, 5.17 children born per woman.<ref>{{citation|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=FIN|title=Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries|author=Max Roser|date=2014|work=[[Our World In Data]], [[Gapminder Foundation]]|access-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205121631/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=FIN|archive-date=5 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Finland has one of the oldest populations in the world, with a median age of 42.6 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : FINLAND|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018}}</ref> Approximately half of voters are estimated to be over 50 years old.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html Tilastokeskus – Population]. Stat.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref name="populationdevelopment" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=81 |title=Median Age (Years) |publisher=GlobalHealthFacts.org |access-date=22 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403123202/http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=81 |archive-date=3 April 2013 }}</ref><ref name="pop_stat">{{cite web|date=4 June 2020|title=Finland in Figures > Population|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html|access-date=12 August 2020|website=stat.fi|publisher=Statistics Finland}}</ref> Finland has an average population density of 18 inhabitants per square kilometre. This is the third-lowest population density of any European country, behind those of Norway and [[Iceland]], and the lowest population density of any European Union member country. Finland's population has always been concentrated in the southern parts of the country, a phenomenon that became even more pronounced during 20th-century urbanisation. Two of the three largest cities in Finland are situated in the [[Greater Helsinki]] [[metropolitan area]]—Helsinki and [[Espoo]],  and some municipalities in the metropolitan area have also shown clear growth of population year after year, the most notable being [[Järvenpää]], [[Nurmijärvi]], [[Kirkkonummi]], [[Kerava]] and [[Sipoo]].<ref>[http://www.kirkkonummensanomat.fi/neo/?app=NeoDirect&com=6/159/55218/ab3d2d5ebf Kirkkonummen Sanomat: Nurmijärvi - ilmiö voimistui heinäkuussa - Kirkkonummella väkiluvun kasvu 1,2 %] (in Finnish)</ref> In the largest cities of Finland, [[Tampere]] holds the third place after Helsinki and Espoo while also Helsinki-neighbouring [[Vantaa]] is the fourth. Other cities with population over 100,000 are [[Turku]], [[Oulu]], [[Jyväskylä]], [[Kuopio]], and [[Lahti]]. On the other hand, [[Sottunga]] of the [[Åland Islands]] is the smallest municipality in Finland in terms of population ([[Luhanka]] in [[mainland Finland]]),<ref>[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tietotuotteet-ja-palvelut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)</ref> and [[Savukoski]] of [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] is sparsely populated in terms of [[population density]].<ref>[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot/kuntien-pinta-alat-ja-asukastiheydet Kuntien pinta-alat ja asukastiheydet – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)</ref>
{{As of|2019}}, there were 423,494 people with a foreign background living in Finland (7.7% of the population), most of whom are from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Somalia, Iraq and former Yugoslavia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ulkomaalaistaustaiset |publisher=Tilastokeskus |access-date= 2021-04-25 |url= https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset.html |language=fi  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Population |publisher=Statistics Finland |date=2021-04-23 |access-date=2021-04-25 |url= https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html |language=en }}</ref> The children of foreigners are not automatically given Finnish citizenship, as Finnish nationality law practices and maintain ''[[jus sanguinis]]'' policy where only children born to at least one Finnish parent are granted citizenship. If they are born in Finland and cannot get citizenship of any other country, they become citizens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Child born in Finland |publisher=Finnish Immigration Service |access-date=2021-04-25 |url= https://migri.fi/en/child-born-in-finland |language=en }}</ref> Additionally, certain persons of Finnish descent who reside in countries that were once part of [[Soviet Union]], retain the [[Right of return#Finland|right of return]], a right to establish permanent residency in the country, which would eventually entitle them to qualify for citizenship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475 |title=Finnish Directorate of Immigration |date=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110122502/http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475 |archive-date=10 November 2011 }}</ref> 387,215 people in Finland in 2018 were born in another country, representing 7% of the population. The 10 largest foreign born groups are (in order) from [[Russia]], [[Estonia]], [[Sweden]], [[Iraq]], [[Somalia]], [[China]], [[Thailand]], [[Serbia]], [[Vietnam]] and [[Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/?tablelist|title=PxWeb - Select table|website=pxnet2.stat.fi}}</ref>
Finland's immigrant population is growing. By 2035, the three largest cites in Finland are projected to have over a quarter of residents of a foreign-speaking background: in Helsinki, they are projected to form 26% of the population; in [[Espoo]], 30%; and in [[Vantaa]], 34%. The Helsinki region is projected to have 437,000 people of a foreign linguistic background, compared to 201,000 in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/uutiset/fi/kaupunginkanslia/helsingin-seudun-vieraskielinen-vaesto-yli-kaksinkertaistuu-vuoteen-2035-mennessa|title=Helsingin seudun vieraskielinen väestö yli kaksinkertaistuu vuoteen 2035 mennessä|website=Helsingin kaupunki}}</ref>
=== Language ===
{{Main|Finnish language|Finland Swedish|Languages of Finland}}
{{See also|List of municipalities of Finland in which Finnish is not the sole official language}}
[[File:Languages of Finnish municipalities (2016).svg|thumb|Municipalities of Finland: {{legend|#EEEEC1|unilingually Finnish}}{{legend|#37ABC8|bilingual with Finnish as majority language, Swedish as minority language}}{{legend|#0055D4|bilingual with Swedish as majority language, Finnish as minority language}}{{legend|#000080|unilingually Swedish}}{{legend|#800033|bilingual with Finnish as majority language, Sami as minority language}}]]
Finnish and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] are the official languages of Finland. Finnish predominates nationwide while Swedish is spoken in some coastal areas in the west and south (such as [[Raseborg]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/the-10-most-beautiful-towns-in-finland/|title=The 10 Most Beautiful Towns In Finland|first=Lani|last=Seelinger|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> [[Pargas]],<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/18417-twice-a-minority-foreign-immigration-to-swedish-speaking-communities-in-finland.html|title=Twice a minority: foreign immigration to Swedish-speaking communities in Finland|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> [[Närpes]],<ref name="auto1"/> [[Kristinestad]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/12675-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-kristinestad.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Kristinestad|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> [[Jakobstad]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/13124-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-jakobstad.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Jakobstad|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> and [[Nykarleby]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/12953-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-nykarleby.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Nykarleby|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref>) and in the autonomous region of [[Åland]], which is the only monolingual Swedish-speaking region in Finland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/info-norden/swedish-language-courses-foreigners-aland|title=Swedish language courses for foreigners in Åland &#124; Nordic cooperation|website=www.norden.org}}</ref> The [[native language]] of 87.3% of the population is Finnish,<ref name="Population according to language">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2015/vaerak_2015_2016-04-01_tau_002_en.html |title=Appendix table 2. Population according to language 1980–2015 |work=Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Population structure |access-date=27 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201900_2019_21461_net.pdf |title=Finland in Figures 2019 |work=Statistics Finland |date=June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711184650/https://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201900_2019_21461_net.pdf |archive-date=11 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> which is part of the Finnic subgroup of the Uralic languages. The language is one of only four official [[Languages of the European Union|EU languages]] not of [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin, and has no relation to the other [[North Germanic languages|national languages]] of the [[Nordic countries|Nordics]]. Conversely, Finnish is closely related to [[Estonian language|Estonian]] and [[Karelian language|Karelian]], and more distantly to [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] and the Sami languages.
Swedish is the native language of 5.2% of the population ([[Swedish-speaking Finns]]).<ref name="population-2016">[http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html Statistics Finland, Population] Retrieved on 18 October 2017.</ref> Finnish is dominant in all the country's larger cities; though Helsinki, [[Turku]] and [[Vaasa]] were once predominantly Swedish-speaking, they have undergone a language shift since the 19th century to become largely Finnish-speaking.
Swedish is a compulsory school subject and general knowledge of the language is good among non-native speakers. In 2005, a total of 47% of Finnish citizens reported the ability to speak Swedish, either as primary or a secondary language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf|title=Europeans and their languages, situation in 2005|publisher=[[European Commission]]|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> Likewise, a majority of mainland Sweden Finns are able to speak Finnish. However, most Sweden Finnish youth reported seldom using Finnish: 71% reported always or mostly speaking Swedish in social settings outside of their households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/finlandssvenska-ungdomar-talar-sallan-finska-sarskilt-pa-natet-ar-finskan-ovanlig/| title=Finlandssvenska ungdomar talar sällan finska - särskilt på nätet är finskan ovanlig|publisher=Hufvudstadsbladet|last=Piippo|first=Mikael|date=12 December 2018|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> The Finnish side of the land border with Sweden is unilingually Finnish-speaking, with a stark language divide over the [[Torne River]]: on the Swedish side, a Northern Swedish accent can be heard that is distinct from the Swedish spoken in other parts of Finland. There is a sizeable pronunciation difference between the varieties of Swedish spoken in the two countries, although their [[mutual intelligibility]] is nearly universal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infofinland.fi/sv/livet-i-finland/finska-och-svenska-spraket/det-svenska-spraket-i-finland|title=Det svenska språket i Finland|publisher=InfoFinland|language=sv|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref>
The [[Nordic countries#Languages|Nordic]] languages and [[Karelian language|Karelian]] are also specially recognized in parts of Finland.
[[Finnish Kalo language|Finnish Romani]] is spoken by some 5,000–6,000 people; Romani and [[Finnish Sign Language]] are also recognized in the constitution. There are two sign languages: Finnish Sign Language, spoken natively by 4,000–5,000 people,<ref>{{cite web |title=''Forskningscentralen för de inhemska språken—Teckenspråken i Finland'' |language=sv |url=http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=sv&s=206 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318084839/http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=sv&s=206 |archive-date=18 March 2015 }}</ref> and [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language]], spoken natively by about 150 people. [[Mishar Tatar dialect|Tatar]] is spoken by a [[Finnish Tatars|Finnish Tatar]] minority of about 800 people whose ancestors moved to Finland mainly during Russian rule from the 1870s to the 1920s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forum.hunturk.net/national-minorities-of-finland-the-tatars-2491.html |title=National Minorities of Finland, The Tatars |publisher=Forum.hunturk.net |access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>
The [[Sami languages|Sami language]] has an official status in Lapland where the Sami people predominate, numbering around 7,000<ref>According to the Finnish Population Registry Centre and the Finnish Sami parliament, the Sami population living in Finland was 7,371 in 2003. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20080306223521/http://www.samediggi.fi/vanha/suomi/toimieli/vaali/lukumaara_vuoden_2003_vaaleissa.pdf Regional division of Sami people in Finland by age in 2003] (in Finnish).</ref> and recognized as an [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous people]]. About a quarter of them speak a Sami language as their mother tongue.<ref name="Population 2006-12-31">{{cite web |url=http://tilastokeskus.fi/til/vaerak/2006/vaerak_2006_2007-03-23_tie_001_en.html |title=The population of Finland in 2006 |work=Statistics Finland |date=31 December 2006 |access-date=4 September 2007}}</ref> The Sami languages that are spoken in Finland are [[Northern Sami]], [[Inari Sami language|Inari Sami]], and [[Skolt Sami language|Skolt Sami]].{{refn|group=note|The names for Finland in its Sami languages are: {{lang|se|Suopma}} ([[Northern Sami]]), {{lang|smn|Suomâ}} ([[Inari Sami language|Inari Sami]]) and {{lang|sms|Lää'ddjânnam}} ([[Skolt Sami language|Skolt Sami]]). See [http://www.geonames.de/coufi.html Geonames.de].}}
The rights of minority groups (in particular [[Sami people#Finland|Sami]], [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish speakers]], and [[Finnish Kale|Romani people]]) are protected by the constitution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf |title=The Constitution of Finland, 17 § and 121 § |work=FINLEX Data Bank |access-date=4 September 2007}}</ref>
The largest immigrant languages are [[Russian language|Russian]] (1.5%), [[Estonian language|Estonian]] (0.9%), [[Arabic]] (0.6%), [[Somali language|Somali]] (0.4%) and [[English language|English]] (0.4%).<ref name="population-2016" /> English is studied by most pupils as a compulsory subject from the first grade (at seven years of age) in the comprehensive school (in some schools other languages can be chosen instead),<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15462-finland-s-first-graders-to-start-learning-foreign-language-in-spring-2020.html|title=Finland's first-graders to start learning foreign language in spring 2020|last=Teivainen|first=Aleksi|date=13 April 2019|work=[[Helsinki Times]]|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Yang|first=Junyi|title=Teachers' Role in Developing Healthy Self-esteem in Young Learners: A study of English language teachers in Finland|date=Spring 2018|degree=Master’s Degree Program in Early Language Education for Intercultural Communication|publisher=University of Eastern Finland|url=http://epublications.uef.fi/pub/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20180513/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20180513.pdf}}</ref> as a result of which [[Finns]]' English language skills have been significantly strengthened over several decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finlandtoday.fi/finland-places-among-the-top-four-english-speaking-countries-in-the-world/|title=Finland Places Among the Top Four English-Speaking Countries in the World|first=Tony|last=Öhberg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_ranks_sixth_in_english_skills_early_instruction_crucial/10071036|title=Finland ranks sixth in English skills, early instruction crucial|website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> German, French, Spanish and Russian can be studied as second foreign languages from the fourth grade (at 10 years of age; some schools may offer other options).<ref>{{Cite conference|last=Nuolijärvi|first=Pirkko|date=Fall 2011|title=Language education policy and practice in Finland|url=http://www.efnil.org/documents/conference-publications/london-2011/the-role-of-language-education-in-creating-a/15-Pirkko-Nuolijarvi.pdf|conference=European Federation of National Institutions for Language}}</ref>
About 93% of Finns can speak a second language.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/more_than_90_percent_of_finnish_residents_are_at_least_bilingual/10550664 |title=More than 90 percent of Finnish residents are at least bilingual |publisher=YLE |access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref> The figures in this section should be treated with caution, as they come from the official Finnish population register. People can only register one language and so bilingual or multilingual language users' language competencies are not properly included. A citizen of Finland that speaks bilingually Finnish and Swedish will often be registered as a Finnish only speaker in this system. Similarly "old domestic language" is a category applied to some languages and not others for political not linguistic reasons, for example Russian.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ling.helsinki.fi/~fkarlsso/Languages%20of%20Finland_1917-2017.pdf |title=THE LANGUAGES OF FINLAND 1917–2017 |work=Lingsoft Language Library publications |access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>
=== Largest cities ===
{{Largest cities of Finland}}
=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Finland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religions in Finland (2019)<ref name="stnin"/>
|label1 = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
|value1 = 68.72
|color1 = DodgerBlue
|label2 = Orthodox Church
|value2 = 1.10
|color2 = Orchid
|label3 = Other Christian
|value3 = 0.93
|color3 = DarkOrchid
|label4 = Other religions
|value4 = 0.76
|color4 = Chartreuse
|label5 = Unaffiliated
|value5 = 28.49
|color5 = Honeydew
}}
With 3.9 million members,<ref>[https://www.kirkontilastot.fi/viz?id=54 Seurakuntien jäsentilasto 2018] Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</ref> the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]] is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world and is also by far Finland's largest religious body; at the end of 2019, 68.7% of Finns were members of the church.<ref name="relig_stat">[http://tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html#structure Population structure] Statistics Finland</ref> The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has seen its share of the country's population declining by roughly one percent annually in recent years.<ref name="relig_stat" /> The decline has been due to both church membership resignations and falling baptism rates.<ref>[http://eroakirkosta.fi/media/none/tiedote_13_2015.html?year=2015 Eroakirkosta.fi – Kirkosta eronnut tänä vuonna 40 000 ihmistä] (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[http://www.karjalainen.fi/uutiset/uutis-alueet/kotimaa/item/108142-kastettujen-maara-romahtanut-kirkollisista-ristiaisista-luopuu-yha-useampi ''Karjalainen – Kastettujen määrä romahtanut – kirkollisista ristiäisistä luopuu yhä useampi''] 13 June 2016 (in Finnish)</ref> The second largest group, accounting for 26.3% of the population<ref name="relig_stat" /> in 2017, has no religious affiliation. The irreligious group rose quickly from just below 13% in the year 2000. A small minority belongs to the [[Finnish Orthodox Church]] (1.1%). Other [[Protestant]] denominations and the [[Catholic Church in Finland|Roman Catholic Church]] are significantly smaller, as are the [[Jewish]] and other non-Christian communities (totalling 1.6%); for example, in the Protestant trend, there are about 1,500 [[Baptists]] concentrated in the region of [[Central Finland]],<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=26| title= Baptismi| work= Uskonnot Suomessa | access-date=6 January 2021 | language=fi}}</ref> and there are only about 2,000 [[Methodism|Methodists]] who are scattered around the country.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=24| title= Metodismi| work= Uskonnot Suomessa| access-date= 6 January 2021| language= fi| archive-date= 8 January 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210108084048/http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=24| url-status= dead}}</ref> The [[Pew Research Center]] estimated the Muslim population at 2.7% in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Muslim Population Growth in Europe|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2017/11/29/europes-growing-muslim-population/|website=pewforum.org}}</ref> The main Lutheran and Orthodox churches are [[national church]]es of Finland with special roles such as in state ceremonies and schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=160099&nodeid=41800&culture=en-US |title=The Church in Finland today |author=Salla Korpela |date=May 2005 |access-date=11 January 2011 |publisher=Finland Promotion Board; Produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Communications and Culture}}</ref>
In 1869, Finland was the first Nordic country to [[disestablishment|disestablish]] its Evangelical Lutheran church by introducing the Church Act, followed by the [[Church of Sweden]] in 2000. Although the church still maintains a special relationship with the state, it is not described as a [[state religion]] in the [[Constitution of Finland|Finnish Constitution]] or other laws passed by the [[Finnish Parliament]].<ref name=FinlandConstitution>{{cite web|url=https://servat.unibe.ch/icl/fi00000_.html |title=Finland > Constitution: Chapter 1 Fundamental provisions (Section 76 The Church Act) |last=Tschentscher |first=Axel |date=27 June 2020}}</ref> Finland's state church was the Church of Sweden until 1809. As an autonomous Grand Duchy under Russia 1809–1917, Finland retained the Lutheran State Church system, and a state church separate from Sweden, later named the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, was established. It was detached from the state as a separate judicial entity when the new church law came to force in 1869. After Finland had gained independence in 1917, religious freedom was declared in the constitution of 1919 and a separate law on religious freedom in 1922. Through this arrangement, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland lost its position as a state church but gained a constitutional status as a national church alongside the Finnish Orthodox Church, whose position however is not codified in the constitution.
[[File:Catedral Luterana de Helsinki, Finlandia, 2012-08-14, DD 01.JPG|thumb|The Evangelical Lutheran [[Helsinki Cathedral]]]]
In 2016, 69.3% of Finnish children were [[Baptism|baptized]]<ref>[http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/FFEDB75916EB394AC22576CC003D875E/$FILE/Vaestonmuutokset_koko%20kirkko_2016.xlsx Lutheran church member statistics (2016)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122035/http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/FFEDB75916EB394AC22576CC003D875E/$FILE/Vaestonmuutokset_koko%20kirkko_2016.xlsx |date=15 December 2018 }} evl.fi</ref> and 82.3% were [[Confirmation (Lutheran Church)|confirmed]] in 2012 at the age of 15,<ref>[http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/8A75CE045AD09FE4C22577AE00256611/$FILE/KKH_Tilastollinen_vuosikirja2012_toiminta_lopullinen%20versio.pdf Church statistical yesrbook 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320170001/http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/8A75CE045AD09FE4C22577AE00256611/$FILE/KKH_Tilastollinen_vuosikirja2012_toiminta_lopullinen%20versio.pdf |date=20 March 2014 }} The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</ref> and over 90% of the funerals are Christian. However, the majority of Lutherans attend church only for special occasions like Christmas ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 1.8% of its members attend church services weekly.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/church_attendance_falls_religion_seen_as_private/5539349 Church Attendance Falls; Religion Seen as Private] 3 June 2012 YLE</ref> The average number of church visits per year by church members is approximately two.<ref name="state2004">{{cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35453.htm |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2004 |work=[[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] |date=15 September 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref>
According to a 2010 [[Eurobarometer]] poll, 33% of Finnish citizens responded that they "believe there is a God"; 42% answered that they "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"; and 22% that they "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".<ref name="EUROBAROMETER">{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |title=Special Eurobarometer Biotechnology |page=204 |edition=Fieldwork: January–February 2010 |date=October 2010 |access-date=16 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}</ref> According to ISSP survey data (2008), 8% consider themselves "highly religious", and 31% "moderately religious". In the same survey, 28% reported themselves as "agnostic" and 29% as "non-religious".<ref>Kimmo, Ketola et al. (2011). [http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65683/uskonto_suomalaisten_elamassa_2011.pdf?sequence=1 Uskonto suomalaisten elämässä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916015652/http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65683/uskonto_suomalaisten_elamassa_2011.pdf?sequence=1 |date=16 September 2018 }}. Tampereen yliopistopaino Oy . {{ISBN|978-951-44-8483-4}}</ref>
=== Health ===
{{Main|Healthcare in Finland}}
[[File:Meilahdensairaala2.jpg|thumb|The [[Meilahti Tower Hospital]], part of the [[Helsinki University Central Hospital]] (HUCH) in [[Töölö]], Helsinki]]
[[Life expectancy]] has increased from 71 years for men and 79 years for women in 1990 to 79 years for men and 84 years for women in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201800_2018_19693_net.pdf |title=Finland in Figures 2018 |publisher=Finnish Population Centre|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The under-five mortality rate has decreased from 51 per 1,000 live births in 1950 to 2.3 per 1,000 live births in 2017, ranking Finland's rate among the lowest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.unicef.org/country/fin/|title=Trends in Under five Mortality Rate |publisher=UNICEF|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The [[fertility rate]] in 2014 stood at 1.71 children born/per woman and has been below [[Sub-replacement fertility|the replacement rate]] of 2.1 since 1969.<ref name="stat.fi">[http://www.stat.fi/til/synt/2014/synt_2014_2015-04-14_tie_001_en.html Statistics Finland – Births 2014]. Stat.fi (14 April 2015). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> With a low birth rate women also become mothers at a later age, the mean age at first live birth being 28.6 in 2014.<ref name="stat.fi" /> A 2011 study published in ''[[The Lancet]]'' medical journal found that Finland had the lowest [[stillbirth]] rate out of 193 countries, including the UK, France and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62187-3/fulltext#article_upsell |title=Stillbirths: Where? When? Why? How to make the data count? |journal=[[The Lancet]] |access-date=6 December 2011 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62187-3 |pmid=21496911 |volume=377 |issue=9775 |pages=1448–1463|year=2011 |last1=Lawn |first1=Joy E. |last2=Blencowe |first2=Hannah |last3=Pattinson |first3=Robert |last4=Cousens |first4=Simon |last5=Kumar |first5=Rajesh |last6=Ibiebele |first6=Ibinabo |last7=Gardosi |first7=Jason |last8=Day |first8=Louise T. |last9=Stanton |first9=Cynthia |hdl=2263/16343 |s2cid=14278260 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
There has been a slight increase or no change in welfare and health inequalities between population groups in the 21st century. Lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise. More than half a million Finns suffer from [[diabetes]], [[type 1 diabetes]] being globally the most common in Finland. Many children are diagnosed with [[type 2 diabetes]]. The number of [[musculoskeletal disease]]s and [[cancer]]s are increasing, although the cancer prognosis has improved. Allergies and dementia are also growing health problems in Finland. One of the most common reasons for work disability are due to mental disorders, in particular [[Major depressive disorder|depression]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=6511570&name=DLFE-26813.pdf |title=Health care in Finland |publisher=STM |access-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317183526/http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=6511570&name=DLFE-26813.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2015 }}</ref> Treatment for depression has improved and as a result the historically high suicide rates have declined to 13 per 100 000 in 2017, closer to the North European average.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/eurostat_falling_suicide_rate_in_finland_nears_european_average/10324113|title=Eurostat: Falling suicide rate in Finland nears European average |publisher=YLE|access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> Suicide rates are still among the highest among developed countries in the OECD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.MHSUICIDEASDR?lang=en|title=GHO {{!}} By category {{!}} Suicide rate estimates, age-standardized - Estimates by country|website=WHO|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref>
There are 307 residents for each doctor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_terveys_en.html |title=Health (2004) |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> About 19% of health care is funded directly by households and 77% by taxation.
In April 2012, Finland was ranked 2nd in Gross National Happiness in a report published by The Earth Institute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakblog.net/2012/04/pakistan-ranked-85th-happiest-nation-in.html |title=World Happiness report |year=2012 |access-date=7 April 2012}}</ref> Since 2012, Finland has every time ranked at least in the top 5 of world's happiest countries in the annual [[World Happiness Report]] by the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/|title=World Happiness Report 2017|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2016/HR-V1_web.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2016 {{pipe}} Volume I (page 22)|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2012/World_Happiness_Report_2012.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2012 (page 30) |access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> as well as ranking as the happiest country in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2018/|title=World Happiness Report 2018|access-date=21 May 2018|date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
=== Education and science ===
{{Main|Education in Finland}}
{{See also|List of universities in Finland|List of schools in Finland}}
[[File:Oodi July 2019 2.jpg|thumb|[[Helsinki Central Library Oodi]] was chosen as the best new [[public library]] in the world in 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2019/5654132/helsinki-central-library-oodi-finland/|title=World's Greatest Places: Helsinki Central Library Oodi|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref>]]
[[File:Helsinki University of Technology auditorium.jpg|thumb|Auditorium in [[Aalto University]]'s main building, designed by [[Alvar Aalto]]]]
[[File:Itä-Suomen yliopiston kirjasto - Kuopion kampuskirjasto - Snellmania - Yliopistonranta 1 E - Savilahti - Kuopio - 2.jpg|thumb|The library of the [[University of Eastern Finland]] in Snellmania, the [[Kuopio]] campus of the university]]
[[File:Torvisen kansakoulu 1924-26.jpg|thumb|Pupils at the school of Torvinen in [[Sodankylä]], Finland, in the 1920s]]
Most pre-tertiary education is arranged at municipal level. Even though many or most schools were started as private schools, today only around 3 percent of students are enrolled in private schools (mostly specialist language and international schools), much less than in Sweden and most other developed countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/047DN/047_NL_EN.pdf |title=Summary sheets on education systems in Europe |publisher=Eurydice.org |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910005807/http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/047DN/047_NL_EN.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref> Pre-school education is rare compared with other EU countries and formal education is usually started at the age of 7. Primary school takes normally six years and lower secondary school three years. Most schools are managed by municipal officials.
The flexible curriculum is set by the [[Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland)|Ministry of Education and Culture]] and the Education Board. Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16. After lower secondary school, graduates may either enter the workforce directly, or apply to trade schools or [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasiums]] (upper secondary schools). Trade schools offer a [[vocational education]]: approximately 40% of an age group choose this path after the lower secondary school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/worldtvetdatabase1.php?ct=FIN |title=Vocational Education in Finland |date=18 November 2013 |access-date=9 May 2014 |author=UNESCO-UNEVOC}}</ref> Academically oriented gymnasiums have higher entrance requirements and specifically prepare for [[Abitur]] and tertiary education. Graduation from either formally qualifies for tertiary education.
In tertiary education, two mostly separate and non-interoperating sectors are found: the profession-oriented polytechnics and the research-oriented universities. Education is free and living expenses are to a large extent financed by the government through [[student benefit]]s. There are 15 universities and 24 Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scholarshipsineurope.com/list-of-university-in-finland/ |title=List of University in Finland |website=scholarshipsineurope.com |access-date=4 August 2018|date=July 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studyinfinland.fi/where_to_study/universities_of_applied_sciences |title=Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland |website=studyinfinland.fi |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808092603/http://studyinfinland.fi/where_to_study/universities_of_applied_sciences |archive-date=8 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[University of Helsinki]] is ranked 75th in the Top University Ranking of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university/258/university-of-helsinki |title=Top University Ranking of 2010: University of Helsinki |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102111112/http://topuniversities.com/university/258/university-of-helsinki |archive-date=2 January 2010 }}</ref> The [[World Economic Forum]] ranks Finland's tertiary education No. 1 in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2013-14.pdf |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014 |access-date=9 May 2014 |author=World Economic Forum |page=36|author-link=World Economic Forum }}</ref> Around 33% of residents have a tertiary degree, similar to Nordics and more than in most other OECD countries except Canada (44%), United States (38%) and Japan (37%).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2006/art_2006-07-06_001.html |title=Tilastokeskus.fi |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> The proportion of foreign students is 3% of all tertiary enrollments, one of the lowest in OECD, while in advanced programs it is 7.3%, still below OECD average 16.5%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/24/52/39315711.pdf|title=Education at Glance 2007: Finland|publisher=OECD}}</ref> Other reputable universities of Finland include [[Aalto University]] in [[Espoo]], both [[University of Turku]] and [[Åbo Akademi University]] in [[Turku]], [[University of Jyväskylä]], [[University of Oulu]], [[LUT University]] in [[Lappeenranta]] and [[Lahti]], [[University of Eastern Finland]] in [[Kuopio]] and [[Joensuu]], and [[Tampere University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.study.eu/best-universities/finland|title=The top 9 best universities in Finland: 2021 rankings|website=www.study.eu}}</ref>
More than 30% of tertiary graduates are in science-related fields. Forest improvement, materials research, environmental sciences, neural networks, low-temperature physics, brain research, biotechnology, genetic technology, and communications showcase fields of study where Finnish researchers have had a significant impact.<ref name="innovation">{{cite web|author=Kari Sipilä |title=A country that innovates |url=http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=99637 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707031053/http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=99637 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |work=Virtual Finland |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs / Department for Communication and Culture / Unit for Promotion and Publications / Embassy and Consulates General of Finland in China |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Finland has a long tradition of adult education, and by the 1980s nearly one million Finns were receiving some kind of instruction each year. Forty percent of them did so for professional reasons. Adult education appeared in a number of forms, such as secondary evening schools, civic and workers' institutes, study centres, vocational course centres, and folk high schools. Study centres allowed groups to follow study plans of their own making, with educational and financial assistance provided by the state. [[Folk high school]]s are a distinctly Nordic institution. Originating in Denmark in the 19th century, folk high schools became common throughout the region. Adults of all ages could stay at them for several weeks and take courses in subjects that ranged from handicrafts to economics.<ref name="LOC" />
Finland is highly productive in scientific research. In 2005, Finland had the fourth most scientific publications per capita of the OECD countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.research.fi/en/performance/scientific_publication.html |title=Scientific publication—Finnish science and technology Information Service |language=fi |publisher=Research.fi |date=15 November 2007 |access-date=3 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113085004/http://www.research.fi/en/performance/scientific_publication.html |archive-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> In 2007, 1,801 patents were filed in Finland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.research.fi/en/performance/patents/patents_with%20numbers |title=Patents with numbers—Finnish science and technology Information Service |language=fi |publisher=Research.fi |date=8 December 2009 |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011194752/http://www.research.fi/en/performance/patents/patents_with%20numbers |archive-date=11 October 2009 }}</ref>
In addition, 38 percent of Finland's population has a university or [[college degree]], which is among the highest percentages in the world.<ref>Sauter, Michael B. (24 September 2012) [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world.html;_ylt=AlaWy8IcyeBaviKi7_.WJyhE6odG;_ylu=X3oDMTJrY2d2NGZyBG1pdANDeFMgRmluYW5jaWFsbHkgRml0IEFydGljbGUgQXJ0aWNsZSBCb2R5IFByb2QEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNjdGVoaXJqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDY2IyOTRhMGEtYmY2OS0zYTdlLThlYTUtZWFlNTU3YWI1ZTc3BHBzdGNhdANleGNsdXNpdmVzfGZpbmFuY2lhbGx5Zml0BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3?page=1 The Most Educated Countries in the World] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820025707/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world.html;_ylt=AlaWy8IcyeBaviKi7_.WJyhE6odG;_ylu=X3oDMTJrY2d2NGZyBG1pdANDeFMgRmluYW5jaWFsbHkgRml0IEFydGljbGUgQXJ0aWNsZSBCb2R5IFByb2QEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNjdGVoaXJqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDY2IyOTRhMGEtYmY2OS0zYTdlLThlYTUtZWFlNTU3YWI1ZTc3BHBzdGNhdANleGNsdXNpdmVzfGZpbmFuY2lhbGx5Zml0BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3?page=1 |date=20 August 2016 }}. Finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>[http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/27/and-the-worlds-most-educated-country-is/ And the World's Most Educated Country Is...]. Newsfeed.time.com (27 September 2012). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In 2010 a new law was enacted considering the universities, which defined that there are 16 of them as they were excluded from the public sector to be autonomous legal and financial entities, however enjoying special status in the legislation.<ref>[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2009/20090558 . finlex.fi]; ''Yliopistolaki 558/2009 – Säädökset alkuperäisinä – FINLEX''. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> As result many former state institutions were driven to collect funding from private sector contributions and partnerships. The change caused deep rooted discussions among the academic circles.<ref>[http://teivo.net/2013/08/08/edu-schizo/ Educational Schizophrenia in Finland |Teivo Teivainen]. Teivo.net (8 August 2013). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
English language is important in Finnish education. There are a number of degree programs that are taught in English, which attracts thousands of degree and exchange students every year.
In December 2017 the [[OECD]] reported that Finnish fathers spend an average of eight minutes a day more with their school-aged children than mothers do.<ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Bremner |title=Finland is the first country where fathers do most of the childcare |work=[[The Times]] |date=9 December 2017 |page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/04/finland-only-country-world-dad-more-time-kids-moms |title=Finland: the only country where fathers spend more time with kids than mothers |access-date=23 December 2017 |date=4 October 2017 |newspaper= The Guardian}}</ref>
== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Finland}}
=== Sauna ===
{{Main|Finnish sauna}}
[[File:Smoke Sauna (395139052).jpg|thumb|A [[smoke sauna]] in [[Ruka, Finland|Ruka]], [[Kuusamo]]]]
The Finns' love for [[Finnish sauna|sauna]]s is generally associated with Finnish cultural tradition in the world. Sauna is a type of dry steam bath practiced widely in Finland, which is especially evident in the strong tradition around [[Midsummer]] and [[Christmas]]. In Finland, the sauna has been a traditional cure or part of the treatment for many different diseases, thanks to the heat, which why the sauna has been a very [[Hygiene|hygienic]] place. There is an old Finnish saying: ''"Jos sauna, terva ja viina ei auta, on tauti kuolemaksi."'' ("If sauna, [[tar]] and [[Liquor|booze]] doesn't help you, then a disease is deadly").<ref>[https://www.potilaanlaakarilehti.fi/uutiset/sauna-viina-ja-terva/ Sauna, viina ja terva – Potilaan Lääkärilehti] (in Finnish)</ref> The word is of Proto-Finnish origin (found in Finnic and Sámi languages) dating back 7,000 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sauna – A Finnish national institution |last1=Helamaa |first1=Erkki |last2=Pentikäinen |first2=Juha |work=Virtual Finland |date=November 2001 |url= http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26074 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209130410/http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26074 |archive-date=2008-02-09 |language=en }}</ref> Steam baths have been part of European tradition elsewhere as well, but the sauna has survived best in Finland, in addition to Sweden, the [[Baltic states|Baltic States]], Russia, Norway, and parts of the United States and Canada. Moreover, nearly all Finnish houses have either their own sauna or in multistory apartment houses, a timeshare sauna. Public saunas were previously common, but the tradition has declined when saunas have been built nearly everywhere (private homes, municipal swimming halls, hotels, corporate headquarters, gyms, etc.). At one time, the [[World Sauna Championships]] were held in [[Heinola]], Finland, but the death of a Russian competitor in 2010 finally stopped organizing the competitions as too dangerous.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/08/sauna-championship-russian-dead Sauna contest leaves Russian dead and champion Finn in hospital] - ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref>
The [[Finnish sauna culture]] was inscribed on the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists]] at the 17 December 2020 meeting of the [[UNESCO]] Intergovernmental Committee [[Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage|for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage]]. As authorized by the state, the [[Finnish Heritage Agency]] commits, together with Finnish sauna communities and promoters of the sauna culture, to safeguard the vitality of the sauna tradition and to highlight its importance as part of customs and wellbeing.<ref>{{cite web| title= Sauna culture in Finland |url= https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/sauna-culture-in-finland-01596 |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title= Finnish sauna culture steams up UNESCO Heritage List |url= https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_sauna_culture_steams_up_unesco_heritage_list/11703917 |publisher=[[YLE]] |date=17 December 2020|access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>
=== Literature ===
{{Main|Finnish literature}}
[[File:Mikael Agricola by Albert Edelfelt.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|[[Mikael Agricola]] (1510–1557), [[List of bishops of Turku|Bishop of Turku]], a prominent Lutheran Protestant reformer and the father of the Finnish written language]]
Written Finnish could be said to have existed since [[Mikael Agricola]] translated the [[New Testament]] into Finnish during the [[Protestant Reformation]], but few notable works of literature were written until the 19th century and the beginning of a Finnish national [[Romanticism|Romantic Movement]]. This prompted [[Elias Lönnrot]] to collect Finnish and Karelian folk poetry and arrange and publish them as the ''[[Kalevala]]'', the Finnish [[national epic]]. The era saw a rise of poets and novelists who wrote in Finnish, notably [[Aleksis Kivi]] (''[[The Seven Brothers]]''), [[Minna Canth]] (''[[Anna Liisa]]''), [[Eino Leino]] (''{{ill|Helkavirsiä|fi}}''), [[Johannes Linnankoski]] (''[[The Song of the Blood-Red Flower]]'') and [[Juhani Aho]] (''[[The Railroad (novel)|The Railroad]]'' and ''[[Juha (novel)|Juha]]''). Many writers of the national awakening wrote in Swedish, such as the national poet [[J. L. Runeberg]] (''[[The Tales of Ensign Stål]]'') and [[Zachris Topelius]] (''[[The Tomten in Åbo Castle]]'').
After Finland became independent, there was a rise of [[Modernist literature|modernist writers]], most famously the Finnish-speaking [[Mika Waltari]] and Swedish-speaking [[Edith Södergran]]. [[Frans Eemil Sillanpää]] was awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] in 1939. World War II prompted a return to more national interests in comparison to a more international line of thought, characterized by [[Väinö Linna]] with his ''[[The Unknown Soldier (novel)|The Unknown Soldier]]'' and [[Under the North Star trilogy|''Under the North'' Star trilogy]]. Besides Lönnrot's ''Kalevala'' and Waltari, the Swedish-speaking [[Tove Jansson]], best known as the creator of ''[[The Moomins]]'', is the most translated Finnish writer;<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_post_honours_moomin_creator_jansson/7061316 Finnish post honours Moomin creator Jansson] - YLE News</ref> her books have been translated into more than 40 languages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/tove-jansson-and-the-moomin-story/|title=Finland's Tove Jansson and the Moomin story|date=11 March 2014|website=thisisFINLAND}}</ref> <!--Pure opinion?: Literature in modern Finland is in a healthy state.--> Popular modern writers include [[Arto Paasilinna]], [[Veikko Huovinen]], [[Antti Tuuri]], [[Ilkka Remes]], [[Kari Hotakainen]], [[Sofi Oksanen]], [[Tuomas Kyrö]], and [[Jari Tervo]], while the best novel is annually awarded the prestigious [[Finlandia Prize]].
=== Visual arts, design, and architecture ===
{{See also|Architecture of Finland|Finnish art}}
[[File:Sammon puolustus.jpg|thumb|right|[[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]], ''[[The Defense of the Sampo]]'', 1896, [[Turku Art Museum]]]]
The visual arts in Finland started to form their individual characteristics in the 19th century, when Romantic nationalism was rising in autonomic Finland. The best known of Finnish painters, [[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]], started painting in a naturalist style, but moved to national romanticism. Other notable world-famous Finnish painters include [[Magnus Enckell]], [[Pekka Halonen]], [[Eero Järnefelt]], [[Helene Schjerfbeck]] and [[Hugo Simberg]]. Finland's best-known sculptor of the 20th century was [[Wäinö Aaltonen]], remembered for his monumental [[Bust (sculpture)|busts]] and sculptures. Finns have made major contributions to [[handicraft]]s and [[industrial design]]: among the internationally renowned figures are [[Timo Sarpaneva]], [[Tapio Wirkkala]] and [[Ilmari Tapiovaara]]. Finnish architecture is famous around the world, and has contributed significantly to several styles internationally, such as [[Jugendstil]] (or [[Art Nouveau]]), [[Nordic Classicism]] and [[Functionalism (architecture)|Functionalism]]. Among the top 20th-century Finnish architects to gain international recognition are [[Eliel Saarinen]] and his son [[Eero Saarinen]]. Architect [[Alvar Aalto]] is regarded as among the most important 20th-century designers in the world;<ref>James Stevens Curl, ''Dictionary of Architecture'', Grange Books, Rochester, 2005, p. 1.</ref> he helped bring [[Functionalism (architecture)|functionalist architecture]] to Finland, but soon was a pioneer in its development towards an organic style.<ref>Sigfried Giedion, ''Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition'', Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2nd edition, 1949.</ref> Aalto is also famous for his work in furniture, lamps, textiles and [[glassware]], which were usually incorporated into his buildings.
=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Finland|Rock music in Finland|Sami music}}
[[File:Jean Sibelius, 1913.jpg|thumb|upright|The Finnish composer [[Jean Sibelius]] (1865–1957) was a significant figure in the history of [[European classical music|classical music]].]]
;Classical
Much of Finland's classical music is influenced by traditional Karelian melodies and lyrics, as comprised in the ''[[Kalevala]]''. Karelian culture is perceived as the purest expression of the [[Baltic Finns|Finnic]] myths and beliefs, less influenced by [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] influence than the [[Nordic folk dance music]] that largely replaced the kalevaic tradition. Finnish [[folk music]] has undergone a [[roots revival]] in recent decades, and has become a part of [[popular music]].
The people of northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway, the [[Sami people|Sami]], are known primarily for highly spiritual songs called [[joik]]. The same word sometimes refers to [[lavlu]] or vuelie songs, though this is technically incorrect.
The first Finnish opera was written by the German-born composer [[Fredrik Pacius]] in 1852. Pacius also wrote the music to the poem [[Maamme|''Maamme/Vårt land'' (Our Country)]], Finland's [[national anthem]]. In the 1890s Finnish nationalism based on the ''Kalevala'' spread, and [[Jean Sibelius]] became famous for his vocal symphony ''[[Kullervo (Sibelius)|Kullervo]]''. He soon received a grant to study ''runo singers'' in Karelia and continued his rise as the first prominent Finnish musician. In 1899 he composed ''[[Finlandia]]'', which played its important role in Finland gaining independence. He remains one of Finland's most popular national figures and is a symbol of the nation. Another one of the most significant and internationally best-known Finnish-born classical composers long before Sibelius was [[Bernhard Crusell]].<ref>See {{cite web|url=http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Crusell_Contemp.htm|title=Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838)|last=Asiado|first=Tel|work=Mozart Forum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708192751/http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Crusell_Contemp.htm |archive-date=8 July 2009|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref>
;Modern
[[File:Apocalyptica1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Perttu Kivilaakso]] of [[Apocalyptica]]]]
''Iskelmä'' (coined directly from the German word ''[[Schlager]]'', meaning "hit") is a traditional Finnish word for a light popular song.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suomalainen iskelmä |last=Kaivanto |first=Petri |work=Pomus.net |access-date=18 July 2020 |url= http://pomus.net/kehityslinjat/suomalaineniskelma |language=fi }}</ref> Finnish popular music also includes various kinds of [[dance music]]; [[Tango music|tango]], a style of [[Music of Argentina|Argentine music]], is also popular.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explaining the Finnish love of tango |author=C.G. |work=The Economist |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=18 July 2020 |url= https://www.economist.com/prospero/2017/10/11/explaining-the-finnish-love-of-tango }}</ref> The light music in Swedish-speaking areas has more influences from Sweden. Modern Finnish popular music includes a number of prominent rock bands, [[jazz]] musicians, [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] performers, dance music acts, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2014|title=Don't mess with Finnish jazz|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/dont-mess-with-finnish-jazz/|access-date=1 September 2020|website=thisisFINLAND|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=September 2020}} Also, at least a couple of Finnish [[polka]]s are known worldwide, such as ''[[Säkkijärven polkka]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/how-the-finns-stopped-the-soviets-with-this-polka-song/|title=How the Finns stopped the Soviets with this polka song|date=6 August 2020}}</ref> and ''[[Ievan polkka]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musicfinland.com/en/news/finnish-jenkka-song-took-over-japans-department-stores|title=Finnish jenkka song took over Japan's department stores|website=Music Finland}}</ref>
During the early 1960s, the first significant wave of Finnish rock groups emerged, playing [[instrumental rock]] inspired by groups such as [[The Shadows]]. Around 1964, [[Beatlemania]] arrived in Finland, resulting in further development of the local rock scene. During the late 1960s and '70s, Finnish rock musicians increasingly wrote their own music instead of translating international hits into Finnish. During the decade, some [[progressive rock]] groups such as [[Tasavallan Presidentti]] and [[Wigwam (Finnish band)|Wigwam]] gained respect abroad but failed to make a commercial breakthrough outside Finland. This was also the fate of the [[rock and roll]] group [[Hurriganes]]. The Finnish punk scene produced some internationally acknowledged names including [[Terveet Kädet]] in the 1980s. [[Hanoi Rocks]] was a pioneering 1980s [[glam rock]] act that inspired the American [[hard rock]] group [[Guns N' Roses]], among others.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304587704577333813382925678|title=Guns N' Roses Can Agree on at Least One Thing: This Finnish Saxophonist Rocks |last=Shah|first=Neil|date=15 April 2012|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref>
Many Finnish metal bands have gained international recognition; Finland has been often called the "Promised Land of Heavy Metal", because there are more than 50 metal Bands for every 100,000 inhabitants – more than any other nation in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/finnish-metropolises-vie-to-win-capital-of-metal/|title=Finnish metropolises vie to win Capital of Metal|date=8 May 2018|website=thisisFINLAND}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famouscampaigns.com/2019/07/finlands-stage-worlds-first-heavy-metal-knitting-championship/|title=Finland stage world's first heavy metal knitting championship|first=Famous|last=Campaigns}}</ref>
=== Cinema and television ===
{{Main|Cinema of Finland|Television in Finland}}
{{See also|Lists of Finnish films}}
[[File:Edvin-Laine-Matti-Kassila-1955.jpg|thumb|upright|The Finnish filmmakers [[Edvin Laine]] and [[Matti Kassila]] in 1955]]
In the film industry, notable directors include brothers [[Mika Kaurismäki|Mika]] and [[Aki Kaurismäki]], [[Dome Karukoski]], [[Antti Jokinen]], [[Jalmari Helander]], [[Mauritz Stiller]], [[Edvin Laine]], [[Teuvo Tulio]], [[Spede Pasanen]], and Hollywood film director and producer [[Renny Harlin]]. Internationally well-known Finnish actors and actresses include [[Jasper Pääkkönen]], [[Peter Franzén]], [[Laura Birn]], [[Irina Björklund]], [[Samuli Edelmann]], [[Krista Kosonen]], [[Ville Virtanen (actor)|Ville Virtanen]] and [[Joonas Suotamo]]. Around twelve feature films are made each year.<ref name="Media moves">{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162833&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=Media moves |work=ThisisFINLAND ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501141049/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162833&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=1 May 2011 }}</ref>
One of the most internationally successful Finnish films are ''[[The White Reindeer]]'', directed by [[Erik Blomberg]] in 1952, which won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film]] in 1956, five years after its limited release in the [[United States]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/best-foreign-film-506.html |title=List of Winners – Golden Globes Best Foreign Film |access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sundholm|first1=John|last2=Thorsen|first2=Isak|last3=Andersson|first3=Lars Gustaf|last4=Hedling|first4=Olof|last5=Iversen|first5=Gunnar|last6=Møller|first6=Birgir Thor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QktG6a4YnQYC&q=1957+golden+globe+best+foreign+film+white+reindeer&pg=PA390 |title= Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Cinema (Google eBook) |access-date=12 December 2013|date = 20 September 2012| page=389 et seq|isbn = 978-0-8108-7899-0}}</ref> ''[[The Man Without a Past]]'', directed by [[Aki Kaurismäki]] in 2002, which was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] in 2002 and won the [[Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)|Grand Prix]] at the [[2002 Cannes Film Festival]];<ref>{{cite web|last=Fauth|first=Jurgen|url=http://worldfilm.about.com/od/scandinavianfilm/fr/manwithoutpast.htm|title=The Man Without a Past|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906125603/http://worldfilm.about.com/od/scandinavianfilm/fr/manwithoutpast.htm |archive-date=6 September 2015|work=[[About.com]]|access-date=5 February 2008}}</ref> and ''[[The Fencer]]'', directed by [[Klaus Härö]] in 2015, which was nominated for the [[73rd Golden Globe Awards#Film|73rd Golden Globe Awards]] in the Best Foreign Language Film category as a Finnish/German/Estonian co-production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/fencer|title=The Fencer|website=www.goldenglobes.com}}</ref>
In Finland, the most significant films include ''[[The Unknown Soldier (1955 film)|The Unknown Soldier]]'', directed by [[Edvin Laine]] in 1955, which is shown on television every [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_independence_day_galas_protests_and_war_memories/7671639|title=Finnish Independence Day: Galas, protests and war memories|website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> ''[[Here, Beneath the North Star]]'' from 1968, also directed by Laine, which includes the Finnish Civil War from the perspective of the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red Guards]], is also one of the most significant works in Finnish history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lfq.salisbury.edu/_issues/48_1/agreeing_on_history_adaptation_as_restorative_truth_in_finnish_reconciliation.html|title=Agreeing on History Adaptation as Restorative Truth in Finnish Reconciliation, Mads Larsen, Literature Film Quarterly|website=lfq.salisbury.edu}}</ref> A 1960 [[Crime film|crime]] [[comedy film]] ''[[Inspector Palmu's Mistake (film)|Inspector Palmu's Mistake]]'', directed by [[Matti Kassila]], was voted in 2012 the best Finnish film of all time by Finnish film critics and journalists in a poll organized by [[Yle Uutiset]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kriitikot_valitsivat_kaikkien_aikojen_parhaan_kotimaisen_elokuvan/6372726 | title=Kriitikot valitsivat kaikkien aikojen parhaan kotimaisen elokuvan | publisher=Yle Uutiset | date=12 November 2012 | access-date=9 May 2014 | author=Sundqvist, Janne | language=fi}}</ref> but the 1984 comedy film ''[[Uuno Turhapuro in the Army]]'', the ninth film in the [[Uuno Turhapuro|''Uuno Turhapuro'' film series]], remains Finland's most seen domestic film made since 1968 by Finnish audience.<ref>[https://sketsi.net/uuno-turhapuro-armeijan-leivissa-elokuvat/ Uuno armeijan leivissä ja muut Turhapuro elokuvat] (in Finnish)</ref>
Although Finland's television offerings are largely known for their domestic [[Drama (film and television)|dramas]], such as the long-running [[soap opera]] series ''[[Salatut elämät]]'',<ref>Juha Suoranta & Hanna Lehtimäki: Children in the Information Society: The Case of Finland (New Literacies and Digital Epistemologies). Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers, 2004. {{ISBN|978-0-8204-6829-7}}.</ref><ref>Elisabeth Eide & Kaarina Nikunen: Media in Motion: Cultural Complexity and Migration in the Nordic Region (Research in Migration and Ethnic Relations). Routledge, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-4094-0446-0}}.</ref> there are also internationally known drama series, such as ''{{ill|Syke (TV series)|fi|Syke (televisiosarja)|lt=Syke}}'' and ''[[Bordertown (Finnish TV series)|Bordertown]]''.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9433336 YLE: Syke, Sorjonen ja Suomi Love myyvät maailmalla, mutta Presidentti ei maistunut kriitikoille] (in Finnish)</ref> One of Finland's most internationally successful TV shows are the backpacking travel documentary series ''[[Madventures (Finnish TV program)|Madventures]]'' and the reality TV show ''[[The Dudesons]]''.
=== Media and communications ===
{{See also|Telecommunications in Finland|List of newspapers in Finland}}
[[File:Linus Torvalds.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Linus Torvalds]], the Finnish [[Software engineering|software engineer]] best known for creating the popular [[Open-source software|open-source]] [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] [[Linux]]]]
<!--Press freedom does not necessarily require wealth: Due to Finland's being one of the world's wealthiest countries and-->Thanks to its emphasis on transparency and equal rights, Finland's press has been rated the freest in the world.<ref>[http://www.newseum.org/news/2011/05/world-press-freedom.html 2010 Freedom of the Press Survey] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105114819/http://newseum.org/news/2011/05/world-press-freedom.html |date=5 November 2011}} (retrieved 4 May 2011).</ref>
Today, there are around 200 newspapers, 320 popular magazines, 2,100 professional magazines, 67 commercial radio stations, three [[digital radio]] channels and one nationwide and five national [[Public broadcasting|public service radio channels]].
Each year, around 12,000 book titles are published and 12 million records are sold.<ref name="Media moves" />
[[Sanoma]] publishes the newspapers ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' (its circulation of 412,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Circulation Statistics |url=http://www.levikintarkastus.fi/english/statistics.php |publisher=The Finnish Audit Bureau of Circulations (Levikintarkastus Oy) |access-date=25 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601160935/http://www.levikintarkastus.fi/english/statistics.php |archive-date=1 June 2009 }}</ref> making it the largest) and ''[[Aamulehti]]'', the [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'', the commerce-oriented ''[[Taloussanomat]]'' and the television channel [[Nelonen]]. The other major publisher [[Alma Media]] publishes over thirty magazines, including the tabloid ''[[Iltalehti]]'' and commerce-oriented ''[[Kauppalehti]]''. Worldwide, Finns, along with other Nordic peoples and the Japanese, spend the most time reading newspapers.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Press Trends: Newspapers Still Reach More Than Internet |url=http://www.wan-ifra.org/press-releases/2011/10/12/world-press-trends-newspapers-still-reach-more-than-internet |publisher=World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-date=23 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123093454/http://www.wan-ifra.org/press-releases/2011/10/12/world-press-trends-newspapers-still-reach-more-than-internet |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Yle]], the Finnish Broadcasting Company, operates five television channels and thirteen radio channels in both national languages. Yle is funded through a mandatory television license and fees for private broadcasters. All TV channels are broadcast [[Digital television|digitally]], both terrestrially and on cable. The commercial television channel [[MTV3]] and commercial radio channel [[Radio Nova (Finland)|Radio Nova]] are owned by [[Nordic Broadcasting]] ([[Bonnier Group|Bonnier]] and [[Proventus]]).
In regards to telecommunication infrastructure, Finland is the highest ranked country in the World Economic Forum's [[Network Readiness Index]] (NRI) – an indicator for determining the development level of a country's information and communication technologies. Finland ranked 1st overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, unchanged from the year before.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GITR/2014/GITR_OverallRanking_2014.pdf |title=NRI Overall Ranking 2014 |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=28 June 2014}}</ref> This is shown in its penetration throughout the country's population. Around 79% of the population use the Internet (2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/til/sutivi/2007/sutivi_2007_2007-09-28_tie_001_en.html |title=Internet used by 79 per cent of the population at the beginning of 2007|work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 December 2007}}</ref> Finland had around 1.52 million broadband Internet connections by the end of June 2007 or around 287 per 1,000 inhabitants.<ref name="FICORA">{{cite web |url=http://www.ficora.fi/attachments/englanti/5ruZDB5VP/Files/CurrentFile/Market_review_2_2007.pdf |title=Market Review 2/2007 |work=Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) |date=31 August 2007 |access-date=4 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925220234/http://www.ficora.fi/attachments/englanti/5ruZDB5VP/Files/CurrentFile/Market_review_2_2007.pdf |archive-date=25 September 2007 }}</ref> All Finnish schools and public libraries have Internet connections and computers and most residents have a mobile phone.<ref>[http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/ajk/tiedotteet/v2006/tiedote_017_2006-09-05_en.html Information technology has become part of Finns' everyday life] (Statistics Finland).</ref>
=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Finnish cuisine}}
[[File:Karjalanpiirakka-20060227.jpg|thumb|[[Karjalanpiirakat|Karelian pasty]] (''karjalanpiirakka'') is a traditional Finnish dish made from a thin rye crust with a filling of rice. Butter, often mixed with boiled egg (eggbutter or munavoi), is spread over the hot pastries before eating.]]
Finnish cuisine is notable for generally combining traditional country fare and ''[[haute cuisine]]'' with contemporary style cooking. [[Fish (food)|Fish]] and meat play a prominent role in traditional Finnish dishes from the western part of the country, while the dishes from the eastern part have traditionally included various vegetables and [[Edible mushroom|mushrooms]]. Refugees from Karelia contributed to foods in eastern Finland. Many regions have strongly branded traditional delicacies, such as [[Tampere]] has ''[[mustamakkara]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/eat-and-drink/4311-the-black-sausage-is-the-pride-of-tampere|title=The black sausage is the pride of Tampere|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> and [[Kuopio]] has ''[[kalakukko]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/top-10-finnish-pastries-try/|title=Top 10 Finnish Pastries You Have to Try|first=Jessica|last=Wood|website=Culture Trip}}</ref>
Finnish foods often use [[wholemeal]] products ([[rye]], [[barley]], [[oat]]s) and berries (such as [[bilberry|bilberries]], [[lingonberry|lingonberries]], [[cloudberry|cloudberries]], and [[sea buckthorn]]). Milk and its derivatives like [[buttermilk]] are commonly used as food, drink, or in various recipes. Various [[turnip]]s were common in traditional cooking, but were replaced with the potato after its introduction in the 18th century.
According to the statistics, red meat consumption has risen, but still Finns eat less beef than many other nations, and more fish and poultry. This is mainly because of the high cost of meat in Finland.
Finland has the world's highest per capita consumption of [[coffee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fusiontables.google.com/DataSource?docid=1C-fn6nSe21acP0xJIO1T1x0wohqfMYCQyJjbqdk#rows:id=1|title=Google Fusion Tables|website=fusiontables.google.com}}</ref> Milk consumption is also high, at an average of about {{convert|112|litre}}, per person, per year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luke.fi/en/news/what-was-eaten-in-finland-in-2017|title=What was eaten in Finland in 2017|website=Luonnonvarakeskus}}</ref> even though 17% of the Finns are [[lactose intolerant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/5-odd-facts-finland/|title=Odd Facts about Finland|website=edunation.co|date=19 September 2017|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-date=17 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117153004/https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/5-odd-facts-finland/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Public holidays ===
{{Main|Public holidays in Finland|Flag flying days in Finland}}
There are several holidays in Finland, of which perhaps the most characteristic of Finnish culture include Christmas (''joulu''), Midsummer (''juhannus''), [[Vappu|May Day]] (''vappu'') and [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]] (''itsenäisyyspäivä''). Of these, Christmas and Midsummer are special in Finland because the actual festivities take place on eves, such as [[Christmas Eve]] (''jouluaatto'')<ref>''Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2010 to Mabon 2011'' p.64. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2010</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5JF_kT43LjcC&pg=PA202&dq=Jultomten&hl=en&ei=X5ITTePQONO2hAezpOy3Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Jultomten&f=false Festivals of Western Europe] p.202. Forgotten Books, 1973</ref> and [[Juhannus|Midsummer's Eve]] (''juhannusaatto''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/kokko.htm |title=Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura: Juhannuskokko |publisher=Finlit.fi |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031052/http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/kokko.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/koriste.htm |title=Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura: Koivunoksia ja maitoruokia |publisher=Finlit.fi |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031056/http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/koriste.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref> while Christmas Day (''joulupäivä'') and Midsummer's Day (''juhannuspäivä'') are more consecrated to rest. Other public holidays in Finland are [[New Year's Day]] (''uudenvuodenpäivä''), [[Epiphany (holiday)#Finland|Epiphany]] (''loppiainen''), [[Good Friday]] (''pitkäperjantai''), [[Easter Sunday]] (''pääsiäissunnuntai'') and [[Easter Monday]] (''pääsiäismaanantai''), [[Ascension Day]] (''helatorstai''), [[All Saints' Day]] (''pyhäinpäivä'') and [[Saint Stephen's Day#Finland|Saint Stephen's Day]] (''tapaninpäivä''). All official holidays in Finland are established by Acts of Parliament. On the other hand, ''[[laskiainen]]'' that is strongly part of the Finnish tradition is not defined as a public holiday in relation to the above-mentioned holidays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/a5ada22b-379b-4b8b-83ca-51bf6f97213c|title=Tänään on vietetty laskiaista – mutta tiedätkö, mistä päivässä on oikein kyse?|first=Samppa|last=Rautio|work=Iltalehti|date=5 March 2019|access-date=26 November 2020|language=fi}}</ref>
=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Finland}}
[[File:Finlandhockeybronze2010WinterOlympics.jpg|thumb|Finland's [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|men's national ice hockey team]] is [[IIHF World Ranking|ranked]] as one of the best in the world. The team has won three world championship titles (in 1995, 2011 and 2019) and six Olympic medals.]]
[[File:Rally Finland 2010 - EK 1 - Juha Kankkunen.jpg|thumb|right|[[Juha Kankkunen|Kankkunen]] on the Laajavuori stage of the [[2010 Rally Finland]]]]
Various sporting events are popular in Finland. [[Pesäpallo]], resembling baseball, is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular sport in terms of spectators is [[ice hockey]]. The [[2016 IIHF World Championship|Ice Hockey World Championships 2016]] final, Finland-Canada, was watched by 69% of Finnish people on TV.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://mtv.fi/sport/mm2016/uutiset/artikkeli/leijonien-mm-finaalista-kaikkien-aikojen-katsotuin-jaakiekko-ottelu-suomessa/5908282 |title = Leijonien MM-finaalista historian katsotuin jääkiekko-ottelu Suomessa!| work = mtv.fi| date = 23 May 2016| access-date = 23 May 2016}}</ref> Other popular sports include [[Track and field|athletics]], [[cross-country skiing]], [[ski jumping]], [[association football|football]], [[volleyball]] and [[basketball]].<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/a1393470059062 Valta vaihtui urheilussa: Suomalaiset arvostavat nyt enemmän futista kuin jääkiekkoa |Jalkapallo |HS]. Hs.fi (27 February 2014). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> While ice hockey is the most popular sport when it comes to attendance at games, [[association football]] is the most played team sport in terms of the number of players in the country and is also the most appreciated sport in Finland.<ref>[http://yle.fi/urheilu/jalkapallo_nousi_arvostetuimmaksi_urheilulajiksi/7113110 Jalkapallo nousi arvostetuimmaksi urheilulajiksi |Yle Urheilu]. yle.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>{{in lang|fi}} [http://www.lansivayla.fi/artikkeli/369185-jalkapallolla-eniten-harrastajia-se-lyo-latkan-hiihto-on-alamaessa Jalkapallolla eniten harrastajia – se lyö lätkän, hiihto on alamäessä |Länsiväylä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826183108/https://www.lansivayla.fi/artikkeli/369185-jalkapallolla-eniten-harrastajia-se-lyo-latkan-hiihto-on-alamaessa |date=26 August 2018 }}. Lansivayla.fi (28 February 2016). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In terms of medals and gold medals won per capita, Finland is the best performing country in Olympic history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medalspercapita.com/#medals-per-capita:all-time|title=Olympic Medals per Capita|website=medalspercapita.com}}</ref> Finland first participated as a nation in its own right at the [[Olympic Games]] in 1908, while still an autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] within the [[Russian Empire]]. At the [[1912 Summer Olympics]], great pride was taken in the three gold medals won by the original "[[Flying Finn]]" [[Hannes Kolehmainen]].
Finland was one of the most successful countries at the Olympic Games before [[World War II]]. At the [[1924 Summer Olympics]], Finland, a nation then of only 3.2 million people, came second in the medal count. In the 1920s and '30s, Finnish long-distance runners dominated the Olympics, with [[Paavo Nurmi]] winning a total of nine Olympic gold medals between 1920 and 1928 and setting 22 official world records between 1921 and 1931. Nurmi is often considered the greatest Finnish sportsman and one of the greatest athletes of all time.
For over 100 years, Finnish male and female athletes have consistently excelled at the [[javelin throw]]. The event has brought Finland nine Olympic gold medals, five world championships, five European championships, and 24 world records.
The [[1952 Summer Olympics]] were held in Helsinki. Other notable sporting events held in Finland include the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983]] and [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]].
Finland also has a notable history in [[figure skating]]. Finnish skaters have won 8 world championships and 13 junior world cups in synchronized skating, and Finland is considered one of the best countries at the sport.
Some of the most popular recreational sports and activities include [[floorball]], [[Nordic walking]], running, cycling, and skiing ([[alpine skiing]], [[cross-country skiing]], and [[ski jumping]]).
Floorball, in terms of registered players, occupies third place after football and ice hockey. According to the Finnish Floorball Federation, floorball is the most popular school, youth, club and workplace sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expat-finland.com/events/finnish_sports.html|title=Finnish Sports: Try the sports Finns love!|first=Stuart Allt Web Design, Turku|last=Finland|website=expat-finland.com}}</ref> {{as of|2016}}, the total number of licensed players reaches 57,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floorball.org/pages/EN/Finland|title=IFF|last=IFF|website=floorball.org}}</ref>
Especially since the [[2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup]], [[Finland national basketball team|Finland's national basketball team]] has received widespread public attention. More than 8,000 Finns travelled to Spain to support their team. Overall, they chartered more than 40 airplanes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014/news/Fan-power-Finn-power-The-tournament--begins--on-win |title= Fan power! Finn power! The tournament "begins" on a winning note for Dettman's team |author=FIBA |date=31 August 2014 |publisher=FIBA.com |access-date=2 November 2014}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal |Finland|Arctic}}
<!--{{Wikipedia books|Finland}}-->
* [[Bibliography of Finland]]
* [[List of Finland-related topics]]
* [[Outline of Finland]]
{{Clear}}
== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Chew, Allen F. ''The White Death: The Epic of the Soviet-Finnish Winter War'' ({{ISBN|0-87013-167-2}}).
* Engle, Eloise and Paananen, Pauri. ''The Winter War: The Soviet Attack on Finland 1939–1940'' ({{ISBN|0-8117-2433-6}}).
* ''Insight Guide: Finland'' ({{ISBN|981-4120-39-1}}).
* [[Max Jakobson|Jakobson, Max]]. ''Finland in the New Europe'' ({{ISBN|0-275-96372-1}}).
* Jutikkala, Eino; Pirinen, Kauko. ''A History of Finland'' ({{ISBN|0-88029-260-1}}).
* [[Matti Klinge|Klinge, Matti]]. ''Let Us Be Finns: Essays on History'' ({{ISBN|951-1-11180-9}}).
* Lavery, Jason. ''The History of Finland'', Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations, Greenwood Press, 2006 ({{ISBN|0-313-32837-4}}, {{ISSN|1096-2905}}).
* Lewis, Richard D. ''Finland: Cultural Lone Wolf'' ({{ISBN|1-931930-18-X}}).
* ''[[Lonely Planet]]: Finland'' ({{ISBN|1-74059-791-5}})
* Mann, Chris. ''Hitler's Arctic War: The German Campaigns in Norway, Finland, and the USSR 1940–1945'' ({{ISBN|0-312-31100-1}}).
* Rusama, Jaakko. ''Ecumenical Growth in Finland'' ({{ISBN|951-693-239-8}}).
* Singleton, Fred. ''A Short History of Finland'' ({{ISBN|0-521-64701-0}}).
* [[Jean-Jacques Subrenat|Subrenat, Jean-Jacques]]. ''Listen, there's music from the forest; a brief presentation of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival'' ({{ISBN|952-92-0564-3}}).
* Swallow, Deborah. ''Culture Shock! Finland: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette'' ({{ISBN|1-55868-592-8}}).
* [[William R. Trotter|Trotter, William R.]] ''A Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939–1940'' ({{ISBN|1-56512-249-6}}).
{{refend}}
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Finland|voy=Finland}}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/ Finland]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* {{curlie|Regional/Europe/Finland}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17288360 Finland profile] from the [[BBC News]]
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=FI Key Development Forecasts for Finland] from [[International Futures]]
* [http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2010/vaerak_2010_2011-03-18_kuv_001_en.html Population in Finland 1750–2010]
* [http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2011/vaerak_2011_2012-03-16_kuv_002_en.html Appendix figure 2. The largest groups by native language 2001 and 2011] (Statistics Finland)
* [http://findikaattori.fi/en Official statistical information about Finland] from [[Findicator]].
'''Government'''
* [http://finland.fi/ This is Finland], the official English-language online portal (administered by the Finnish [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080703233731/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/finland.htm Finland] ([[University of Colorado Boulder]] Libraries Government Publications)
'''Maps'''
* {{osmrelation-inline|54224}}
* {{wikiatlas|Finland}}
'''Travel'''
* [http://www.visitfinland.com/ Official Travel Site of Finland]
{{Finland topics}}
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[[Category:Countries in Europe]]
[[Category:Christian states]]
[[File:Yourworldoftext.png|thumb|Your World of Text during the second soyjak.party raid.]]
'''Your World of Text''' is a website that allows anyone to type whatever they want on an infinitely large canvas. A favourite target for [[soyjak.party]] raids due to the ease of editing and lack of [[janny|jannies]] or any ban system whatsoever.
Normally you can't paste text on YWOT, type <pre>Permissions.can_paste = function() {return true;};</pre> into your browser's console to enable pasting, or use Your Hacked World of Text (linked below).
==Raids==
The first soyjak raid on ''Your World of Text'' occured on June 7, 2021. It was fairly minor and was quickly forgotten due to the original thread being lost to the [[Captain Coal]] incident. The second raid began on June 10, 2021 and is still ongoing. Massive amounts of [[ASCIIjak]]s and [[Sneed]] spam could be found across the canvas, invoking the rage of several Brazillians using the site, however these were mostly erased in the early morning of June 13. A rebuilding effort is ongoing, with skirmishes between soyjak.party raiders, a Trollface spammer, and a [[Steve Ballmer|Ballmerposter]] being documented.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:YWOTJune12.png|The second raid (June 12)
File:YWOTSkirmishes.png|Skirmishes during the rebuilding effort of June 13
</gallery>
==Related articles==
*[[ASCIIjak]]
==External links==
*[https://www.yourworldoftext.com Your World of Text]
*[https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/408047-yhwot-yourhackedworldoftext Your Hacked World of Text] - Greasemonkey script that enables pasting and teleporting to specific coordinates.
*[https://www.coolgenerator.com/ascii-text-generator ASCII Text Generator]
*[https://cloudapps.herokuapp.com/imagetoascii/ Image to ASCII Art Converter]
[[Category:Websites]]
{{subst::You will hang, pedophile}}
{{hatnote|This article is about [[live action]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television programs. [[Comedy-drama]]s ("dramedy") are also included in [[List of comedy television series with LGBT characters]]. For [[animated cartoon|animated]] series, see [[List of animated series with LGBTQ+ characters]].}}
{{For|live action characters listed by orientation|List of lesbian characters in television|List of gay characters in television|List of bisexual characters in television|List of transgender characters in television}}
{{For2|the list of 1960s–2000s series|[[List of dramatic television series with LGBT characters: 1960s–2000s]]|the list of 2020s series|[[List of dramatic television series with LGBT characters: 2020s]]}}
{{Short description|Wikipedia list article}}
{{very long|date=March 2021}}
{{dynamic list}}
{{sp}}
<!--This article was split from *List of dramatic television series with LGBT characters* on 20 September 2019. It is the second in a series of related lists that began with 1970s–2000s.-->
This is a list of '''[[dramatic television series]]''' (including [[web television]] and [[miniseries]]) that premiered in the '''2010s''' which feature '''[[lesbian]], [[Gay men|gay]], [[bisexual]], and [[transgender]] [[Character (arts)|characters]]'''. [[Non-binary]], [[Pansexuality|pansexual]], [[Asexuality|asexual]], and [[Gray asexuality|graysexual]] characters are also included. The orientation can be portrayed on-screen, described in the [[dialogue]] or mentioned.
==2010==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|2010–2013 || ''{{sortname|The|Big C|The Big C (TV series)}}'' || [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] || Lee || [[Hugh Dancy]] || Lee is gay and has stage IV cancer, which he eventually succumbs to.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hartinger |first1=Brent |title=You Should TOTALLY be Watching the Hugh Dancy Storyline on "The Big C" Right Now! |url=http://www.newnownext.com/you-should-totally-be-watching-the-hugh-dancy-storyline-on-the-big-c-right-now/08/2011/ |website=[[NewNowNext]] |date=August 8, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2010–2014 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[HBO]] || Angela Darmody || [[Aleksa Palladino]] || Angela is bisexual, a housewife and mother, who falls in love with Louise.<ref name="Boardwalk EmpireLezWatch">{{cite web |title=Boardwalk Empire |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/boardwalk-empire/}}</ref>
|-
| Mary Dittrich || Lisa Joyce || Mary is bisexual, and a photographer's assistant to her husband.<ref name="Boardwalk EmpireLezWatch"/>
|-
| Louise Bryant || Kristen Sieh ||Louise is a lesbian, and a [[Bohemianism|bohemian]] from San Francisco. She is killed by a mobster.<ref name="Boardwalk EmpireLezWatch"/>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2010–2013 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Dance Academy]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[ABC1]]<br/>[[ABC3]] || Sammy Lieberman || [[Tom Green (Australian actor)|Tom Green]] || Sammy is a student at the fictional National Academy of Dance. Sammy is in a relationship with Ollie, until his death.<ref name="Flash star Keiynan Lonsdale">{{cite web |last1=Besanvalle |first1=James |title=Flash star Keiynan Lonsdale comes out in beautiful Instagram post |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/flash-star-keiynan-lonsdale-comes-bisexual-beautiful-instagram-post/ |website=Gay Star News |date=13 May 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Ollie Lloyd || [[Keiynan Lonsdale]] || Ollie is in a relationship with Sammy until he dies, and then he dates Rhys O'Leary.<ref name="Flash star Keiynan Lonsdale"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Tiffany |title=Reluctant heart-throb |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/art/reluctant-heart-throb-ng-ya-273222 |website=The West Australian |date=3 July 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Christian Reed || [[Jordan Rodrigues]] || Christian is Sammy's roommate, they share a kiss in season one.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knox |first1=David |title=A kiss is just a kiss, even in teen TV. {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2010/08/a-kiss-is-just-a-kiss-even-in-teen-tv.html |website=TV Tonight |date=August 21, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| Rhys O'Leary || Richard Brancatisano || Rhys dates Ollie, after Sammy dies.<ref name="Flash star Keiynan Lonsdale"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2010–2015 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Downton Abbey]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]]<br/>[[PBS]] || Thomas Barrow || [[Rob James-Collier]] || Thomas is gay. He is a [[footman]] in the aristocratic Crawley household and hides his sexuality due to the criminality of the time period. He also appears in the [[Downton Abbey (film)|movie]] adaption.<ref name="Downton Abbey">{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Hugh |title=Downton Abbey's Thomas Barrow and the Future of the Gay Past |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a28984957/downton-abbey-thomas-barrow-gay-sexuality-1920s-history-accuracy/ |website=Town & Country |date=16 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Duke of Crowborough || [[Charlie Cox]] || The Duke of Crowborough is Lady Mary's suitor and Thomas's lover in the opening of the show.<ref name="Downton Abbey"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2010–2011 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Gigantic (TV series)|Gigantic]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[TeenNick]] || Ryan Katins || [[Greg Ellis (actor)|Greg Ellis]] || Ryan is gay and the adoptive father of lead characters Piper and Finn. An action movie superstar, his children find him in bed with his boyfriend Charlie in the episode "Carpe Diem".<ref name="gigantic tv show">{{cite web |last1=Hartinger |first1=Brent |title="Gigantic" Brings Gay Diversity to "Tween" Television with a Gay Dad |url=http://www.newnownext.com/gigantic-brings-gay-diversity-to-tween-television-with-a-gay-dad/03/2011/ |website=NewNowNext |date=March 22, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| Charlie Maddock || Don O. Knowlton || Charlie is gay and Ryan's boyfriend.<ref name="gigantic tv show"/>
|-
|2010–2011 || ''[[Hellcats]]'' || {{sortname|The|CW|The CW Television Network}} || Darwin || Jeremy Wong || Darwin is a gay cheerleader.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Michael |title=Best. Gay. Week. Ever! Who Wants to Be a Baby Daddy? |url=http://www.newnownext.com/best-gay-week-ever-who-wants-to-be-a-baby-daddy/01/2011/2/ |website=NewNowNext |date=January 21, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|2010–2011 || ''[[Law & Order: LA]]'' || [[NBC]] || Lt. Arleen Gonzales || [[Rachel Ticotin]] || Arleen is a lesbian. In the episode "El Sereno", Gonzales is accused of racial bigotry in a murder investigation. At trial she comes out, testifying that the bigotry she has faced for being gay has led her to overcome her own bigotry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arleen Gonzales, Law & Order: LA |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/arleen-gonzales-law-order-la/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="10"|2010–2012 || rowspan="10"|''[[Lip Service (TV series)|Lip Service]]'' ||rowspan="10"| [[BBC Three]] || Cat McKenzie || [[Laura Fraser]] || Cat is a lesbian, and an architect whose girlfriend is a police officer.<ref name="Lip Service LezWatch.TV">{{cite web |title=Lip Service |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/lip-service/}}</ref>
|-
| Frankie Alan || [[Ruta Gedmintas]] || Frankie is bisexual.<ref name="Lip Service LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Tess Roberts || [[Fiona Button]] || Tess is a lesbian. She is Cat's roommate and a struggling actor.<ref name="Lip Service LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Sgt Sam Murray || [[Heather Peace]] || Sam is a lesbian police officer, and Cat's girlfriend.<ref name="Lip Service LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Sadie Anderson || [[Natasha O'Keeffe]] || Sadie is a lesbian, and a borderline criminal.<ref name="Couch Potato Lip Service">{{cite web |last1=Pitts |first1=Gavin |title=Couch Potato - Lip Service |url=https://www.outinperth.com/couch-potato-lip-service/ |website=OUT In Perth |date=7 September 2011}}</ref>
|-
| Lexy Price || [[Anna Skellern]] || Lexy is lesbian, and a Doctor. In season 2 she has a crush on Sam.<ref name="Lip Service LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Declan Love || [[Adam Sinclair (actor)|Adam Sinclair]] || Declan is gay and Lexy's best friend.<ref name="Lip ServiceBBC">{{cite web |title=Lip Service |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/lipservice/ |website=BBC}}</ref>
|-
| Lou Foster || [[Roxanne McKee]] || Lou is a closeted bisexual, who has a secret relationship with Tess.<ref name="Couch Potato Lip Service"/>
|-
| Lauren || [[Neve McIntosh]] || Lauren is lesbian, and an editor at a Scottish arts, culture and fashion magazine. Her partner is Jo.<ref name="Lauren played by Neve McIntosh"/>
|-
| Jo || [[Valerie Edmond]] || Jo is a lesbian art dealer, and Lauren's long-term partner.<ref name="Lauren played by Neve McIntosh">{{cite web |title=Lauren played by Neve McIntosh |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/lipservice/lauren/ |website=BBC}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="9"|2010–2015 || rowspan="9"|''[[Lost Girl]]'' ||rowspan="9"| [[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase]] || [[Bo (Lost Girl)|Bo Dennis]] ||[[Anna Silk]] || Bo is a bisexual [[succubus]], meaning she can and often does drain the life force of others through intimate contact.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stinson|first1=Scott|title=Stinson: The not-so-bizarre love triangle in Lost Girl|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/television/stinson-the-not-so-bizarre-love-triangle-in-lost-girl|work=[[National Post]]|date=November 7, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150405045213/http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/television/stinson-the-not-so-bizarre-love-triangle-in-lost-girl|archive-date=5 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="Lost Girl LezWatch.TV">{{cite web |title=Lost Girl |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/lost-girl/}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Lost Girl characters|Lauren Lewis]] || [[Zoie Palmer]] || Lauren is lesbian, and a Doctor to the Fae.<ref name="Lost Girl LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Evony Fleurette Marquise || [[Emmanuelle Vaugier]] || Evony (aka The Morrigain), is bisexual and queen of the dark Fae. She lost her powers after oral sex with Lauren.<ref name="Lost Girl LezWatch.TV"/><ref name="The Unicorn Scale Lost Girl"/>
|-
| [[List of Lost Girl characters|Vex]] || [[Paul Amos]] || Vex is bisexual, and ends up with Mark in the final episodes of the series.<ref name="The Unicorn Scale Lost Girl"/>
|-
| Nadia || [[Athena Karkanis]] || Nadia is lesbian, and Lauren's girlfriend.<ref name="Lost Girl LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| [[List of Lost Girl characters|Tamsin]] || [[Rachel Skarsten]] || Tamsin is a bisexual Valkyrie who works as a bounty hunter and mercenary for the Dark Fae.<ref name="Lost Girl LezWatch.TV"/><ref name="The Unicorn Scale Lost Girl"/>
|-
| Crystal || [[Ali Liebert]] || Crystal is a lesbian waitress.<ref name="Lost Girl LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Mark || [[Luke Bilyk]] || Mark is bisexual, and ends up with Vex.<ref name="The Unicorn Scale Lost Girl">{{cite web |last1=Swartz |first1=SB |title=The Unicorn Scale: Lost Girl |url=https://bi.org/en/articles/the-unicorn-scale-lost-girl |website=Bi.org |date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Dagny || Olivia Scriven || Dagny is pansexual and Tamsin's daughter.<ref name="Lost Girl LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
|2010–2019 || ''[[Luther (TV series)|Luther]]'' || [[BBC]] || Emma Lane || [[Rose Leslie]] || Emma is lesbian and Luther's new partner (season four).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hogan|first1=Michael|title=Luther Season 4: What You Need To Know|url=https://uk.askmen.com/top_10/celebrity/luther-season-4-what-you-need-to-know/ |website=Askmen|date=14 December 2015|access-date=13 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2010 || ''[[Outlaw (TV series)|Outlaw]]'' || [[NBC]] || Lucinda Pearl || [[Carly Pope]] || Lucinda is bisexual and a private investigator.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lucinda Pearl |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lucinda-pearl/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2010–2015 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Parenthood (2010 TV series)|Parenthood]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[NBC]] || Haddie Braverman || [[Sarah Ramos]] || Haddie is bisexual, and dates a few boys before figuring out she is into girls. She eventually begins dating Lauren.<ref>{{cite web |title=Haddie Braverman |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/haddie-braverman/}}</ref>
|-
| Lauren || Tavi Gevinson || Lauren is lesbian, and Haddie's girlfriend from college.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lauren |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lauren/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="12"|2010–2017 ||rowspan="12"| ''[[Pretty Little Liars (TV series)|Pretty Little Liars]]'' ||rowspan="12"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || [[Emily Fields]] || [[Shay Mitchell]] || Emily realizes that she is a lesbian in Season 1 when she begins a romance with Maya and comes out to her father. She later marries Alison.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
| [[List of Pretty Little Liars characters#Maya St. Germain#|Maya St. Germain]] || [[Bianca Lawson]] || Maya is lesbian, and Emily's first girlfriend.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rauscher |first1=Melody |title=Queer Representation in Pretty Little Liars |url=https://geeks.media/queer-representation-in-pretty-little-liars-spoilers |website=Geeks |date=October 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Paige McCullers || [[Lindsey Shaw]] || Paige is lesbian, and on the high school's swim team. She dates Emily for a while.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
| Samara Cook || [[Claire Holt]] || Samara is a lesbian. She and Emily dated, but Samara did not want to be exclusive.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
| Alison DiLaurentis || [[Sasha Pieterse]] || Alison is bisexual, and manipulative, secretive, and vindictive. She ends up marrying Emily and they had twins.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez">{{cite web |title=Pretty Little Liars |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/pretty-little-liars/}}</ref>
|-
| Shana Fring || [[Aeriél Miranda]] || Shana is a lesbian, and works at a Halloween themed store. She dated Jenna and briefly dated Paige. She died after falling off a stage from being hit in the head with a gun.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
| Talia Sandoval || [[Miranda Rae Mayo]] || Talia is lesbian, and she dated Emily for a while.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
| Jenna Marshall || [[Tammin Sursok]] || Jenna is bisexual. She dated Shana for a while, but also forced herself on her step-brother.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
| Charlotte DiLaurentis || [[Vanessa Ray]] || Charlotte is a trans woman, who is murdered after her reveal.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/><ref>{{cite web|title = Behind That Controversial "Pretty Little Liars" Transgender Reveal|url = https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/pretty-little-liars-boss-defends-controversial-transgender-r#.bdjDJrWzx|website = BuzzFeed|access-date = 2015-12-09}}</ref>
|-
| Sabrina || Lulu Brud || Sabrina is a lesbian, and manager of a coffee shop, who also had cancer.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
| Sara Harvey || Dre Davis || Sara is bisexual, and is found dead in a hotel bathtub.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
| Rachel || Amelia Leigh Harris || Rachel is lesbian, and Sabrina's girlfriend.<ref name="Pretty Little Liars Lez"/>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2010–2015 ||rowspan="7"| ''[[Rookie Blue]]'' ||rowspan="7"| [[Global Television Network|Global]] || Gail Peck || [[Charlotte Sullivan]] || Gail is lesbian. Although she has a history with men in the first three seasons, in season 4 she comes out to herself after she meets forensic pathologist Holly Stewart.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Costa|first1=Daniela|title="Rookie Blue" showrunner Tassie Cameron talks Gail Peck, Season 5 storylines and lesbians in the writers' room|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/434875-rookie-blue-showrunner-tassie-cameron-talks-gail-peck-season-5-storylines-lesbians-writers-room|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607043309/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/434875-rookie-blue-showrunner-tassie-cameron-talks-gail-peck-season-5-storylines-lesbians-writers-room|archive-date=June 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Costa|first1=Daniela|title="Rookie Blue" star Charlotte Sullivan talks playing gay cop Gail Peck|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/444461-rookie-blue-star-charlotte-sullivan-talks-playing-gay-cop-gail-peck|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=July 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727061427/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/444461-rookie-blue-star-charlotte-sullivan-talks-playing-gay-cop-gail-peck|archive-date=July 27, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Erin Faith|title=Lesbian TV writer Noelle Carbone on writing for gay cop Gail Peck on "Rookie Blue"|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/450065-lesbian-tv-writer-noelle-carbon-writing-gay-cop-gail-peck-rookie-blue|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=August 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829051639/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/450065-lesbian-tv-writer-noelle-carbon-writing-gay-cop-gail-peck-rookie-blue|archive-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Holly Stewart || [[Aliyah O'Brien]] || Holly is lesbian. She is a forensic pathologist from Toronto who ran off to San Francisco. She dates Gail Peck.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Staff|title=Rookie Blue's Aliyah O'Brien on Holly and Gail|url=https://www.globaltv.com/rookieblue/latest/rookie-blues-aliyah-obrien-on-holly-and-gail/|website=[[Global Television Network|Global]]|date=July 9, 2014|access-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030135/https://www.globaltv.com/rookieblue/latest/rookie-blues-aliyah-obrien-on-holly-and-gail/|archive-date=February 17, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| Frankie Anderson || [[Katharine Isabelle]] || Frankie is lesbian. After Holly leaves for San Francisco, Frankie begins dating Gail.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Anne|first1=Valerie|title="Rookie Blue" recap (6.11): Over and out|url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/451757-rookie-blue-recap-6-11/2|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=September 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911011636/http://www.afterellen.com/tv/451757-rookie-blue-recap-6-11/2|archive-date=September 11, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Alex || Katy Grabstas || Alex is a trans man. He gets kicked out of his house for being transgender, and gets beat up by his girlfriend's brother, and tries to kill himself.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/alex-rookie-blue/}}</ref>
|-
| Tabby Barnes || Tulsi Balram || Tabby is a trans woman. After she is arrested, she has to be searched. Since her drivers license says male, she is forced to be searched by a male officer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tabby Barnes |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/tabby-barnes/}}</ref>
|-
| Jen Luck || Alexandra Ordolis || Jen is a lesbian police officer. She hits on Gail like a teenaged boy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jen Luck |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/jen-luck/}}</ref>
|-
| Lisa || Lara Gilchrist || Lisa is a lesbian, and one of Holly's best friends since medical school.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lisa |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lisa-rookie-blue/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2010 || rowspan="3"|''[[Rubicon (TV series)|Rubicon]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] || Kale Ingram || [[Arliss Howard]] || Kale is gay, and a director at an intelligence agency. His partner is Walter Carrington.<ref name="2011 network responsibility"/><ref name="Spying a Gay Character">{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Michael |title=Spying a Gay Character on AMC’s "Rubicon" |url=http://www.newnownext.com/spying-a-gay-character-on-amcs-rubicon/08/2010/ |website=NewNowNext |date=August 30, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| Walter Carrington || Jon Patrick Walker || Walter is gay and Kale's partner.<ref name="2011 network responsibility"/><ref name="Spying a Gay Character"/>
|-
| Donald Bloom || Michael Gaston || Donald is an ex-lover and colleague of Kale Ingram.<ref name="2011 network responsibility">{{cite web |title=2011 network responsibility index |url=https://www.glaad.org/files/glaad_nri_2011_updated.pdf |website=GLAAD |page=20}}</ref><ref name="Spying a Gay Character"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2010–2017 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[BBC One]] || Irene Adler || [[Lara Pulver]] || Irene is bisexual. She identifies as a lesbian but becomes attracted to Sherlock.<ref>{{cite web |title=Irene Adler |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/irene-adler/}}</ref>
|-
| Jim Moriarty || [[Andrew Scott (actor)|Andrew Scott]] ||Jim is gay and Sherlock's arch enemy.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Simpson |first1=Jayne M. |title=3 Halves of a Whole: Homosexuality and Self-Acceptance in BBC’s Sherlock |journal=Undergraduate Research Journal |date=2016 |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=24 |publisher=[[University of Colorado Colorado Springs]] |issn=2693-3918|oclc=1182591537}}</ref>
|-
| Eurus Holmes || Sian Brooke || Eurus is pansexual, and Sherlock's lost sister that has been locked up in an institution since a young age. She is smarter than her brothers, and incredibly manipulative.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurus Holmes |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/eurus-holmes/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="11"|2010–2013 ||rowspan="11"| ''[[Spartacus (TV series)|Spartacus]]'' ||rowspan="11"| [[Starz (TV channel)|Starz]] || Barca || [[Antonio Te Maioha]] || Barca is gay, and Batiatus's bodyguard and sometimes hit man.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Michael |title=Exclusive: Meet "Spartacus: Blood and Sand"'s Intriguing New "Gay" Character |url=http://www.newnownext.com/exclusive-meet-spartacus-blood-and-sands-intriguing-new-gay-character/01/2010/ |website=NewNowNext |date=January 4, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| Pietros || [[Eka Darville]] || Pietros is gay, and Barcas' lover.<ref name="Gods of the Arena">{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Michael |title=Breaking! "Spartacus"'s Gay Gladiator Will Have a Love Interest in "Gods of the Arena" Prequel |url=http://www.newnownext.com/breaking-spartacuss-gay-gladiator-will-have-a-love-interest-in-gods-of-the-arena-prequel/07/2010/2/ |website=NewNowNext |date=July 23, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| Auctus || [[Josef Brown]] || Auctus is gay, and Barca' lover after Pietros is killed.<ref name="Gods of the Arena"/>
|-
| Agron || [[Daniel Feuerriegel]] || Agron is a gay rebel warrior, in a relationship with Nasir.<ref name="Gay Action Hero on Spartacus"/>
|-
| Nasir || [[Pana Hema Taylor]] || Nasir is a gay rebel warrior, in a relationship with Agron.<ref name="Gay Action Hero on Spartacus">{{cite web |last1=Peeples |first1=Jase |title=The Gay Action Hero on Spartacus is Back Tonight |url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2013/01/24/gay-action-hero-spartacus-back-tonight |website=The Advocate |date=24 January 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Saxa || [[Ellen Hollman]] || Saxa is bisexual and one of a group of Germanic prisoners rescued from a slave ship.<ref name="Spartacus TV Watch Lez"/>
|-
| Belesa || Luna Rioumina || Belesa is bisexual and a Thracian slave.<ref name="Spartacus TV Watch Lez"/>
|-
| Tiberius || [[Christian Antidormi]] || Tiberius is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cornelius |first1=Michael |title="Spartacus: War of the Damned" Episode 4 Recap: "Memo to Sparty: Kill all Romans!" |url=http://www.newnownext.com/spartacus-war-of-the-damned-episode-4-recap-memo-to-sparty-kill-all-romans/02/2013/ |website=NewNowNext |date=February 23, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Castus || Blessing Mokgohloa || Castus is a gay pirate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halterman |first1=Jim |title="Spartacus" Interview: Blessing Mokgohloa |url=http://www.newnownext.com/interview-blessing-mokgohloa-of-spartacus/04/2013/ |website=NewNowNext |date=April 11, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Gaia || [[Jaime Murray]] || Gaia is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gaia, Spartacus |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/gaia-spartacus/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Lucretia || [[Lucy Lawless]] || Lucretia is bisexual. She died in ''Spartacus: Vengance''.<ref name="Spartacus TV Watch Lez">{{cite web |title=Spartacus |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/spartacus/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2010–2015 || rowspan="2"|''[[Strike Back (TV series)|Strike Back]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Sky1]]<br/>[[Cinemax]] || James Leatherby || [[Dougray Scott]] || Leatherby is gay, and a former [[Special Air Service|SAS]] officer. He is also insanely jealous.<ref name="The New Big Baddie">{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-new-big-baddie-on-strike-back-is-brutal-unhinged-and-gay/08/2013/|title= The New Big Baddie On "Strike Back" Is Brutal, Unhinged, and Gay |website=NewNowNext}}</ref>
|-
| Fahran || Daniel Ben Zenou || Fahran is Leatherby's lover. James shoots Fahran in the hand when he suspects Fahran of cheating on him with a bartender. He shoots the bartender in the back.<ref name="The New Big Baddie"/>
|-
|2010 || ''[[Thorne (TV series)|Thorne]]'' || [[Sky1|Sky1 HD]] || Phil Hendricks || [[Aidan Gillen]] || Phil is a gay forensic pathologist. The show is based on the novels of author [[Mark Billingham]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pennington |first1=Gail |title=TV review: 'Thorne' |url=https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/television/gail-pennington/tv-review-thorne/article_d3bab970-b432-11e1-b7b7-0019bb30f31a.html |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=June 12, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2010–2012 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Upstairs Downstairs (2010 TV series)|Upstairs Downstairs]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[British Broadcasting Company|BBC]] || Blanche Mottershead || [[Alex Kingston]] || Blanche is lesbian, and is a patron of the British Museum and an expert Egyptologist. She has a relationship with Portia that ends badly.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blanche Mottershead |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/blanche-mottershead/}}</ref>
|-
| Portia Alresford || Emilia Fox || Porits is lesbian, and Blanche's lover. She is a [[Bohemianism|bohemian]] novelist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portia Alresford |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/portia-alresford/}}</ref>
|-
|2010 || ''{{sortname|The|Whole Truth|The Whole Truth (TV series)}}'' || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Alejo Salazar || [[Anthony Ruivivar]] || Alejo is a gay attorney.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=Alexander |title="The Whole Truth" Does Justice to its Gay Character |url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-whole-truth-does-justice-to-its-gay-character/09/2010/ |website=NewNowNext |date=September 22, 2010}}</ref>
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2011==
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="5"|2011– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Black Mirror]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Netflix]] ||rowspan="2"| Yorkie || [[Mackenzie Davis]] <br/> (young Yorkie) || Yorkie is a lesbian and Kelly is her love interest, in episode "[[San Junipero]]", which is a [[simulated reality]] where the deceased can live and the elderly can visit, all inhabiting their younger selves' bodies in a time of their choice.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Hara|first1=Helen|title=The story of San Junipero: why Charlie Brooker's Emmy-winning vision of Heaven will live forever|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2017/09/16/san-junipero-revisited-black-mirrors-heartbreaking-vision-heaven/|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=18 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Black Mirror season 3">{{cite web|last1=Mullane|first1=Alex|title=Black Mirror season 3 'San Junipero' review: beautiful rather than biting|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/black-mirror/review/a811882/black-mirror-season-3-san-junipero-review-beautiful-rather-than-biting/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=23 October 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Annabel Davis<br/> (elderly Yorkie) || Elderly Yorkie is comatose and living in an assisted living facility, she was in a car accident 40 years prior, after coming out to her religious parents.<ref name="Black Mirror season 3"/><ref name="Black MirrorLezWatch">{{cite web |title=Black Mirror |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/black-mirror/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"| Kelly || [[Gugu Mbatha-Raw]]<br/> (young Kelly) || Kelly is bisexual and Yorkie's love interest, in episode "[[San Junipero]]".<ref name="Black Mirror season 3"/><ref name="Black MirrorLezWatch"/>
|-
| [[Denise Burse]]<br/> (elderly Kelly) || Elderly Kelly sought refuge in San Junipero after her daughter died, and her husband killed himself.<ref name="Black MirrorLezWatch"/>
|-
| Amy || Georgina Campbell || Amy is bisexual, and in a dating simulation, trying to find her compatible other.<ref name="Black MirrorLezWatch"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2011–2014 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Borgia (TV series)|Borgia]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Canal+]] || Francesc Gacet ||| [[Art Malik]] || In the second season it is revealed that Francesc Gacet is a homosexual (then they said sodomite).<ref>{{cite web |title=I Borgia - la scheda della serie tv |url=https://www.cinemagay.it/serie-tv/borgia-i/ |website=Cinemagay.it |language=it-IT |date=February 7, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Giuliano della Rovere || [[Dejan Čukić]] || rowspan="2"| Giuliano della Rovere was condemned by the [[Council of Pisa]] as a [[Sodomy|sodomite]]. The Council said it was because of his fondness for Francesco Alidosi, and other young men.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Monteagudo |first1=Jesse |title=Meet the 11 gay or bisexual Catholic popes from history |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/08/meet-11-gay-bisexual-catholic-popes-history/ |website=[[LGBTQ Nation]] |date=17 August 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[Francesco Alidosi]] || [[Matt Di Angelo]]
|-
|rowspan="4"|2011–2013 ||rowspan="4"| ''{{sortname|The|Borgias|The Borgias (2011 TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] || [[Micheletto Corella]] || [[Sean Harris]] || Micheletto is an assassin for the Borgias family. His lover is Angelino, and then later Pascal.<ref name="Homogenized Queerness">{{cite web |last1=Hanson |first1=Britta |title=The Homogenized Queerness of Historical Television |url=https://www.flowjournal.org/2017/07/queer-tv-homogenization/ |website=Flow Journal |date=July 5, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Angelino || [[Darwin Shaw]] || Angelino's lover is Micheletto Corella. Micheletto tells him that his impending marriage will be a lie. Angelino replies that he must proceed anyway, given the punishment for their homosexual relationship would be "disemboweled and burnt".<ref name="Homogenized Queerness"/>
|-
| Pascal || Charlie Carrick || In season three, Pascal becomes Michelotto's lover.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyatt |first1=David A. |title=Gay / Lesbian / Bisexual Television Characters |url=https://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/tv-char2000s.html#test217 |publisher=University of Manitoba |date=September 10, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Pope Alexander VI]] || [[Jeremy Irons]] || Florentine friar Savonarola accused Alexander VI of having same-sex affairs. He is generally considered by history as the most morally bankrupt pope in the church's history.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ogles |first1=Jacob |title=21 Gay Popes, Cardinals, and Assorted Catholic Leaders |url=https://www.advocate.com/religion/2018/2/02/21-gay-popes-cardinals-and-assorted-catholic-leaders |website=The Advocate |date=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Francis Xavier |title=Alexander VI {{!}} Biography, Legacy, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-VI |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |date=1998 |quote=Alexander VI holds a high place on the list of the so-called bad popes.}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2011 || rowspan="2"|''[[Crownies]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[ABC1]] || [[Janet King (fictional character)|Janet King]] || [[Marta Dusseldorp]] || Janet is a lesbian who lives with her partner Ashleigh Larsson, and she becomes pregnant via [[In vitro fertilisation|IVF]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Janet King |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/janet-king/}}</ref> Her character continued in the ''[[Janet King (TV series)|Janet King]]'' [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]].
|-
| Ashleigh Larsson || Aimee Pedersen || Ashleigh is lesbian, and Janet's partner. She was shot and killed between seasons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ash Larsson |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/ash-larsson/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="10"|2011–2019 ||rowspan="10"| ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' ||rowspan="10"| [[HBO]] || Renly Baratheon || [[Gethin Anthony]] || Renly is the gay brother of King Robert. He is in a secret relationship with [[Loras Tyrell]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Avery|first1=Dan|title=Renly Baratheon Is Proud He Brought Good Gay Lovin' To Westeros|url=http://www.newnownext.com/renly-baratheon-is-proud-he-brought-good-gay-lovin-to-westeros/09/2016/|website=[[NewNowNext]]|publisher=[[Logo TV|Logo]]|date=September 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223133204/http://www.newnownext.com/renly-baratheon-is-proud-he-brought-good-gay-lovin-to-westeros/09/2016/|archive-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Loras Tyrell || [[Finn Jones]] || Loras is gay and the Knight of Flowers. He is in a secret relationship with [[Renly Baratheon]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Renfro|first1=Kim|title=Fans are up in arms about HBO's treatment of a side character on 'Game of Thrones'|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-loras-2015-5|website=[[Business Insider]]|date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920011256/https://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-loras-2015-5|archive-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Oberyn Martell || [[Pedro Pascal]] || Prince Oberyn Martell, also known as the Red Viper, was a member of House Martell, the ruling family of Dorne. He is bisexual and has eight illegitimate daughters, collectively known as the "Sand Snakes".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vineyard |first1=Jennifer |title=Game of Thrones Pedro Pascal on Oberyns Bisexuality, Orgies in Westeros, and Boy Candy |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/04/pedro-pascal-oberyn-red-viper-bisexuality-interview.html |website=Vulture |date=April 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Stevenson|first1=Alexander|title="Game Of Thrones" Introduces Badass Bisexual Oberyn Martell In Season 4|url=http://www.newnownext.com/game-of-thrones-introduces-badass-bisexual-oberyn-martell-in-season-4/03/2014/|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=March 2, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Ellaria Sand || [[Indira Varma]] || Ellaria is the paramour to Oberyn Martell and mother to several of his bastard daughters, the Sand Snakes, later sent into deep mourning after the death of her lover, and is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mohan|first1=Keerthi|title='Game of Thrones' Actress Indira Varma Talks Nudity on Show; Reveals What's Next for Ellaria Sand|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/game-thrones-actress-indira-varma-talks-nudity-show-reveals-whats-next-ellaria-sand-623954|website=[[International Business Times]]|date=February 19, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Marei || Josephine Gillan || Marei is a bisexual prostitute in the brothel owned by Lord Petyr Baelish. She slept with men, but also Ellaria Sand.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marei |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/marei/}}</ref>
|-
| Olyvar || [[Will Tudor]] || Olyvar is a gay sex worker and a spy working for Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish.<ref name="11 LGBTQ Characters GOT"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sarner |first1=Lauren |title=Loras Tyrell Says His Lover Olyvar Died Offscreen in 'Game of Thrones' |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/24998-loras-olyvar-died-offscreen |website=Inverse |date=December 9, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Varys || [[Conleth Hill]] || Varys is asexual. He said before being castrated that he had no romantic or sexual feelings for men or women.<ref name="11 LGBTQ Characters GOT"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitney |first1=E. Oliver |title=Tyrion Had A Very Emotional Trial |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/game-of-thrones-recap_n_5307394 |website=Huff Post |date=12 May 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Yara Greyjoy || [[Gemma Whelan]] || Yara is pansexual, and the only daughter of Lord Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yara Greyjoy |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/yara-greyjoy/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vineyard |first1=Jennifer |title=Game of Thrones’ Gemma Whelan on Yara’s Sexuality and Freezing on Set |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/gemma-whelan-yara-sexuality-game-of-thrones.html |website=Vulture |date=July 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Trivedi|first1=Sachin|title='Game of Thrones' Season 7 spoilers: Yara is 'pansexual'; Possible romance with Daenerys|url=http://www.ibtimes.com.au/game-thrones-season-7-spoilers-yara-pansexual-possible-romance-daenerys-1521432|website=[[International Business Times]]|date=July 11, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Doreah || [[Roxanne McKee]] || Doreah is bisexual and a handmaiden to Daenerys Targaryen. She helps Dany learn how to seduce her new husband with a hands-on tutorial.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doreah |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/doreah/}}</ref>
|-
| Hodor || [[Kristian Nairn]] || Hodor is asexual. He was originally named Wylis, and became Hodor after having a seizure due to Bran Stark losing control of his powers during a vision of the past. His name is derived from the phrase "hold the door", the words that Hodor heard during the seizure that mentally disabled him.<ref name="11 LGBTQ Characters GOT">{{cite web |last1=Sobel |first1=Ariel |title=11 LGBTQ Characters Who Played the 'Game of Thrones' |url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2017/7/17/11-lgbt-characters-who-played-game-thrones#media-gallery-media-1 |website=The Advocate |date=17 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Moylan |first1=Brian |title=Game of Thrones Has a Gay Problem |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/06/game-of-thrones-has-a-gay-problem.html |website=Vulture |date=June 28, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2011–2015 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Hart of Dixie]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[The CW|CW]] || Crickett Watts || [[Brandi Burkhardt]] || Crickett is a lesbian and the leader of the Bluebell Belles, a local women's group. She comes out as a lesbian in the season finale of Season 3. In Season 4, Crickett divorces her husband and begins a romance with Jaysene.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crickett Watts |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/cricket-watts/}}</ref>
|-
| Jaysene Charles || Erica Piccininni || Jaysene is a lesbian who is a volunteer firefighter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jaysene Charles |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/jaysene-charles/}}</ref>
|-
|2011–2016 || ''[[Hell on Wheels (TV Series)|Hell on Wheels]]'' || [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] || Louise Ellison || [[Jennifer Ferrin]] || Louise is bisexual and a newspaper reporter sent by the ''[[New York Tribune]]'' to cover the building of the [[Union Pacific Railroad]]; she reveals that the assignment was a punishment for exhibiting attraction toward the newspaper editors daughter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Louise Ellison |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/louise-ellison/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2011–2014 ||rowspan="5"| ''{{sortname|The|Killing|The Killing (U.S. TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="5"| [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] <br/> [[Netflix]] || Regi Darnell || [[Annie Corley]] ||Regi marries her female partner in the first episode of season 3.<ref name="The Killing Lez Watch">{{cite web |title=The Killing |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-killing/}}</ref>
|-
| Rachel "Bullet" Olmstead || [[Bex Taylor-Klaus]] || Bullet is a homeless teenage lesbian. She helps the detectives in their search for the killer of young women (season 3). She was eventually murdered by the serial killer.<ref name="The Killing Lez Watch"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hogan|first1=Heather|title="The Killing" adds a "tough scrappy" lesbian character|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/107547-the-killing-adds-a-tough-scrappy-lesbian-character|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=May 20, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| [[Nicole Jackson (The Killing)|Nicole Jackson]] || Claudia Ferri || Nicole is lesbian and in a relationship with Roberta Drays. She's the head of the Kalimish tribe and manager of the Wapi Eagle Casino.<ref name="The Killing Lez Watch"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kine|first1=Starlee|title=An Exhaustive List of All the Things You Missed by Skipping Season Two of The Killing|url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/06/what-you-missed-on-season-two-of-the-killing.html|website=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]|date=June 15, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Roberta Drays || Patti Kim || Roberta is lesbian and the girlfriend of Nicole Jackson. She's the security chief at the Wapi Eagle Casino.<ref name="The Killing Lez Watch"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Cast & Crew: Roberta Drays|url=https://www.amc.com/shows/the-killing/cast-crew/roberta-drays|website=[[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]]}}</ref>
|-
| Ellen || Hilary Strang || Ellen is lesbian, and Regi's girlfriend, and then wife.<ref name="The Killing Lez Watch"/>
|-
|2011–2013 || ''[[Necessary Roughness (TV series)|Necessary Roughness]]'' || [[USA Network|USA]] || Rex Evans || Travis Smith || Evans is the quarterback for the New York Hawks. He comes out at the end of season 2, becoming the first openly gay active football player in the show's universe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebacklot.com/travis-smith-on-necessary-roughness-and-his-gay-pro-quarterback-character/02/2013/|title=The Backlot - Corner of Hollywood and Gay - NewNowNext|website=LOGO News}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2011–2018 || rowspan="5"|''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Mulan || [[Jamie Chung]] || Mulan, a warrior, is lesbian and in love with Aurora.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bricker|first1=Tierney|title=Once Upon a Time's Jamie Chung Speaks Out on Mulan's Gay Reveal: "Her Heart Is With Aurora"|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/501450/once-upon-a-time-s-jamie-chung-speaks-out-on-mulan-s-gay-reveal-her-heart-is-with-aurora|website=[[E! News]]|date=January 19, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Ruby Lucas || [[Meghan Ory]] ||Ruby aka Little Red Riding Hood, is bisexual and friends with everyone, Ruby's in love with Dorothy Gale.<ref name="Once Upon a TimeLezWatch.TV">{{cite web |title=Once Upon a Time |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/once-upon-a-time/}}</ref>
|-
| Dorothy Gale || [[Teri Reeves]] || Dorothy is a lesbian, and that girl from Kansas. She is cursed and only True Love's Kiss (from Ruby) can awaken her.<ref name="Once Upon a TimeLezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Alice || [[Rose Reynolds]] || Alice is lesbian. In the cursed realm, she is Tilly. In Season 7 episode 10, "The Eighth Witch", she reveals that her true love is Robin. They begin a romantic relationship.<ref name="Once Upon a TimeLezWatch.TV"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=MacDonald|first1=Lindsay|title=Once Upon a Time Star on Alice's New Romance: "Love Is Love"|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/once-upon-a-times-rose-reynolds-alice-robin-love-story/|website=[[TV Guide]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=December 15, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Robin || [[Tiera Skovbye]] || Robin is a lesbian. She is the daughter of Robin Hook and Zelena (the Wicked Witch of the West).<ref name="Once Upon a TimeLezWatch.TV"/>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2011–2016 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Person of Interest (TV series)|Person of Interest]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[CBS]] || Sameen Shaw || [[Sarah Shahi]] || Sameen is bisexual, a physician and a former operative for the U.S. Army Intelligence Support Activity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sameen Shaw |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sameen-shaw/}}</ref>
|-
| Root (Samantha Groves) || [[Amy Acker]] || Root is a lesbian and a computer genius, contract killer, and psychopath.<ref>{{cite web |title=Root |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/root/}}</ref>
|-
| Amy Enright || Erica Leerhsen || Amy is a lesbian, a charity director, and married to Maddie.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amy Enright |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/amy-enright/}}</ref>
|-
| Madeleine Enright || Sharon Leal || Madeleine is a lesbian, a physician, and married to Amy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Madeleine Enright |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/madeleine-enright/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2011 ||rowspan="3"| ''{{sortname|The|Playboy Club}}'' ||rowspan="3"| [[NBC]] || Bunny Alice || [[Leah Renee]] || Alice is a [[Playboy Bunny]] and secretly lesbian. She is in a sham marriage with Sean, who is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alice |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/alice/}}</ref>
|-
| Sean Beasley || [[Sean Maher]] ||Sean is gay. Alice and Sean are in a [[sham marriage]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afterelton.com/tv-nbc-sean-maher-smash-playboy-a-manns-world |title=New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Pop Culture &#124; LOGOtv |access-date=2011-05-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602163756/http://www.afterelton.com/tv-nbc-sean-maher-smash-playboy-a-manns-world |archive-date=2011-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afterelton.com/tv-on-tap-07-12-2011 |title=New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Pop Culture &#124; LOGOtv |access-date=2011-07-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714025955/http://www.afterelton.com/tv-on-tap-07-12-2011 |archive-date=2011-07-14}}</ref>
|-
| Frances Dunhill || [[Cassidy Freeman]] ||Frances is a closeted lesbian, who begins dating Nick Dalton to provide him with a politically acceptable public girlfriend and to make her appear heterosexual to her father.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frances Dunhill |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/frances-dunhill/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2011–2015 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Revenge (TV series)|Revenge]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Nolan Ross || [[Gabriel Mann]] || Nolan is bisexual [[Dot-com bubble|dotcom billionaire]], and rates himself a 3 on the [[Kinsey scale]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Avery |first1=Dan |title=Gabriel Mann, Resident Bisexual On "Revenge," Promises "Full-Body Reveal" In Season 3 |url=http://www.newnownext.com/gabriel-mann-resident-bisexual-on-revenge-promises-full-body-reveal-in-season-3/08/2013/ |website=NewNowNext |date=August 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hern |first1=Greg |title=Gabriel Mann's bisexual character on ABC's Revenge expected to swing back to men |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gabriel-manns-bisexual-character-abcs-revenge-expected-swing-back-men140813/ |website=[[Gay Star News]] |date=14 August 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Tyler Barrol || [[Ashton Holmes]] || Tyler is a bisexual [[Male prostitution|hustler]], who suffers from [[bipolar disorder]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Batty |first1=David |title=How Revenge lost the plot |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2013/feb/25/how-revenge-lost-plot-e4-drama |website=The Guardian |date=25 February 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Marco Romero || [[E.J. Bonilla]] || Marco is a past gay lover of Nolan Ross, and was CEO of NolCorp, owned by Ross. Marco appears in flashbacks and in present-day in Season 2.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halterman |first1=Jim |title=EJ Bonilla On Soft Lips And More "Revenge" |url=http://www.newnownext.com/ej-bonilla-on-soft-lips-and-more-revenge/11/2012/ |website=[[NewNowNext]] |date=November 30, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Patrick Osbourne || [[Justin Hartley]] || Patrick is gay and the illegitimate son of Victoria Greyson ([[Madeline Stowe]]). Patrick and Nolan had a relationship in season 3.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wieselman |first1=Jarett |title=Justin Hartley Teases 'Revenge' Romance Fallout |url=http://www.etonline.com/tv/140218_Justin_Hartley_Revenge_Interview/ |website=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407023336/http://www.etonline.com/tv/140218_Justin_Hartley_Revenge_Interview/ |archive-date=April 7, 2015 |date=October 31, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| Regina || [[Seychelle Gabriel]] || Regina is a lesbian, and once kissed a girl while she was drunk.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regina George |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/regina-george/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2011–2012 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Ringer (TV series)|Ringer]]'' ||rowspan="2"| {{sortname|The|CW|The CW Television Network}} || Olivia Charles || [[Jaime Murray]] || Olivia is a lesbian, and in a relationship with Catherine. She was previously married.<ref name="Ringer olivia catherine">{{cite web |title=Ringer |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/ringer/}}</ref>
|-
| Catherine Martin || [[Andrea Roth]] || Catherine is bisexual and in a relationship with Olivia.<ref name="Ringer olivia catherine"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2011–2016 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Scott & Bailey]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] || Helen Bartlett || [[Nicola Walker]] || Helen is a lesbian, and emotionally disturbed. She eventually commits suicide by slashing her wrists.<ref name="Scott Bailey LezWatch"/>
|-
| Anna Ran || [[Jing Lusi]] || Anna is a lesbian, and a detective assigned to Syndicate 9.<ref name="Scott Bailey LezWatch"/>
|-
| Louise || Caroline Harding || Louise is lesbian, and was Helen Bartletts girlfriend.<ref name="Scott Bailey LezWatch">{{cite web |title=Scott & Bailey |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/scott-bailey/}}</ref>
|-
|}
===Shameless (2011–2021)===
{|class="wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
!colspan="3"|''[[Shameless (U.S. TV series)|Shameless]]'' on [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] ([[List of Shameless (American TV series) episodes|Seasons 1 - 11]])
|-
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
| [[Ian Gallagher (Shameless)|Ian Gallagher]] ||[[Cameron Monaghan]] || In the series [[Shameless (season 1)#ep1|pilot]], Ian is a closeted gay, he comes out after his brother Lip ([[Jeremy Allen White]]), discovers his cache of gay pornography. Ian's first gay relationship in the series is with [[Kash Karib]], owner of Kash and Grab, the neighborhood convenience store where Ian works. In season 1, [[Shameless (season 1)#ep7|episode 7]], Ian has his first sexual encounter with [[Mickey Maguire (Shameless)#U.S. version|Mickey Milkovich]]. Their relationship is on-and-off again throughout the series, with the two finally getting married in the series finale of season 10, in episode "[[Shameless (season 10)#ep122|Gallavich!]]". Ian's other sexual partners in the series run include, Lloyd Lishman, Caleb and Trevor.{{Sfn|GLAAD|2007|p=9}}
|-
| Monica Gallagher || [[Chloe Webb]] || Monica is bisexual, and the Gallagher clan mother. She ran off to be with a woman, and then came back and hooked up with a drug dealer. She died of a cerebral hemorrhage following a drunken night out.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Debbie Gallagher || [[Emma Kenney]] || Debbie's sexuality is undefined, she had a child with her boyfriend Derek Delgado, and has been in lesbian relationships as well. When she sleeps with Claudia Nicolo's underage daughter, she has to register as a sex offender.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bendix|first1=Trish|url=http://www.afterellen.com/TV/2011/01/shameless-has-lesbians-theyre-just-a-little-under-the-radar|title="Shameless" has lesbians, they're just a little under the radar|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=January 27, 2011|access-date=11 September 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130061915/http://www.afterellen.com/TV/2011/01/shameless-has-lesbians-theyre-just-a-little-under-the-radar|archive-date=30 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="Francis Season 11 Premiere HND">{{cite web |last1=Francis |first1=Sue |title='Shameless' Season 11 Premiere Spoilers: Crazy Relationship Drama & Shocking Hook Up |url=https://www.hollywoodnewsdaily.com/shameless-season-11-spoilers-drama-hook-up |website=Hollywood News Daily |date=6 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Mickey Milkovich || [[Noel Fisher (actor)|Noel Fisher]] || In the beginning of the series, Mickey is a closeted gay. His first gay encounter is with Ian Gallagher. They maintain a secret relationship until season 3, when Mickey's dad catches them together. Mickey publicly comes out, and reveals his love for Ian in season 4, [[Shameless (season 4)#ep47|episode 11]]. His relationship with Ian is on-and-off again throughout the series, with the two finally getting married in the series finale of season 10, in episode "[[Shameless (season 10)#ep122|Gallavich!]]". Mickey has a brief relationship with Byron Koch, in order to make Ian jealous.<ref name="shameless gays logo">{{cite web |last1=Macavoy |first1=Tim |title=When it Comes to the Gays, Shameless Has Nothing to be Ashamed of |url=http://www.newnownext.com/when-it-comes-to-the-gays-shameless-has-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of/03/2010/2/ |website=[[NewNowNext]] |date=March 25, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| Molly Milkovich || Madison Rothschild || Molly is a trans girl. She is the cousin of Mickey and Mandy Milkovich.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Sandy Milkovich || Elise Eberle || Sandy is a lesbian, and is dating Debbie.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Kash || [[Pej Vahdat]] || Kash is involved in a sexual relationship with Ian, owner of the Kash and Grab, where Ian works.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DiCarlo |first1=Steve |title=Shameless: 20 Things Wrong With Ian We All Choose To Ignore |url=https://screenrant.com/shameless-things-ian-we-ignore/ |website=ScreenRant |date=26 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Jess || Missy Doty || Jess is a lesbian bartender at the neighborhood bar, The Alibi Room.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez">{{cite web |title=Shameless (US) |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/shameless-us/}}</ref>
|-
| Lloyd Lishman || [[Harry Hamlin]] ||Lloyd is a closeted gay. He picks up Ian in a gay bar in season two.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hodges |first1=Chris |title=10 New Character Additions That Hurt Shameless (And 10 That Saved It) |url=https://screenrant.com/shameless-new-characters-additions-saved-show/ |website=Screen Rant |date=21 September 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Svetlana Fisher || [[Isidora Goreshter]] || Svetlana is bisexual and a former sex worker. She was Mickey's wife, and then was in a polyamorous relationship with Veronica and Kev in season 6.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="McNutt Shameless AV Club"/><ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
| Veronica Fisher || [[Shanola Hampton]] || Veronica is bisexual. Veronica and Kev enter a polyamorous relationship with Svetlana in season 6.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="McNutt Shameless AV Club">{{cite web |last1=McNutt |first1=Myles |title=Shameless has its characters explore modern romance, with mixed results |url=https://tv.avclub.com/shameless-has-its-characters-explore-modern-romance-wi-1798189192 |website=The AV Club |date=October 9, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Angela || [[Dichen Lachman]] || Angela is a lesbian that frequents the diner Fiona works at, but later leaves town (season 5).<ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless">{{cite web |last1=Bernard |first1=Riese |author1-link=Riese Bernard |title="Shameless" Racked Up 15+ Queer Women Characters While You Were Getting High |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/shameless-has-racked-up-15-queer-women-characters-in-nine-years-452571/ |website=[[Autostraddle]] |date=14 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Jasmine Hollander || [[Amy Smart]] || Jasmine is a bisexual friend of Fiona who is interested in her. After Fiona refuses to offer her financial help, Jasmine gets angry and leaves, never speaking to her again.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Caleb || Jeff Pierre || Caleb is bisexual and was Ian's boyfriend. Caleb cheated on him with his high school girlfriend.<ref name="Jezebel Shameless Trans">{{cite web |last1=Escobedo Shepherd |first1=Julianne |title=Shameless Introduces a Trans Character and Teaches Ian a Lesson |url=https://themuse.jezebel.com/shameless-introduces-a-trans-character-and-teaches-ian-1788156572 |website=Jezebel |date=October 24, 2016}}</ref><ref name="McNutt Shameless AV Club"/>
|-
| Trevor || [[Elliot Fletcher]] || Trevor is a trans man, and an LGBT+ activist. Trevor and Ian were in a relationship in season 7.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="Jezebel Shameless Trans"/>
|-
| Abraham Paige || Bradley Whitford || Abraham is a gay political activist. He is powerful, well-dressed and sophisticated.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bricker |first1=Tierney |title=Shameless First Look: The West Wing's Bradley Whitford Makes His Debut—See the Pic! |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/394177/shameless-first-look-the-west-wing-s-bradley-whitford-makes-his-debut-see-the-pic |website=E! Online |date=March 4, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Nessa || [[Jessica Szohr]] || Nessa is a lesbian, and Mel's girlfriend.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
| Mel || Perry Mattfield || Mel is a lesbian, and Nessa's girlfriend.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
| Alex || Ashley Romans || Alex is lesbian, and briefly worked with Debbie for a while. She asks Debbie out for a drink.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
| Amanda || Nichole Bloom || Amanda is a bisexual college student and in a relationship with Lip. She exposes Lip's affair with a professor.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
| Claudia Nicolo || [[Constance Zimmer]] || Claudia is a bisexual, and sleeps with Debbie, thinking her to be a prostitute. After Debbie makes it clear she is not a prostitute, Claudia becomes her sugar mama.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Karen Jackson || Laura Slade Wiggins || Karen is bisexual, and was a real bitch. Her personality radically changed after a car accident almost killed her.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
| Barb || Lea DeLaria || Barb is a lesbian, and was Lip' sponsor for Alcoholics Anonymous.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
| Liz || Mia Barron || Liz is a lesbian, and was a customer of @DebbieHotLesbianConvict, Debbie's handyman company.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Roberta || Carlease Burke || Roberta is lesbian, and was Monica's girlfriend for a while.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/><ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
| Calista || Paula Andrea Placido || Calista is a lesbian, and along with her ex-wife Haley, they are opening up a new queer bar in the Gallagher's neighborhood. She hires Debbie to do a handyperson job.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Haley || Mary Alexis Cruz || Haley is a lesbian, and she is opening up a new queer bar in the Gallagher's neighborhood, with her ex-wife Calista.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Jill || [[Jenna Elfman]] || Jill is a lesbian, and was Monica's friend at the drug clinic, where they escape from.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Miss June || Roxy Wood || Miss June is a trans woman, busted by the police for selling loose cigarettes.<ref name="Shameless US lgbt lez"/>
|-
| Geneva || Juliette Angelo || Geneva is a lesbian. She was involved in the Gay Jesus movement along with Ian, who portrayed Gay Jesus.<ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|The Two Lisas || Jenica Bergere ||rowspan="2"| A lesbian couple, both named Lisa, who were buying up numerous properties in the Gallagher's neighborhood for a [[gentrification]] project.<ref name="Bernard Autostraddle Shameless"/>
|-
|Lee Stark
|-
| Byron Koch || Adam Farabee || Byron is gay, and has a brief relationship with Mickey, who is trying to make Ian jealous. Ian ends up beating Byron up after hearing him bad mouth Mickey, in season 10, [[Shameless (season 10)#ep120|episode 10]].<ref name="Lips Big Decision">{{cite web |last1=Darwish |first1=Meaghan |title='Shameless': Lip's Big Decision, Ian's Relationship Status & More From 'Now Leaving Illinois' (RECAP) |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/847925/shameless-season-10-episode-10-recap/ |website=[[TV Insider]] |date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Cole || Chester Lockhart || Cole is gay, and has a hook up with Ian; he found Cole on [[Grindr]] and invites him along on a date to make Mickey jealous. Cole ends up getting beat up by Mickey in season 10, [[Shameless (season 10)#ep120|episode 10]].<ref name="Lips Big Decision"/>
|-
| Tim || Michael Sasaki || Tim is gay and his partner is Brendan. Ian and Mickey meet them while shopping, in their quest to make new gay friends, in episode "[[Shameless (season 11)#ep129|Two at a Biker Bar, One in the Lake]]".<ref name="Two at a Biker Bar"/><ref name="Mickey Ians Friends">{{cite web |last1=Darwish |first1=Meaghan |title='Shameless': To Stay or Not to Stay Is the Gallagher Family's Big Question|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/989639/shameless-season-11-episode-7-recap/ |website=[[TV Insider]] |date=March 7, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Brendan || Brian Dare || Brendan is gay and his partner is Tim. Ian and Mickey meet them while shopping, in their quest to make new gay friends, in episode "[[Shameless (season 11)#ep129|Two at a Biker Bar, One in the Lake]]".<ref name="Two at a Biker Bar">{{Cite episode|series=Shameless|title=Two at a Biker Bar, One in the Lake|episode-link=Shameless (season 11)#ep129|series-link=Shameless (American TV series)|network=[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]|date=March 7, 2021|season=11|number=7|last=Buiser|first=Phillip|minutes=30:09}}</ref><ref name="Mickey Ians Friends"/>
|-
| Jon || Giancarlo || Jon is gay and his partner is Travis. Ian and Mickey meet them at a dinner party, in their quest to make new gay friends, in episode "[[Shameless (season 11)#ep129|Two at a Biker Bar, One in the Lake]]".<ref name="One in the Lake">{{Cite episode|series=Shameless|title=Two at a Biker Bar, One in the Lake|episode-link=Shameless (season 11)#ep129|series-link=Shameless (American TV series)|network=[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]|date=March 7, 2021|season=11|number=7|last=Buiser|first=Phillip|minutes=38:07}}</ref><ref name="Mickey Ians Friends"/>
|-
| Travis || [[Doug Locke]] || Travis is gay and his partner is Jon. Ian and Mickey meet them at a dinner party, in their quest to make new gay friends, in episode "[[Shameless (season 11)#ep129|Two at a Biker Bar, One in the Lake]]".<ref name="One in the Lake"/><ref name="Mickey Ians Friends"/>
|-
| Kevin's Hookup || Chris Prascus || Kevin's Hookup (Don Wessels's kid), is gay. When Kevin starts to question his sexuality, he attempts to give oral sex to his hookup, but discovers that he is not turned on, and realizes he is not gay, not even part gay. In season 8, episode "[[Shameless (season 8)#ep90|Icarus Fell And Rusty Ate Him]]".<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Shameless|title=Icarus Fell And Rusty Ate Him|episode-link=Shameless (season 8)#ep90|series-link=Shameless (American TV series)|network=[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]|date=December 10, 2017|season=8|number=6|last=Steilen|first=Mark|minutes=38:24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawrence |first1=Derek |title='Shameless' recap: Kevin struggles with his sexuality |url=https://ew.com/recap/shameless-season-8-episode-6/ |website=Entertainment Weekly |date=December 10, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Shameless (American TV series) characters#Tony Markovich|Tony Markovich]] || [[Tyler Jacob Moore]] || Tony is gay. He was the Gallagher's neighbor and a police officer. He had a thing for Fiona, but in season six, he comes out as gay to Ian Gallagher.<ref name="10 Duos Who Should Have Dated">{{cite web |last1=DeRosa |first1=Michael |title=Shameless: 10 Duos Who Should Have Dated |url=https://screenrant.com/shameless-characters-should-have-romance-dated/ |website=Screen Rant |date=13 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Steiner |first1=Amanda Michelle |title='Shameless' recap: The Gallaghers are homeless, and Ian has a date |url=https://ew.com/recap/shameless-season-6-episode-5/ |website=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 8, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Shameless (American TV series) characters#Tommy|Tommy]] || [[Michael Patrick McGill]] || rowspan="2"| Tommy and Kermit are regulars at The Alibi Room, Kev and Veronica's bar. When they start selling marijuana for medicinal purposes, they encourage Tommy and Kermit to try some. The duo each consume a marijuana brownie, and when Kev and Veronica aren't looking, Tommy and Kermit consume all of the brownies and all of the marijuana gummies. Later in the men's bathroom, Tommy and Kermit are sharing a sink, when Kermit makes a reach for Tommy's butt and instead of pulling away, Tommy slowly leads Kermit into the stall for a hookup.<ref name="Francis Season 11 Premiere HND"/><ref name="10 Duos Who Should Have Dated"/>
|-
| [[List of Shameless (American TV series) characters#Kermit|Kermit]] || Jim Hoffmaster
|-
|}
===2011 continued===
{| class="wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"|2011 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Skins (U.S. TV series)|Skins]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[MTV]] || Tea Marvelli || [[Sofia Black D'Elia]] || Tea is a bisexual cheerleader. She sleeps with Tony, but ends up with Betty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uknewsreporter.co.uk/skins-shameless-and-being-human-which-won-the-ratings-battle-in-the-usa/6711406/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-01-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716095517/http://uknewsreporter.co.uk/skins-shameless-and-being-human-which-won-the-ratings-battle-in-the-usa/6711406/ |archive-date=2012-07-16}}</ref>
|-
| Betty Nardone || Blaine Morris || Betty is lesbian, and Tea's lover.<ref>{{cite web |title=Betty Nardone |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/betty-nardone/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2011–2017 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Switched at Birth (TV series)|Switched at Birth]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Matthew || [[Daniel Durant]] || Matthew is revealed as gay and has a crush on Emmett.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Temkin |first1=Deborah |title=The Misguided Bullying Storyline on Switched at Birth |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-misguided-bullying-st_b_5530402 |website=Huff Post |date=25 June 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Renzo || Alec Mapa || Renzo is gay and Kathryn's friend. Her husband John, has been openly bigoted towards Renzo.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raisler |first1=Carrie |title=Switched At Birth: "Have You Really The Courage?" |url=https://tv.avclub.com/switched-at-birth-have-you-really-the-courage-1798179463 |website=TV Club |date=February 10, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Natalie Pierce || Stephanie Nogueras || Natalie is lesbian, and comes out to Bay in season two. She and her girlfriend Hillary are not allowed into prom because Hillary is wearing a suit and pants.<ref>{{cite web |title=Natalie Pierce |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/natalie-pierce/}}</ref>
|-
| Hilary || Abby Walla || Hilary is a lesbian, and Natalie's girlfriend. She refuses to wear a dress at prom, having not worn one since she was 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hilary |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/hilary/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="11"|2011–2015 ||rowspan="11"| ''[[Waterloo Road (TV series)|Waterloo Road]]'' ||rowspan="11"| [[BBC One]] || Martin Dunbar || Matt Greenwood || Martin is a shy trans girl who appears in one episode, resulting in her being bulled by classmates, but still makes some friends.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsmanchester/i-was-once-too-shy-to-ask-for-ketchup-in-mcdonalds-but-i-went-on-to-appear-in-an-oscar-winning-blockbuster/ar-BB13x6xN |title='I was once too shy to ask for ketchup in McDonald's, but I went on to appear in an Oscar- winning blockbuster' |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Katie |date=March 5, 2020 |website=[[MSN]] |publisher=[[Manchester Evening News]] |access-date=February 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.is/8sFeA |archive-date=February 5, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Dunbar |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/martin-dunbar/}}</ref>
|-
|Nate Gurney || Scott Haining || Nate is a former student at Waterloo Road, and openly gay. He falls in love with Josh.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLennan |first1=Patrick |title=Nate’s dad is furious his son’s gay {{!}} Episode {{!}} Waterloo Road |url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/events/nate-s-dad-is-furious-his-son-s-gay/ |website=What's on TV |date=February 2, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| Colin Scott|| Chris Finch || Colin is gay and works for a capital management company. He is the boyfriend of Matt Wilding.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Staff Reporter |title=Actor Chris drops in to help |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/2037031.actor-chris-drops-in-to-help/ |website=The Bolton News |date=February 12, 2008}}</ref>
|-
| Josh Stevenson|| [[William Rush (actor)|William Rush]] || Josh came out as gay, and is Nate's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Welsh |first1=Daniel |title='X Factor': 'Waterloo Road' Actor Will Rush Auditions For The Judges |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/x-factor-waterloo-road-will-rush_uk_57dc1a9de4b0d584f7f12f3f?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANzTzvUrDHIR5gnr59UEL3iQX6kEqjnRBjHmCK9Zx3HTEBcQqgoNPeQjDBnFJBmT4fMan2ZqgTjO5uIJ2fz306dQ_4NAsYxea1gfPZbnhMDW2Obd9G8B7vOo6T8llM2zQbchVU8eVUxHYlUNwJVoZUcPUfelGpo4nwusd91FbN4K |website=HuffPo UK |date=September 17, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[Matt Wilding]] || Chris Geere || Matt is a closeted gay musician.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rankin |first1=JJ |title=You're The Worst: 10 Things You Never Knew About The Cast |url=https://screenrant.com/youre-the-worst-fx-series-cast-facts/ |website=ScreenRant |date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Jo Lipsett || Sarah-Jane Potts || Jo is a lesbian, and head of the languages department. Her career is threatened when a student falls for her.<ref name="Waterloo Road LezWatch.TV">{{cite web |title=Waterloo Road |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/waterloo-road/}}</ref>
|-
| Nikki Boston || Heather Peace || Nikki is lesbian, and a teacher at the school. She and Vix left the show together.<ref name="Waterloo Road LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Ros McCain || Sophie McShera || Ros is a lesbian, and falls in love with her teacher, Jo Lipsett.<ref name="Waterloo Road LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Kacey Barry || Brogan Ellis || Kacey is a trans boy, and student at the school. After disguising himself as a boy to play in a soccer match, he realizes how much more comfortable he is as a male. Kacey decides to postpone any medical changes until after school.<ref name="Waterloo Road LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Lorraine Donnegan || Daniela Denby-Ashe || Lorraine is a lesbian, and philanthropist and businesswoman. She is a former pupil at the school.<ref name="Waterloo Road LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Vix Spark || Kristin Atherton || Vix is a lesbian, and has a homemade jewellery business. She and Nikki leave to be together.<ref name="Waterloo Road LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2012==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! |Notes
|-
|rowspan="9"|2012–2020 ||rowspan="9"| ''[[Arrow (TV series)|Arrow]]'' ||rowspan="9"| {{sortname|The|CW|The CW Television Network}} || [[Sara Lance]] || [[Caity Lotz]]<br/> (Jacqueline Wood) || Sara is bisexual and Nyssa's ex-lover. Jacqueline Wood played Sara in her first appearance on ''Arrow''.<ref name="ArrowLezWatch"/>
|-
| [[Nyssa al Ghul]] || [[Katrina Law]] || Nyssa is bisexual, and ex-lover to Sara. When Sara died, Nyssa had her resurrected.<ref name="ArrowLezWatch">{{cite web |title=Arrow |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/arrow/}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)|Curtis Holt]] || [[Echo Kellum]] || Curtis is the show's first openly gay character.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Prudom |first1=Laura |title=‘Arrow’ Casts Echo Kellum as Mr. Terrific for Season 4 |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/arrow-mr-terrific-echo-kellum-season-4-1201543026/ |website=Variety |date=17 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Paul Holt || Chenier Hundal || Paul is gay, and was Curtis' husband. He left Curtis after finding out he had been working with the Green Arrow.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Espiritu |first1=Emmanuelle |title='Arrow' season 5 spoilers, plot news 2016: The New Year brings new crises to Team Arrow |url=https://www.christiantimes.com/news/arrow-season-5-episode-10-spoilers-the-new-year-brings-new-crises-to-team-arrow.html |website=The Christian Times |date=December 10, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Nick Anastas]] || [[Evan Roderick]] || Nick is a gay police officer, and was in a relationship with Curtis.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feature: Evan Roderick aka Nick Anastas is Officer-turned-vigilante in Season 7 CW's 'Arrow' |url=https://occhimagazine.com/feature-evan-roderick-aka-nick-anastas-is-officer-turned-vigilante-in-season-7-cws-arrow/ |website=Occhi Magazine |date=17 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
| William || [[Ben Lewis (Canadian actor)|Ben Lewis]] || In a flash-forward, William is joking about his frequently absent father, and retorts: "And my ex-boyfriend wonders why I have commitment issues". In season 7, episode "[[Arrow (season 7)#ep140|The Longbow Hunters]]".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Duffy|first1=Nick|title=Arrow just revealed a major character is gay|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/10/24/arrow-gay-character-william-son/|website=[[Pink News]]|date=24 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Batwoman characters#Kate Kane / Batwoman|Kate Kane]] || [[Ruby Rose]]<br/> ([[Wallis Day]]) || Kate is lesbian, and cousin of Bruce Wayne (aka Batman). At the beginning of season two, her plane crashes and she is presumed dead, but actually she is alive but unrecognizable due to injuries she sustained in the crash. At this point, Wallis Day took over the role of Kate.<ref name="ArrowLezWatch"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Jesse|title=Batwoman Explained: What to Know About Ruby Rose's Elseworlds Crossover Character|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/10/batwoman-explained-how-the-batman-love-interest-became-a-lgbtq-icon|website=[[IGN]]|date=December 10, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Alex Danvers || Chyler Leigh || Alex was a closeted lesbian, and then came out to herself and then finally everyone.<ref name="ArrowLezWatch"/>
|-
| [[John Constantine (Arrowverse)|John Constantine]] || [[Matt Ryan (actor)|Matt Ryan]] || John is bisexual and was brought in to deal with the fallout of the resurrection of Sara Lance, in episode "[[Haunted (Arrow)|Haunted]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dominguez |first1=Noah |title=Matt Ryan Says Constantine Isn't Just Bisexual - He's 'Bi-Specieal' |url=https://www.cbr.com/justice-league-dark-apokolips-war-john-constantine-bisexual-bispecieal-matt-ryan/ |website=Comic Book Resources |date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012–2013 || rowspan="2"|''[[Bomb Girls]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Global Television Network|Global]] || Betty McRae || [[Ali Liebert]] || Betty is a closeted lesbian with an unrequited love for her best friend. After being rejected by her, Betty meets Teresa and they become romantically involved. She is a bomb builder for the Victory Munitions factory.<ref>{{cite web |title=Betty McRae |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/betty-mcrae/}}</ref>
|-
| Teresa || [[Rachel Wilson]] ||Teresa is lesbian and a [[Canadian Women's Army Corps]] sergeant. She is in a relationship with Betty.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hogan|first1=Heather|title=10 reasons to watch "Bomb Girls" TONIGHT!|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/106703-10-reasons-to-watch-bomb-girls-tonight/2|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=April 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912225559/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/106703-10-reasons-to-watch-bomb-girls-tonight/2|archive-date=September 12, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Call the Midwife]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[BBC One]] || Patience "Patsy" Mount || [[Emerald Fennell]] || Patsy is a closeted lesbian, and a [[midwife]]. She is in a relationship with Delia, and they later move to Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Patsy Mount |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/patsy-mount/}}</ref><ref name="Season 4 of Call the Midwife"/>
|-
| Delia Bubsy || [[Kate Lamb]] || Delia is a lesbian nurse, and in a relationship with Patsy. Delia is struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle and awakens with amnesia, not remembering who Patsy is to her. She recovers and they are reunited.<ref name="Season 4 of Call the Midwife">{{cite web|last1=Drachman|first1=Chen|title=Season 4 of "Call the Midwife" gives us a sweet lesbian romance then dashes our hopes|url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/419541-season-4-call-midwife-gives-us-sweet-lesbian-romance-dashes-hopes|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=March 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=McGrath|first1=Rachel|title='Call The Midwife' Fans Praise Lesbian Kiss As Series Closes On A High|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/call-the-midwlfe-series-finale-lesbian-kiss_uk_58c672bee4b054a0ea6b8b9b|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=March 13, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2012– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Chicago Fire (TV series)|Chicago Fire]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[NBC]] || Leslie Shay || [[Lauren German]] || Leslie is a lesbian, and a paramedic on Ambulance 61.<ref name=":1Chicago Fire"/>
|-
| Clarice Carthage || [[Shiri Appleby]] || Clarice is bisexual and the pregnant ex-girlfriend of Leslie. She leaves Leslie to go back to her husband.<ref name=":1Chicago Fire">{{cite web |title=Chicago Fire |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/chicago-fire/}}</ref>
|-
| Devon || Vedette Lim || Devon is a lesbian. In season 2 Leslie briefly dates Devon, who robs her apartment and disappears.<ref name=":1Chicago Fire"/>
|-
| Emily Foster || [[Annie Ilonzeh]] || Emily is bisexual, and a paramedic.<ref name=":1Chicago Fire"/>
|-
| Darren Ritter || Daniel Kyri || Darren is gay, and a firefighter.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moore |first1=Evan F. |title=For Daniel Kyri, it’s ‘an honor’ to represent Black, gay people on ‘Chicago Fire’ |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/1/4/22203118/daniel-kyri-chicago-fire-ritter-nbc-lgbt-queer-black-man-art-after-school-matters-theater |website=Chicago Sun-Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104193128/https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/1/4/22203118/daniel-kyri-chicago-fire-ritter-nbc-lgbt-queer-black-man-art-after-school-matters-theater |archive-date=4 January 2021 |date=4 January 2021}}</ref>
|-
|2012–2015 || ''[[Continuum (TV series)|Continuum]]'' || [[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase]] || Jasmine Garza || [[Luvia Petersen]] || Jasmine is bisexual, and a lethal paramilitary soldier.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sheppard|first1=Denise|title=Continuum's bisexual Liber8tor|url=https://www.dailyxtra.com/continuums-bisexual-liber8tor-50231 |website=[[Daily Xtra]]|publisher=[[Pink Triangle Press]]|date=June 27, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2012 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Don't Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[SVT1]] || Rasmus || [[Adam Pålsson]] || Rasmus is 19 and gay. After graduation. he moves from rural [[Värmland]] to [[Stockholm]] to attend college. As soon as he arrives in Stockholm he begins to seek out the gay community. He begins a relationship with Benjamin. Rasmus is later found to be [[HIV#Diagnosis|HIV-positive]] and eventually dies.<ref name="Dont Ever Wipe Tears">{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Benjamin |title=Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves: The TV show you must not miss |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/12/01/dont-ever-wipe-tears-without-gloves-the-tv-show-you-must-not-miss/ |website=Pink News |date=1 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="Time Out London Wipe Tears"/>
|-
| Paul || [[Simon J. Berger]] || Paul is gay, and is portrayed as the life and soul of Stockholm's gay underworld. Paul eventually contracts AIDS and dies. An early scene in the miniseries shows two nurses dressed in bio-protective clothing caring for a patient suffering from AIDS. As the nurses tend to the dying man, one nurse wipes a tear from his eye, which leads to the second nurse scolding her afterwards: "Don't ever wipe tears without gloves".<ref name="Dont Ever Wipe Tears"/><ref name="Time Out London Wipe Tears">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Anna |title=Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/tv-reviews/dont-ever-wipe-tears-without-gloves |website=Time Out London |date=November 25, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Benjamin || [[Adam Lundgren]] || Benjamin is young and struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality and faith as a [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah's Witness]]. Benjamin begins a relationship with Rasmus, and stays by his side the entire time he is dying. Benjamin is the only one out of the three characters to survive the AIDS crisis, and is seen in the last episode reflecting about that period in his life 20 years later.<ref name="Dont Ever Wipe Tears"/><ref name="Time Out London Wipe Tears"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2012–2013 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Emily Owens, M.D.]]'' ||rowspan="2"| {{sortname|The|CW|The CW Television Network}} || Tyra Dupre || [[Kelly McCreary]] || Tyra is a first-year surgical intern and daughter of the chief resident, who quickly befriends Emily. She is openly lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tyra Dupre |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/tyra-dupre/}}</ref>
|-
| Jake Reeser || 3 different babies portray Jake || Jake is an [[intersexual]] baby who has a penis as well as ovaries. The parents discuss raising the child gender neutral and allowing them to decide when they are older.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jake Reeser |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/jake-reeser/}}</ref>
|-
|2012 || ''[[GCB (TV series)|GCB]]'' || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Blake Reilly || [[Mark Deklin]] || Blake is a closeted gay and in a marriage of convenience with Cricket, who is aware that he is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eramo |first1=Steve |title=A Chat With GCB's Mark Deklin |url=http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/television/a-chat-with-gcbs-mark-deklin/ |website=The Morton Report |date=5 April 2012}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2012–2017 || rowspan="4"|''[[Girls (TV series)|Girls]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[HBO]] || Elijah Krantz || [[Andrew Rannells]] || Elijah is openly gay, and dates several men throughout the series, never really having a serious boyfriend.<ref name="Rise of Elijah on Girls"/>
|-
| George || Billy Morrissette || George is gay and one of Elijah's ex-boyfriends.<ref name="Elijahs Realistic Gay Sex">{{cite web |last1=Gallagher |first1=Caitlin |title=Elijah's Realistic Gay Sex Scene On HBO's 'Girls' Was A Really Progressive Move For The Show |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/146350-elijahs-realistic-gay-sex-scene-on-hbos-girls-was-a-really-progressive-move-for-the-show |website=Bustle}}</ref>
|-
| Dill Harcourt || [[Corey Stoll]] || Dill is gay, and a famous news anchor. He is the former boyfriend of Elijah.<ref name="Rise of Elijah on Girls">{{cite web |last1=Chaney |first1=Jen |title=The Rise of Elijah on Girls |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/andrew-rannells-girls-the-rise-of-elijah.html |website=Vulture |date=March 26, 2017}}</ref><ref name="How Elijah Became">{{cite web |last1=Budowski |first1=Jade |title=How Elijah Became The Best Character On ‘Girls’ |url=https://decider.com/2017/03/27/how-elijah-became-the-best-character-on-girls/ |website=Decider |date=27 March 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Pal || Danny Strong || Pal is gay and a condescending prick. He is a former boyfriend of Elijah.<ref name="Elijahs Realistic Gay Sex"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Van Syckle |first1=Katie |title=Danny Strong on Playing Elijah’s Mean Boyfriend on Girls, Pizza Parties With the Cast, and Empire |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/02/girls-danny-strong-interview.html |website=Vulture |date=February 20, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2012 ||rowspan="3"| ''{{sortname|The|L.A. Complex}}'' ||rowspan="3"| [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] <br/> [[Much (TV channel)|MuchMusic]] || Kaldrick King || [[Andra Fuller]] || Kaldrick King is a closeted gay black rapper. He is in a secret relationship with Tariq.<ref name="Cypher Avenue King and Tariq">{{cite web |last1=Delmacy |first1=Nick |title=The L.A. Complex – "Kaldrick King and Tariq’s First Date" |url=https://cypheravenue.com/gif-rewind-the-l-a-complex-kaldrick-king-and-tariqs-first-date/ |website=Cypher Avenue |date=2015}}</ref>
|-
| Tariq Muhammad || Benjamin Charles Watson || Tariq is gay and an aspiring rapper working at the production company where Kaldrick records. The two start a secret relationship.<ref name="Cypher Avenue King and Tariq"/>
|-
| Christopher Taylor || Jarod Joseph || Christopher is Kaldrick's openly gay lover who works as a lawyer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=George M. |title=‘The 100’s Queer Heartthrob Is Getting More Storylines In Season 5 |url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/the-100s-queer-heartthrob-is-getting-more-storylines-in-season-5/ |website=Into |date=10 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2012–2016 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Last Tango in Halifax]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[BBC One]] || [[Caroline Dawson]] || [[Sarah Lancashire]] || Caroline is lesbian. Caroline and Kate were married before Kate's untimely death.<ref name="Tango in Halifax">{{cite web|last1=Duffy|first1=Nick|title=Last Tango in Halifax creator: Killing lesbian character was a mistake|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/09/06/last-tango-in-halifax-creator-killing-lesbian-character-was-a-mistake/|website=[[PinkNews]]|date=6 September 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Kate McKenzie || [[Nina Sosanya]] ||Kate is lesbian, and married to Caroline.<ref name="Tango in Halifax"/>
|-
| Olga || Lorraine Burroughs || Olga is a lesbian, and the owner of a winery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olga |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/olga/}}</ref>
|-
| Judith || Ronni Ancona || Judith is bisexual and an international megastar of a film franchise.<ref>{{cite web |title=Judith |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/judith/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Line of Duty]]'' || rowspan="2"| [[BBC Two]] <hr> [[BBC One]] (2017) || DCI Joanne Davidson || |[[Kelly Macdonald]] || Joanne is lesbian and the SIO of "Operation Lighthouse" (season 6). She was accused by her ex, Farida, of cheating on her with Kate Fleming.
|-
| PC/PS Farida Jatri || Anneika Rose || Farida is lesbian and was in a secret relationship with Joanne, her superior on the force.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wakefield |first1=Lily |title=Line of Duty leaves fans reeling with sapphic twist and ‘s**t storm of lesbian drama’ |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/03/22/kate-line-of-duty-fleming-gay-lesbian-joanne-davidson-vicky-mcclure-kelly-macdonald/ |website=[[PinkNews]] |date=March 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Davies |first1=Nadia |title=Lesbian Twitter is still talking about the new season of Line Of Duty |url=https://divamag.co.uk/2021/03/24/lesbian-twitter-is-still-talking-about-the-new-season-of-line-of-duty/ |work=[[Diva (magazine)|Diva]] |date=24 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2012–2018 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Major Crimes (TV series)|Major Crimes]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] || Rusty Beck || [[Graham Patrick Martin]] || Rusty comes out as gay in the season two finale.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview Exclusive: Graham Patrick Martin |url=https://www.candidmagazine.com/graham-patrick-martin-interview/ |website=Candid Magazine |date=27 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Gustavo Wallace || Rene Rosado || Gus is gay, he begins a relationship with Rusty.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cruz |first1=Karen |title=Rene Rosado Talks "Major Crimes" and Opening Doors for Latino Actors |url=https://www.lol-la.com/rene-rosado-talks-major-crimes-opening-doors-latino-actors/ |website=Living Out Loud Los Angeles |date=29 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
|TJ Shaw || Patrick Stafford || TJ is gay, but he is deeply closeted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Major Crimes - la scheda della serie tv |url=https://www.cinemagay.it/serie-tv/major-crimes/ |website=Cinemagay.it |language=it}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2012–2015 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[ABC (Australian TV channel)|ABC]] || Dr. Elizabeth 'Mac' MacMillan || [[Tammy MacIntosh]] || Mac is a lesbian. She doesn't conceal her orientation and sports menswear.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wendell|first1=Sarah|title=All the Reasons Why You Should Be Watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries|url=http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2015/01/all-the-reasons-why-you-should-be-watching-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/|website=Smart Bitches Trashy Books|date=January 8, 2015|access-date=4 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Daisy Murphy || Maria Coviello || Daisy is a lesbian, and Dr. Mac's lover, she is murdered by her ex-lover, Hetty.<ref name="Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries">{{cite web |title=Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/}}</ref>
|-
| Hetty || Caroline Brazier || Hetty is a lesbian, and a factory worker with Daisy. She is love with Daisy and kills her when rejected for Dr. Mac. She also frames Dr. Mac for another murder.<ref name="Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries"/>
|-
| Sarah Norden || Eloise Mignon || Sarah is a lesbian, and a [[contortionist]], she was in a relationship with Pearl.<ref name="Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries"/>
|-
| Pearl Dyson || Madeleine Vizard || Pearl is a lesbian, and an assistant for a magician. She is accidentally killed by a malfunctioning guillotine.<ref name="Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries"/>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2012–2018 ||rowspan="7"| ''[[Nashville (2012 TV series)|Nashville]]'' ||rowspan="7"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Will Lexington || [[Chris Carmack]] || Will is a closeted up-and-coming country singer.{{Sfn|GLAAD|2013|p=9}}{{Sfn|GLAAD|2016|pp=8-9}}
|-
| Brent McKinney || Derek Krantz || Brent is an openly gay record executive.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nashville - la scheda della serie tv |url=https://www.cinemagay.it/serie-tv/nashville/ |website=Cinemagay.it |language=it-IT}}</ref>
|-
| Kevin Bicks || [[Kyle Dean Massey]] || Kevin is an openly gay songwriter, stationed in Nashville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/television/2013/09/26/nashville-chris-carmack-abc-gay-country-singer|title=Nashville's Chris Carmack on Playing Gay Country Singer Will Lexington|date=26 September 2013|website=Out.com|access-date=11 September 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Zach Welles || Cameron Scoggins || Zach is gay and a young Silicon Valley entrepreneur, involved with Will Lexington.<ref name=":1Will Lexington">{{cite web |last1=Rudolph |first1=Christopher |title=Will Lexington's New Boyfriend Is Sticking Around On "Nashville" |url=http://www.newnownext.com/nashville-will-lexington-cameron-scoggins-season-5-regular/05/2017/ |website=NewNowNext |date=May 16, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Jakob Fine || Murray Bartlett || Jakob is gay and a fashion designer for a commercial that Will appears in.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rudolph |first1=Christopher |title=Will Lexington's Boyfriend Has Something To Hide In New "Nashville" Trailer |url=http://www.newnownext.com/nashville-season-5-trailer-will-lexington-gay/05/2017/ |website=NewNowNext |date=May 26, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Allyson Del Lago || Jen Richards || Allyson is a trans woman, and a physical therapist. Her character is the first transgender to ever appear on a [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]] show and the first out transgender actor on the network.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rudolph |first1=Christopher |title=Jen Richards Joins "Nashville" As CMT's First Transgender Character |url=http://www.newnownext.com/nashville-jen-richards-transgender-character/09/2016/ |website=NewNowNext |date=September 13, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Jeff || Aaron Cavette || Jeff is gay and Zach's ex-boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Max |title=Nashville Recap: Shame of Thrones |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/07/nashville-recap-season-5-episode-17.html |website=Vulture |date=6 July 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2012 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Political Animals (miniseries)|Political Animals]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[USA (TV network)|USA]] || T.J. Hammond || [[Sebastian Stan]] || T.J. is the first openly gay son of an American President.<ref>{{cite web |title="Political Animal" Sebastian Stan |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/politcal-animal-sebastian-stan/1922444/ |website=NBC4 Washington |date=July 11, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Diane Nash || [[Vanessa Redgrave]] || Justice Nash is the first openly gay Justice of the United States Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite web |title=Diane Nash |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/diane-nash/}}</ref>
|-
| Sean Reeves || [[David Monahan]] || Reeves is a married, closeted Congressman with whom T.J. has had an affair.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eichel |first1=Molly |title=Political Animals: "Lost Boys" |url=https://tv.avclub.com/political-animals-lost-boys-1798173718 |website=The AV Club |date=August 6, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="9"|2012–2017 ||rowspan="9"| ''[[Saving Hope (TV series)|Saving Hope]]'' ||rowspan="9"| [[CTV Television Network|CTV]]<br/>[[NBC]] || Shahir Hamza || [[Huse Madhavji]] || Shahir is gay and a neurosurgeon. His partner is Victor.<ref name="Saving Hope Recap">{{cite web |last1=Treccia |first1=Mandy |title=Saving Hope Recap: "The Law of Contagion" |url=https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2012/08/2935-saving-hope-recap-the-law-of-contagion/ |website=TV Source Magazine |date=31 August 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Victor Reis || [[Salvatore Antonio]] || Victor is gay and an OR nurse. Shahir and Victor are in a long-term relationship.<ref name="Saving Hope Recap"/>
|-
| Maggie Lin || [[Julia Chan|Julia Taylor Ross]] || Maggie is bisexual. She is an OB/GYN attending at Hope Zion Hospital. At the end of the series, Maggie and Sydney enter into a relationship.<ref name="Saving Hope LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Sydney Katz || [[Stacey Farber]] || Sydney is lesbian, and an obstetrics and gynecology resident.<ref name="Saving Hope LezWatch.TV">{{cite web |title=Saving Hope |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/saving-hope/}}</ref>
|-
| Bree Hannigan || Rebecca Liddiard || Bree is lesbian, and was admitted to the hospital following a car accident. Scans reveal that Bree has cancer.<ref name="Saving Hope LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Neshema || Hannah Miller || Neshema is a lesbian, and married to Ruth. She is pregnant.<ref name="Saving Hope LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Violet Jackson || Bahia Watson || Violet is lesbian, and Bree's fiancé.<ref name="Saving Hope LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Riley Stiles || Justin Kelly || Riley is intersexual and is transitioning to male. When he comes to the hospital for surgery, he learns he had a gender assignment surgery as a baby.<ref name="Saving Hope LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Ruth || Maggie Castle || Ruth is lesbian, and married to Neshema.<ref name="Saving Hope LezWatch.TV"/>
|-
|rowspan="9"|2012–2018 ||rowspan="9"| ''[[Scandal (TV series)|Scandal]]'' ||rowspan="9"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || [[List of Scandal characters#Cyrus Beene|Cyrus Beene]] || [[Jeff Perry (American actor)|Jeff Perry]] || Cyrus is the White House Chief of Staff. He is openly gay and in a long-term relationship with James.<ref name="cosmo jeff perry"/>
|-
| James Novak || [[Dan Bucatinsky]] || James is married to Cyrus Beene, but eventually leaves him.<ref name="cosmo jeff perry">{{cite web |last1=Greco |first1=Patti |title=Jeff Perry Remembers "My So-Called Life" 20 Years Later |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/q-and-a/a30474/jeff-perry-remembers-my-so-called-life/ |website=Cosmopolitan |date=26 August 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Michael Ambruso || [[Matthew Del Negro]] || Michael is gay and a former prostitute. He marries Cyrus in a sham marriage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arceneaux |first1=Michael |title='Scandal': Olivia Wants Us to Forget That Cyrus Is the Worst Husband of All-Time |url=http://www.vh1.com/news/90018/scandal-cyrus-marries-hooker/ |website=VH1 News |date=March 27, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Fenton Glackland || [[Dean Norris]] || Fenton is a gay billionaire, and an ex-boyfriend of Cyrus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kirkland |first1=Justin |title='Scandal' recap: What happened to Quinn? |url=https://ew.com/recap/scandal-season-7-episode-8/ |website=Entertainment Weekly |date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Annalise Keating]] || [[Viola Davis]] || Annalise is bisexual, and in a guest appearance in episode "[[Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself (Scandal)|Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself]]", she teams up with [[Olivia Pope]] ([[Kerry Washington]]) to work on a class action lawsuit regarding the mass incarceration of black people in the United States.<ref name="ScandalLezWatch.TV">{{cite web |title=Scandal |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/scandal/}}</ref>
|-
| Rose || [[Marla Gibbs]] || Rose is a lesbian, who hires Olivia to help find her ex-lover Lois, but Lois had already been murdered.<ref name="ScandalLezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Lois Moore || Fran Bennett || Lois is lesbian, and Olivia's neighbor. After Olivia was kidnapped, she was held hostage in Lois' apartment and the hostage takers eventually killed her.<ref name="ScandalLezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Gillian || Lauren Gaw || Gillian is lesbian, and Yasmeen's girlfriend.<ref name="ScandalLezWatch.TV"/>
|-
| Yasmeen || [[Medalion Rahimi]] || Yasmeen is a lesbian, and the niece of the Bashranian president. She is killed when her plane leaving the U.S. explodes on the runway, in episode "[[Scandal (season 7)#ep111|Adventures in Babysitting]]".<ref name="ScandalLezWatch.TV"/>
|-
|rowspan="8"|2012–2013 ||rowspan="8"| ''[[Smash (U.S. TV series)|Smash]]'' ||rowspan="8"| [[NBC]] ||Tom Levitt || [[Christian Borle]] || Tom is an openly gay composer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Lesley |last2=Godley |first2=Chris |title=NBC's 'Smash' Who's Who: Meet the Show's Characters |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/nbcs-smash-debra-messing-katharine-mcphee-283702/2-christian-borle-tom |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=20 January 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Dennis || Phillip Spaeth || Dennis is gay, and an ex-lover of Tom.<ref name="how gay is smash">{{cite web |last1=Jensen 2/24/2011 |first1=Michael |title=How Gay is NBC's "Smash?" It's Potentially Something to Sing About! |url=http://www.newnownext.com/how-gay-is-nbcs-smash-its-potentially-something-to-sing-about/02/2011/ |website=NewNowNext |date=February 24, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| Bobby || [[Wesley Taylor]] || Bobby is gay and was selected to be as part of the ensemble cast.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halterman |first1=Jim |title="Smash 2.0" Is Coming...With Andy Mientus As A New Gay Character |url=http://www.newnownext.com/smash-20-is-comingwith-andy-mientus-as-a-new-gay-character/01/2013/ |website=NewNowNext |date=January 8, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Sam Strickland || [[Leslie Odom, Jr.]] || Sam is gay and Tom is his boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leslie Odom Jr., Krysta Rodriguez Added To 'Smash' Cast |url=https://deadline.com/2012/07/leslie-odom-jr-krysta-rodriguez-added-to-smash-cast-296703/ |website=Deadline |date=6 July 2012}}</ref>
|-
| John Goodwin || [[Neal Bledsoe]] || John is a gay lawyer. He and Tom dated briefly.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sheward |first1=David |title='Smash' Recap: Episode 5, 'Let's Be Bad' |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/smash-recap-episode-bad-59195/ |website=Backstage |date=March 6, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Ellis Boyd || Jaime Cepero || Ellis began as Tom's personal assistant, who he slept with, before becoming assistant to Broadway producer Eileen Rand. He left the series after season one and an ex-girlfriend later [[Outing|outed]] him as gay.<ref name="how gay is smash"/>
|-
| Kyle Bishop || [[Andy Mientus]] || Kyle is gay, and was in relationships with Blake, Tom and Jimmy.<ref name="smash andy mientus">{{cite web |last1=Slezak |first1=Michael |title=Smash's Andy Mientus Talks Kyle's [Spoiler], Hit List's Rent Parallels and Jimmy's Redemption |url=https://tvline.com/2013/05/04/smash-andy-mientus-kyle-dies-dead-interview/ |website=TV Line |date=5 May 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Blake || Daniel Abeles || Blake is the lighting director for ''Hit List'' and he and Kyle became involved.<ref name="smash andy mientus"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2012–2013 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Underemployed (TV series)|Underemployed]]'' ||rowspan="3"| MTV || Sophia Swanson || [[Michelle Ang]] || Sophia is a lesbian, and an aspiring writer.<ref name="Underemployed MTV cast"/>
|-
| Laura || Angel M. Wainwright || Laura is lesbian, and Sophia's girlfriend for a short while.<ref name="Underemployed MTV cast"/>
|-
| Natalie || Katherine Cunningham || Natalie is a lesbian, and hooks up with Sophia a few times.<ref name="Underemployed MTV cast">{{cite web |title=Underemployed |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/underemployed/}}</ref>
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2013==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="5"| 2013–2018 ||rowspan="5"| ''{{sortname|A|Place to Call Home|A Place to Call Home (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Channel 7 Australia|Channel 7]] || James Bligh || David Berry || James is married but gay. He has experienced family disapproval and even horrific treatments including electroshock. The series was set in 1950s Australia, when homosexuality was illegal, and men were "held against their will in hospitals, electrocuted, pumped full of drugs and mentally abused".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molloy |first1=Shannon |title=Shunned, abused and tortured: David Berry portrays what many gay men endured in 1950s Australia |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/shunned-abused-and-tortured-david-berry-portrays-what-many-gay-men-endured-in-1950s-australia/news-story/fa3398c3c19c56d8edf1769b5dd9c042}}</ref>
|-
| Harry Polson || Dominic Allburn || Harry is gay, and James Bligh's ex-lover.<ref name="place to call home">{{cite web |last1=Langford |first1=Anthony D. |title=Gays of Our Lives: Best and Worst of 2016 |url=https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2016/12/gays-of-our-lives-best-worst-2016/2/}}</ref>
|-
| Dr. Henry Fox || Tim Draxl || Henry is gay, and has a relationship with James Bligh.<ref name="place to call home"/>
|-
| Carolyn Bligh || Sara Wiseman || Carolyn is bisexual, and had an affair with Delia a long time ago.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carolyn Bligh |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/carolyn-duncan/}}</ref>
|-
| Delia Craig || Maya Stange || Delia is a lesian, and had an affair with Carolyn years ago, but now back from London, they happen to be housemates.<ref>{{cite web |title=Delia Craig |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/delia-craig/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2013– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Joey Gutierrez || [[Juan Pablo Raba]] || Joey is a gay [[Inhumans|Inhuman]] who can melt metals, he previously had a boyfriend.{{Sfn|GLAAD|2015|p=7}} Joey is the first openly gay character in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].<ref name="Screen RantAgents Of SHIELD">{{cite web |last1=Cotter |first1=Padraig |title=Why Agents Of SHIELD Didn't Address The LGBTQ Backstory Of Lucy Lawless' Izzy |url=https://screenrant.com/agents-shield-show-lucy-lawless-lgbtq-backstory/ |date=3 September 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Marcus Benson || [[Barry Shabaka Henley]] ||Benson is a gay scientist recruited to help with the S.H.I.E.L.D science team in season 6.<ref name="Screen RantAgents Of SHIELD"/>
|-
| Victoria Hand || Saffron Burrows || Victoria is a lesbian, she was eventually shot and killed in the series.<ref name="Screen RantAgents Of SHIELD"/>
|-
| Isabelle Hartley || Lucy Lawless || Isabelle is a lesbian, and was killed when her SUV was flipped over by the [[Absorbing Man]].<ref name="Screen RantAgents Of SHIELD"/>
|-
| Olga Pachinko || Jolene Andersen || Olga is a lesbian and demolitions expert.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olga Pachinko |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/olga-pachinko/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="8"| 2013- ||rowspan="8"| ''[[Amar es para siempre]]''<br/>(To Love is Forever) ||rowspan="8"| [[Antena 3 (Spanish TV channel)|Antena 3]] || Amelia Ledesma || [[Carol Rovira]] || Amelia is a lesbian. During the day she works at a hotel, and then she sings at night. She is in a secret relationship with Luisita Gómez, as the show takes place in the 1970s.<ref name="amar es para siempre"/><ref name="Diez Minutos"/>
|-
| Luisita Gómez || [[Paula Usero]] || Luisita Gómez is bisexual, but in a lesbian relationship with Amelia Ledesma.<ref name="amar es para siempre"/><ref name="Diez Minutos">{{cite web |last1=Díaz |first1=Aroa |title=Luimelia se despide tras tres años de romance y visibilidad |url=https://www.diezminutos.es/telenovela/amar-es-para-siempre/a33505750/luimelia-amar-es-para-siempre-fin/ |website=Diez Minutos |language=es |date=4 August 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Isabel Vegas || Silvia Maya || Isabel is a lesbian, and a LGBT activist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Isabel Vegas, Amar es para siempre|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/isabel-2/}}</ref>
|-
| Ana Rivas || Marina San José || Ana is a lesbian, and married to Teresa García.<ref name="amar es para siempre"/>
|-
| Teresa García || Carlota Olcina || Teresa is a lesbian, and married to Ana. They both die, along with their child in a fire.<ref name="amar es para siempre"/>
|-
| Sara Martín || Belén González || Sara is a lesbian, and a political activist for women's rights.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sara Martín, Amar es para siempre|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sara-martin/}}</ref>
|-
| Juanma || Enrique Gimeno || Juanma is gay and Gonzalo is his boyfriend.<ref name="amar es para siempre"/>
|-
| Gonzalo || Nacho Casalvaque || Gonzalo is gay and Juanma is his boyfriend.<ref name="amar es para siempre">{{cite web |last1=Iniesta |first1=Nuria |title='Luimelia', el romance lésbico de 'Amar es para siempre' que triunfa en redes sociales |url=https://shangay.com/2019/02/19/https-bit-ly-2iwo8ow/ |website=Shangay |language=es |date=19 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013–2015 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Atlantis (TV series)|Atlantis]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[BBC One]] || Pythagoras || [[Robert Emms]] ||rowspan="2"| Pythagoras and Icarus are romantically involved in the second series.<ref name="atlantis icarus">{{cite web|last1=Ellis|first1=Sarah Kate|title=GLAAD 2015 Network Responsibility Index|url=https://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD-2015-NRI.pdf}}</ref>
|-
| Icarus || Joseph Timms
|-
|2013–2016 || ''[[Banshee (TV series)|Banshee]]'' || [[Cinemax]] || Job || [[Hoon Lee]] || Job is a cross-dressing hairdresser who moonlights as a computer hacker. His sexuality is never explicitly defined, but actor Hoon Lee described the character as "someone who is exploring identity, he feels free to explore whatever direction his identity follows".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nahmod |first1=David-Elijah |title=Cinemax show pushes boundaries with cross-dressing killer |url=https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Cinemax-show-pushes-boundaries-with-cross-dressing-killer/41062.html}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013–2014 || rowspan="2"|''[[Betrayal (TV series)|Betrayal]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Jules Whitman || [[Sofia Black D'Elia]] || Jules is a lesbian, and computer hacker, who has a relationship with Valerie.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jules Whitman |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/jules-whitman/}}</ref>
|-
| Valerie McAllister || [[Elizabeth Sarah McLaughlin|Elizabeth McLaughlin]] || Valerie is lesbian, and falls for Jules.<ref>{{cite web |title=Valerie McAllister |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/valerie-mcallister/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013–2014 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Bridge|The Bridge (2013 TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] || Adriana Perez|| [[Emily Rios]] || Adriana is a lesbian newspaper reporter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Adriana Mendez |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/adriana-mendez/}}</ref>
|-
| Lucy || [[Alyssa Diaz]] ||Lucy is a lesbian nurese and Adriana's girlfriend, introduced in season 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lucy |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lucy-bridge/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013–2017 || rowspan="2"|''[[Broadchurch]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] || Maggie Radcliffe || [[Carolyn Pickles]] || Maggie is a lesbian, and a newspaper editor, in love with Jocelyn.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maggie Radcliffe |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/maggie-radcliffe/}}</ref><ref name="Broadchurch kiss"/>
|-
| Jocelyn Knight || [[Charlotte Rampling]] || Jocelyn is a lesbian, and a semi-retired [[barrister]], in love with Maggie.<ref name="Broadchurch kiss">{{cite web |last1=Payton |first1=Naith |title=Broadchurch kiss between older women surprises viewers |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/02/18/broadchurch-kiss-between-older-women-surprises-viewers/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jocelyn Knight |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/jocelyn-knight/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Camp (TV series)|Camp]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[NBC]] || Todd || [[Adam Garcia]] ||rowspan="2"| Todd and Raffi are an interracial couple raising an [[Camp (TV series)#Main cast|adopted child]]. They get married in season 1, episode 7, "[[Camp (TV series)#ep7|The Wedding]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Camp Season 1 Episodes |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/camp/episodes-season-1/1000523953/?ftag=web |website=TV Guide}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nunn |first1=Jerry |title=Rachel Griffiths: summer 'Camp' - Windy City Times News |url=https://windycitytimes.com/m/APParticle.php?AID=44177&i=14&s=Tv}}</ref>
|-
| Raffi || Christopher Kirby
|-
|rowspan="7"|2013–2014 ||rowspan="7"| ''{{sortname|The|Carrie Diaries|The Carrie Diaries (TV series)}}'' || rowspan="7"|{{sortname|The|CW|The CW Television Network}} || Walt Reynolds || [[Brendan Dooling]] || Walt is in the closet at first but after meeting Bennet, who is openly gay, he comes out and they are in a relationship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Casey |title='Carrie Diaries' Star Brendan Dooling on Playing The Iconic Character's Best Bud |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/brendan-dooling-the-carrie-diaries |website=Teen Vogue |date=March 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rudolph |first1=Christopher |title=Before Stanford: Meet Carrie Bradshaw's First Gay Bestie |url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2013/02/04/stanford-meet-carrie-bradshaws-first-gay-bestie}}</ref>
|-
| Bennet Wilcox || Jake Robinson || Bennet is openly gay and Walt's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Out.com Editors |title=The Carrie Diaries Gets Serious With AIDS Crisis Storyline |url=https://www.out.com/entertainment/television/2014/01/10/carrie-diaries-walt-bennett-aids-crisis-storyline |website=Out Magazine |date=10 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Asay |first1=Paul |title=The Carrie Diaries |url=https://www.pluggedin.com/tv-reviews/carrie-diaries/}}</ref>
|-
| Larissa Loughlin || [[Freema Agyeman]] || Larissa is bisexual, a style editor at a magazine and party girl. She slept with Samantha.<ref name="The Carrie Diaries"/>
|-
| Samantha "Sam" Jones || Lindsey Gort || Sam is bisexual and slept with Larissa.<ref name="The Carrie Diaries"/>
|-
| Jill "Mouse" Chen || [[Ellen Wong]] || Mouse is a bisexual nerd. She slept with Donna.<ref name="The Carrie Diaries"/>
|-
| Donna LaDonna || [[Chloe Bridges]] || Donna is bisexual and leader of the mean girls clique in school, and generally not very nice. She slept with Mouse while drunk.<ref name="The Carrie Diaries">{{cite web |title=The Carrie Diaries |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-carrie-diaries/}}</ref>
|-
| Blake || Ian Quinlan || Blake is gay and asks Walt out on a date, but when they arrive at the restaurant, Bennet intervenes and tells Walt he wants them to be an exclusive couple.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Snicks |title="The Carrie Diaries" 2.04 Can't Fight This Feeling |url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-carrie-diaries-2-04-cant-fight-this-feeling/11/2013/ |date=November 16, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2013–2015 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Da Vinci's Demons]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Starz (TV network)|Starz]] || [[Leonardo da Vinci]] || [[Tom Riley (actor)|Tom Riley]] || Leonardo da Vinci is bisexual. The shows creator, [[David S. Goyer]], confirmed his bisexuality, along with actor Tom Riley who said: "He is, in my mind, canonically bisexual. He is attracted to men and he is attracted to women on the show."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nededog |first1=Jethro |title='Da Vinci's Demons' Creator Says 'We're Not Backing Away' From Leonardo's Bisexuality |url=https://www.thewrap.com/da-vincis-demons-creator-says-backing-away-leonardos-bisexuality/ |website=The Wrap |date=12 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Keefe |first1=Meghan |title=‘Da Vinci’s Demons’ Star Tom Riley Addresses Leonardo Da Vinci’s Alleged Homosexuality|url=https://decider.com/2015/10/23/da-vincis-demons-tom-riley-sexuality/}}</ref> ''Da Vinci's Demons'' is a fictional account of Leonardo da Vinci's early life.
|-
| [[Jacopo Saltarelli]] || Christopher Elson || Jacopa is a gay 17-year-old goldsmith apprentice, and prostitute. Da Vinci had sex with him and was later put on trial for sodomy, with Jacopa testifying against him. The charges were eventually dropped against Da Vinci.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halterman |first1=Jim |title="Da Vinci's Demons" Sodomy Trial Post-Mortem: Tom Riley & David S. Goyer |url=http://www.newnownext.com/da-vincis-demons-interview-tom-riley-david-s-goyer/05/2013/ |date=May 13, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|Andrea del Verrocchio || [[Allan Corduner]] || In season 2, episode 5, "[[List of Da Vinci's Demons episodes#ep13|The Sun and the Moon]]", it is implied that Andrea has a sexual relationship with a handsome young man (Benedetto), who works as a picture framer in his workshop.<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Da Vinci's Demons|title=The Sun and the Moon|series-link=Da Vinci's Demons|network=[[Starz]]|date=April 19, 2014|season=2|number=5|last=Hess|first=Dan|last2=Reed|first2=Corey|minutes=7:14}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Dates (TV series)|Dates]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Channel 4]] || Erica || [[Gemma Chan]] || Erica is a closeted lesbian. Erica goes on a blind date with Kate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erica |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/erica/}}</ref>
|-
| Kate || [[Katie McGrath]] ||Kate is a lesbian, and has a one-night stand with Erica, which results in a second date.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kate |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/kate-dates/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2013–2015 || rowspan="5"|''[[Defiance (TV series)|Defiance]]'' || rowspan="5"|[[Syfy]] || Stahma Tarr || [[Jaime Murray]]|| Stahma is bisexual, and a wealthy alien.<ref name="DefianceLezWatch"/><ref name="Defiance ArchivesLGBT Fans"/>
|-
| Kenya Rosewater || [[Mia Kirschner]] || Kenya is a bisexual bartender and brothel owner.<ref name="DefianceLezWatch">{{cite web |title=Defiance |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/defiance/}}</ref><ref name="Defiance ArchivesLGBT Fans"/>
|-
| Doc Meh Yewll || [[Trenna Keating]] || Meh is a lesbian and is a Doctor in the town of Defiance.<ref name="DefianceLezWatch"/><ref name="Defiance ArchivesLGBT Fans"/>
|-
| Lev || Hannah Cheeseman || Lev is a lesbian and Doc Yewll's wife.<ref name="DefianceLezWatch"/><ref name="Defiance ArchivesLGBT Fans">{{cite web |title=Defiance Archives |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/show/defiance/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Niles Pottinger || [[James Murray (English actor)|James Murray]] || Pottinger attended the same boarding school as Connor Lang, and had an unrequited gay crush on him.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lavigne |first1=Carlen |title=Post-Apocalyptic Patriarchy: American Television and Gendered Visions of Survival |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-9906-9 |page=87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOxzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA87 |date=2018}}</ref>
|-
|2013–2016 || ''[[Devious Maids]]'' || [[Lifetime (TV channel)|Lifetime]] || Alejandro Rubio || [[Matt Cedeño]] || Alejandro is a closeted gay Latin music star.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roselyn Sanchez Teases ‘A New Murder Mystery’ On ‘Devious Maids’ |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/roselyn-sanchez-teases-a-new-murder-mystery-on-devious-maids |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204212847/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/roselyn-sanchez-teases-a-new-murder-mystery-on-devious-maids |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |date=25 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Matt Cedeño, "Days of Our Lives" Actor and Model. (Cuban Descendant) |url=https://www.thecubanhistory.com/2015/03/matt-cedeno-days-of-our-lives-actor-and-model-cuban-descendant-matt-cedeno-actor-en-devious-maids-y-modelo-descendiente-cubano/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2013–2017 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[East Los High]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Hulu]] || Camila Barrios || [[Vannessa Vasquez]] || Camila is bisexual and been friends with Jocelyn since high school and begin a romantic relationship.<ref name="East Los HighLezWatch">{{cite web |title=East Los High |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/east-los-high/}}</ref>
|-
| Jocelyn Reyes || Andrea Sixtos || Jocelyn is lesbian, and hooked up with Camila after smoking pot together.<ref name="East Los HighLezWatch"/>
|-
| Daysi Cantu || Ser Anzoategui || Daysi is a queer, and a new student at East Los High.<ref name="East Los HighLezWatch"/>
|-
| Ms. Alvarez || Catherine Lazo || Ms. Alvarez is a lesbian, and the school principal.<ref name="East Los HighLezWatch"/>
|-
| Veronica || Jacqueline Grace Lopez || Veronica is a lesbian, and went out with Jocelyn.<ref name="East Los HighLezWatch"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013–2016 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Fall|The Fall (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[BBC Two]] || Danielle Ferrington || [[Niamh McGrady]] || Dani is a lesbian.<ref name="The FallLezWatch.TV">{{cite web |title=The Fall |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-fall/}}</ref>
|-
| [[Stella Gibson]] || [[Gillian Anderson]] ||Stella is bisexual.<ref name="The FallLezWatch.TV"/>
|-
|rowspan="16"|2013–2018 ||rowspan="16"| ''{{sortname|The|Fosters|The Fosters (2013 TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="16"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Stef Adams-Foster ||[[Teri Polo]] ||rowspan="2"| Stef and Lena are a married lesbian couple. Stef has a son from a previous marriage. Stef and Lena also serve as adoptive and foster parents to additional children.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters">{{cite web |title=The Fosters |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-fosters/}}</ref>
|-
| Lena Adams-Foster || [[Sherri Saum]]
|-
| [[List of The Fosters characters#Jude Adams Foster|Jude Adams Foster]] || [[Hayden Byerly]] || Jude is gay and develops romantic feelings for his best friend Connor Stevens, and they begin dating.<ref name="jude and connor">{{cite web |last1=Bergado |first1=Gabe |title=The History-Making Gay Kiss: ‘The Fosters’ Features the Youngest Same-Sex TV Kiss Ever |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-history-making-gay-kiss-the-fosters-features-the-youngest-same-sex-tv-kiss-ever |website=The Daily Beast |date=4 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=Clinton_Fosters>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/tv/56811911/our-favorite-lgbtq-characters-on-tv|title=Our Favorite LGBTQ Characters on TV}}</ref>
|-
| Connor Stevens || [[Gavin MacIntosh]] || In season 2, Connor comes out as gay, shares a kiss with Jude and the two begin dating.<ref name="jude and connor"/>
|-
| Cole || Tom Phelan || Cole is a trans boy, and a teen runaway who lives at a group foster home.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters"/>
|-
| Noah Walker || Kalama Epstein || Noah is gay and Jude's second boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dresden |first1=Hilton |title=Actor Kalama Epstein on Playing a Gay Teen on 'The Fosters' |url=https://www.out.com/interviews/2016/8/18/kalama-epstein-playing-gay-teen-fosters}}</ref>
|-
| Monte Porter || [[Annika Marks]] || Monte is bisexual and becomes the school principal of Lena's charter school in Season 2. She later gets in trouble for kissing a student.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Heather |title=The Fosters Episode 317 Recap: Trust No One |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/the-fosters-episode-317-recap-trust-no-one-330799/}}</ref>
|-
| Aaron Baker || [[Elliot Fletcher]] || Aaron is a trans man who becomes Callie's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bradley|first1=Laura|title=Inside The Fosters' Groundbreaking Callie-Aaron Sex Scene|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/the-fosters-aaron-callie-sex-scene-relationship-elliot-fletcher-interview}}</ref>
|-
| Ximena Sinfuego || [[Lisseth Chavez]] || Ximena is a lesbian, and captain of the roller-derby team.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters"/>
|-
| Jack Downey || [[Tanner Buchanan]] || Jack shares a kiss with Jude to make him feel better after his breakup with Connor. Jack is later beaten to death by an abusive foster father.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bernard |first1=Riese |author1-link=Riese Bernard |title=Bury Your Gays: 109 Dead Gay and Bisexual Male TV Characters, And How They Died |url=https://www.queerty.com/bury-your-gays-108-dead-gay-and-bisexual-male-tv-characters-and-how-they-died-20160325}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Geier |first1=Thom |title=#BuryYourGays: 27 LGBT TV Characters Killed Off in 2016 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/buryyourgays-lgbt-tv-characters-gay-lesbian-killed-off-2016-empire-game-of-thrones/}}</ref>
|-
| Carmen Cruz || Alicia Sixtos || Carmen is a lesbian, and been involved with gangs, drugs, and kidnapping.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters"/>
|-
| Jenna Paul || Suzanne Cryer || Jenna is a lesbian, and an old friend of Stef and Lena.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters"/>
|-
| Sally Benton || Pepi Sonuga || Sally is a lesbian, and accuses the principal of kissing her.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters"/>
|-
| Tess Bayfield || Kristen Ariza || Tess is bisexual and Steph's high-school crush.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters"/>
|-
| Kelly Paul || Alice Dodd || Kelly is a lesbian, and Jenna's ex-wife.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters"/>
|-
| Lara || Brit Manor || Lara is lesbian, and makes a pass at Tess.<ref name="LezWatch.TVThe Fosters"/>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2013–2018 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Hit the Floor (TV series)|Hit the Floor]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[VH1]] || Jude Kinkade || Brent Antonello ||rowspan="2"| Jude is gay and Zero is a closeted bisexual basketball player, Jude is also Zero's agent. [[Jude and Zero]] begin having [[casual sex]] in season 2. In season 3, Zero comes out by kissing Jude in public, and the two are now in a committed relationship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rudolph |first1=Christopher |title="Hit the Floor" Heats Up The Court In Sexy New Season Four Preview |url=http://www.newnownext.com/hit-the-floor-season-4-bet/04/2018/ |date=April 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hern |first1=Greg |title=TV pro basketball drama Hit the Floor surprises with gay affair between star player and his agent |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/tv-pro-basketball-drama-hit-floor-surprises-hot-affair-between-star-player-and-his-agent0108/#sthash.cHFXS4zO.dpuf |website=[[Gay Star News]] |date=1 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hinzmann |first1=Dennis |title=First Look at Adam Senn and Brent Antonello in ‘Hit the Floor’ Season 3 |url=https://www.out.com/popnography/2016/1/13/excluisive-first-look-adam-senn-and-brent-antonello-hit-floor-season-3}}</ref>
|-
| Zero<hr>(real name Gideon) || [[Adam Senn]]
|-
| Lucas || [[Jonathan Bennett (actor)|Jonathan Bennett]] ||Lucas is a gay basketball agent, and had an affair with Jude, making Zero jealous.<ref>{{cite web|last=Avery|first=Dan|title=Jonathan Bennett Becomes "A Complication" For Jude And Zero On "Hit The Floor"|url=http://www.newnownext.com/jonathan-bennett-becomes-a-complication-for-jude-and-zero-on-hit-the-floor/01/2016/|date=January 25, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Noah || Kristian Kordula ||Noah is gay and Jude's boyfriend in season 4.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Farid-ul-Haq |title=New Hit the Floor Season 4 Trailer Is Queer As Heck! |url=https://thegeekiary.com/hit-floor-season-4-trailer-queer/53237 |website=The Geekiary |date=12 June 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="6"|2013–2018 ||rowspan="6"| ''[[House of Cards (U.S. TV series)|House of Cards]]'' ||rowspan="6"| [[Netflix]] || [[Frank Underwood (House of Cards)|Frank Underwood]]
|| [[Kevin Spacey]] || Frank has been shown to have sexual encounters with both men and women. The series creator, [[Beau Willimon]], said that Frank ignores the label of being bisexual or gay, and is simply attracted to people regardless of their gender.<ref name="frank underwood independent">{{cite web|title = House of Cards creator Beau Willimon clears up Frank Underwood's|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/house-of-cards-creator-clears-up-frank-underwoods-sexuality-10098032.html}}</ref>
|-
| Edward Meechum || [[Nathan Darrow]] ||Meechum is a Secret Service agent assigned to Frank Underwood, and has a threesome with him and Claire Underwood in season 2, episode "[[House of Cards (season 2)#ep24|Chapter 24]]".<ref name="frank underwood independent"/>
|-
| Rachel Posner || [[Rachel Brosnahan]] || Rachel is a bisexual prostitute.<ref name="House of Cards Lez"/>
|-
| Lisa Williams || Kate Lyn Sheil || Lisa is lesbian, and Rachel's lover.<ref name="House of Cards Lez">{{cite web |title=House of Cards |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/house-of-cards/}}</ref>
|-
| Michael Corrigan || [[Christian Camargo]] || Michael is a gay rights activist, imprisoned by the Russian government. He eventually hangs himself in his cell, refusing a deal to be released if he apologizes to Russia for his unlawful actions, in season 3, episode "[[House of Cards (season 3)#ep32|Chapter 32]]".<ref name="bustle house of cards">{{cite web |last1=Gallagher |first1=Caitlin |title=Frank Won't Take A Gay Rights Stance On 'House of Cards' — Which Is Quite Interesting Knowing His Personal Life |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/66926-frank-wont-take-a-gay-rights-stance-on-house-of-cards-which-is-quite-interesting}}</ref>
|-
| John Pasternak || Todd Alan Crain || John is Michael Corrigan's husband.<ref name="bustle house of cards"/>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2013–2016 || rowspan="7"|''[[Masters of Sex]]'' || rowspan="7"|[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] || Betty DeMillo || [[Annaleigh Ashford]] || Betty is a lesbian sex worker and an early research subject in [[Masters and Johnson]]'s study.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bendix|first1=Trish|url=http://www.afterellen.com/masters-of-sex-explores-all-kinds-of-sexuality/08/2013/|title="Masters of Sex" explores all kinds of sexuality}}</ref>
|-
| Helen || [[Sarah Silverman]] ||Helen is lesbian. Betty and Helen are in a long-term relationship. Helen gets pregnant and dies during childbirth.<ref>{{cite web |title=Helen Schiff |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/helen-schiff/}}</ref>
|-
| Barton Scully || [[Beau Bridges]] ||Barton is a closeted gay and the provost at the university where Masters initiates his study.<ref name="john backlot masters"/>
|-
| Dale || [[Finn Wittrock]] ||Dale is gay and a [[Male prostitution|hustler]] whom Scully patronizes.<ref name="john backlot masters">{{cite web|author=John |url=http://www.thebacklot.com/masters-of-sex-gay-story/11/2013/ |title=The Compelling Gay Story in "Masters Of Sex" |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201042321/http://www.thebacklot.com/masters-of-sex-gay-story/11/2013/ |archive-date= December 1, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| Carl || Bobby Campo || Carl is gay and a [[Male prostitution|hustler]], and has sex with Dale.<ref name="john backlot masters"/>
|-
| Guy || Nick Clifford ||Guy is a closeted gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kearney |first1=Kelly |title=Nick Clifford – Masters of Sex |url=https://starrymag.com/nick-clifford-masters-of-sex/ |website=Starry Constellation Magazine |date=10 October 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Sarah || unknown baby || Sarah is intersexual. The blood work suggests Sarah is a boy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sarah |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sarah-9/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2013 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Murder in Passing]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[YouTube]] || Epicene || [[Alexander Chapman]] || Epicene is a trans woman detective assigned to investigate the murder of Mars Brito, a trans man bike courier. The show was originally broadcast as a series of 30-second episodes on advertising video screens in the [[Toronto Transit Commission]]'s subway system.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Astle |first1=Randy |title=Murder in Passing: Transmedia on the Toronto Subway |url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/61947-murder-in-passing-transmedia-on-the-toronto-subway/ |website=Filmmaker Magazine |date=January 7, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Mars Brito || [[Chase Joynt]] || Mars Brito is a trans man bike courier, whose murder sparks an investigation into his death.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Israeli-Nevo |first1=Atalia |title=Taking (My) Time: Temporality in Transition, Queer Delays and Being (in the) Present |journal=Somatechnics |date=March 2017 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=34–49 |doi=10.3366/soma.2017.0204}}</ref> The [[Film noir|noirish]] black and white series is now on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |title=Murder In Passing |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1msb5FYoFeHBPyoWcqxbPg/subscribers |via=YouTube |format=video}}</ref>
|-
|2013–2015|| ''[[My Mad Fat Diary]]'' || [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] || Archie || Dan Cohen || Archie is revealed to be gay when he is caught spying on the men's changing room in the leisure centre where he works.<ref>{{cite web |title=My Mad Fat Diary's Sharon Rooney: 'Gay storyline was my favourite' |url=https://attitude.co.uk/article/my-mad-fat-diarys-sharon-rooney-gay-storyline-was-my-favourite/7091/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="18"|2013–2019 ||rowspan="18"| ''[[Orange Is the New Black]]'' ||rowspan="18"| [[Netflix]] || [[Piper Chapman]] || [[Taylor Schilling]] || Piper is bisexual and the protagonist of the series. She was in a relationship with Alex before breaking up with her and becoming engaged to Larry Bloom.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Walkley|first=A.J|title=Bi-erasure in Orange Is the New Black|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/orange-is-the-new-black-bisexuality_b_3799037}}</ref>
|-
| Alex Vause || [[Laura Prepon]] ||Alex is lesbian, and an ex-drug dealer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex Vause, Orange is the New Black |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/alex-vause-orange-new-black/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='The First Scene We Shot Is When We Get Naked In The Shower' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/orange-is-the-new-black-laura-prepon_n_3715942}}</ref>
|-
| Sophia Burset || [[Laverne Cox]] ||Sophia is a trans woman. (Laverne Cox is transgender in real life. ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]'' suggested that ''Orange is the New Black'' is the first women-in-prison series that includes a real transgender woman playing the role of a transgender person.<ref>{{cite web|last=Anderson |first=Diane |url=http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/current-issue/2013/07/10/why-you-should-watch-orange-new-black?page=full |title=Why You Should Watch 'Orange Is the New Black'}}</ref>)
|-
| Nicky Nichols || [[Natasha Lyonne]] || Nicky is a lesbian.<ref name="pink news oitnb ash">{{cite web |last1=Ashenden |first1=Amy |title=Orange Is the New Black’s hottest lesbian relationships |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/07/03/orange-is-the-new-black-best-lesbian-relationships/}}</ref>
|-
| [[Crazy Eyes (character)|Crazy Eyes]] || [[Uzo Aduba]] || Crazy Eyes is a lesbian.<ref name="pink news oitnb ash"/>
|-
| Carrie "Big Boo" Black || [[Lea DeLaria]] || Big Boo is a lesbian.<ref name="pink news oitnb ash"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2015/06/12/orange-is-the-new-black-big-boo-backstory/|title=We finally learn Big Boo's 'OITNB' backstory, and it's heartbreaking|last=Gonzalez|first=Sandra|date=June 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108132204/https://mashable.com/2015/06/12/orange-is-the-new-black-big-boo-backstory/|archive-date=November 8, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Tricia Miller || [[Madeline Brewer]] || Tricia is a lesbian.<ref name="pink news oitnb ash"/>
|-
| Poussey Washington || [[Samira Wiley]] || Poussey is a lesbian.<ref name="pink news oitnb ash"/>
|-
| Lorna Morello || [[Yael Stone]] ||Lorna is bisexual and has been involved with men and women.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lorna, Orange is the New Black |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/lorna-orange-new-black/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Brook Soso || [[Kimiko Glenn]] ||Brook is pansexual. She revealed that she is attracted to people, not genders.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ferguson |first1=McKenna |title=Why 'OITNB' Refuses to Say the Word 'Bisexual' |url=https://www.pride.com/oitnb/2016/6/30/why-oitnb-refuses-say-word-bisexual}}</ref>
|-
| Artesian McCullough || Emily Tarver || Artesian is a lesbian correctional officer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sarrubba |first1=Stefania |title=These two OITNB actresses are girlfriends IRL and congrats, ladies! |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/these-two-oitnb-actresses-are-girlfriends-irl-and-congrats-ladies/}}</ref>
|-
| Maureen Kukudio || Emily Althaus || Maureen is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maureen Kukudio, Orange is the New Black |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/maureen-kukudio-orange-new-black/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Shani Abboud || Marie Lou-Nahhas || Shani is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peter |first1=Zack |title=Grab Some Tissues and Join Us on Nicky and Shani's Relationship Roller Coaster on OITNB |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Who-Plays-Shani-Orange-New-Black-46433403 |date=28 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Stella Carlin || Ruby Rose || Stella is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stella Carlin, Orange is the New Black |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/stella-carlin-orange-new-black/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Zelda || Alicia Witt || Zelda is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pomarico |first1=Nicole |title=A Guide To The New "OITNB" Season 7 Characters |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/07/238771/who-are-orange-is-the-new-black-season-7-new-characters#slide-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zelda |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/zelda-2/}}</ref>
|-
| Desi Piscatella ||[[Brad William Henke]] || Desi is an openly gay correctional officer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Herman |first1=James Patrick |title=OITNB's Brad William Henke Talks Openly Gay 'Papa Bear' Piscatella (Exclusive) |url=https://www.out.com/popnography/2016/7/29/oitnb-brad-william-henke-gay-bear-piscatella-interview}}</ref>
|-
| Dayanara "Daya" Diaz || [[Dascha Polanco|Dasha Polanco]] || Dayanara is "gay for the stay". She is dating Dominga.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dayanara "Daya" Diaz |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/dayanara-daya-diaz/}}</ref>
|-
| Dominga "Daddy" Duarte || [[Vicci Martinez]] || Dominga is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Prance|first1=Sam|title=Daddy from 'Orange Is the New Black' is dating McCullough irl and the internet can't deal|url=https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/news/orange-is-the-new-black-daddy-actress-dating/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2013–2017 ||rowspan="7"| ''[[Orphan Black]]'' ||rowspan="7"| [[Space (Canadian TV channel)|Space]]<hr/>[[BBC America]]|| Cosima Niehaus || [[Tatiana Maslany]] || Cosima is lesbian and a graduate student in biology, and one of the clones.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cosima Niehaus, Orphan Black |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/cosima-niehaus-orphan-black/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Felix Dawkins || [[Jordan Gavaris]] ||Felix is gay and the foster brother and confidant of Sarah, the show's main protagonist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jordan Gavaris On Why He Waited to Come Out |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/jordan-gavaris-explains-it-all.html}}</ref>
|-
| Delphine Cormier || [[Evelyne Brochu]] ||Delphine is bisexual and in a relationship with Cosima.<ref>{{cite web |title=Delphine Cormier, Orphan Black |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/delphine-cormier-orphan-black/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Tony Sawicki || Tatiana Maslany ||Tony is a transgender clone introduced in Season 2.<ref>{{cite web |title='Orphan Black' and trans representation: Where they went wrong |url=https://www.hypable.com/orphan-black-trans-representation/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Shay Davydov || [[Ksenia Solo]] || Shay is a lesbian and had a brief relationship with Cosima.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shay Davydov, Orphan Black |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/shay-davydov-orphan-black/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Sarah Manning || [[Tatiana Maslany]] || Sarah is bisexual. This was later confirmed as true by Tatiana Maslany at Comic Con 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvO8a48t4js|title=Orphan Black FULL PANEL - San Diego Comic-Con 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Camilla Torres || Tatiana Maslany || Camilla is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Camilla Torres |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/camilla-torres/}}</ref>
|-
|2013– || ''[[Peaky Blinders (TV series)|Peaky Blinders]]'' || [[BBC Two]] || James || Josh O'Connor || James is a gay writer who lives with Ada Shelby and her son, Karl.<ref>{{cite web |title='Peaky Blinders': Top 5 reasons Thomas Shelby is the most lovable gangster on TV |url=https://meaww.com/peaky-blinders-top-5-reasons-thomas-shelby-is-the-most-lovable-gangster-on-tv}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2013–2016 || rowspan="7"|''[[Please Like Me]]'' ||rowspan="7"| ABC || Josh || Josh Thomas || Josj is openly gay, and dates several men throughout the series.{{Sfn|GLAAD|2013|p=11}}
|-
| Geoffrey || Wade Briggs || Geoffrey was Josh's first boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=After ‘Please Like Me,’ Josh Thomas’s New Show Is All Fiction |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/16/arts/television/everythings-gonna-be-okay.html}}</ref>
|-
| Patrick || Charles Cottier || Patrick is gay and had a brief fling with Josh.<ref>{{cite web |title=15 Things You Need To Know About 'Please Like Me' Star Josh Thomas |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/josh-thomas-please-like-me_n_5976630}}</ref>
|-
| Arnold || Keegan Joyce || Arnold was Josh's boyfriend through most of the series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McHenry |first1=Jackson |title=Please Like Me Creator Josh Thomas on Season 4, Bad Dates, and Why Cat People Are ‘Psychopaths’ |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/please-like-me-season-four-josh-thomas-hulu.html}}</ref>
|-
| Hannah || [[Hannah Gadsby]] || Hannah is a lesbin, and lives with Josh's mother.<ref>{{cite web |title=‘Please Like Me’ Recap — Season 3, Episode 2: ‘Simple Carbohydrates’ |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/10/please-like-me-recap-season-3-episode-2-simple-carbohydrates-213623/}}</ref>
|-
|Ben || [[David Quirk]] || Ben is bisexual and was a one-night stand of Josh's.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Puff Pastry Pizza |title-link=List of Please Like Me episodes#Season 3 (2015)|last=Thomas|first=Josh |author-link= Josh Thomas (comedian) |series=[[Please Like Me]]|network=[[ABC TV (Australian TV network)|ABC]] |date=November 27, 2015 |season=3 |number=7 |time=12:02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Beluga Caviar|title-link=List of Please Like Me episodes#Season 4 (2016)|last1=Thomas|first1=Josh |author-link2= Thomas Ward (actor)|last2=Ward|first2=Thomas|last3=Doran|first3=Liz |series=[[Please Like Me]]|network=[[ABC TV (Australian TV network)|ABC]]|date=November 23, 2016|season=4|number=3 |time=05:25}}</ref>
|-
| Kyah || Freya Stafford || Kyah is lesbian, and Hannah's ex-girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kyah |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/kyah/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2013–2020 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Ray Donovan (TV series)|Ray Donovan]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Showtime (TV channel)|Showtime]] || Lena || [[Katherine Moennig]] || Lena is lesbian, and a personal assistant working for titular character Ray.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lena |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lena/}}</ref>
|-
| Tommy Wheeler || [[Austin Nichols]] ||Tommy is a closeted gay actor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Is "Ray Donovan" TV’s Most Offensive Show? |url=https://www.queerty.com/is-ray-donovan-tvs-most-offensive-show-20130711}}</ref>
|-
| Justine || Alexandra Turshen || Justine is bisexual and was Lena's girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Justine |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/justine-2/}}</ref>
|-
| Chloe Hunter || Alex Saxon || Chloe is a trans woman and a sex worker.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chloe Hunter |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/chloe-hunter/}}</ref>
|-
| Jeannie || Rya Kihlstedt || Jeannie is lesbian, and Lena's ex-girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jeannie |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/jeannie/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Tunnel|The Tunnel (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Sky Atlantic]]<hr>[[Canal+]] || [[Elise Wassermann]] || [[Clémence Poésy]] || Elise is bisexual and has had sex with men out of practical necessity and has not experienced emotional involvement with any sex partner. Until she met Eryka Klein, Elise had never felt romantic attraction for someone. She falls in love with Eryka.<ref name ="the tunnel tv show">{{cite web|title=Élise and Erika make Season 2 of "The Tunnel" worth watching|url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/514419-elise-erika-make-season-2-tunnel-worth-watching}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Love story between French police detective Elise Wassermann and suspect Eryka Klein|url=https://www.kizztv.com/2017/06/22/love-story-between-french-police-detective-elise-wassermann-and-suspect-eryka-klein/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730113913/https://www.kizztv.com/2017/06/22/love-story-between-french-police-detective-elise-wassermann-and-suspect-eryka-klein/|archive-date=July 30, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| Eryka Klein || Laura De Boer || Eryka (lesbian) falls in love with Elise.<ref name="the tunnel tv show"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2013–2015 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Under the Dome (TV series)|Under the Dome]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[CBS]] || Carolyn Hill || [[Aisha Hinds]] || Hill and Calvert are raising a daughter, Norrie Calvert-Hill, together.<ref name="under the dome">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/06/25/cbs-to-rebroadcast-the-series-premiere-of-under-the-dome-this-sunday-june-30-at-900-800c-145012/20130625cbs02/|title=Breaking News - CBS to Rebroadcast the Series Premiere of "Under the Dome" This Sunday, June 30 at 9:00/8:00c}}</ref>
|-
| Alice Calvert || [[Samantha Mathis]] || Alice is a lesbian.<ref name="under the dome"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2013–2020 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Vikings (2013 TV series)|Vikings]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[History (Canadian TV network)|History]] || Ragnar Lothbrok || [[Travis Fimmel]] || Ragnar is bisexual and on multiple occasions, has asked Athelstan to join him and Lagertha in bed.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Unicorn Scale: Vikings |url=https://bi.org/en/articles/the-unicorn-scale-vikings}}</ref>
|-
| Lagertha || [[Katheryn Winnick]] || Lagertha is bisexual. In the season 4 time jump, she has been with Astrid for about 7 years.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wagner|first1=Curt |title=Vikings' Sapphic Twist Surfaces a Powerful, Modern Woman|url=https://www.out.com/television/2016/11/23/vikings-sapphic-twist-surfaces-powerful-modern-woman}}</ref>
|-
| Astrid || [[Josefin Asplund]] || Astrid is bisexual. In season 5, she forces Lagertha to kill her. The sex scene between Lagertha and Astrid in episode "[[Vikings (season 4)#ep40|The Outsider]]" was edited for U.S. audiences and only showed them kissing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vikings 4.11 The Outsider|url=https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=433594|website=Movie-Censorship.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="Vikings" take on queer relationship|url=https://www.bgfalconmedia.com/entertainment/vikings-take-on-queer-relationship/article_eb29c1c0-dc6c-11e6-a0f7-97a6b03ba23d.html}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="22"|2013– ||rowspan="22"| ''[[Wentworth (TV series)|Wentworth]]'' ||rowspan="22"| [[SoHo (Australian TV channel)|SoHo]] || Franky Doyle || [[Nicole da Silva]] || Franky is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Roberts |first1=Delina |title=Blue is the New Black at Wentworth |url=https://lezflix.com/blue-is-the-new-black-at-wentworth/ |website=Lez Flix |date=November 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lyons |first1=Margaret |title=Australian Prison Series Wentworth Is the Dark Drama You've Been Waiting For |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/12/tv-review-wentworth-australian-prison-series.html}}</ref>
|-
| Erica Davidson || [[Leeanna Walsman]] ||Erica is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erica Davidson, Wentworth |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/erica-davidson-wentworth/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Kim Chang || Ra Chapman ||Kim is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kim Chang, Wentworth |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/kim-chang-wentworth/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Joan Ferguson || [[Pamela Rabe]] || Joan is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Joan Ferguson, Wentworth |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/joan-ferguson-wentworth/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Maxine Conway || Socratis Otto || Maxine is a transgender woman.<ref name="Maxine Conway, Wentworth">{{cite web |title=Maxine Conway, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/maxine-conway/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Bridget Westfall || [[Libby Tanner]] || Bridget is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridget Westfall, Wentworth |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/bridget-westfall-wentworth/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Lucy Gambaro || Sally-Anne Upton || Lucy is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lucy Gambaro, Wentworth |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/lucy-gambaro-wentworth/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Allie Novak || [[Kate Jenkinson]] || Allie is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Allie Novak, Wentworth |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/allie-novak-wentworth/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Bea Smith || [[Danielle Cormack]] || Bea is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bea Smith, Wentworth |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/bea-smith-wentworth/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Jodie Spiteri || [[Pia Miranda]] || Jodie is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jodie Spiteri, Wentworth |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/jodie-spiteri-wentworth/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Sean Brody || Rick Donald || Sean is gay and had a sexual relationship with Jake in the past.<ref name="Jake you naughty boy">{{cite web |title=Jake, you naughty boy – what have you been up to? |url=https://www.foxtel.com.au/whats-on/foxtel-insider/foxtel/jake-you-naughty-boy-what-have-you-been-up-to.html}}</ref>
|-
| Jake Stewart || [[Bernard Curry]] || Jake was in a sexual relationship with Sean.<ref name="Jake you naughty boy"/>
|-
| Lou Kelly || Kate Box || Lou is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lou Kelly, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lou-kelly/}}</ref>
|-
| Ruby Mitchell || Rarriwuy Hick || Ruby is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruby Mitchell, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/ruby-mitchell/}}</ref>
|-
| Marie Winter || Susie Porter || Marie is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marie Winter, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/marie-winter/}}</ref>
|-
| Maxine Conway || Socratis Otto || Maxine is a trans woman.<ref name="Maxine Conway, Wentworth"/>
|-
| Reb Keane || Zoe Terakes || Reb is a trans man.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reb Keane, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/reb-keane/}}</ref>
|-
| Spike Baxter || Kate Elliott || Spike is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spike Baxter, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/spike-baxter/}}</ref>
|-
| Zara Dragovich || Natalia Novikova || Zara is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zara Dragovich, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/zara-dragovich/}}</ref>
|-
| Dana Malouf || Daniielle Alexis || Dana is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dana Malouf, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/dana-malouf/}}</ref>
|-
| Jianna Riley || Tasia Zalar || Jianna is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jianna Riley, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/jianna-riley/}}</ref>
|-
| Shelley Hayes || Alinta Chidzey || Shelley is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shelley Hayes, Wentworth |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/shelley-hayes/}}</ref>
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2014==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="6"|2014– ||rowspan="6"| ''{{sortname|The|100|The 100 (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="6"| [[The CW]] || Commander Lexa ||[[Alycia Debnam-Carey]] || Commander Lexa is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lexa, The 100 |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/lexa-the-100/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Clarke Griffin || [[Eliza Taylor]] || Clarke Griffin is bisexual. In Season 1, Clarke has a relationship with Finn, and in Season 2 Clarke and Lexa kiss.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clarke Griffin, The 100|url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/clarke-griffin-100/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Niylah || [[Jessica Harmon]] || Niylah is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Niylah, The 100 |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/niylah-the-100/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Nathan Miller || Jarod Joseph ||Nathan Miller is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title="The 100": What's In Store For Miller, Clarke And The Show's Other LGBT Characters (SPOILERS) |url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-100-clarke-clexa-miller/01/2016/}}</ref>
|-
| Bryan || Jonathan Whitesell || Bryan is gay.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lavigne |first1=Carlen |title=Post-Apocalyptic Patriarchy: American Television and Gendered Visions of Survival |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-3445-6 |page=151 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_HZyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA151}}</ref>
|-
| Eric Jackson || Sachin Sahel || Eric Jackson is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title='The 100' Season 7 Countdown: Sachin Sahel says final season is 'batsh*t crazy' and 'like nothing you've seen' |url=https://meaww.com/the-100-season-7-countdown-sachin-sahel-interview-final-season-batshit-crazy-jackson-miller-429173}}</ref>
|-
|2014–2019 || ''[[The Affair (TV series)|The Affair]]'' ||[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]|| Trevor Solloway || Jadon Sand || Trevor Solloway is a gay teen. He is the son of the main couple.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bandyopadhyay |first1=Alakananda |title='The Affair' season 5 dissects who Jadon Sand's Trevor Solloway has become in the aftermath of his father's romantic fling |url=https://meaww.com/the-affair-season-5-spoilers-trevor-solloway-gay-coming-out-father-affair-jadon-sand}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2014–2017 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Black Sails (TV series)|Black Sails]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Starz (TV channel)|Starz]] || James Flint || [[Toby Stephens]] ||James Flint is gay and was in a past relationship with Thomas (revealed in season two). Their separation was the reason for Flint waging war against the British empire.<ref name=blacksailsgay>{{cite web|title="Black Sails" and Its Big Gay Reveal|url=http://www.newnownext.com/black-sails-and-its-big-gay-reveal/02/2015/|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=February 22, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Eleanor Guthrie || [[Hannah New]] || Eleanor Guthrie is bisexual. In season one, she is in a relationship with Max.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bendix|first1=Trish|title="Black Sails" Season 2 has Eleanor and Max at odds|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/409889-black-sails-season-2-eleanor-max-odds|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124035454/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/409889-black-sails-season-2-eleanor-max-odds|archive-date=January 24, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Max || [[Jessica Parker Kennedy]] || Max is a lesbian. She is Eleanor's lover, then has a romantic relationship with Anne.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Berlin|first1=Marina|title='Black Sails' Depicts the Untold Story of Queer Pirates|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/yp99gm/black-sails-depicts-the-untold-story-of-queer-pirates|website=[[Vice Media|Vice]]|date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Anne Bonny || [[Clara Paget]] || Anne Bonny is bisexual. She starts a relationship with Max in season two.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bendix|first1=Trish|title=Clara Paget talks playing bisexual pirate legend Anne Bonny on Season 3 of "Black Sails"|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/470671-clara-paget-talks-playing-bisexual-pirate-legend-anne-bonny-season-3-black-sails|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=January 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124095022/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/470671-clara-paget-talks-playing-bisexual-pirate-legend-anne-bonny-season-3-black-sails|archive-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Thomas Hamilton || [[Rupert Penry-Jones]] || Thomas Hamilton was Flint's lover.<ref>{{cite web |title='Black Sails' Star Toby Stephens Talks Flint's Gay Romance: 'He Became Himself' (Video) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/black-sails-star-toby-stephens-talks-flints-gay-romance-he-became-himself/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Bosch (TV series)|Bosch]]'' ||rowspan="2"|[[Amazon Prime Video]]|| Grace Billets || [[Amy Aquino]] || Grace Billets has a lesbian affair with a Black female colleague in the [[LAPD]], Kizmin Rider.<ref name="danran">{{cite web|last=Dankievitch|first=Randy|url=https://www.tvovermind.com/bosch-season-1-episode-9-review-magic-castle/|title=Bosch Season 1 Episode 9 Review: "The Magic Castle"|website=TV Over Mind|date=2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329193600/https://www.tvovermind.com/bosch-season-1-episode-9-review-magic-castle/|archive-date=March 29, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|url=https://uproxx.com/sepinwall/bosch-amazon-review-season-three-recap/|title=Amazon’s ‘Bosch’ Gets Busier — And Better — In Season Three|website=Uproxx|date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028022749/https://uproxx.com/sepinwall/bosch-amazon-review-season-three-recap/|archive-date=October 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/thursday-may-4th-2017#slide-4|title=Thursday, May 4th 2017|website=[[The Hallmark Channel]]|date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.is/EwfLx|archive-date=March 29, 2021|url-status=live|quote=This season explores Billets past after she gave birth to her daughter and revealed she was a lesbian}}</ref> She is a lieutenant who is a supervisor of the show's protagonist, Harry Bosch, at [[Los Angeles Police Department#Operations—West Bureau|Hollywood Station]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Connolly|first=Michael|url=https://www.michaelconnelly.com/characters/grace-billets/|title=Grace Billets|website=Official website of Michael Connelly|date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329194615/https://www.michaelconnelly.com/characters/grace-billets/|archive-date=March 29, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gunderson|first=Alexis|url=https://collider.com/bosch-recap/|title='Bosch' Recap: Everything You Need to Know Before the Season 6 Premiere on Amazon|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=April 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806155658/https://collider.com/bosch-recap/|archive-date=August 6, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Kizmin Rider || [[Rose Rollins]] || The girlfriend of Grace Billets and detective with the [[LAPD]].<ref name="danran"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Fowler|first=Matt|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/20/bosch-season-1-spoiler-discussion|title=Bosch: Season 1 Spoiler Discussion|website=[[IGN]]|date=February 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801133840/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/20/bosch-season-1-spoiler-discussion|archive-date=August 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2014–2016 || rowspan="4"|''[[Carmilla (web series)|Carmilla]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Vervegirl]] || Carmilla Karnstein ||[[Natasha Negovanlis]] || Carmilla Karnstein is a 100+ year old lesbian vampire.<ref name="odyssey"/>
|-
| Laura Hollis || [[Elise Bauman]] ||Laura Hollis is a lesbian. Carmilla and Laura are in a relationship.<ref name="odyssey"/>
|-
| Danny Lawrence || [[Sharon Belle]] || Danny Lawrence is a lesbian.<ref name="odyssey"/>
|-
| S. LaFontaine || [[Kaitlyn Alexander]] ||LaFontaine is non-binary.<ref name="odyssey">{{cite web |last1=Polito |first1=Isabelle |title=What 'Carmilla' Does Get Right About Queer Representation |url=https://www.theodysseyonline.com/carmilla-queer-representation |website=The Odyssey Online |publisher=Odyssey Media Group |access-date=14 October 2018 |date=13 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2014–2015 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Chasing Life]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Brenna Carver || [[Haley Ramm]] || Brenna Carver is bisexual. She begins a relationship with Greer, despite the fact that Brenna already had a boyfriend. Later she chooses Greer over her boyfriend and they begin a relationship.<ref>{{cite web |title='Chasing Life' Star Discusses Brenna's Bisexuality, Her New "Innocent" Relationship |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/chasing-life-season-2-haley-822975 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=14 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Greer Danville || [[Gracie Dzienny]] || Greer Danville is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greer Danvill, Chasing Life |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/greer-danvill-chasing-life/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Margo || [[Aurora Perrineau]] || Margo is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Margo, Chasing Life |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/margo/}}</ref>
|-
| Juliet || Leisha Hailey || Juliet is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Juliet, Chasing Life |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/juliet-chasing-life/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="6"|2014–2016 ||rowspan="6"| ''[[Faking It (U.S. TV series)|Faking It]]'' ||rowspan="6"| [[MTV]] || Amy Raudenfeld || [[Rita Volk]] || Amy Raudenfeld is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amy Raudenfeld, Faking It |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/amy-raudenfeld/}}</ref>
|-
| Shane Harvey || [[Michael J. Willett|Michael Willett]] ||Shane Harvey is openly gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Faking It Episode 215 Recap: Raise Your Hand If You've Been Outed By Shane Harvey |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/faking-it-episode-215-recap-raise-your-hand-if-youve-been-outed-by-shane-harvey-309219/ |website=Autostraddle |date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="faking it"/>
|-
| Lauren Cooper || [[Bailey De Young]] ||Lauren Cooper is intersexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lauren Cooper, Faking It |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lauren-cooper/}}</ref>
|-
| Reagan || [[Yvette Monreal]] ||Reagan is lesbian and Amy's girlfriend in season 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reagan, Faking It |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/reagan-faking-it/}}</ref>
|-
| Noah || Elliot Fletcher || Noah is a trans man.<ref name="faking it">{{cite web |title=Noah, Faking It |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/noah/}}</ref>
|-
| Sabrina || Sophia Ali || Sabrina is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sabrina, Faking It |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sabrina/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014–2015 || rowspan="2"|''[[Finding Carter]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[MTV]] || Bird || [[Vanessa Morgan]] || Bird is bisexual and Madison is her love interest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bird Castro, Finding Carter |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/bird-castro-finding-carter/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Madison || Molly Kunz || Madison is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Madison, Finding Carter |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/madison-finding-carter/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2014– || rowspan="7"|''{{sortname|The|Flash|The Flash (2014 TV series)}}'' || rowspan="7"|[[The CW]] || [[David Singh]] || [[Patrick Sabongui]] || David Singh is openly gay and the Central City police commander. He is married to Rob.<ref name=Batwoman1>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Liz Shannon |title=Introducing Batwoman: What to Know About Ruby Rose's Lesbian Superhero on The CW |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/12/the-cw-batwoman-ruby-rose-elseworlds-1202027068/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Rob || Jeremy Schuetze ||Rob is gay.<ref name=Batwoman1/>
|-
| [[Pied Piper (comics)|Hartley Rathaway]] || [[Andy Mientus]] ||Hartley Rathaway is openly gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chi |first1=Paul |title=‘The Flash’: Andy Mientus Says Gay Villain Pied Piper is a ‘Huge Step Forward’ |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/flash-andy-mientus-gay-pied-piper-1201375260/ |website=Variety |date=10 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[XS (comics)|Nora West-Allen]] || [[Jessica Parker Kennedy]] || Nora West-Allen is queer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nora West-Allen, The Flash |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/nora-west-allen/}}</ref>
|-
| [[Batwoman|Kate Kane]] || [[Ruby Rose]] || Kate Kane is lesbian.<ref name=Batwoman1/>
|-
| Marlize DeVoe || Kim Engelbrecht || Marlize DeVoe is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marlize DeVoe, The Flash |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/marlize-devoe/}}</ref>
|-
| Alex Danvers || Chyler Leigh || Alex Danvers is lesbian (guest appearance - 2017).<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex Danvers, The Flash |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/alex-danvers/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014 || rowspan="2"|''[[Glue (TV series)|Glue]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] || James Warwick || [[Billy Howle]] || James Warwick and Caleb "Cal" Bray were romantically involved.<ref name="gluecultbox"/>
|-
| Caleb "Cal" Bray || [[Tommy Lawrence Knight]] || Caleb "Cal" Bray and James Warwick were romantically involved, before Cal was murdered.<ref name="gluecultbox">{{cite web |title=‘Glue’ Episode 5 review |url=https://cultbox.co.uk/reviews/episodes/glue-s01e05-episode-5-review |website=CultBox |date=13 October 2014}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2014–2019 || rowspan="5"|''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] || [[Renee Montoya]] || [[Victoria Cartagena]] || Renee Montoya is lesbian, and is the ex-girlfriend of Barbara Kean.<ref name="gotham lesbi"/>
|-
| [[Barbara Kean]] || [[Erin Richards]] || Barbara Kean is bisexual.<ref name="gotham lesbi">{{cite web |title=Gotham Introduces Lesbian & Bisexual Characters |url=https://www.pride.com/women/2014/9/24/gotham-introduces-lesbian-bisexual-characters |date=24 September 2014}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tabitha Galavan]] || [[Jessica Lucas]] || Tabitha Galavan is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tabitha Galavan, Gotham |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/tabitha-galavan-gotham/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| The Lady || [[Michelle Gomez]] || The Lady is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lady, Gotham |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/the-lady/}}</ref>
|-
| [[Oswald Cobblepot (Gotham)|Oswald Cobblepot]] || [[Robin Lord Taylor]] || Oswald Cobblepot is in love with Edward Nygma.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supergirl and Gotham Have Both Coming-Out Storylines for Main Characters |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/supergirl-gotham-lgbt-coming-out-alex-danvers-the-penguin/ |website=TV Guide}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2014– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Grantchester (TV series)|Grantchester]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] || Leonard Finch || [[Al Weaver]] || Leonard Finch is gay.<ref name="grantchester gay charct"/>
|-
| Daniel Marlowe || [[Oliver Dimsdale]] || Daniel Marlowe is gay.<ref name="grantchester gay charct"/><ref>{{cite web |title='Grantchester' Season 4 New Arrival Will Davenport Is 'Very Different' From Sidney |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/790622/grantchester-season-4-james-norton-exit-tom-brittney/}}</ref>
|-
| Alex Simms || Tom Turner || Alex Simms is gay.<ref name="grantchester gay charct">{{cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Megan |title='Grantchester' Season 4, Episode 2 Recap: Secrets Exposed |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/grantchester-season-4-episode-2-recap-secrets-exposed.html/ |date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2014–2017 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Halt and Catch Fire (TV series)|Halt and Catch Fire]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] || Joe MacMillan || [[Lee Pace]] || Joe MacMillan is bisexual and main character of the show.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lee Pace on Joe MacMillan’s Fate in the Halt and Catch Fire Finale |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/halt-and-catch-fire-lee-pace-series-finale-interview.html |date=14 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Lev || [[August Emerson]] ||Lev is openly gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Am I the Only Human on the Internet Who Thinks Cameron and Donna from Halt and Catch Fire Should Be In Love? |url=https://shacksadvocate.com/2016/11/08/am-i-the-only-human-on-the-internet-who-thinks-cameron-and-donna-from-halt-and-catch-fire-should-be-in-love/comment-page-1/ |date=8 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Haley Clark || Susanna Skaggs ||Haley Clark is revealed to be lesbian in season 4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Haley Clark, Halt and Catch Fire |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/haley-clark/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014–2015 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Heartless (TV series)|Heartless]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Kanal 5 (Denmark)|Kanal 5]] || Sofie || Julie Zangenberg || Sofie is a succubus lesbian that feeds on the life force of humans. She falls in love with Emilie.<ref name="heartless sofie"/>
|-
| Emilie || Julie Christiansen ||Emilie is lesbian and falls in love with Sofie.<ref name="heartless sofie">{{cite web|last1=Frost|first1=Karen|title=The Happy Ending Project: Sofie and Emilie in "Heartless"|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/544527-happy-ending-project-sofie-emilie-heartless|website=[[After Ellen]]|date=September 11, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="15"|2014– ||rowspan="15"| ''[[How to Get Away with Murder]]'' ||rowspan="15"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || [[Annalise Keating]] ||[[Viola Davis]] || Annalise Keating is pansexual. She teaches law at college.<ref>{{cite web |title=How To Get Away With Murder actor applauds character's sexuality |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/08/10/how-to-get-away-with-murder-actor-applauds-characters-sexuality/ |date=10 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cooper|first=Mariah|url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2017/08/10/viola-davis-applauds-annalise-keatings-pansexuality-htgawm/|title=Viola Davis applauds Annalise Keating's pansexuality in 'HTGAWM'|work=Los Angeles Blade|date=August 10, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Eve Rothlo || [[Famke Janssen]] || Eve Rothlo is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eve Rothlow, How to Get Away with Murder |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/eve-rothlow-get-away-murder/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| [[Connor Walsh (character)|Connor Walsh]] || [[Jack Falahee]] || Connor Walsh is a gay law student. Connor Walsh and Oliver Hampton begin to date on and off throughout the seasons, culminating in their marriage in season 5.<ref name="oliver and connor htgawm"/><ref name="jill hartford"/>
|-
| [[Oliver Hampton]] || [[Conrad Ricamora]] || Oliver Hampton is gay and an I.T. specialist whom Connor Walsh first seduced to get information. Over time, the two develop feelings for each other. They marry in season 5, and remain happy.<ref name="oliver and connor htgawm">{{cite web|last1=smith|first1=s.e.|title="How To Get Away With Murder" Brings an HIV-Positive Character to Primetime|url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/how-get-away-murder-brings-hiv-positive-character-primetime|website=[[Bitch Media]]|date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="jill hartford"/>
|-
| [[Bonnie Winterbottom]] || [[Liza Weil]] || Bonnie Winterbottom is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bonnie Winterbottom, How To Get Away With Murder |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/bonnie-winterbottom-get-away-murder/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Aiden Walker || [[Elliot Knight]] || Aiden Walker is bisexual. He slept with Connor and was engaged to a woman.<ref>{{cite web |title="HTGAWM" S1 rewind: "Smile or Go to Jail" |url=https://colorwebmag.com/2014/11/02/htgawm-s2-rewind-smile-or-go-to-jail/}}</ref>
|-
| Simon Drake || Behzad Dabu || Simon Drake is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=How To Get Away With Murder: The 10 Worst Things Michaela Ever Did |url=https://screenrant.com/how-to-get-away-with-murder-worst-things-michaela-did/ |website=Screen Rant |date=19 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Tegan Price || [[Amirah Vann]] || Tegan Price is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tegan Price, How To Get Away With Murder|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/tegan-price/}}</ref>
|-
| Jeff Walsh || [[D.W. Moffett]] || Jeff Walsh is gay. He is Connor's dad.<ref name="jeff and ted htgawm"/>
|-
| Ted || Jim Abele || Ted is gay and married to Jeff Walsh.<ref name="jeff and ted htgawm">{{cite web |title=How to Get Away With Murder's Jack Falahee Has an Idea About Who Should Play Connor's Mom Now That We've Met His Dad(s) |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/888232/how-to-get-away-with-murder-s-jack-falahee-has-an-idea-about-who-should-play-connor-s-mom-now-that-we-ve-met-his-dad-s |website=E! Online |date=2017}}</ref>
|-
| Jill Hartford || [[Alexandra Billings]] || Jill Hartford is a trans woman.<ref name="jill hartford">{{cite web|last1=Signorile|first1=Michelangelo|title=Here's How 'How To Get Away With Murder' Became The Queerest Show On Network TV|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-get-away-with-murder-queer-tv_us_56eac3c7e4b0b25c91849584|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=March 17, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Claire Telesco || Melinda Page Hamilton || Claire Telesco is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Claire Telesco, How To Get Away With Murder|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/claire-telesco/}}</ref>
|-
| Cora || Mercedes Mason || Cora is bisexual. She is Tegan's ex-wife.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cora, How To Get Away With Murder|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/cora/}}</ref>
|-
| Nanda Hashim || Ramona DuBarry || Nanda Hashim is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nanda Hashim, How To Get Away With Murder|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/nanda-hashim/}}</ref>
|-
| Dani Alvodar || Alyssa Diaz || Dani Alvodar is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dani Alvodar, How To Get Away With Murder|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/dani-alvodar/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="13"|2014–2019 ||rowspan="13"| ''[[Jane the Virgin]]'' ||rowspan="13"| [[The CW]] || Luisa Alver || [[Yara Martinez]] || Luisa Alver is lesbian.<ref name="jane the virgin"/>
|-
| Rose Solano || [[Bridget Regan]] || Rose Solano is lesbian.<ref name="jane the virgin"/>
|-
| Wesley Masters || Brian Jordan Alvarez || Wesley Masters is an openly gay writer attending grad school with Jane.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vine |first1=Lauren Le |title="Jane The Virgin" Midseason Finale Recap: It's A Christmas Miracle |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2015/12/99039/jane-the-virgin-season-2-episode-8-recap}}</ref>
|-
| Krishna || Shelly Bhalla ||Krishna is lesbian and Petra's secretary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Krishna Dhawan, Jane the Virgin |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/krishna-dhawan/}}</ref>
|-
| Adam Alvaro || [[Tyler Posey]] ||Adam Alvaro is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jane the Virgin just brought in a bisexual character and fans are excited |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/11/14/jane-the-virgin-just-brought-in-a-bisexual-character-and-fans-are-excited/ |date=14 November 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Jane Ramos || [[Rosario Dawson]] ||Jane Ramos is openly lesbian and a shady lawyer.<ref name="jane the virgin"/>
|-
| Petra Andel || [[Yael Grobglas]] ||Petra Andel is queer.<ref name="jane the virgin">{{cite web |title=Jane the Virgin's Final Season is Gayer and Wilder and More Romantic Than Ever |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/jane-the-virgins-final-season-is-gayer-and-wilder-and-more-romantic-than-ever/ |website=Autostraddle |date=22 April 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Eileen || Elisabeth Röhm || Eileen is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eileen, Jane the Virgin|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/eileen/}}</ref>
|-
| Marlene Donaldson || Melanie Mayron || Marlene Donaldson is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marlene Donaldson, Jane the Virgin|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/marlene-donaldson/}}</ref>
|-
| Susanna Barnett || Megan Ketch || Susanna Barnett is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Susanna Barnett, Jane the Virgin|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/susanna-barnett/}}</ref>
|-
| Allison || Iyari Limon || Allison is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Allison, Jane the Virgin|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/allison-2/}}</ref>
|-
| Dana || A Leslie Kies || Dana is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dana, Jane the Virgin|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/dana-jtv/}}</ref>
|-
| Leona || Zelda Williams || Leona is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leona, Jane the Virgin|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/leona/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2014– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Janet King (TV series)|Janet King]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[ABC1]] || [[Janet King (fictional character)|Janet King]] || [[Marta Dusseldorp]] || Janet King and Ashleigh Larsson are a lesbian couple.<ref name="janet king tv">{{cite web |last1=Kayvon |first1=Shervin |title=Meet Janet King: The Lesbian Lead Australians Asked For |url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/meet-janet-king-the-lesbian-lead-australians-asked-for/ |date=11 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Ash Larsson || Aimee Pedersen || Ash Larsson is lesbian.<ref name="janet king tv"/>
|-
| Bianca Grieve || [[Anita Hegh]] ||In Season 3, Janet King and Bianca Grieve enter into a relationship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bianca Grieve |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/bianca-grieve/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014–2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Kingdom (2014 TV series)|Kingdom]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Audience Network]] || Nate Kulina || [[Nick Jonas]] || Nate Kulina is a closeted gay MMA fighter.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Highfill |first1=Samantha |title='Kingdom' Creator, Nick Jonas Talk Tonight's Shocking Ending |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/07/27/kingdom-nate-kulina-shot-nick-jonas/ |website=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 27, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Will || [[Jonathan Howard (actor)|Jonathan Howard]] || Will is gay and Nate's love interest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nick Jonas's gay kiss in the latest episode of Kingdom was too adorable |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/nick-jonas-gay-kiss-latest-episode-kingdom-adorable/ |date=6 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014–2018 || rowspan="2"|''{{sortname|The|Last Ship|The Last Ship (TV series)}}'' || rowspan="2"|[[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] || Alisha Granderson || [[Christina Elmore]] || Alisha Granderson is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alisha Granderson, The Last Ship |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/alisha-granderson/}}</ref>
|-
| Kelsi Baker || Caitlin Gerard || Kelsi Baker is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kelsi Baker, The Last Ship |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/kelsi-baker/}}</ref>
|-
|2014–2018 || ''{{sortname|The|Librarians|The Librarians (2014 TV series)}}'' || [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] || Cassandra Killian || [[Lindy Booth]] || Cassandra Killian is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cassandra Cillian |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/cassandra-cillian/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="8"|2014–2015 ||rowspan="8"| ''[[Looking (TV series)|Looking]]'' ||rowspan="8"| [[HBO]] || Patrick Murray || [[Jonathan Groff]] || Patrick Murray is gay and a video-game developer.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title='Glee's' Jonathan Groff to Star in HBO Comedy Pilot (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/glee-jonathan-groff-star-hbo-comedy-gay-friends-419996|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=August 24, 2013|date=February 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name="looking tv show">{{cite web |last1=McNamara |first1=Mary |title=Review: HBO's 'Looking' an authentic glimpse inside lives of gay men |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-looking-hbo-review-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 18, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Agustín Lanuez || [[Frankie J. Alvarez]] ||Agustín Lanuez is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carney |first1=Brian T. |title=‘Looking’ for closure |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/07/20/looking-movie/ |website=Washington Blade |date=20 July 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Dom Basaluzzo || [[Murray Bartlett]] || Dom Basaluzzo is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stroude |first1=Will |title='Tales of the City' star Murray Bartlett looks back on 'Looking' criticism |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/article/tales-of-the-city-star-murray-bartlett-looks-back-on-looking-criticism/21040/ |website=[[Attitude (magazine)]] |date=24 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Kevin Matheson || [[Russell Tovey]] ||Kevin Matheson is gay.<ref>{{cite web|last=Abramovitch|first=Seth|title=Russell Tovey Joins Gay-Themed HBO Dramedy 'Looking'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/russell-tovey-joins-gay-themed-617683|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 29, 2013}}</ref>
|-
| Ricardo "Richie" Donado Ventura || [[Raúl Castillo]] || Ricardo "Richie" Donado Ventura is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heap |first1=Tim |last2=Stroude |first2=Will |title=Raúl Castillo talks 'Looking' and his new role in gay coming-of-age drama 'We the Animals' |url=https://attitude.co.uk/article/raul-castillo-talks-looking-and-his-new-role-in-gay-coming-of-age-drama-we-the-animals/21050/ |website=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]] |date=28 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Frank || [[O. T. Fagbenle]] || Frank is gay.<ref name="looking tv show"/>
|-
| Lynn || [[Scott Bakula]] || Lynn is gay.<ref name="looking tv show"/>
|-
| Eddie || [[Daniel Franzese]] ||Eddie is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kornhaber |first1=Spencer |title='Looking: The Movie' Tackles the Existential Crisis Around Gay Marriage |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/07/looking-the-movie-gay-marriage/492434/ |website=The Atlantic |date=25 July 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="6"|2014– || rowspan="6"|''[[Madam Secretary (TV series)|Madam Secretary]]'' ||rowspan="6"| [[CBS]] || Blake Moran || [[Erich Bergen]] || Blake Moran comes out as bisexual at the end of season 3.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hernandez|first=Greg|url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/watch-madam-secretary-character-comes-bisexual-boss-touching-scene/|title=WATCH: Madam Secretary character comes out as bisexual to his boss in touching scene|work=[[Gay Star News]]|date=May 17, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Kat Sandoval || [[Sara Ramirez]] || Kat Sandoval is bisexual.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Phillips|first1=Carmen|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/sara-ramirezs-bisexual-coming-out-on-madam-secretary-was-breathtaking-415241/|title=Sara Ramirez's Bisexual Coming Out on "Madam Secretary" Was Breathtaking|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=March 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=McDonough|first1=Beth|title=Sara Ramirez on "Madam Secretary" is a Game Changer for Bisexual Representation|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/557187-sara-ramirez-madam-secretary-game-changer-bisexual-representation|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=April 3, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Ali Krieger || [[Ali Krieger]] || Ali Krieger is a lesbian. She does a public service announcement for equal pay. She is a member of the World Cup Champion U.S. Women's Soccer team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ali Krieger, Madam Secretary|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/ali-krieger/}}</ref><ref name="equal pay psa">{{cite web |last1=Jacobs |first1=Meredith |title=Look Who's Back for the 'Madam Secretary' Series Finale McCord Wedding |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/madam-secretary-series-finale-leaving-the-station-photos/#15 |website=TV Insider}}</ref>
|-
| Ashlyn Harris || [[Ashlyn Harris]] || Ashlyn Harris is a lesbian. She does a public service announcement for equal pay. She is a member of the World Cup Champion U.S. Women's Soccer team.<ref name="equal pay psa"/>
|-
| Maryam Gagulia || Amanda M. Rodriguez || Maryam Gagulia is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maryam Gagulia, Madam Secretary|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/maryam-gagulia/}}</ref>
|-
| Ana Ivanba || Anastasia Baranova || Ana Ivanba is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ana Ivanba, Madam Secretary|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/ana-ivanba/}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2014 || rowspan="2"| ''[[Matador (American TV series)|Matador]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[El Rey Network]] || Reyna Flores || [[Eve Torres]] || Reyna Flores is a lesbian. She is a sideline news reporter.<ref name="Matador lgbt char">{{cite web |title=Reyna Flores, Matador |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/reyna-flores-matador/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref><ref name="autostraddle.com">{{cite web |title=All 214 Dead Lesbian and Bisexual Characters On TV, And How They Died {{!}} Page 3 of 4 |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/all-65-dead-lesbian-and-bisexual-characters-on-tv-and-how-they-died-312315/3/ |website=Autostraddle |date=11 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Silda Patel || Mouzam Makkar || Silda Patel is a lesbina. She is Reyna Flores' secret girlfriend.<ref name="Matador lgbt char"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Silda Patel, Matador |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/silda-patel/}}</ref>
|-
|2014–2016 || ''{{sortname|The|Mysteries of Laura}}'' || [[NBC]] || Max Carnegie || [[Max Jenkins]] || Max Carnegie is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mysteries of Laura |url=https://www.pluggedin.com/tv-reviews/mysteries-of-laura/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2014– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[NCIS: New Orleans]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[CBS]] || [[List of NCIS: New Orleans characters#Tammy Gregorio|Tammy Gregorio]] || [[Vanessa Ferlito]] || Tammy Gregorio is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tammy Gregorio, NCIS: New Orleans|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/tammy-gregorio/}}</ref>
|-
| Eva Azarova || Cassidy Freeman || Eva Azarova is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eva Azarova, NCIS: New Orleans|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/eva-azarova/}}</ref>
|-
| Hannah Lee || Meghan Ory || Hannah Lee is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hannah Lee, NCIS: New Orleans|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/hannah-lee/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014–2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Night Shift|The Night Shift (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[NBC]] || Drew Allister || [[Brendan Fehr]] || Drew Allister is gay.<ref name="the shift at night"/>
|-
| Rick || [[Luke Macfarlane]] ||Rick is Drew's boyfriend, introduced in season 1, episode 6 when he is involved in a bus accident.<ref name="the shift at night">{{cite web |last1=Halterman |first1=Jim |title=Interview: Luke Macfarlane on "The Night Shift," Gay Military Couples, "Brothers & Sisters" & More |url=http://www.newnownext.com/interview-luke-macfarlane-on-night-shift-gays-on-tv-more/06/2014/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014 ||rowspan="2"|''Nikki & Nora: The N&N Files'' ||rowspan="2"| [[YouTube]] || Nikki Beaumont || Liz Vassey || Nikki Beaumont is a lesbian private detective in New Orleans. She investigates cases with her partner Nora, who is also her lover.<ref name="nikki and nora">{{cite web |last1=Krauss |first1=Andrea |title=Nikki & Nora: The N&N Files - Lesbian Private Investigators in Love in The Big Easy |url=https://www.pride.com/box-office/2013/08/29/watch-nikki-nora-nn-files-lesbian-private-investigators-love-big-easy |website=Pride |date=29 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="nor and nik">{{cite web |last1=Capuano |first1=Erin P. |title=Nikki and Nora (N&N Files) is back and ready for a Season Two (Includes interview and first-hand account) |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/a-and-e/entertainment/nikki-and-nora-n-n-files-is-back-and-ready-for-a-season-two/article/428087 |website=Digital Journal |date=11 March 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Nora Delaney || Christina Cox || Nora Delaney is a lesbian, and a private investigator. Her partner is Nikki, who is also her lover.<ref name="nikki and nora"/><ref name="nor and nik"/>
|-
|2014–|| ''[[:de:Nord bei Nordwest|Nord bei Nordwest]]'' || [[Das Erste]] || Hannah Wagner || [[:de:Jana Klinge|Jana Klinge]] || Hannah Wagner is lesbian. The police officer arrives in the fictional village Schwanitz to succeed the deceased Lona Vogt. She answers the question of when her husband will come by stating: "I don’t have a husband. I like women."<ref>{{cite web|author=Meike|title=Queere Frauenfiguren in deutschen Serien|url=https://www.seriennotizen.de/queere-frauenfiguren-in-deutschen-serien/|website=Seriennotizen|date=24 January 2021|language=de|trans-title=Queer female characters in German series}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Video: Nord bei Nordwest – Der Anschlag|url=https://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/film/der-donnerstags-krimi/videos/nord-bei-nordwest-der-anschlag-video-100.html|website=[[Das Erste]]|date=7 January 2021|language=de|trans-title=Video: North by Northwest - The attack}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2014– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Outlander (TV series)|Outlander]]'' ||rowspan="3"|[[Starz (TV channel)|Starz]] ||Duke of Sandringham || [[Simon Callow]] || The Duke of Sandringham is queer.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Unicorn Scale: Outlander |url=https://bi.org/en/articles/the-unicorn-scale-outlander |website=Bi.org}}</ref>
|-
| Jonathan Randall<br/> (aka Black Jack) || [[Tobias Menzies]] || Black Jack is queer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Outlander: Casting a Queer Man as the Main Villain Is Garbage, Actually |url=https://www.cbr.com/outlander-queer-jack-randall-problematic/ |date=30 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Byrne-Cristiano|first= Laura|url=http://www.hypable.com/outlander-gabaldon-jack-randall-isnt-gay|title='Outlander's' Diana Gabaldon clarifies Black Jack Randall's sexual orientation|website=Hypable|date=April 28, 2015|access-date=11 September 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Lord John Grey || [[David Berry (actor)|David Berry]] ||Lord John Grey is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Outlander: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lord John Grey |url=https://screenrant.com/outlander-things-didnt-know-lord-john-grey/ |website=Screen Rant |date=17 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Øyevitne]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[NRK]] || Philip || Axel Bøyum ||rowspan="2"| Philip and Henning are 15-year-old boys secretly in love. After witnessing a murder at a quarry, they vow to never tell anyone in order to keep their relationship a secret.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eyewitness {{!}} Øyevitne |url=https://nordicdrama.com/eyewitness-oyevitne/ |date=15 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eyewitness Episode 1 Review: Is the complex Norwegian thriller worth watching? |url=https://culturefly.co.uk/eyewitness-episode-1-review-is-the-complex-norwegian-thriller-worth-watching/ |date=30 March 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Henning || Odin Waage
|-
|rowspan="3"|2014–2015 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Red Band Society]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] || Sarah Souders || [[Andrea Parker]] || Sarah Souders is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sarah Souders, Red Band Society |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sarah-souders/}}</ref>
|-
| Kenji Gomez-Rejon || [[Wilson Cruz]] || Kenji Gomez-Rejon is a gay nurse.<ref>{{cite web |title=GLAAD's Wilson Cruz on his role on 'Red Band Society' and advising the young cast members |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/glaads-wilson-cruz-his-role-red-band-society-and-advising-young-cast-members |date=15 August 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Daniella || Tricia O’Kelley || Daniella is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Daniella, Red Band Society |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/daniella/}}</ref>
|-
|2014 || ''[[Star-Crossed (TV series)|Star-Crossed]]'' || [[The CW]] || Sophia || [[Brina Palencia]] || Sophia is pansexual and has a crush on Taylor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sophia, Star-Crossed|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sophia/}}</ref>
|-
| Nikki || [[Nicola Correia-Damude]] || Nikki is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nikki Taylor, The Strain |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/nikki-taylor-strain/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="24"|2014–2019 ||rowspan="24"| ''[[Transparent (TV series)|Transparent]]'' ||rowspan="24"| [[Amazon Prime Video]] || Maura Pfefferman || [[Jeffrey Tambor]] || Maura Pfefferman is a trans woman. She was killed off in the series finale.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keveney |first1=Bill |title='Transparent' creator on post-Tambor musical finale: 'No (other) way to go back' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/02/13/transparent-creator-soloway-discusses-music-finale-after-tambor-firing/2864778002/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How 'Transparent' Finale Pays Tribute to Transgender Matriarch (Without Jeffrey Tambor) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/how-transparents-finale-pays-tribute-jeffrey-tambor-jeffrey-tambor-1243727 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=28 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Sarah Pfefferman || [[Amy Landecker]] || Sarah Pfefferman is bisexual. She is the oldest of the Pfefferman children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sarah Pfefferman, Transparent |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/sarah-pfefferman-transparent/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Tammy Cashman || [[Melora Hardin]] || Tammy Cashman is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tammy Cashman, Transparent |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/tammy-cashman-transparent/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Sydney Feldman || [[Carrie Brownstein]] || Sydney Feldman is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sydney Feldman, Transparent |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/sydney-feldman-transparent/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Ali Pfefferman || [[Gaby Hoffmann]] || Ali Pfefferman is bisexual. Ali is the youngest of the Pfefferman children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ali Pfefferman, Transparent |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/ali-pfefferman-transparent/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Davina || [[Alexandra Billings]] || Davina is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alexandra Billings, transgender actor: 'Transparent came up when I had nothing to lose' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/oct/10/-sp-alexandra-billings-transgender-actor-transparent |date=10 October 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Shea || [[Trace Lysette]] || Shea is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title='Transparent' Star on Josh and Shea's Groundbreaking Romance: "It’s Just Boy Meets Girl" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/transparents-josh-shea-trace-lysette-934860 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=4 October 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Tanta Gittel || [[Hari Nef]] || Tanta Gittel is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shattuck |first1=Kathryn |title=Hari Nef Adds Another Layer to ‘Transparent’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/arts/television/hari-nef-adds-another-layer-to-transparent.html |website=The New York Times |date=2 December 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Leslie Mackinaw || [[Cherry Jones]] || Leslie Mackinaw is a lesbian. Leslie was introduced in the second season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leslie Mackinaw, Transparent |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/leslie-mackinaw-transparent/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Vicki || [[Anjelica Huston]] || Vicki has an emotional sexual relationship with Maura.<ref>{{cite web |title='Transparent': We Recapped All of Season 3 |url=https://ew.com/recap/transparent-season-3-recaps/}}</ref>
|-
| Barb || [[Tig Notaro]] || Barb is a lesbian. She was a very minor character.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barb, Transparent |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/barb-transparent/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Lila || [[Alia Shawkat]] || Lila is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=The ‘Transparent’ Cast Explains Why Season 4 Made Things VERY Uncomfortable On The ‘Arrested Development’ Set |url=https://decider.com/2017/09/21/transparent-season-4-cast-interviews-amazon/ |website=Decider |date=21 September 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Marcy || [[Bradley Whitford]] || Marcy is a cross-dresser and went to trans camp, where they were free to express their femininity, with Maura.<ref>{{cite web |title=‘Transparent’ Recap: Season 1, Episode 8 |url=https://decider.com/2014/09/30/transparent-s1-ep8-recap/ |website=Decider |date=30 September 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Adriana || Hailie Sahar || Adriana is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Adriana, Transparent |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/adriana/}}</ref>
|-
| Carmen || Mariana Marroquin || Carmen is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carmen, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/carmen-2/}}</ref>
|-
| Eleanor || Zackary Drucker || Eleanor is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eleanor, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/eleanor/}}</ref>
|-
| Lorena || Harmony Santana || Lorena is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lorena, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lorena/}}</ref>
|-
| Zelda || Becky Thyre || Zelda is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zelda, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/zelda/}}</ref>
|-
| Celeste || Jill Soloway || Celeste is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Celeste, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/celeste/}}</ref>
|-
| Elizah Edwards || Alexandra Grey || Elizah Edwards is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elizah Edwards, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/elizah-edwards/}}</ref>
|-
| Omar || Rocco Kayiatos || Omar is a trans man.<ref>{{cite web |title=Omar, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/omar/}}</ref>
|-
| Bella || Bobbi Salvör Menuez || Bella is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bella, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/bella/}}</ref>
|-
| Dale || Ian Harvie || Dale is a trans man.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dale, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/dale/}}</ref>
|-
| Pony || Jiz Lee || Pony is queer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pony, Transparent|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/pony/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[True Detective (TV series)|True Detective]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[HBO]] || Paul Woodrugh || [[Taylor Kitsch]] || Paul Woodrugh is a closeted gay detective and war veteran (season 2). He had an intimate relationship with a squadmate. He's in relationship with a woman but has to take viagra to have sex with her.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bugbee|first=Teo|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/true-detectives-big-gay-problem|title=True Detective's Big Gay Problem|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=4 August 2015|access-date=21 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Tom Purcell || [[Scoot McNairy]] ||Tom Purcell is gay and closeted. He's the father of two missing children.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Rizzo|first1=Carita|url=https://www.purewow.com/news/true-detective-tom-purcell-theory|title=What Do Tom's Demons in 'True Detective' Have to Do with Julie's Disappearance?|website=[[PureWow]]|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=21 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2014–2016 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Tyrant (TV series)|Tyrant]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] || Sammy Al-Fayeed || Noah Silver || Sammy Al-Fayeed is gay, living in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Abbudin, where homosexuality is illegal. His boyfriend is killed by ISIS.<ref>{{cite web |title=Noah Silver on Playing a Gay Middle-Eastern Kid in 'Tyrant' |url=https://www.out.com/entertainment/2016/2/11/noah-silver-playing-gay-middle-eastern-kid-tyrant |date=11 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Viruet |first1=Pilot |title=FX’s ‘Tyrant’ Skirts Controversy by Saying Nothing At All |url=https://www.flavorwire.com/463922/fxs-tyrant-skirts-controversy-by-saying-nothing-at-all}}</ref>
|-
| Abdul || Mehdi Dehbi ||Abdul is a closeted young man whose family has long served as security for the Al-Fayeed family.<ref>{{cite web |title=FX's 'Tyrant' Season 2 'First Look' Preview: Reaping What Was Sown |url=https://screenrant.com/tyrant-fx-season-2-preview/ |website=Screen Rant |date=12 June 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Haitham El-Amin || Raphael Acloque || Professor Haitham El-Amin has a secret relationshp with Samy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ellwood-Hughes |first1=Pip |title=Tyrant 3×04 Prayer For Our Daughters preview |url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2016/08/20/tyrant-3x04-prayer-for-our-daughters-preview/}}</ref>
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2015==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|2015–2018 || ''[[12 Monkeys (TV series)|12 Monkeys]]'' || [[Syfy]] || Oliver Peters|| Ramon de Ocampo || Oliver Peters is a gay widow. In season 1, [[List of 12 Monkeys episodes#ep10|episode 10]], Oliver makes reference to his dead husband.<ref>{{cite web |title=12 Monkeys S01 E10: Divine Move|url=https://biffbampop.com/2015/03/21/12-monkeys-s01-e10-divine-move/ |date=21 March 2015}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2015–2017 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[American Crime (TV series)|American Crime]]''<br/>(season 2) ||rowspan="3"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Network]] || Eric Tanner || [[Joey Pollari]] || Eric Tanner is a closeted gay high school basketball player accused of sexual assaulting Taylor Blaine at a party. He is forced to come out after being questioned by the police, by showing them sexually explicit texts between him and Taylor. During one scene in the show Eric says, "I’m gay but I’m not a faggot", which was the first time that word was said on ABC.<ref name="vanity fair american crime">{{cite web |last1=Lawson |first1=Richard |title=American Crime’s Joey Pollari on the Role of a (Young) Lifetime |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/02/joey-pollari-american-crime-interview |website=Vanity Fair |date=February 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Licuria |first1=Rob |title=Joey Pollari (‘American Crime’): ‘It was such a transformative experience being on that set’ |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2016/joey-pollari-american-crime-season-2-emmy-awards-news-135790864/ |date=June 14, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Taylor Blaine || [[Connor Jessup]] || Taylor Blaine is a closeted gay teen who accuses members on the high school basketball team of sexually assaulting him, and posting photos of the assault online. He too is forced to come out when Eric reveals the sexually explicit text messages between the two, which show Taylor actually went to the party to hook up with Eric. Meanwhile, Taylor's mom gets the police involved, which Taylor really doesn't want.<ref name="vanity fair american crime"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Birnbaum |first1=Debra |title=John Ridley Reveals Season Two Plot of ‘American Crime’ (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/american-crime-season-2-john-ridley-1201554723/ |website=Variety |date=1 August 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Luke || Taylor John Smith || Luke is gay and shares a passionate kiss with Taylor.<ref>{{cite web |title=American Crime: Taylor and Luke kiss |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNhB_hi1UcQ |via=[[YouTube]] |format=video |date=April 24, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015–2016 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Aquarius (U.S. TV series)|Aquarius]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[NBC]] || [[Charles Manson]] || [[Gethin Anthony]] || Charles Manson is bisexual. He had sex with Ken in exchange for giving him money for living. [[John McNamara (writer)|John McNamara]], the creator of the show, said the story about Manson is [[historical fiction]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rorke|first=Robert|title=‘Game of Thones’ vet channels Charles Manson in ‘Aquarius’|url=https://nypost.com/2015/07/03/game-of-thones-vet-channels-charles-manson-in-aquarius/|date=3 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Aquarius' Boss Says NBC's Charles Manson Drama Is "Historical Fiction"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/aquarius-david-duchovny-spoilers-786235|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=27 May 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Ken Karn || [[Brían F. O'Byrne]] ||Ken Karn is gay and came out to his daughter.<ref>{{cite web |title=I Watched All of ‘Aquarius’ So You Don’t Have to: A Season 1 Review |url=https://observer.com/2015/06/i-watched-all-of-aquarius-so-you-dont-have-to-a-season-1-review/ |date=5 June 2015}}</ref>
|-
|2015 || ''[[Backstrom (TV series)|Backstrom]]'' || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] || Gregory Valentine || [[Thomas Dekker (actor)|Thomas Dekker]] || Gregory Valentine is gay, an ex-hustler, and an entrepreneurial crook.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Thomas Dekker Made ‘Backstrom’ Regular |url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/thomas-dekker-made-backstrom-regular-664621/ |website=Deadline |date=15 January 2014}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="11"|2015 ||rowspan="11"| ''[[Banana (TV series)|Banana]]'' || rowspan="11"|[[E4 (TV channel)|E4]] || Freddie Baxter || [[Freddie Fox (actor)|Freddie Fox]] || Freddie Baxter is bisexual, and is completely "hardwired to fuck", according to actor Freddie Fox.<ref name="out.com">{{cite web |title=Exclusive Sneak Peek: Freddie's Old Flame Returns in Cucumber Ep 3 |url=https://www.out.com/popnography/2015/4/27/exclusive-clip-cucumber |date=27 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="indiewire.com">{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Oliver |title=Freddie Fox Opens Up: The Cucumber Breakout On Sex, Typecasting and What Happens Next |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/04/freddie-fox-opens-up-the-cucumber-breakout-on-sex-typecasting-and-what-happens-next-215432/ |website=Indie Wire |date=22 April 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Dean Monroe || Fisayo Akinade ||Dean Monroe is gay.<ref name="Gay Series 'Cucumber' & 'Banana' Ar">{{cite web |last1=McDonald |first1=James |title=Gay Series 'Cucumber' & 'Banana' Are Coming To Logo |url=https://www.out.com/television/2015/3/10/cucumber-banana-gay-series-us-tv-logo |website=[[Out (magazine)|Out]] |date=10 March 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Henry Best || [[Vincent Franklin]] || Henry Best is a gay middle-aged insurance salesman, happily settled with his boyfriend of nine years, Lance Sullivan.<ref name="banana tv show">{{cite web |last1=Nussbaum |first1=Emily |title=What’s Changed Since "Queer as Folk"? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/06/08/where-the-boys-are-television-nussbaum |website=The New Yorker |date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Lance Sullivan || [[Cyril Nri]] || Lance Sullivan is gay.<ref name="banana tv show"/>
|-
| Vivienne "Scotty" Scott || Letitia Wright || Vivienne "Scotty" Scott is a lesbian.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Vivienne 'Scotty' Scott|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/vivienne-scotty-scott/}}</ref>
|-
| Vanessa Moore || Lynn Hunter || Vanessa Moore is a lesbian.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Vanessa Moore|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/vanessa-moore/}}</ref>
|-
| Sian Moore || [[Georgia Henshaw]] || Sian Moore is a lesbian.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=Sian Moore|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sian-moore/}}</ref>
|-
| Violet || [[Hannah John-Kamen]] || Violet is a lesbian, and likes to party.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Violet|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/violet-banana/}}</ref>
|-
| Amy || Charlie Covell || Amy is a neurotic lesbian.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|title=Amy|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/amy-banana/}}</ref>
|-
| Helen Brears || Bethany Black || Helen Brears is a trans woman.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|title=Helen Brears|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/helen-brears/}}</ref>
|-
| Kay || T’Nia Miller || Kay is a lesbian.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|title=Kay|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/kay/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Blindspot (TV series)|Blindspot]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[NBC]] || Bethany Mayfair ||[[Marianne Jean-Baptiste]] || Bethany Mayfair is a lesbian, and assistant Director In Charge of the FBI's New York Field Office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bethany Mayfair, Blindspot |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/bethany-mayfair-blindspot/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Sofia Varma || [[Sarita Choudhury]] || Sophia Varma is a lesbian, and former girlfriend of Bethany. She faked her death.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sophia Varma, Blindspot |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/sophia-varma-blindspot/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Alexandra || [[Eisa Davis]] || Alexandra is a lesbian, she was in a relationship with Bethandy until she got stabbed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alexandra Harrison, Blindspot |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/alexandra-harrison-blindspot/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Rich Dotcom || [[Ennis Esmer]] ||Rich Dotcom is bisexual.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://queerculturechats.org/2018/09/24/7-best-bisexual-characters-on-tv/|title=7 Best Bisexual Characters on TV|date=September 24, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2015–2018 || rowspan="5"|''[[Casual (TV series)|Casual]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Hulu]] || Laura Meyers || [[Tara Lynne Barr]] || Laura Meyers is a bisexual teenage girl who is continually exploring her sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Grobar|first1=Matt|title='Casual's Tara Lynne Barr Talks Singing On Set And A Season Driven By Female Directors|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/casual-tara-lynne-barr-zander-lehmann-hulu-emmys-interview-news-1202113754/|website=[[Deadline (website)|Deadline]]|date=June 21, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Aubrey || [[Dylan Gelula]] || Aubrey is bisexual. Her boyfriend is Max, and she has casual sex with Laura.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aubrey, Casual |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/aubrey-casual/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Tathiana || [[Lorenza Izzo]] || Tathiana is a lesbian, and Laura's girlfriend for a while.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tathiana, Casual |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/tathiana/ |website=LGBT}}</ref>
|-
| Emmy || || Emmy is bisexual. Her boyfriend is Alex, and he breaks up with her after discovering she had sex with his sister.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emmy, Casual |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/emmy-casual/|website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Alyssa || Teri Andrez || Alyssa is bisexual. She was invited for a threesome with Alex and Emmy, but Alex gets cold feet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alyssa, Casual |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/alyssa/}}</ref>
|-
|2015– || ''[[Cheetah In August (Series)|Cheetah In August]]'' || [[Vimeo]] || August Chandler || Andre Myers || August Chandler struggles to understand his mental condition or sexual power. The series is described as a black gay web series.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cheetah in August (Web Series Trailer) |url=https://cypheravenue.com/watch-cheetah-in-august-web-series-trailer/ |website=Cypher Avenue}}</ref>
|-
|2015– || ''[[Club de Cuervos]]'' || [[Netflix]] || Aitor Cardoné || Alosian Vivancos || Aitor Cardoné is a pansexual soccer player.<ref>{{cite web |title=LGBTQ Representation on Spanish-Language Television in the United States |url=https://www.glaad.org/files/SLMR/SPAReport2016.pdf |date=2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Code Black (TV series)|Code Black]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[CBS]] || Malaya Pineda || [[Melanie Chandra]] || Malaya Pineda is lesbian and a second year resident as of season 2.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bendix|first1=Trish|title="Code Black" introduces us to a new Indian lesbian MD|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/455429-code-black-introduces-us-new-indian-lesbian-md|work=[[AfterEllen]]|date=September 30, 2015|access-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002005555/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/455429-code-black-introduces-us-new-indian-lesbian-md|archive-date=October 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Carla Niven || [[Shiri Appleby]] ||Carla Niven is bisexual and Malaya's former girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carla Niven, Code Black |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/carla-niven-code-black/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Noa Kean || [[Emily Tyra]] ||Noa Kean is bisexual, and works in the ER.<ref>{{cite web |title=Noa Kean, Code Black|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/noa-kean/}}</ref>
|-
|2015 || ''[[Complications (TV series)|Complications]]'' || [[USA Network]] || Gretchen Polk || [[Jessica Szohr]] || Gretchen Polk is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gretchen Polk, Complications|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/gretchen-polk/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015–2019 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (TV series)|Crazy Ex-Girlfriend]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[The CW]] || White Josh Wilson || [[David Hull (actor)|David Hull]] || White Josh is gay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/03/07/crazy-ex-girlfriend-bisexual-darryl-pete-gardner/|title=Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Darryl's bisexuality 'isn't the butt of the joke'|first=Shirley|last=Li|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=March 7, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Darryl Whitefeather || [[Pete Gardner]] ||Darryl Whitefeather is bisexual, and in a relationship with White Josh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darryl Whitefeather |url=https://bi.org/en/bi-characters/darryl-whitefeather |website=Bi.org}}</ref>
|-
| Maya || [[Esther Povitsky]] ||Maya is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/477951-crazy-ex-girlfriend-gives-us-two-bisexual-characters-new-bi-anthem/|title="Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" Gives us Two Bisexual Characters and a New Bi Anthem|first=Chelsea|last=Steiner|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=March 8, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Valencia Perez || [[Gabrielle Ruiz]] ||Valencia Perez becomes aware that she is bisexual when she starts dating a woman named Beth ([[Emma Willmann]]) late in Season 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/crazy-ex-girlfriend-season-3-time-jump-heather-pregnancy-valencia-girlfriend-female-filmmaker-friday-1202681289/|title='Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' Boss on Season 3's Time Jump and Her 'Female Filmmaker Friday' Initiative|first=Danielle|last=Turchiano|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 2, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="11"|2015 ||rowspan="11"| ''[[Cucumber (British TV series)|Cucumber]]'' || rowspan="11"| [[Channel 4]] || Freddie Baxter || [[Freddie Fox (actor)|Freddie Fox]] || Freddie Baxter is bisexual, and is completely "hardwired to fuck", according to actor Freddie Fox.<ref name="out.com"/><ref name="indiewire.com"/>
|-
| Dean Monroe || Fisayo Akinade ||Dean Monroe is gay.<ref name="Gay Series 'Cucumber' & 'Banana' Ar"/>
|-
| Henry Best || [[Vincent Franklin]] || Henry Best is a gay middle-aged insurance salesman, happily settled with his boyfriend of nine years, Lance Sullivan.<ref name="banana tv show"/>
|-
| Lance Sullivan || [[Cyril Nri]] || Lance Sullivan is gay.<ref name="banana tv show"/>
|-
| Vivienne "Scotty" Scott || Letitia Wright || Vivienne "Scotty" Scott is a lesbian.<ref name=":0"/>
|-
| Vanessa Moore || Lynn Hunter || Vanessa Moore is a lesbian.<ref name=":1"/>
|-
| Sian Moore || [[Georgia Henshaw]] || Sian Moore is a lesbian.<ref name=":2"/>
|-
| Violet || [[Hannah John-Kamen]] || Violet is a lesbian, and likes to party.<ref name=":3"/>
|-
| Amy || Charlie Covell || Amy is a neurotic lesbian.<ref name=":4"/>
|-
| Helen Brears || Bethany Black || Helen Brears is a trans woman.<ref name=":5"/>
|-
| Kay || T’Nia Miller || Kay is a lesbian.<ref name=":6"/>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Cuffs (TV series)|Cuffs]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[BBC One]] || Jake Vickers || [[Jacob Ifan]] || Jake Vickers is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tate |first1=Gabriel |title=TV review: Cuffs; The Affair |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tv-review-cuffs-the-affair-ww2bbdjxd26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cuffs - S1 - Episode 1 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/dtj6sz/cuffs--s1-e1-cuffs/ |website=Radio Times}}</ref>
|-
| Simon Reddington || Andrew Hawley || Simon Reddington is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Lewis |title=The UK has more regular LGBTI characters on TV than in the US |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/see-lgbti-characters-british-tv-year/ |website=Gay Star News |date=1 June 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Donna Prager || [[Eleanor Matsuura]] || Donna Prager is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Donna Prager, Cuffs (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/donna-prager/}}</ref>
|-
| Alice Gove || [[Pippa Nixon]] || Alice Gove is an lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alice Gove, Cuffs (TV series) |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/alice-gove/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015–2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Dark Matter (TV series)|Dark Matter]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Syfy]] || Two || [[Melissa O'Neil]] || Two is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boob(s On Your) Tube: "Claws" and "Dark Matter" Didn't Quite Live Up to Their Queer Potential This Summer |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/boobs-on-your-tube-claws-and-dark-matter-didnt-quite-live-up-to-their-queer-potential-this-summer-392636/ |website=Autostraddle |date=1 September 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Dr. Irena Shaw || [[Zoie Palmer]] ||Irena Shaw is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Irena Shaw, Dark Matter (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/irena-shaw/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015 || rowspan="3"|''[[Deutschland 83]]'' || rowspan="3"|[[RTL Television]]<br>[[SundanceTV]] || Alexander Edel || [[Ludwig Trepte]] || Alexander Edel is the rebellious son of General Edel and has sex with Tobias.<ref name="deutschland guardian">{{cite web|last1=Hughes|first1=Sarah|title=Deutschland 83 recap, episode five – Cold Fire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/jan/31/deutschland-83-recap-episode-five-cold-fire|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=31 January 2016|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=Hughes_83ep6>{{cite web|last1=Hughes|first1=Sarah|title=Deutschland 83 recap: episode six – Brandy Station|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/feb/07/deutschland-83-recap-episode-six-brandy-station|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=7 February 2016|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="bold guard deutschland">{{cite web|last1=Hughes|first1=Sarah|title=Deutschland 83, the finale – Bold Guard and Able Archer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/feb/14/deutschland-83-the-finale-bold-guard-and-able-archer|publisher=theguardian.com|date=14 February 2016|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Tobias Tischbier || [[Alexander Beyer]] || Tobias Tischbier is gay and works as a professor at the University of Bonn.<ref name="deutschland guardian"/><ref name="bold guard deutschland"/>
|-
| Felix von Schwerin || Florian Bartholomäi ||Felix von Schwerin is gay.<ref name="deutschland guardian"/><ref name="bold guard deutschland"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015||rowspan="2"| ''[[Dig (TV series)|Dig]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[USA Network|USA]] || Detective Golan Cohen || Ori Pfeffer || Detective Golan Cohen is a gay detective. He lives with his son and with Udi.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dig Creator Gideon Raff & Actor Ori Pfeffer On the Show's Gay Israeli Character |url=https://www.out.com/popnography/2015/4/02/dig-creator-and-actor-discuss-shows-gay-character |date=2 April 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Udi || Tsahi Halevi ||Udi is Golan's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2015 GLAAD Network Responsibility Index |url=https://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD-2015-NRI.pdf}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[È arrivata la felicità]]''||rowspan="2"| [[Rai 1]] || Valeria Camilli || [[Giulia Bevilacqua]] ||rowspan="2"| Valeria Camilli and Rita Nardelli are lesbians.<ref>{{cite web |title=E' arrivata la felicità - la scheda della serie tv |url=https://www.cinemagay.it/serie-tv/e-arrivata-la-felicita/ |website=Cinemagay.it |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=È arrivata la felicità |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/e-arrivata-la-felicita/}}</ref>
|-
| Rita Nardelli || Federica De Cola
|-
|rowspan="12"|2015– ||rowspan="12"| ''[[Empire (2015 TV series)|Empire]]'' ||rowspan="12"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] || [[Jamal Lyon]] || [[Jussie Smollett]] || Jamal Lyon is gay, he is the middle son of the Lyon family, and a talented singer-songwriter.<ref>{{cite web |title='Empire's' Jussie Smollett Breaks Down Jamal's Coming Out |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/empire-jamal-coming-775796 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=25 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Oliver |title=The 15 Best LGBT Characters On Television: Jamal Lyon on ‘Empire’ |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/04/the-15-best-lgbt-characters-on-television-jamal-lyon-on-empire-215436/ |website=Indie Wire |date=22 April 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Michael Sanchez || [[Rafael de la Fuente]] || Michael Sanchez is gay and Jamal's ex-boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rafael de la Fuente talks 'Empire,' gay couples on TV, making music |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/rafael-de-la-fuente-talks-empire-gay-couples-on-tv-making-music |website=Fox News |date=29 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Tiana Brown || [[Serayah McNeill]] ||Tiana Brown is bisexual.<ref name="tiana brown">{{cite web |title=Tiana Brown, Empire |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/tiana-brown-empire/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| India Spring || Elizabeth Whitson || India Spring is lesbian, and had an affair with Tiana Brown.<ref name="tiana brown"/>
|-
| Ryan Morgan || [[Eka Darville]] || Ryan Morgan is an openly gay filmmaker. He hooks up with Jamal.<ref>{{cite web |title='Empire' Episode 8 Recap: The Lyons, The Snitch, and the Boardroom |url=https://www.etonline.com/tv/160335_empire_episode_8_recap_the_lyons_the_snitch_and_the_boardroom |website=Entertainment Tonight}}</ref>
|-
| Mimi Whiteman || [[Marisa Tomei]] || Mimi Whiteman is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mimi Whiteman, Empire |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/mimi-whiteman-empire/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| D-Major<br/>(aka Derek) || [[Tobias Truvillion]] || D-Major is Jamal Lyon's secret lover. He is a music producer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who Is D-Major On 'Empire'? Tobias Truvillion Is Just Starting To Peel Back His Layers |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/161518-who-is-d-major-on-empire-tobias-truvillion-is-just-starting-to-peel-back-his-layers |website=Bustle}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Is Empire 'Too Gay'? Here Is How One Cast Member Reacted |url=https://www.bet.com/celebrities/news/2016/05/06/is-empire--too-gay---here-is-how-one-cast-member-reacted.html |website=BET.com}}</ref>
|-
| Tory Ash || [[Rumer Willis]] || Tory Ash was flirting and soaking in a hot tub with Tiana.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rumer Willis Is Singing New Life Into ‘Empire’ |url=https://decider.com/2017/05/10/rumer-willis-is-singing-new-life-into-empire/ |website=Decider |date=10 May 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Rhonda Lyon || Kaitlin Doubleday || Rhonda Lyon is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rhonda Lyon, Empire |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/rhonda-lyon-empire/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Freda Gatz || [[Bre-Z]] || Freda Gatz is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Layla A. |title=Newest 'Empire' star Bre-Z hails from Philly with superstar confidence |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/Newest-Empire-star-Bre-Z-hails-from-Philly-with-superstar-confidence.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Freda Gatz, Empire|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/freda-gatz/}}</ref>
|-
| Melody Barnes || Alexandra Grey || Melody Barnes is a trans woman. She is the victim of transphobia when Lucious finds out she is transgender, and he refuses to let her sing.<ref>{{cite web |title=‘Empire’s Latest Breakout Is Black, Trans, and Talented AF |url=https://www.out.com/television/2019/12/17/empires-latest-breakout-black-trans-and-talented-af |date=17 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Camilla Marks-Whiteman || Naomi Campbell || Camilla Marks-Whiteman is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Camilla Marks-Whiteman, Empire |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/camilla-marks-whiteman-empire/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2015– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[The Expanse (TV series)|The Expanse]]'' || rowspan="5"|[[SyFy]] <br/> [[Amazon Prime Video]] || Anna Volovodov || [[Elizabeth Mitchell]] || Anna Volovodov is a lesbian and has a wife and daughter.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Napier|first1=Chris|title=REVIEW: "The Expanse" Series Five Episodes 1-3 Reaction|url=https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-expanse-series-five-episodes-1-3-reaction%E2%80%A8/|website=Grimdark Magazine|date=December 18, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Julie Mao || [[Florence Faivre]] ||Julie Mao is pansexual, according to her dating profile.<ref>{{cite web |title=Julie Mao, The Expanse |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/julie-mao-expanse/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Camina Drummer || [[Cara Gee]] ||Camina Drummer is pansexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Camina Drummer, The Expanse |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/camina-drummer/}}</ref>
|-
| Oksana || Sandrine Holt || Oksana is pansexual.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oksana, The Expanse|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/oksana/}}</ref>
|-
| Namono Volovodov || Raven Dauda || Namono Volovodov is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Namono Volovodov, The Expanse|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/namono-volovodov/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Eye Candy (TV series)|Eye Candy]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[MTV]] || Connor North || John Garet Stoker ||rowspan="2"| Connor North is gay and dates Oliver in Season 1.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halterman |first1=Jim |title="Eye Candy" Actor John Garet Stoker Talks Connor's Perilous First Date |url=http://www.newnownext.com/eye-candy-mtv-john-garet-stoker-interview-connor-first-date/02/2015/}}</ref>
|-
| Oliver || Parker Pogue
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Fear The Walking Dead]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[AMC Studios]] || Victor Strand || [[Colman Domingo]] ||rowspan="2"| Victor Strand and Thomas Abigail are gay and were in a relationship.<ref name="victor strand and thomas">{{cite web|last1=Mason|first1=Charlie|title=Fear the Walking Dead Recap: Al Learns About the Group That Has Rick Grimes|url=https://tvline.com/2019/06/30/fear-the-walking-dead-recap-season-5-episode-5-the-end-of-everything-al-gay-lesbian/|website=[[TVLine]]|date=June 30, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Thomas Abigail || [[Dougray Scott]]
|-
| Althea ("Al") Szewczek-Przygocki || [[Maggie Grace]] ||Althea ("Al") Szewczek-Przygocki is lesbian.<ref name="althea and isabelle">{{cite web|title=Al and Isabelle – Fear the Walking Dead Season 5 Episode 5|url=https://blog.lesbianmedia.tv/al-and-isabelle-fear-the-walking-dead-season-5-episode-5/|website=Lesbian Media|date=July 3, 2019}} (Video)</ref>
|-
| Isabelle || Sydney Lemmon ||Isabelle is lesbian.<ref name="althea and isabelle"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Flesh and Bone (miniseries)|Flesh and Bones]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Starz (TV channel)|Starz]] || Paul Grayson || [[Ben Daniels]] || Paul Grayson is bisexual.<ref name="eduardo and grayson"/>
|-
| Trey || Karell Williams || Trey is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hey, remember when Flesh And Bone was about ballet? |url=https://tv.avclub.com/hey-remember-when-flesh-and-bone-was-about-ballet-1798185827 |website=TV Club}}</ref>
|-
| Eduardo || Anthony Lee Medina || Eduardo is a rent boy.<ref name="eduardo and grayson">{{cite web |title=Starz Show Flesh and Bone Features Gay Actor Ben Daniels Sex-Obsessed Ballet Director |url=https://www.out.com/television/2015/11/06/starz-show-flesh-and-bone-features-gay-actor-ben-daniels-sex-obsessed-ballet |date=6 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Glitch (TV series)|Glitch]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[ABC1]] || Charlie Thompson || [[Sean Keenan (actor)|Sean Keenan]] || Charlie Thompson is gay and one of the characters who rises from the dead with no memory. Through a series of flashbacks he regains his memory and we learn that he was in love and in a relationship with one of his fellow soldiers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Scott |first1=Paul |title=From Contagion to Cogitation: The Evolving Television Zombie |journal=Science Fiction Studies |date=2020 |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=93–110 |doi=10.5621/sciefictstud.47.1.0093}}</ref>
|-
| Gay Man #1 || Nick Hedger ||rowspan="3"| Gay Man #1, Gay Man #2, Gay Older Man; characters that appeared in season 3, episode "[[Glitch (TV series)#ep15|First Times]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Television: Glitch: episode guide: series 2 |url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/glitch/series3.html |website=Australian Television.net}}</ref>
|-
| Gay Man #2 || Ben Nicholson
|-
| Gay Older Man || Damian Oehme
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015 || rowspan="2"|''[[Home Fires (UK TV series)|Home Fires]]'' || rowspan="2"|[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] || Teresa Fenchurch || [[Leanne Best]] || Teresa Fenchurch is a closeted lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home Fires Creator Simon Block on the Series' Abrupt Cancellation and Literary Future |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/home-fires/home-fires-creator-simon-block-on-the-series-abrup/ |date=8 May 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Connie Ward || Rachael Elizabeth || Connie Ward is a lesbian and died on a ship sunk by German U-Boats.<ref name="autostraddle.com"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Humans (TV series)|Humans]]''<br/>(aka HUM∀NS) ||rowspan="2"| [[Channel 4]] || Niska || [[Emily Berrington]] || Niska is pansexual, and a synth (synthetic human). She falls in love with Astrid who is a human.<ref name="humans synth auto">{{cite web |last1=Anne |first1=Valerie |title="Humans" Sneaked In One Of The Best Queer Subplots On TV This Season |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/humans-sneaked-in-one-of-the-best-queer-subplots-on-tv-this-season-374840/ |website=Autostraddle |date=3 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="Humans synth show"/>
|-
| Astrid || [[Bella Dayne]] || Astrid is bisexual, and falls in love with Synth Niska.<ref name="humans synth auto"/><ref name="Humans synth show">{{cite web |title=Humans |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/humans/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015–2019 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Into the Badlands (TV series)|Into the Badlands]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] || Tilda || [[Ally Ioannides]] || Tilda is queer. Her brief love interest is Odessa.<ref name="into the badlands">{{cite web |last1=Anne |first1=Valerie |title="Into the Badlands" Failed its Queer and Female Characters in the End |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/into-the-badlands-failed-its-queer-and-female-characters-in-the-end/ |website=Autostraddle |date=8 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Odessa || Maddison Jaizani || Odessa is a lesbian, and have a brief relationship with Tilda.<ref name="into the badlands"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Odessa, Into The Badlands |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/odessa/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="9"|2015–2019 ||rowspan="9"| ''[[Jessica Jones (TV series)|Jessica Jones]]'' ||rowspan="9"| [[Netflix]] || [[Jeryn Hogarth#In other media|Jeri Hogarth]] || [[Carrie-Anne Moss]] || Jeri Hogarth is lesbian. In season 2, she finds out that she has ALS and deals with the diagnosis by having an orgy with female sex workers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Oswald|first1=Anjelica|title=We need to talk about that surprise orgy scene on the second season of 'Jessica Jones'|url=https://www.insider.com/jessica-jones-jeri-hogarth-sex-scene-carrie-anne-moss-2018-3|website=[[Insider Inc.|Insider]]|date=March 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallagher|first1=Caitlin|title=The Jeri Hogarth Sex Scene From 'Jessica Jones' Season 2 Breaks New Ground For Lesbian Characters Of A Certain Age|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/the-jeri-hogarth-sex-scene-from-jessica-jones-season-2-breaks-new-ground-for-lesbian-characters-of-a-certain-age-8427063|website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]|date=March 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=McNally|first1=Victoria|title='Jessica Jones': Carrie-Anne Moss Opens Up About Playing Marvel's First Lesbian|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2512104/carrie-anne-moss-jessica-jones/|website=[[MTV News]]|date=20 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Avery|first1=Dan|title=Marvel Cinematic Universe Gets Its First Lesbian Character With Carrie Anne Moss|url=http://www.newnownext.com/marvel-cinematic-universe-gets-its-first-lesbian-character-with-carrie-anne-moss/10/2015/|website=NewNowNext.com|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=8 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Jessica Jones characters#Wendy Ross-Hogarth|Wendy Ross-Hogarth]] || [[Robin Weigert]] || Wendy Ross-Hogarth is lesbian and Jeri's wife. They are divorcing.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=June|title=Jessica Jones' Lesbian Divorce Storyline Is Fabulous, Frustrating|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/11/24/jessica_jones_lesbian_divorce_plot_frustrating_netflix.html|website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=November 24, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Jessica Jones characters#Pam|Pam]] || Susie Abromeit || Pam is lesbian, and Jeri's assistant and mistress.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bendix|first1=Trish|title=Susie Abromeit on playing Pam in "Jessica Jones" and if she ships Jessica and Trish|url=https://www.afterellen.com/tv/466815-susie-abromeit-playing-pam-jessica-jones-ships-jessica-trish|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=December 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221202650/https://www.afterellen.com/tv/466815-susie-abromeit-playing-pam-jessica-jones-ships-jessica-trish|archive-date=December 21, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Kith Lyonne || [[Sarita Choudhury]] ||Kith Lyonne is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kith Lyonne, Jessica Jones |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/kith-lyonne/}}</ref>
|-
| Gillian || [[Aneesh Sheth]] || Gillian is a trans woman, and Jessica's tough as nails assistant. Gillian is portrayed by an openly trans actress.<ref>{{cite web |title=The MCU Now Has a Trans Character Thanks to 'Jessica Jones' |url=https://www.pride.com/geek/2019/6/18/mcu-now-has-trans-character-thanks-jessica-jones |date=18 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Inez Green || [[Leah Gibson]] ||Inez Green is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inez Green, Jessica Jones |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/inez-green/}}</ref>
|-
| Wendy Ross-Hogarth || [[Robin Weigert]] || Wendy Ross-Hogarth is a lesbian, and Jeri's ex-wife.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wendy Ross-Hogarth, Jessica Jones |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/wendy-ross-hogarth-jessica-jones/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bundel |first1=Ani |title=Here's Everything To Know About Jeri Hogarth Before 'Jessica Jones' Season 2 Hits Netflix |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/what-happened-to-jeri-hogarth-in-jessica-jones-season-1-heres-what-you-should-know-8361391 |website=Elite Daily}}</ref>
|-
| Makayla || Cece King || Makayla is a bisexual sex worker.<ref>{{cite web |title=Makayla, Jessica Jones |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/makayla/}}</ref>
|-
| Pam || Susie Abromeit || Pam is a lesbian, and Jeri's former lover.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pam, Jessica Jones |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/pam/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015–2019 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Killjoys (TV series)|Killjoys]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Space (Canadian TV channel)|Space]] <br> [[SyFy]] || Prima "Pree" Dezz || Thom Allison || Prima "Pree" Dezz is gay, and promoted to governor.<ref name="killjoys auto">{{cite web |last1=Anne |first1=Valerie |title="Killjoys" Gave Its Queer Characters the Happily Ever (and Ever) After We Deserve |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/killjoys-gave-its-queer-characters-the-happily-ever-and-ever-after-we-deserve/ |website=Autostraddle |date=24 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Kendry Delle Seyah || [[Mayko Nguyen]] || Kendry Delle Seyah is a lesbian.<ref name="killjoys auto"/><ref name="Two Canadian shows killjoys">{{cite web |last1=Wilner |first1=Norman |title=Two Canadian shows expand queer representation in sci-fi |url=https://nowtoronto.com/movies/news-features/queer-sci-fi-wynonna-earp-killjoys |website=NOW Magazine |date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Aneela Kin Ritt || [[Hannah John-Kamen]] || Aneela Kin Ritt is a lesbian.<ref name="killjoys auto"/><ref name="Two Canadian shows killjoys"/>
|-
| Dutch || Hannah John-Kamen || Dutch is pansexual.<ref name="killjoys auto"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Dutch, Killjoys |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/dutch/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015 || rowspan="3"|''[[London Spy]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[BBC Two]] || Danny Holt || [[Ben Whishaw]] || Danny Holt is gay, and a warehouse worker. Alex is his boyfriend, until he is found dead.<ref name="london spy lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hale |first1=Mike |title=Review: London Spy Follows an Unlikely Investigator With Love on His Mind |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/arts/television/tv-review-london-spy.html |website=The New York Times |date=20 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Alex || [[Edward Holcroft]] || Alex is a gay spy, and Danny's boyfriend. He is found dead locked in a trunk.<ref name="london spy lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawson |first1=Richard |title=London Spy Is a Gay Twist on a Well-Worn Genre |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/01/london-spy-bbc-america-ben-whishaw |website=Vanity Fair |date=January 21, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Scottie || [[Jim Broadbent]] || Scottie is gay, and Danny's best friend. He scolds Alex for being secretive all the time.<ref name="london spy lgbt">{{cite web |last1=Kornhaber |first1=Spencer |title=The BBC's 'London Spy' Is the Great Gay Espionage Show ... Almost |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/01/london-spy-the-great-gay-espionage-story-almost/425112/ |website=The Atlantic |date=21 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2015–2020 ||rowspan="5"| ''{{sortname|The|Magicians|The Magicians (U.S. TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Syfy]] || Eliot Waugh || [[Hale Appleman]] || Eliot Waugh is a gay king of a fantasy realm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-magicians-gay-spellcaster-theres-sexual-events-that-happen-to-elliot/01/2016/|title="The Magicians" Gay Spellcaster: "There's Sexual Events That Happen To Elliot"|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=January 25, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Quentin Coldwater || [[Jason Ralph (actor)|Jason Ralph]] ||Quentin Coldwater is bisexual. He slept with Eliot and Margo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/just-how-much-of-the-magicians-insane-darkness-can-syfy-1736530397|title=Just How Much of The Magicians' Insane Darkness Can Syfy Put on TV? Absolutely All of It.|first=Bryan|last=Lufkin|website=Io9.gizmodo.com|date=October 14, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Dark King || [[Sean Maguire]] ||The Dark King is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title='Garden Variety Homicide' Roots The Magicians In New Troubled Times! |url=https://thegeekiary.com/the-magicians-episode-5x08-review-garden-variety-homicide/79255 |website=The Geekiary |date=27 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Margo Hanson|| [[Summer Bishil]] |||Margo Hanson is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web|last= Bocco|first= Federica |url=https://tvserieshub.tv/2018/01/23/interview-with-summer-bishil-margo-in-the-magicians/ |title=Interview with Summer Bishil, Margo in The Magicians|website=tvserieshub.tv|date=January 23, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Marina Andrieski || [[Kacey Rohl]] || Marina Andrieski is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Babu |first1=Armaan |title='The Magicians': Marina may be evil but standing up for that side of herself was the right thing to do |url=https://meaww.com/the-magicians-season-5-episode-6-marina-standing-up-for-her-evil-anna-right-thing-to-do-syfy |date=25 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2015–2017 || ''[[Master of None]]'' || [[Netflix]] || Denise || [[Lena Waithe]] || Denise is the lesbian best friend of main character Dev.<ref>{{cite web |title=Denise, Master of None |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/denise/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Merlí (TV3 series)|Merlí]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[TV3 (Catalonia)|TV3]] || Bruno || [[David Solans]] || Bruno is gay and hasn't come out of the closet. He is in love with Pol, with whom he made out at a party.<ref name="merli tv3">{{cite web |last1=Castellví |first1=Albert |title=Així va ser el polèmic i inesperat final de 'Merlí' |url=https://www.ara.cat/media/Aixi-polemic-inesperat-final-Merli_0_1943805681.html |website=Ara.cat |date=16 January 2018 |access-date=1 August 2019 |language=ca |trans-title=The polemic and unexpected end of 'Merlí'}}</ref>
|-
| Oliver || Iñaki Mur ||Oliver is gay.<ref name="merli tv3"/>
|-
| Pol || [[Carlos Cuevas]] ||Pol's sexual preference has been questioned In the second season Bruno and Pol have sex.<ref name="merli tv3"/>
|-
| Quima || Manel Barceló ||Quima is a [[trans woman]].<ref name="merli tv3"/>
|-
|rowspan="8"|2015–2019 ||rowspan="8"| ''[[Mr. Robot]]'' ||rowspan="8"| [[USA Network]] || Gideon Goddard || [[Michel Gill]] || Gideon Goddard is gay, and the boss of the main character, Elliot.<ref name="gideon">{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=June|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/06/mr-robot-gay-character-sam-esmail-explains-why-the-show-needed-one.html|title=Why the Hacker Drama Mr. Robot Needed a Gay Character|website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=June 24, 2015|access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Tyrell Wellick || [[Martin Wallström]] ||Tyrell Wellick is bisexual and sleeps with Anwar Raziz.<ref name="mrrobot anwar"/>
|-
| Whiterose || [[BD Wong]] ||Whiterose, the leader of a hacking collective, is a transgender woman.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Giles|first=Matthew|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/09/bd-wong-mr-robot-whiterose-playing-transgender.html|title=BD Wong on Why Mr. Robot's Portrayal of a Transgender Character Is Radical|website=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]|date=September 2, 2015|access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Harry || [[Randy Harrison]] ||Harry is gay and Gideon's partner.<ref name="gideon"/><ref name="mrrobot anwar">{{cite web|last=Masaki|first=Lyle|title=Gay Sex Just Adds To The Puzzles Of "Mr. Robot"|url=http://www.newnownext.com/mr-robot-usa-martin-walstrom-gay-sex/07/2015/}}</ref>
|-
| Anwar Raziz || Mitchell Winter ||Anwar Raziz is gay.<ref name="mrrobot anwar"/>
|-
| Hot Carla || [[Eve Lindley]] ||Hot Carla is transgender.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=John |title=Eve Lindley tells us what it's like to play her trans revolutionary icon onscreen |url=https://splinternews.com/eve-lindley-tells-us-what-its-like-to-play-her-trans-re-1793863527 |website=Splinter}}</ref>
|-
| Dominique DiPierro || [[Grace Gummer]] ||Dominique DiPierro is lesbian, and an FBI agent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dominique DiPierro, Mr. Robot |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/dominique-dipierro/}}</ref>
|-
| Darlene Alderson || [[Carly Chaikin]] ||Darlene Alderson is bisexual, and a computer programmer and hacker.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darlene Alderson, Mr. Robot |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/darlene-alderson/}}</ref>
|-
|2015–2017 || ''[[Narcos]]'' || [[Netflix]] || [[Hélmer Herrera|Hélmer "Pacho" Herrera]] || [[Alberto Ammann]] || Hélmer "Pacho" Herrera is a gay Colombian drug lord.<ref>{{cite web |title=Narcos airs hot, dangerous, barrier-breaking gay scene |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/09/05/netflixs-narcos-airs-hot-dangerous-barrier-breaking-gay-scene/ |website=Pink News |date=5 September 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Olympus (TV series)|Olympus]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Syfy]] || Prince Lykos || Wade Burns || Prince Lykos is gay. Kimon is his lover.<ref name="olympus limon"/>
|-
| Kimon || [[Levi Meaden]] || Kimon is gay and Prince Lykos' scribe and lover.<ref name="olympus limon">{{cite web |title=Meet The Gay Couple On Syfy's "Olympus" |url=http://www.newnownext.com/meet-the-gay-couple-on-syfys-olympus/04/2015/}}</ref>
|-
| Adriadne || Sophia Lauchlin Hirt ||Adriadne is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ariadne, Olympus |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/ariadne/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[The Path (TV series)|The Path]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Hulu]] || Hawk Lane || Kyle Allen || In the third season, Hawk Lane is sexually involved with a closeted gay Christian youth named Caleb Matthews.<ref name="caleb and hawk">{{cite web |title=The Path |url=https://www.pluggedin.com/tv-reviews/the-path/ |website=Plugged In}}</ref>
|-
| Caleb Matthews || Titus Makin Jr. || Caleb Matthews is gay, and has a relationship with Hawk Lane.<ref name="caleb and hawk"/>
|-
| Mary Cox || [[Emma Greenwell]] || Mary Cox is bisexual.<ref name="the path"/>
|-
| Betsy || Whitney Crowder || Betsy is a lesbian.<ref name="the path">{{cite web |title=The Path |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-path/ |website=Lez}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Quantico (TV series)|Quantico]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Elias Harper ||[[Rick Cosnett]] || Elias Harper is an openly gay intelligence analyst trainee at the FBI Academy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starrymag.com/quantico-kmforget/|title=Quantico - KMFORGET|date=6 November 2018|website=Starry Mag|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Hannah Wyland || [[Eliza Coupe]] ||Hannah Wyland is bisexual and is Ryan Booth's ex-wife.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hannah Wyland, Quantico |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/hannah-wyland/}}</ref>
|-
| Harry Doyle || [[Russell Tovey]] ||Harry Doyle is an openly gay MI6 agent and CIA trainee.<ref name="quantico gay"/>
|-
| Will Olsen || [[Jay Armstrong Johnson]] || Will Olsen is a gay computer hacker.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jay Armstrong Johnson Finds Being Openly Gay Isn’t Career Suicide |url=https://www.out.com/theater-dance/2017/2/16/jay-armstrong-johnson-finds-being-openly-gay-isnt-career-suicide |date=16 February 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Sebastian Chen || [[David Lim (actor)|David Lim]] || Sebastian Chen is gay.<ref name="quantico gay">{{cite web |title=Russell Tovey Says Playing ‘Bold’ Gay Man on 'Quantico' ‘Feels Rewarding’ |url=https://www.out.com/television/2016/12/11/russell-tovey-says-playing-bold-gay-man-quantico-feels-rewarding |date=11 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Returned|The Returned (U.S. TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[A&E Network|A&E]]<br/>[[Netflix]] || Dr. Julie Han || [[Sandrine Holt]] || Dr. Julie Han is a lesbian.<ref name="usareturned the"/>
|-
| Deputy Nikki Banks || [[Agnes Bruckner]] || Nikki Banks is a lesbian.<ref name="usareturned the">{{cite web |title=The Returned (US) |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-returned-us/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015–2017 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Rosewood (TV series)|Rosewood]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] || Pippy Rosewood || [[Gabrielle Dennis]] || Pippy Rosewood is a lesbian. She has a relationship with TMI (Tara Milly Izikoff).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Alyssa |title=In fall TV, lesbians of color take center stage |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-in-fall-tv-lesbians-of-color-take-center-stage-20150929-story.html}}</ref>
|-
| Tara Milly Izikoff || Anna Konkle ||Tara Milly Izikoff is bisexual, and in a relationship with Pippy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boob(s on Your) Tube: Pippy and TMI Are in Love Again on "Rosewood" |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/boobs-on-your-tube-pippy-and-tmi-are-in-love-again-on-rosewood-369649/ |website=Autostraddle |date=17 February 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Cassie || Tia Mowry || Cassie is a lesbian, and Pippy's ex-girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cassie, Rosewood |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/cassie-rosewood/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Royals|The Royals (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[E!]] || Eleanor Henstridge || [[Alexandra Park (actress)|Alexandra Park]] || Eleanor Henstridge is bisexual, and formerly involved with her bodyguard, Jasper.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Piccoli|first1=Dana|title=Princess Eleanor gets her heart broken by another woman on "The Royals"|url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/467011-princess-eleanor-gets-heart-broken-another-woman-royals|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=December 21, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Samantha Cook || [[Sarah Dumont]] || Samantha Cook is bisexual and ex-girlfriend of Jasper.<ref>{{cite web |title=Samantha Cook, The Royals (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/samantha-cook/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="19"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="19"| ''[[Sense8]]'' ||rowspan="19"| [[Netflix]] || Wolfgang Bogdanow || [[Max Riemelt]] || Wolfgang Bogdanow is bisexual.<ref name="sense8 bisexual66"/>
|-
| Sun Bak || [[Doona Bae]] || Sun Bak is pansexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sun Bak, Sense8 |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sun-bak/}}</ref>
|-
| Nomi Marks || [[Jamie Clayton]] ||Nomi Marks is a pansexual trans woman.<ref name="sense8 actually sucks">{{cite web |last1=Handlin |first1=Taia |title=Why 'Sense8' Actually Sucks For Representation |url=https://www.btrtoday.com/read/featured/why-sense8-actually-sucks-for-representation/ |website=BTRtoday |date=July 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Kala Dandekar || [[Tina Desai]] ||Kala Dandekar is pansexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kala Dandekar, Sense8 |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/kala-dandekar/}}</ref>
|-
| Riley Blue || [[Tuppence Middleton]] ||Riley Blue is pansexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Riley Blue, Sense8 |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/riley-blue/}}</ref>
|-
| Capheus Onyango || [[Aml Ameen]] (season 1)<hr> {{Nowrap|[[Toby Onwumere]] (season 2)}}|| Capheus Onyango is bisexual.<ref name="sense8 bisexual66">{{cite web |last1=Fleenor |first1=S. E. |title=66 bisexual+ characters in genre TV |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/66-bisexual-characters-in-genre-tv |website=SyFy Wire |date=24 September 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Lito Rodriguez || [[Miguel Angel Silvestre]] ||Lito Rodriguez is gay.<ref name="sense8 actually sucks"/>
|-
| Will Gorski || [[Brian J. Smith]] || Will Gorski is bisexual.<ref name="sense8 bisexual66"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix cancels Sense8, leaving fans devastated |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/06/01/netflix-cancels-popular-lgbt-show-sense8-leaving-fans-devastated/ |website=PinkNews |date=1 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Hernando || [[Alfonso Herrera]] ||Hernando is gay and Lito's boyfriend.<ref name="sense8 actually sucks"/>
|-
| Amanita Caplan || [[Freema Agyeman]] ||Amanita Caplan is bisexual and Nomi's girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 'Sense8' Cast Discusses Their Favorite Moments, LGBT Representation, & Those Racy Sex Scenes |url=https://www.pride.com/sense8/2018/6/11/sense8-cast-discusses-their-favorite-moments-lgbt-representation-those-racy-sex-scenes#media-gallery-media-5 |date=11 June 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Raoul Pasquale || [[Erik Hayser]] ||Raoul Pasquale is Lito's first gay lover.<ref>{{cite web|title="Polyphony" offers the perfect term to describe Sense8’s unique storytelling|url=https://tv.avclub.com/polyphony-offers-the-perfect-term-to-describe-sense8-1798191257|website=TV Club}}</ref>
|-
| Zakia Asalache || [[Mumbi Maina]] ||Zakia Asalache is pansexual.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Romero |first1=Ariana |title=Why "Sense8" Continues To Be The Best Show About Sexuality On TV |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/05/153219/sense8-sexuality-gender-identity-gay-sex-characters}}</ref>
|-
| Angelica Turing || [[Daryl Hannah]] || Angelica Turing is pansexual.<ref name="8sense characters">{{cite web |title=Sense8, List of characters |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/sense8/}}</ref>
|-
| Lila Facchini || Valeria Bilello || Lila Facchini is pansexual.<ref name="8sense characters"/>
|-
| Bodhi || Sarah Kants || Bodhi is pansexual.<ref name="8sense characters"/>
|-
| George || Arly Jover || George is a lesbian.<ref name="8sense characters"/>
|-
| Sara Patrell || Margot Thorne ||Sara Patrell is pansexual.<ref name="8sense characters"/>
|-
| Carol Cumberland || Janet Ulrich Brooks ||Carol Cumberland is pansexual.<ref name="8sense characters"/>
|-
| The Mother || Ursula Jones ||The Mother is pansexual.<ref name="8sense characters"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015–2017 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Skam (TV series)|Skam]]'' || rowspan="3"|[[NRK]] || Eskild Tryggvasson || Carl Martin Eggesbø || Eskild Tryggvasson is gay.<ref name="skam season 3"/>
|-
| Isak Valtersen || [[Tarjei Sandvik Moe]] ||Isak Valtersen is gay.<ref name="skam season 3">{{cite web |title='SKAM' Season 3: A Story About Accepting Yourself, Challenging Stereotypes and Living in the Moment |url=http://culture.affinitymagazine.us/skam-season-3-a-story-about-accepting-yourself-challenging-stereotypes-and-living-in-the-moment/ |website=Affinity Magazine |date=18 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Even Bech Næsheim || Henrik Holm ||Even Bech Næsheim is gay.<ref name="skam season 3"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015–2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Stitchers]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Camille Engelson || [[Allison Scagliotti]] || Camille Engelson is bisexual.<ref name="stitchers characters"/>
|-
| Amanda Weston || [[Anna Akana]] || Amanda Weston is a lesbian.<ref name="stitchers characters">{{cite web |title=Stitchers, List of characters |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/stitchers/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015– || rowspan="4"|''[[Supergirl (TV series)|Supergirl]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[The CW]] || [[Alex Danvers]] ||[[Chyler Leigh]] || Alex Danvers comes out as a lesbian. She is the adopted sister of Supergirl.<ref name="supergirl bucksbaum">{{cite web|last1=Bucksbaum|first1=Sydney|title='Supergirl' Boss on "Thoughtful" Coming Out Story and "Bury Your Gays" Fears|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/supergirl-gay-character-storyline-944838|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=November 7, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Maggie Sawyer]] || [[Floriana Lima]] ||Maggie Sawyer is a lesbian and a police detective.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Natalie|first1=Abrams|title=Supergirl: 12 Episodes Every Sanvers Fan Should Watch|url=https://ew.com/tv/supergirl-maggie-alex-sanvers/|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=September 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[Nia Nal]](Dreamer) || Nicole Maines ||Nia Nal is a transgender woman working at CatCO.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gustines|first1=George Gene|title=Nicole Maines on Becoming TV's First Transgender Superhero|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/12/arts/television/nicole-maines-supergirl-transgender-interview.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 12, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kelly Olsen]] || [[Azie Tesfai]] || Kelly Olsen is a lesbian.<ref name="supergirl bucksbaum"/>
|-
|2015–2016 || ''[[This Life (2015 TV series)|This Life]]'' || [[CBC Television|CBC]] || Oliver Lawson || [[Kristopher Turner]] || Oliver Lawson is gay and the brother of the main character.<ref>{{cite web |title=This Life’s Kristopher Turner Gives Us The Truth Behind Oliver – The TV Junkies |url=https://thetvjunkies.com/this-life-kristopher-turner-interview/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2015– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Unforgotten]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] || Eric Slater || [[Tom Courtenay]] || Eric Slater is bisexual.<ref name="unforgotten">{{cite web|last1=Frost|first1=Caroline|title='Unforgotten' Series 2 Has Been Comissioned, With Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar Returning To Crime Drama|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/11/13/unforgotten-series-2_n_8553374.html|website=[[HuffPost|HuffPost UK]]|date=13 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
| Jimmy Sullivan || [[Harley Alexander-Sule]] ||Jimmy Sullivan was Eric's gay lover.<ref name="unforgotten"/>
|-
| Colin Osborne || [[Mark Bonnar]] || Colin Osborne is gay.<ref name="colin and simon osborne"/>
|-
| Simon Osborne || [[Charlie Condou]] ||Simon Osborne is gay and Colin's husband.<ref name="colin and simon osborne">{{cite web|last1=Doran|first1=Sarah|title=Meet the cast of Unforgotten series two|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-04-20/meet-the-cast-of-unforgotten-series-two/|website=[[Radio Times]]|date=20 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2015–2018 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[UnREAL]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] || Jay || [[Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman]] || Jay is a gay TV producer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Jay On 'UnREAL' Is So Important To LGBTQ Representation, According To Star Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/why-jay-on-unreal-is-so-important-to-lgbtq-representation-according-to-star-jeffrey-bowyer-chapman-8314675 |website=Bustle}}</ref>
|-
| Faith || Breeda Wool || Faith is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=UnREAL |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/unreal/}}</ref>
|-
| Alexi Petrov || [[Alexey Vorobyov|Alex Sparrow]] || Alexi Petrov is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex Sparrow opens up about gay kiss scenes |url=http://www.frivolette.com/art/acting/alex-sparrow-opens-up-about-gay-kiss-scenes}}</ref>
|-
| Xavier || Jaime Callica || Xavier is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jaime M. Callica – UnREAL |url=https://starrymag.com/jaime-m-callica-unreal/ |website=Starry Constellation Magazine |date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Fiona || [[Tracie Thoms]] || Fiona is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nemetz |first1=Dave |title=UnREAL Adds Tracie Thoms as Quinn's Lesbian Friend for Season 3 |url=https://tvline.com/2017/04/12/unreal-casts-tracie-thoms-season-3-lifetime-fiona/ |website=TV Line |date=12 April 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015–2018 || rowspan="2"|''[[Versailles (TV series)|Versailles]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Canal+]] || Philippe d'Orléans || [[Alexander Vlahos]] || Philippe d'Orléans is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Earle |first1=Toby |last2=Travis |first2=Ben |title=Versailles’ Alexander Vlahos talks fan reactions and gay relationships |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/versailles-alexander-vlahos-talks-fan-reactions-and-gay-relationships-on-tv-a3317516.html |date=11 August 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Chevalier de Lorraine || [[Evan Williams (actor)|Evan Williams]] || Chevalier de Lorraine is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Evan Williams tells us about playing one half of the gay power couple at the centre of Versailles |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/versailles/ |date=6 July 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2015–2016 || ''[[Wayward Pines]]'' || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] || Frank Armstrong|| Michael Garza || Frank Armstrong is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wayward Pines - la scheda della serie tv |url=https://www.cinemagay.it/serie-tv/wayward-pines/ |language=it-IT}}</ref>
|-
|2015– || ''[[Westside (New Zealand TV series)|Westside]]'' || [[TV3 (New Zealand)|TV3]] || Bjelke "Bilkey" van Heeder || Todd Emerson || Bjelke "Bilkey" van Heeder is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLachlan |first1=Marilynn |title=Westside’s Todd Emerson On What It Was Like Having His Husband Kip Chapman Join the Cast |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/lifestyle/sex-relationships/westside-todd-emerson-and-husband-kip-chapman-41888}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015 || rowspan="2"|''[[You, Me and the Apocalypse]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Sky 1]] || Scotty McNeil || [[Kyle Soller]] || Scotty McNeil is gay.<ref name="Me and the Apocalypse"/>
|-
| Arnold Gaines || [[Paterson Joseph]] || Arnold Gaines is gay.<ref name="Me and the Apocalypse">{{cite web |title=Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Television Characters |url=https://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/tv-char2000s.html#test331}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Younger (TV series)|Younger]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[TV Land]] || Maggie || [[Debi Mazar]] || Maggie is lesbian.<ref name="tv series younger"/>
|-
| Lauren Heller || [[Molly Bernard]] || Lauren Heller is lesbian.<ref name="tv series younger">{{cite web |title=Younger |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/younger/}}</ref>
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2016==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="5"|2016– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[3%]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Netflix]] || Joana Coelho || Vaneza Oliveira || Joana is bisexual and an orphan who survived on her own at the margins of society on the streets of the Inland.<ref name="three percent characters">{{cite web|title=3% TV Series (LGBT characters)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/3/|website=LezWatch.TV|date=June 29, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Natália || Amanda Magalhães ||Natalia is lesbian and Joana's partner. Joana and Natalia start a revolution against Maralto.<ref name="three percent characters"/>
|-
| Ariel || Marina Matheus ||Ariel is a trans woman.<ref name="three percent characters"/>
|-
| Láis || [[Fernanda Vasconcellos]] ||Láis is bisexual.<ref name="three percent characters"/>
|-
| Samira || [[Maria Flor]] ||Samira is bisexual.<ref name="three percent characters"/>
|-
|2016– || ''{{sortname|The|A Word}}'' || [[BBC One]]<br/>[[SundanceTV]] || Tom Clarke || Matt Greenwood || Tom is _____.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=Amelia |title=Matt Greenwood |url=https://tresamagazine.com/2020/08/17/matt-greenwood/ |website=TresA Magazine |date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016||rowspan="2"| ''[[American Gothic (2016 TV series)|American Gothic]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[CBS]] || Alison Hawthorne-Price || [[Juliet Rylance]] || Alison Hawthorne-Price is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alison Hawthorne-Price, American Gothic (2016 TV series)|url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/alison-hawthorne-price-american-gothic/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Naomi Flynn || Maureen Sebastian || Naomi Flynn is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naomi Flynn, American Gothic (2016 TV series)|url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/naomi-flynn-american-gothic/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="6"|2016– ||rowspan="6"| ''[[Animal Kingdom (TV series)|Animal Kingdom]]'' ||rowspan="6"| [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] || Deran Cody || [[Jake Weary]] || Deran Cody is gay.<ref name="animal kingdom tv show"/><ref name="animal kingdom:1">{{cite web |title=TNT’s 'Animal Kingdom' Weaves Gay Storyline in a Macho, Violent World |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/tnt-s-animal-kingdom-weaves-gay-storyline-macho-violent-world-n625311 |website=NBC News}}</ref>
|-
| Lila Cole || || Lila Cole is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lila Cole, Animal Kingdom (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lila-cole/}}</ref>
|-
| Adrian Dolan || [[Spencer Treat Clark]] || Adrian Dolan is gay.<ref name="animal kingdom tv show">{{cite web |title=Actor Jake Weary On Playing a Closeted Character in 'Animal Kingdom' |url=https://www.out.com/television/2016/6/22/actor-jake-weary-playing-closeted-character-animal-kingdom |date=22 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="animal kingdom:1"/>
|-
| Janine "Smurf" Cody || [[Ellen Barkin]] || Janine "Smurf" Cody is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Janine "Smurf" Cody, Animal Kingdom (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/janine-smurf-cody/}}</ref>
|-
| Mark Liston || Andy Favreau || Mark Liston is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=TNT’s ‘Animal Kingdom’ Left An Interesting Taste In Our Mouth With Its Most Recent Gay Romp Scene. No Bed Needed. |url=https://instinctmagazine.com/tnts-animal-kingdom-left-an-interesting-taste-in-our-mouth-with-its-most-recent-gay-romp-scene-no-bed-needed/ |website=Instinct Magazine |date=28 July 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Linc || Damon Erik Williams || Linc is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=‘Animal Kingdom’ actor hails from Haverford |url=https://www.dailylocal.com/arts_and_entertainment/animal-kingdom-actor-hails-from-haverford/article_9897547a-4fc9-5095-9968-24530fb5a1b2.html |website=Daily Local News}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016|| rowspan="3"|''[[Barracuda (TV series)|Barracuda]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[ABC (Australian TV channel)|ABC]] || Danny Kelly || Elias Anton || Danny Kelly is gay.<ref>{{cite web|last=Richens|first=Tony|title=Gay Swimmer Catalyst For Exciting New Australian Drama - Barracuda|url=https://gaynation.co/gay-swimmer-catalyst-for-exciting-new-australian-drama-barracuda/|website=Gay Nation|date=12 July 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Martin Taylor || Ben Kindon || Martin Taylor is Danny Kelly's love interest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Barracuda review – a valuable Australian story, with a one-for-the-ages finale |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jul/11/barracuda-review-a-valuableaustralian-story-with-a-one-for-the-ages-finale |date=11 July 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Demet || Nicole Gulasekharam || Demet is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Demet, Barracuda (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/demet/}}</ref>
|-
|2016– || ''[[Berlin Station (TV series)|Berlin Station]]''|| [[Epix (TV network)|Epix]] || Hector DeJean || [[Rhys Ifans]] || Hector DeJean is gay when it's a matter of national security.<ref>{{cite web |title=Berlin Station Exclusive Interview Rhys Ifans Assignment X |url=https://www.assignmentx.com/2016/berlin-station-rhys-ifans-on-new-cia-espionage-series-exclusive-interview/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2016– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Better Things (TV series)|Better Things]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[FX (TV Network)|FX]] || Sil || Ser Anzoategui || Sil is non-binary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sil, Better Things (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sil/}}</ref>
|-
| Tressa || Rebecca Merz || Tressa is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Better Things' Rebecca Metz on Pamela Adlon's Leadership on Set |url=https://www.fxnetworks.com/news/better-things/better-things-rebecca-metz-tressas-evolution-and-pamela-adlons-l/|website=FX Networks}}</ref>
|-
| Frankie Fox || Hannah Alligood || Frankie Fox is gender queer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dry |first1=Jude |title=The 25 Most Influential LGBTQ Characters on TV Right Now |url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-lesbian-gay-characters-tv-lgbt-transgender/screen-shot-2019-05-09-at-5-22-10-pm/ |website=Indie Wire |date=10 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="Better Things" Tells an Important Trans Story — By Not Telling a Trans Story |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/better-things-tells-an-important-trans-story-by-not-telling-a-trans-story/ |website=Autostraddle |date=1 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Mer Kodis || Marsha Thomason || Mer Kodis is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ratledge |first1=Ingela |title='Better Things': Pamela Adlon on the 'Shocking' Real-Life Experiences That Inspired Season 3 |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/751321/better-things-season-3-pamela-adlon-details/ |website=TV Insider}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="6"|2016– ||rowspan="6"| ''[[Billions (TV series)|Billions]]'' ||rowspan="6"| [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] || Tara Mohr || Annapurna Sriram || Tara Mohr is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tara Mohr, Billions |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/tara-mohr-billions/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Donnie Caan || [[David Cromer]] ||rowspan="2"| Donnie Caan and Walter are married.<ref>{{cite web |title=Billions 1×10 Recap: Death Becomes Them |url=https://observer.com/2016/03/billions-1x10-recap-death-becomes-them/ |website=Observer |date=28 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Walter || [[Matthew Humphreys]]
|-
| Taylor Mason || [[Asia Kate Dillon]] || Taylor Mason is non-binary.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Soloski |first1=Alexis |title=Asia Kate Dillon: ‘This Is Who I Am’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/arts/television/asia-kate-dillon-billions.html |website=The New York Times |date=26 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Lauren Turner || Jade Eshete || Lauren Turner is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lauren Turner, Billions (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lauren-turner/}}</ref>
|-
| Fiona || Michaela Sprague || Fiona is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fiona, Billions (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/fiona/}}</ref>
|-
|2016– || ''[[Bull (2016 TV series)|Bull]]'' || [[CBS]] || Chunk Palmer || [[Christopher Jackson (actor)|Chris Jackson]] || Chunk Palmer is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Maureen |title=Christopher Jackson Talks ‘Bull,’ ‘Hamilton’ and What’s Next |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/features/christopher-jackson-hamilton-bull-cbs-tv-1201892605/ |website=Variety |date=18 October 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016–2017 ||rowspan="3"| ''{{sortname|The|Catch|The Catch (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="3"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Margot Bishop || [[Sonya Walger]] || Margot Bishop is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Margot Bishop, The Catch |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/margot-bishop/}}</ref>
|-
| Felicity || [[Shivani Ghai]] || Felicity is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Felicity, The Catch |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/felicity/}}</ref>
|-
| Shawn Sullivan || Caleb Smith || Shawn Sullivan is gay. Shawn Sullivan asks Danny Yoon out on a date. Danny Yoon declines. Sophie Novak tells Danny Yoon, "I knew he was gay this whole time".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Catch Season Finale: Happily Ever After? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/05/catch-recap-season-1-episode-9-10.html |website=Vulture}}</ref>
|-
| 2016 || ''The Cate Morland Chronicles'' || [[YouTube]] || Eleanor Monk || Erika Ovudoba || Eleanor is a lesbian. She is Cate Morland's best friend. Web series that is an adaption of [[Jane Austen]]'s novel, ''[[Northanger Abbey]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kulik |first1=Elise |title=Webseries Discovery: The Cate Morland Chronicles |url=https://www.nerdophiles.com/2016/10/13/webseries-discovery-the-cate-morland-chronicles/ |website=Nerdophiles |date=13 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eleanor Monk, The Cate Morland Chronicles|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/eleanor-monk/}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Heredia Torres |first1=María |title=Jane Austen and Transmedia Narratives. Analysis of The Cate Morland Chronicles |date=3 October 2018 |doi=10.30827/Digibug.53070 |publisher=Universidad de Granada|doi-access=free |journal=Digibug}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Elsbury |first1=Justin |title=Alumni's hit web series a modern take on Jane Austen novel |url=https://universe.byu.edu/2016/09/28/alumnis-hit-web-series-a-modern-take-on-jane-austin-novel/ |website=The Daily Universe |date=28 September 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016 || rowspan="2"|''[[Class (2016 TV series)|Class]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[BBC Three (online)|BBC Three]] || Charlie Smith ||[[Greg Austin (actor)|Greg Austin]] || Charlie Smith is gay. His boyfriend is Matteusz Andrzejewski.<ref name="class 2016 tv series"/><ref name="2016 tv class">{{cite web |last1=Bryan |first1=Scott |title=The Casual Gay Relationship In "Class" Is Actually Important |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/the-writer-behind-class-explains-why-he-casually-portrayed-g |website=BuzzFeed}}</ref>
|-
| Matteusz Andrzejewski || [[Jordan Renzo]] || Matteusz Andrzejewski is gay. His boyfriend is Charlie Smith.<ref name="class 2016 tv series">{{cite web |title=Doctor Who spin off 'Class' actors open up about their relationship onscreen |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/11/19/doctor-who-spin-off-class-actors-open-up-about-their-relationship-onscreen/ |website=Pink News |date=19 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="2016 tv class"/>
|-
|2016 || ''{{sortname|The|Collection|The Collection (TV series)}}'' || [[Amazon Prime Video]]<br/>[[BBC Worldwide]] || Claude Sabine || [[Tom Riley (actor)|Tom Riley]] || Claude Sabine is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Keefe |first1=Meghan |title=Tom Riley Talks Playing Another "Sexually Fluid, Tortured Genius" on ‘The Collection’ |url=https://decider.com/2017/02/10/the-collection-tom-riley-interview/ |website=Decider |date=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Interview: Britain's brightest new star, Tom Riley |url=https://www.thegentlemansjournal.com/article/interview-britains-brightest-new-star-tom-riley/ |website=The Gentleman's Journal}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2016 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Conviction (2016 TV series)|Conviction]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Hayes Morrison ||[[Hayley Atwell]]|| Hayes Morrison is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hayes Morrison, Conviction |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/hayes-morrison-conviction/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Jackson Morrison || [[Daniel Franzese]] || Jackson Morrison is gay.<ref>{{cite web|title=Actor Daniel Franzese gets political on ABC's 'Conviction'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/actor-daniel-franzese-gets-political-abc-s-conviction-n671871|website=NBC News}}</ref>
|-
| Franklin "Frankie" Cruz || [[Manny Montana]] ||rowspan="2"| Franklin "Frankie" Cruz is in love with Rey Armas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Conviction – The 1% Solution |url=https://starrymag.com/conviction-the-1-solution/ |website=Starry Constellation Magazine |date=10 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Rey Armas || Ian Paola
|-
| Naomi Golden || [[Ilfenesh Hadera]] || Naomi Golden is bisexual and Hayes Morrison's ex-girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naomi Golden, Conviction (2016 TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/naomi-golden/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Crashing (UK TV series)|Crashing]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Channel 4]] || Fred || Amit Shah || Fred is _____.<ref name="crashing uk tv series">{{cite web |last1=Damshenas |first1=Sam |title=52 of the best LGBTQ+ shows you can watch right now on Netflix |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/the-best-lgbtq-inclusive-shows-you-can-watch-right-now-on-netflix/ |website=Gay Times |date=8 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="uk series crashing">{{cite web |last1=Munzenrieder |first1=Kyle |title=W TV Club: Crashing is Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Twisted Take on 'Friends' |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/crashing-netflix-phoebe-waller-bridge |website=W Magazine |date=January 30, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Sam || [[Jonathan Bailey (actor)|Jonathan Bailey]] || Sam is _____.<ref name="crashing uk tv series"/><ref name="uk series crashing"/>
|-
| Will || Lachie Chapman || Will is _____.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crashing Series 1, Episode 3 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/crashing/episodes/1/3/ |website=[[British Comedy Guide]]}}</ref>
|-
|2016– || ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'' || [[Netflix]] || [[Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon|Antony Armstrong-Jones]] || [[Matthew Goode]] || Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Crown portrays a major royal figure as bisexual, and hints the Queen knew |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/12/11/the-crown-lord-snowdon-bisexual/ |website=PinkNews |date=11 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Patrick || [[Michael Therriault]]
|-
|rowspan="8"|2016– ||rowspan="8"| ''[[Degrassi: Next Class]]'' ||rowspan="8"| [[Family Channel (Canadian TV network)|Family Channel]] || [[List of Degrassi: Next Class characters|Miles Hollingsworth III]] || Eric Osborne || Miles is bisexual.<ref name="degrassi characters">{{cite web|author=snicks|title=An Encyclopedia Of LGBT Characters On "Degrassi"|url=http://www.newnownext.com/degrassi-lgbt-characters/07/2015/|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=July 20, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Degrassi: Next Class characters|Zoe Rivas]] || [[Ana Golja]] || Zoe is a lesbian.<ref name="degrassi characters"/>
|-
| [[List of Degrassi: Next Class characters|Tristan Milligan]] || Lyle Lettau || Tristan is gay.<ref name="degrassi characters"/>
|-
| [[List of Degrassi: Next Class characters|Vijay Maraji]] || Dante Scott || Vijay is gay.<ref name="degrassi characters"/>
|-
| [[List of Degrassi: Next Class characters|Yael Baron]] || Jamie Bloch || Yael is non-binary/genderqueer and uses they/them pronouns.<ref name="degrassi characters"/>
|-
| [[List of Degrassi: Next Class characters|Rasha Zuabi]] || Dalia Yegavian || Rasha is a lesbian.<ref name="degrassi characters"/>
|-
| [[List of Degrassi: Next Class characters|Esme Song]] || Chelsea Clark ||rowspan="2"| Esme and Frankie enter a polyamorous relationship with Zig.<ref name="degrassi characters"/>
|-
| [[List of Degrassi: Next Class characters|Francesca "Frankie" Hollingsworth]] || Sara Waisglass
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016 ||rowspan="2"| ''The Deleted'' || rowspan="2"|[[Fullscreen (company)|Fullscreen]] || Agatha || [[Madeline Brewer]] || Agatha is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Agatha, The Deleted|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/agatha/}}</ref>
|-
| Sophie || Julia Kelly || Sophie is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sophie, The Deleted|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sophie/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2019 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Designated Survivor (TV series)|Designated Survivor]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Dontae Evans || Ben Watson || Dontae is gay.<ref name="designated survivor">{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Daniel |title=Benjamin Charles Watson Brings Black and Gay Visibility to Designated Survivor |url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2019/6/09/benjamin-watson-brings-black-gay-visibility-designated-survivor |website=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] |date=June 9, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Sasha Booker || [[Jamie Clayton]] ||Sasha is a trans woman.<ref name="designated survivor"/>
|-
|2016–2019 || ''{{sortname|The|Durrells}}'' || [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] || Sven || Ulric von der Esch || Sven is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Durrells: Who plays Sven in the ITV drama? All the details on Ulric von der Esch |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2020080995016/the-durrells-who-plays-sven-in-itv-drama/ |date=9 August 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2019 || rowspan="2"|''[[Easy (TV series)|Easy]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Jo || [[Jacqueline Toboni]] || rowspan="2"|Jo and Chase meet, fall in love, and become a lesbian couple in season 1 episode 2, "[[Easy (TV series)#ep2|Vegan Cinderella]]".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Keating|first1=Shannon|title=These TV Shows Are Finally Giving Queer Women Happy Endings|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/shannonkeating/black-mirror-easy-queer-happy-endings|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=October 28, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Chase || [[Kiersey Clemons]]
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[El marginal]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Televisión Pública Argentina]] || Juan Pablo "Diosito" Borges || [[Nicolás Furtado]] || Juan is bisexual. He is in love with Miguel Palacios/Osvaldo Peña.<ref name="juan pablo bi">{{cite web|last=Garibaldi|first=Florencia|title=Nicolás Furtado: artista de la transformación|url=http://revistawatt.com/nicolas-furtado/|work=WATT|date=2 May 2017|access-date=27 May 2018|language=es}}</ref><ref name="el marginal">{{cite web|title=Netflix: 'El marginal', una serie que no debes perderte|url=https://trome.pe/opinion/el-buho/netflix-marginal-serie-debes-perderte-29268|website=Trome|language=es|date=4 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Morcilla || Carlos Portaluppi ||Morcilla is bisexual.<ref name="juan pablo bi"/><ref name="el marginal"/>
|-
| Fiorella || Guido Botto Fiora ||Fiorella is gay. He is in a relationship with Morcilla.<ref name="juan pablo bi"/><ref name="el marginal"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016 || rowspan="2"|''[[Eyewitness (U.S. TV series)|Eyewitness]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[USA Network]] || Philip Shea || [[Tyler Young (actor)|Tyler Young]] || Philip Shea is gay, his lover is Lukas Waldenbeck.<ref>{{cite web |title=Philip Shea: Eyewitness Character - USANetwork.com |url=https://www.usanetwork.com/eyewitness/credits/character/philip-shea |website=[[USA Network]] |quote=Tyler Young stars as Philip Shea, a gay teenager from the projects looking for a fresh start with a new foster family}}</ref>
|-
| Lukas Waldenbeck || [[James Paxton (actor)|James Paxton]] || Lukas Waldenbeck is gay, his lover is Philip Shea.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lukas Waldenbeck: Eyewitness Character - USANetwork.com |url=https://www.usanetwork.com/eyewitness/credits/character/lukas-waldenbeck |website=USA Network}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson-Minshall |first1=Diane |title=An Illicit Gay Romance Is the Spark That Ignites TV's Best New Show |url=https://www.advocate.com/current-issue/2016/10/14/illicit-gay-romance-spark-ignites-tvs-best-new-show |website=The Advocate |date=14 October 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Falling Water (TV series)|Falling Water]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[USA Network]] || Alexis Simms || Sepideh Moafi || Detective Alexis Simms is lesbian. She lives with Christine.<ref name="falling water">{{cite web|title=Alex and Christy – Falling Water Season 2 Episode 8|url=https://blog.lesbianmedia.tv/alex-and-christy-falling-water-season-2-episode-8/|website=Lesbian Media|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Christine || [[Parisa Fitz-Henley]] || Christine is lesbian and the girlfriend of Alexis.<ref name="falling water"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Family|The Family (2016 TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Willa Warren || [[Alison Pill]] || Willa Warren is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Willa, The Family (2016 TV series)|url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/willa-the-family/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref><ref name="Willa and Bridey">{{cite web |title=Willa and Bridey in The Family |url=http://www.lesbian-interest.eu/willa-bridey-family/ |website=Lesbian interest |date=28 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Bridey Cruz || [[Floriana Lima]] || Bridey Cruz is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridey Cruz, The Family (2016 TV series)|url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/bridey-cruz-family/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Get Down}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Marcus 'Dizzee' Kipling || [[Jaden Smith]] ||rowspan="2"| Dizzee and Thor are featured in a gay storyline. They go to an exclusive underground LGBT club and kiss.<ref>{{cite web |title=Let's Revisit Jaden Smith's Beautiful, Frustrating Gay Storyline on 'The Get Down' |url=https://www.out.com/television/2017/4/18/lets-revisit-jaden-smiths-beautiful-frustrating-gay-storyline-get-down |date=18 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jaden Smith's Club Scene On 'The Get Down' Explores An Important Time In The Decade |url=https://www.romper.com/p/jaden-smiths-club-scene-on-the-get-down-explores-important-time-in-the-decade-16314 |website=Romper}}</ref>
|-
| Thor || Noah Le Gros
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Michel Gerard || [[Yanic Truesdale]] || Michel Gerard is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gilmore Girls: Michel Is Gay, Adopting a Child with His Husband |url=https://people.com/tv/gilmore-girls-michel-gerard-sexuality-gay-adopting-child-partner/}}</ref><ref name="gilmore girls"/>
|-
| Donald || [[Sam Pancake]] ||Donald is gay.<ref name="gilmore girls">{{cite web |last1=Canfield |first1=David |title=Why the Gilmore Girls Revival’s Attempt to Be LGBTQ-Friendly Was So Disingenuous |url=https://slate.com/culture/2016/12/netflix-s-gilmore-girls-revivals-attempt-to-be-lgbtq-friendly-failed.html |website=Slate Magazine |date=16 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Peitzman |first1=Louis |title=The "Gilmore Girls" Revival Is Gayer Than Expected |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/oy-with-the-heteronormativity-already |website=BuzzFeed}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2016– ||rowspan="5"| ''{{sortname|The|Girlfriend Experience|The Girlfriend Experience (TV series)}}'' || rowspan="5"|[[Starz (TV channel)|Starz]] || Christine Reade || [[Riley Keough]] || Christine Reade is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christine Reade, The Girlfriend Experience |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/christine-reade-girlfriend-experience/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Avery Suhr || [[Kate Lyn Sheil]] || Avery Suhr is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Avery Suhr, The Girlfriend Experience |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/avery-suhr-girlfriend-experience/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref><ref name="the girlfriend experience:1">{{cite web |last1=Bendix |first1=Trish |title="The Girlfriend Experience" Makes A Power Play With Lesbian Dom-Sub Storyline |url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-girlfriend-experience-makes-a-power-play-with-lesbian-dom-sub-storyline/11/2017/}}</ref>
|-
| Darya Esford || Narges Rashidi || Darya Esford is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darya Esford, The Girlfriend Experience (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/darya-esford/}}</ref>
|-
| Anna Garner || Louisa Krause || Anna Garner is a lesbian.<ref name="the girlfriend experience:1"/><ref name="girlfriend experience:2"/>
|-
| Erica Myles || || Erica Myles is a lesbian.<ref name="the girlfriend experience:1"/><ref name="girlfriend experience:2">{{cite web |title="The Girlfriend Experience" Season Two: Bad Show, Decent Soft Core Lesbian Porn |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/the-girlfriend-experience-season-two-bad-plot-great-soft-core-lesbian-porn-408933/ |website=Autostraddle |date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Goliath (TV series)|Goliath]]'' || rowspan="2"|[[Amazon Prime Video]] || Michelle McBride || [[Maria Bello]] || Michelle McBride is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michelle McBride, Goliath |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/michelle-mcbride-goliath/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Callie Senate || [[Molly Parker]] || Callie Senate is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Callie Senate, Goliath |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/callie-senate-goliath/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|2016 || ''[[The Good Wife (South Korean TV series)|The Good Wife]]''<br/>(South Korean) || [[TVN (South Korean TV channel)|tvN]] || Kim Dan || [[Nana (entertainer)|Nana]] || Kim Dan is bisexual, and an investigator for a law firm. Kim Dan is the first bisexual woman on a Korean drama.<ref>{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Simi |title=After School's Nana talks about bisexual role in The Good Wife |url=https://www.ibtimes.sg/after-schools-nana-talks-about-bisexual-role-good-wife-2575 |website=International Business Times |date=30 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Good Wife (Korean) |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-good-wife-korean/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Hap and Leonard (TV series)|Hap and Leonard]]'' || rowspan="2"|[[SundanceTV]] || Leonard Pine || [[Michael K. Williams]] || Leonard Pine is a gay black Vietnam vet.<ref>{{cite web |title='Hap and Leonard' Canceled at Sundance TV |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hap-leonard-canceled-at-sundance-tv-1111922 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=14 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Raoul || [[Enrique Murciano]] ||Raoul is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=June |title=Hap and Leonard’s Creator on Swamp Noir, Casting Gay Characters, and the F and the N Words |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/03/hap-and-leonards-jim-mickle-interviewed.html |website=Slate Magazine |date=2 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2016 || ''[[Heartbeat (2016 TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' || [[NBC]] || Max Eliott || [[Joshua Leonard]] || Max Eliott is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Casting Report: 68 Gay Characters on TV Right Now |url=https://www.pride.com/gay/2016/4/20/casting-report-68-gay-characters-tv-right-now#slide-22 |date=21 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016-2017 || rowspan="2"| ''[[I Love Dick (TV series)|I Love Dick]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Amazon Prime Video]] || Devon || [[Roberta Colindrez]] || Devon is a queer. She is a butch cowboy who works as a groundskeeper at an artist colony.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parks-Ramage |first1=Jonathan |title='I Love Dick' Star Roberta Colindrez on Playing a Queer Texas Cowboy |url=https://www.out.com/entertainment/2017/5/17/i-love-dick-star-roberta-colindrez-playing-queer-texas-cowboy |website=Out Magazine |date=17 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Voss |first1=Brandon |title="I Love Dick" Star Roberta Colindrez Transcends Gender Again In "Hamlet" |url=http://www.newnownext.com/i-love-dick-star-roberta-colindrez-transcends-gender-again-in-hamlet/07/2017/ |website=NewNowNext |date=July 27, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Toby || [[Bobbi Salvör Menuez]] || Toby is a bisexual artist at the colony and has a brief fling with Devon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toby, I Love Dick |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/toby/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Lesbian, Bi and Queer Year in Television 2017: Love, bravery, and found family |url=https://www.bellamediachannel.com/the-lesbian-bi-and-queer-year-in-television-2017-love-bravery-and-found-family/ |website=Bella Media Channel |date=20 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Incorporated (TV series)|Incorporated]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Syfy]] || Theo Marquez || Eddie Ramos ||rowspan="2"| Theo Marquez's boyfriend is Anthony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Downsizing, Season 1 Episode 2 |url=https://www.syfy.com/incorporated/episodes/season/1/episode/2/downsizing |website=SyFy |quote=Out in the Red Zone, Theo is becoming quite the up-and-comer in the world of cage fighting, which hopefully means a brighter future for him and his boyfriend, Anthony.}}</ref>
|-
| Anthony || Matt Landry
|-
|rowspan="4"|2016– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Jamie Johnson (TV series)|Jamie Johnson]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[CBBC]] || Dillon Simmonds || Patrick Ward || Dillon Simmonds comes out as gay in season 5.<ref name="jamie johnson tv series"/><ref name="johnsontvjamie">{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Jon |title=Stories can give strength to gay and bi footballers |url=https://sportsmedialgbt.com/stories-can-give-strength-to-gay-and-bi-footballers |website=Sports Media LGBT+ |date=20 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Elliot || Laquarn Lewis || Elliot is gay.<ref name="jamie johnson tv series">{{cite AV media |people=Kay-Jelski, Daniel; Scheckter, Hugo; Ward, Patrick; Lewis, Laquarn; Duggan, Shaun; Taylor, Cheryl |date=July 9, 2020 |title=Jamie Johnson {{!}} Dillon's Storyline and LGBT Role Models For Kids {{!}} BAFTA Kids |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuujfA1WIgk |format=video |publisher= [[BAFTA]] Kids & Teens}}</ref><ref name="johnsontvjamie"/>
|-
| Becky Walker-Cotton || Mali Tudno Jones || Becky Walker-Cotton is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dawn Walker-Cotton, Jamie Johnson (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/dawn-walker-cotton/}}</ref>
|-
| Dawn Walker-Cotton || Tonya Smith || Dawn Walker-Cotton is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Becky Walker-Cotton, Jamie Johnson (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/becky-walker-cotton/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="16"|2016– || rowspan="16"|''[[Legends of Tomorrow]]'' ||rowspan="16"| [[The CW|CW]] || [[Sara Lance]] || [[Caity Lotz]] || Sara Lance is bisexual.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mason|first=Jessica|title=The Cast and Writers Preview Legends of Tomorrow's Trip Into '80s Horror and More|url=https://www.themarysue.com/cast-and-writers-preview-legends-of-tomorrows-trip-into-80s-horror/|website=[[The Mary Sue]]|date=February 11, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Obsidian (comics)|Todd Rice]] || [[Lance Henriksen]] || Todd Rice is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legends of Tomorrow: Lance Henriksen Confirms Obsidian is Green Lantern’s Son |url=https://screenrant.com/obsidian-green-lantern-legends-of-tomorrow-lance-henriksen/ |website=Screen Rant |date=28 September 2016}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ava Sharpe]] || [[Jes Macallan]] ||Ava Sharpe is a lesbian. Ava enters into a relationship with Sara.<ref>{{cite web|last=West|first=Amy|title=Legends of Tomorrow: Sara Lance and Ava Sharpe's romance FINALLY became canon and fans love it|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/03/01/legends-of-tomorrow-sara-lance-and-ava-sharpes-romance-finally-became-canon-and-fans-love-it/|website=[[PinkNews]]|date=March 1, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Lindsay Carlisle || [[Ali Liebert]] || Lindsay Carlisle is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lindsay Carlisle, Legends of Tomorrow|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lindsay-carlisle/}}</ref>
|-
| Queen Anne || Rebecca Eady || Queen Anne is bisexual. She sleeps with Sara in episode "Out of Time", and later consummates her marriage to the King of France.<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen Anne, Legends of Tomorrow|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/queen-anne/}}</ref>
|-
| Guinevere || [[Elyse Levesque]] || Guinevere is bisexual, and an English queen featured in episode "Camelot/3000" who develops a crush on Sara and they kiss.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guinevere, Legends of Tomorrow|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/guinevere/}}</ref>
|-
| [[Alex Danvers]] || [[Chyler Leigh]] || Alex Danvers is a lesbian, she has a one-night stand with Sara.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex Danvers, Legends of Tomorrow|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/alex-danvers/}}</ref>
|-
| [[Captain Cold]] || [[Wentworth Miller]] ||Citizen Cold is gay.<ref name="citizen cold ray">{{cite web |last1=Avery |first1=Dan |title="DC's Legends Of Tomorrow" Hints At A Romance Between Citizen Cold And John Constantine |url=http://www.newnownext.com/citizen-cold-and-john-constantine-gay-flirt/01/2018/ |website=[[NewNowNext]] |date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ray (Ray Terrill)|Ray Terrill]] || [[Russell Tovey]] ||Ray is gay.<ref name="citizen cold ray"/>
|-
| [[John Constantine]] || [[Matt Ryan (actor)|Matt Ryan]] ||John is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web|first=Christopher|last=Rudolph|url=http://www.newnownext.com/constantine-legends-of-tomorrow/10/2017/|title=Bisexual John Constantine Coming To "DC's Legends Of Tomorrow"|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=October 17, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[Gary Green (Arrowverse)|Gary Green]] || [[Adam Tsekhman]] ||Gary is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-queer-kiss-saves-the-world-on-legends-of-tomorrow|title=A queer kiss saves the world on Legends of Tomorrow|last=Fleenor|first=S.E.|date=December 26, 2019|website=[[Syfy]]|access-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107003938/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-queer-kiss-saves-the-world-on-legends-of-tomorrow|archive-date=November 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Desmond || Christian Keyes ||Desmond is queer and had a relationship with John Constantine.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fleenor |first1=S. E. |title=A queer kiss saves the world on Legends of Tomorrow |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-queer-kiss-saves-the-world-on-legends-of-tomorrow |date=27 December 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Batwoman|Kate Kane]] || [[Wallis Day]] || Kate Kane is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kate Kane, Legends of Tomorrow|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/kate-kane/}}</ref>
|-
| [[Clotho (Arrowverse)|Charlie]] || [[Maisie Richardson-Sellers]] ||Charlie is pansexual and [[genderfluid]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fleenor |first1=S. E. |title=Legends of Tomorrow low-key introduced a non-binary character in Season 4 |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/legends-of-tomorrow-low-key-introduced-a-non-binary-character-in-season-4 |date=25 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Nyssa al Ghul || Katrina Law || Nyssa al Ghul is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nyssa al Ghul, Legends of Tomorrow|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/nyssa-al-ghul/}}</ref>
|-
| Miss Sinclair || Sophia Johnson || Miss Sinclair is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Miss Sinclair, Legends of Tomorrow|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/miss-sinclair/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Lucifer (TV series)|Lucifer]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] <br/> [[Netflix]] || Lucifer Morningstar || [[Tom Ellis (actor)|Tom Ellis]] || Lucifer is bisexual<ref name=Autostraddle5.23.19>{{cite web|last1=Anne|first1=Valerie|title="Lucifer" Season Four Has a (Tragically) Beautiful Bisexual Storyline|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/lucifer-season-four-has-a-tragically-beautiful-bisexual-storyline/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=May 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Mazikeen (Maze) || [[Lesley-Ann Brandt]] ||Maze is queer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Opie |first1=David |title=Lucifer season 5 continues to erase bisexuality and conflate queerness with evil |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a33755517/lucifer-season-5-bisexual-queer-lgbtq/ |website=Digital Spy |date=24 August 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Eve || [[Inbar Lavi]] ||Eve is pansexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eve, Lucifer (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/eve-2/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Luke Cage (TV series)|Luke Cage]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || [[Shades (comics)|Hernan "Shades" Alvarez]] ||[[Theo Rossi]]|| Shades is bisexual.<ref name="shades alvares">{{cite web|last1=Outlaw|first1=Kofi|title='Luke Cage' Season 2 Adds More LGBTQ Characters to the MCU|url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/2018/06/25/luke-cage-season-2-shades-gay-bisexual-lgbtq/|website=ComicBook.com|publisher=Pop Culture Media|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=27 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="luke cage season2">{{cite web|last1=Pooley|first1=Jack|title=Luke Cage Season 2: 22 WTF Moments|url=http://whatculture.com/tv/luke-cage-season-2-22-wtf-moments?page=10|website=WhatCulture.com|date=23 June 2018|access-date=27 June 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Comanche (comics)|Comanche Jones]] || [[Thomas Jones (American football)|Thomas Q. Jones]] || Comanche is gay.<ref name="shades alvares"/><ref name="luke cage season2"/>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2016– || rowspan="5"|''[[Marcella (TV series)|Marcella]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] || Matthew Neil || [[Ben Cura]] || Matthew Neil is Yann Hall's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marcella recap: episode two – the butcher, the baker and the internet dater |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/apr/11/marcella-recap-episode-two-the-butcher-the-baker-and-the-internet-dater |date=11 April 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Yann Hall || [[Tobias Santelmann]] || Yann Hall is Matthew Neil's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marcella Season 1 Recap |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/marcella-season-1-recap/ |website=Den of Geek |date=19 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Cara Thomas || [[Florence Pugh]] || Cara Thomas is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cara Thomas, Marcella (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/cara-thomas/}}</ref>
|-
| Sascha Kyte || Victoria Broom ||Sascha is a lesbian.<ref name="jojo and sascha">{{cite web |title=TV Show Pick: Marcella |url=https://www.curvemag.com/film-club/film-collection/tv-show/tv-show-pick-marcella/ |date=8 September 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Jojo Baines || [[Tamzin Malleson]] ||Jojo Baines is lesbian.<ref name="jojo and sascha"/>
|-
|2016–2018 || ''{{sortname|The|Night Manager|The Night Manager (miniseries)}}'' || [[BBC One]] || Major Lance "Corky" Corkoran || [[Tom Hollander]] || Lance is ____.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Handlen |first1=Zack |title=The Night Manager is elegant, well-chilled spy craft |url=https://tv.avclub.com/the-night-manager-is-elegant-well-chilled-spy-craft-1798187435 |website=TV Club |date=April 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Geier |first1=Thom |title=#BuryYourGays: 27 LGBT TV Characters Killed Off in 2016 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/buryyourgays-lgbt-tv-characters-gay-lesbian-killed-off-2016-empire-game-of-thrones/ |website=TheWrap |date=21 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2017||rowspan="2"| ''[[No Tomorrow (TV series)|No Tomorrow]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[The CW]] || Kareema ||[[Sarayu Blue]] || Kareema is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kareema, No Tomorrow |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/kareema-no-tomorrow/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
| Sofia || Marta Milans || Sofia is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sofia, No Tomorrow |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/sofia-no-tomorrow/ |website=LGBT Fans Deserve Better}}</ref>
|-
|2016|| ''[[Notorious (2016 TV series)|Notorious]]'' || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Levi ||Ramon de Ocampo || Levi admitted he was in love with Oscar, and then he committed suicide in front of Julia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Levi Is In Love With Oscar On 'Notorious' & It All Comes To A Tragic End|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/189603-levi-is-in-love-with-oscar-on-notorious-it-all-comes-to-a-tragic-end |website=Bustle}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Notorious' Recap: How About That Ending?|url=https://ew.com/recap/notorious-season-1-episode-4/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016– || rowspan="2"|''{{sortname|The|OA}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Buck Vu || Ian Alexander || Buck Vu is transgender.<ref name="the oa">{{Cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Harron|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/12/the-oa-netflix-ian-alexander-buck.html|title=The OA's Ian Alexander on His Big Acting Debut and Trans Representation|website=[[New York (magazine)#Digital expansion and blogs|Vulture]]|date=December 22, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Alfonso "French" Sosa || Brandon Perea || Alfonso is gay.<ref name="the oa"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016–2017 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Pure Genius]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[CBS]] || Jess Wallace || Taylor Rose || Jess Wallace is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jess Wallace, Pure Genius|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/jess-wallace/}}</ref>
|-
| Ally (Ali) || Irene Choi || Ally (Ali) is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ali, Pure Genius|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/ali/}}</ref>
|-
| Gloria || [[Jazzmun]] || Gloria is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gloria, Pure Genius|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/gloria-pure-genius/}}</ref>
|-
|2016 || ''[[Quarry (TV series)|Quarry]]'' || [[Cinemax]] || Buddy || [[Damon Herriman]] || Buddy is gay, and an assassin for hire.<ref>{{cite web |title=Review: The reluctant hit man: A new antihero arises in Cinemax's '70s-set Southern noir 'Quarry' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-quarry-review-20160906-snap-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=9 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Quarry's Damon Herriman Discusses Playing Criminals & Finding Their Humanity |url=https://screenrant.com/quarry-cinemax-damon-herriman-buddy-justified/ |website=Screen Rant |date=7 October 2016}}</ref>
|-
|2016 || ''[[Recovery Road (TV series)|Recovery Road]]'' || [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Vern Testaverde || [[Daniel Franzese]] || Vern Testaverde is gay and an ex-cocaine addict.<ref>{{cite web |title=BELLO mag #107, The Pride Issue |url=https://issuu.com/outnext/docs/bello107print |pages=6–13}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016–2018 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Shades of Blue (TV series)|Shades of Blue]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[NBC]] || Lieutenant Matt Wozniak || [[Ray Liotta]] || Wozniak is bisexual and the corrupt commander of the 64th Precinct.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Mary |title='Shades of Blue': Ray Liotta Weighs in on Wozniak's Big Reveal |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/67385/shades-of-blue-ray-liotta-weighs-in-on-wozniaks-big-reveal/ |website=TV Insider}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Liotta Says Bisexual Twist In 'Shades Of Blue' Knocked His Socks Off |url=http://www.ontopmag.com/article/22193/Ray_Liotta_Says_Bisexual_Twist_In_Shades_Of_Blue_Knocked_His_Socks_Off |website=On Top Magazine}}</ref>
|-
| Donnie Pomp || [[Michael Esper]] || Donnie Pomp shares a kiss with Lieutenant Matt Wozniak, and has sex with him.<ref>{{cite web |title='Shades of Blue' Ray Liotta Gay Kiss Steams Up Social Media |url=https://www.thewrap.com/shades-of-blue-ray-liotta-gay-kiss-steams-up-social-media-mouth-just-dropped/ |website=TheWrap |date=22 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Nate Wozniak || Cameron Scoggins ||Nate Wozniak is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heimbrod |first1=Camille |title=‘Shades Of Blue’ Season 2 Spoilers: Did Wozniak’s Son Nate Die In Episode 9 ‘Chaos Is Come Again’? |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/shades-blue-season-2-spoilers-did-wozniaks-son-nate-die-episode-9-chaos-come-again-2532710 |website=International Business Times |date=1 May 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016–2017 || rowspan="3"|''{{sortname|The|Shannara Chronicles}}'' ||rowspan="3"| [[MTV]]<br/>[[Spike (TV network)|Spike]] || Eretria || [[Ivana Baquero]] || Eretria is bisexual. She may have romantic feelings for Amberle in season 1.<ref name="shannara chronicles:1">{{Cite web|last1=Berkowitz|first1= Alyssa|url=https://www.theworkprint.com/shannara-chronicles-lgbtq-training-interview/123|title='The Shannara Chronicles' Season 2 Brings LGBTQ Characters, Intense Training, and Unexpected Connections|website=The Workprint|date=October 18, 2017}}</ref><ref name="shan chronicles:2">{{Cite web|last1=MacDonald|first1=Lindsay|url=http://screenertv.com/television/shannara-chronicles-miles-miller-al-gough-eretria-amberle/|title='Shannara Chronicles' bosses talk Eretria & Amberle, cutting scenes from the book and more|website=Screener|date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110165431/http://screenertv.com/television/shannara-chronicles-miles-miller-al-gough-eretria-amberle/|archive-date=November 10, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Princess Lyria || [[Vanessa Morgan]] ||Princess Lyria was in a relationship with Eretria in season 2.<ref name="shannara chronicles:1"/><ref name="shan chronicles:2"/>
|-
| Zora || Zoe Robins || Zora is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zora, Shannara Chronicles|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/zora/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[SOTUS: The Series]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[One 31]] <br> [[Line TV]] || Kongpob || [[Singto Prachaya]] ||rowspan="2"| Kongpob and Arthrit are gay love interests.<ref>{{cite web|title=SOTUS Trailer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke3RRiXo7rg|date=July 27, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Arthrit || Krist Perawat
|-
|rowspan="6"|2016–2019 ||rowspan="6"| ''[[Star (U.S. TV series)|Star]]'' ||rowspan="6"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] || Simone Davis || Brittany O'Grady || Simone Davis is bisexual. She kissed her troubled friend, Karen, in the fifth episode of season 2.<ref name="Star LGBT characters"/>
|-
| Cotton Brown || Amiyah Scott ||Cotton Brown is the transgender daughter of Carlota Brown.<ref name="Star LGBT characters"/>
|-
| Miss Bruce || Miss Lawrence ||Miss Bruce is a trans woman.<ref name="Star LGBT characters"/>
|-
| Karen Williams || Imani Lewis || Karen Williams is a lesbian.<ref name="Star LGBT characters"/>
|-
| Nina Ferrera || Camila Banus || Nina Ferrera is bisexual.<ref name="Star LGBT characters"/>
|-
| Rachel Wallace || Paris Jackson || Rachel Wallace is a lesbian.<ref name="Star LGBT characters">{{cite web |title=Star, LGBT characters |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/star/}}</ref>
|-
|2016– || ''[[Stranger Things]]'' || [[Netflix]] || Robin Buckley || [[Maya Hawke]] || Robin Buckley is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bandyopadhyay|first1=Alakananda|title='Stranger Things' season 3 blesses us with Robin, but her sexuality is the biggest surprise gift in the end|url=https://meaww.com/stranger-things-season-3-spoilers-robin-sexuality-lesbian-maya-hawke-steve-harrington-joe-keery|website=Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide|date=July 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Framke|first1=Caroline|title='Stranger Things' Finally Does Right by Female Characters With Maya Hawke's Robin (Column)|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/columns/stranger-things-season-3-robin-steve-spoilers-1203259061/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 6, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2016– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[This Is Us (TV series)|This Is Us]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[NBC]] || William Hill || [[Ron Cephas Jones]] ||rowspan="2"| William Hill is bisexual and had a relationship with Jessie.<ref>{{cite web |title=My Favorite Bi Parent Characters on TV |url=https://bi.org/en/articles/my-favorite-bi-parent-characters-on-tv |website=Bi.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='This Is Us' Recap: Talks About a Blue Christmas |url=https://ew.com/recap/this-is-us-season-1-episode-10/}}</ref>
|-
| Jessie || [[Denis O'Hare]]
|-
| Tess Pearson || Eris Baker;<hr>Iantha Richardson ||Tess comes out as a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tess Pearson, This Is Us (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/tess-pearson/}}</ref>
|-
| Alex || Presley Alexander || Alex is non-binary and undefined orientation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex, This Is Us (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/alex-11/}}</ref>
|-
| Animal Shelter Clerk || Lena Waithe || Animal Shelter Clerk is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Animal Shelter Clerk, This Is Us (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/animal-shelter-clerk/}}</ref>
|-
|2016–2018 || ''[[Timeless (TV Series)|Timeless]]'' || [[NBC]] || Denise Christopher || [[Sakina Jaffrey]] || Denise is a lesbian and a Special Agent. She's married to Michelle, with whom she has a son and daughter.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gajjar|first1=Saloni|title='Timeless' Just Gave us a Noteworthy Episode for Indian-American LGBT Representation|url=http://www.thetealmango.com/entertainment/timeless-just-gave-us-a-noteworthy-episode-for-indian-american-lgbt-representation/|website=The Teal Mango|date=May 9, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016–2017||rowspan="2"| ''[[Too Close to Home (TV series)|Too Close to Home]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[TLC (TV network)|TLC]] || Dax || [[Nick Ballard]] ||rowspan="2"| Dax and Victor are a gay couple.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Swift |first1=Andy |title=TLC's Too Close to Home Is the Worst Show I Can't Stop Watching |url=https://tvline.com/2017/02/22/too-close-to-home-season-2-review-finale/ |website=TV Line |date=22 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Too Close to Home: Jolene Labels Dax a Pickle-Picker |url=https://www.thewrap.com/too-close-to-home-jolene-dax-anna-valerie-tlc/ |website=The Wrap |date=3 October 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Victor || Charles Justo
|-
|rowspan="3"|2016–2018 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Travelers (TV series)|Travelers]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase]] <br/> [[Netflix]] || Joanne Yates || Kimberley Sustad ||Joanne Yates is lesbian.<ref name="travelers lgbt char">{{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Kinsey |title=Netflix's 'Travelers' Finally Got Some Lesbian Representation And I'm Screaming |url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/netflixs-travelers-finally-got-some-lesbian-representation-and-im-screaming |website=Into |date=January 3, 2019 |access-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="travelers netflix"/>
|-
| Samantha Burns || Karen Holness ||Samantha Burns is a lesbian.<ref name="travelers lgbt char"/><ref name="travelers netflix"/>
|-
| Amanda Myers || Enid-Raye Adams ||Amanda Myers is a lesbian.<ref name="travelers lgbt char"/><ref name="travelers netflix">{{cite web |title=Travelers, LGBT characters |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/travelers/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="9"|2016– ||rowspan="9"| ''[[Van Helsing (TV series)|Van Helsing]]'' ||rowspan="9"| [[Syfy]] || Susan Jackson || Hilary Jardine || Susan Jackson is a lesbian.<ref name="Van Helsing"/>
|-
| Vanessa Helsing || [[Kelly Overton (actress)|Kelly Overton]] ||Vanessa Helsing is bisexual.<ref name="Van Helsing"/>
|-
| Dracula || Tricia Helfer || Dracula is bisexual.<ref name="Van Helsing"/>
|-
| Jack || Nicole Muñoz || Jack is a lesbian.<ref name="Van Helsing"/>
|-
| Sarah "Doc" Carol || Rukiya Bernard || Sarah "Doc" Carol is a lesbian.<ref name="Van Helsing"/>
|-
| Bathory || Jesse Stanley || Bathory is a lesbian.<ref name="Van Helsing"/>
|-
| Ivory || Jennifer Cheon || Ivory is a lesbian.<ref name="Van Helsing"/>
|-
| Jolene || Caroline Cave || Jolene is a lesbian.<ref name="Van Helsing"/>
|-
| Michaela || Heather Doerksen || Michaela is a lesbian.<ref name="Van Helsing">{{cite web |title=Van Helsing, TV series, LGBT characters |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/van-helsing/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Victoria (UK TV series)|Victoria]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] || Lord Alfred Paget || Jordan Waller ||rowspan="2"| Lord Alfred and Lord Edward have a romantic attraction for each other and share a kiss in season 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Victoria fans are thrilled that Drummond and Alfred have FINALLY kissed |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/victoria-fans-are-thrilled-that-drummond-and-alfred-have-finally-kissed/ |website=Radio Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ITV drama Victoria braces for backlash over gay kiss |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/10/08/itv-drama-victoria-braces-for-backlash-over-gay-kiss/ |website=PinkNews |date=8 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Lord Edward Drummond || [[Leo Suter]]
|-
|rowspan="4"|2016– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Westworld (TV series)|Westworld]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[HBO]] || Logan || [[Ben Barnes (actor)|Ben Barnes]] || Logan is bisexual. He is seen having sex with both a man and a woman in episode 2 of season 1.<ref>{{cite web |title=Westworld Creator Confirms a Character's Bisexuality—and the Straights Are Shook |url=https://www.pride.com/tv/2018/5/16/westworld-creator-confirms-characters-bisexuality-and-straights-are-shook |date=16 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Clementine Pennyfeather || [[Angela Sarafyan]] ||Clementine Pennyfeather is pansexual.<ref name="westworld tv series characters"/>
|-
| Elsie Hughes || [[Shannon Woodward]] ||Elsie Hughes is a lesbian.<ref name="westworld tv series characters"/>
|-
| Marti || Bojana Novakovic || Marti is bisexual.<ref name="westworld tv series characters">{{cite web |title=Westworld, LGBT characters, Marti, Elsie, Clementine |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/westworld/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="8"|2016–2021 ||rowspan="8"| ''[[Wynonna Earp (TV series)|Wynonna Earp]]'' ||rowspan="8"| [[Syfy]] <br/> [[CHCH-DT]] <br/> [[Space (Canadian TV channel)|Space]] || Waverly Earp || [[Dominique Provost-Chalkley]] || Waverly, the younger sister of Wynonna, had a boyfriend until she met Nicole Haught.<ref name="wynonna earp lgbt">{{cite web|last1=Logan|first1=Megan|title='Wynonna Earp's #WayHaught Is What LGBT Audiences Deserve From TV|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/16329-wynonna-earp-s-wayhaught-is-what-lgbt-audiences-deserve-from-tv|website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]|date=May 31, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Nicole Haught || [[Katherine Barrell]] ||Nicole Haught is a lesbian.<ref name="wynonna earp lgbt"/>
|-
| Jeremy Chetri || Varun Saranga ||Jeremy is gay.<ref name="Justin Kelly Wynonna Earp">{{cite web |title=Justin Kelly – Wynonna Earp |url=https://starrymag.com/justin-kelly-wynonna-earp/ |website=Starry Constellation Magazine |date=28 September 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Robin || [[Justin Kelly (actor)|Justin Kelly]] ||Robin is gay.<ref name="Justin Kelly Wynonna Earp"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Wynonna Earp Episode 306 Recap: Make the Yuletide Gay |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/wynonna-earp-episode-306-recap-make-the-yuletide-gay-430458/ |website=Autostraddle |date=27 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Rosita Bustillos || Tamara Duarte || Rosita Bustillos is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rosita Bustillos, Wynonna Earp (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/rosita-bustillos/}}</ref>
|-
| Shae || Clark Backo || Shae is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shae, Wynonna Earp (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/shae/}}</ref>
|-
| Ambrose "Fish" || Tyrell Crews || Fish is gay. He was in a relationship with Levi.<ref name="themarysue.com">{{cite web|title=Wynonna Earp Recap: Episode 5, "Digging Up Bones"|url=https://www.themarysue.com/wynonna-earp-recap-ep-5/}}</ref>
|-
| Levi || Christian Goutsis || Levi is gay. He was in a relationship with Fish.<ref name="themarysue.com"/>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2016||rowspan="7"| ''[[The Young Pope]]'' ||rowspan="7"| [[HBO]] || Cardinal Bernardo Gutierrez || [[Javier Cámara]] || Cardinal Bernardo Gutierrez comes out as gay in the first season's final episode.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Young Pope has a God problem |url=https://theweek.com/articles/673377/young-pope-god-problem |date=17 January 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Cardinal Andrew Dussolier || [[Scott Shepherd (actor)|Scott Shepherd]] ||Andrew is bisexual. He has sex with a man and a woman in episode 6 of season 1.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Sean T. |title=The Young Pope Recap: Menage a Trinity |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-recaps/the-young-pope-recap-menage-a-trinity-106050/ |website=Rolling Stone |date=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Young Pope Episode 7"/>
|-
| Cardinal Mario Assente || Maurizio Lombardi ||Cardinal Mario Assente is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Young Pope Recap: For Whom the Kangaroo Tolls |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/young-pope-recap-season-1-episode-2.html |website=Vulture}}</ref>
|-
| Ángelo Sanchez || Marcos Franz || Ángelo Sanchez is gay. He commits suicide after being rejected to becoming a priest.<ref name="Young Pope Episode 7">{{cite web |title=The Young Pope Episode 7 Recap: It's a Hard Knock Life |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/the-young-pope-hbo-episode-7-recap-its-a-hard-knock-life |website=W Magazine}}</ref>
|-
| Freddy Blakestone || Alex Esola ||Freddy is gay.<ref name="Young Pope Episode 9">{{cite web |title=The Young Pope Episode 9 Recap: Jude Law's Golden Globes Moment |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/the-young-pope-episode-9-recap-jude-laws-golden-globes-moment |website=W Magazine}}</ref>
|-
| Archbishop Kurtwell || Guy Boyd || Archbishop Kurtwell is gay.<ref name="Young Pope Episode 9"/>
|-
| Cardinal Michel Marivaux || Sebastian Roché ||Cardinal Michel Marivaux is gay.<ref>{{cite web|title='The Young Pope' Major Characters, Ranked Worst to Best (Photos)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/young-pope-main-characters-ranked-photos/|website=The Wrap|date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2017==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="13"|2017–2020 ||rowspan="13"| ''[[13 Reasons Why]]'' || rowspan="13"|[[Netflix]] || Courtney Crimsen || Michele Selene Ang || Courtney is a lesbian. She was closeted until the season 2 finale. episode "[[List of 13 Reasons Why episodes#ep26|Bye]]", when she came out to her adoptive gay parents.<ref name=brabaw>{{cite web|last1=Brabaw|first1=Kasandra|title=Courtney's 13 Reasons Why Ending Is A Huge Moment For Queer Women On TV|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/05/199864/courtney-crimsen-gay-13-reasons-why-season-2-ending|website=[[Refinery29]]|date=May 22, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Todd Crimsen || [[Robert Gant]] || rowspan="2"|Todd and Steve are gay and Courtney's parents.<ref name=brabaw/>
|-
| Steve Crimsen || Alex Quiojan
|-
| Ryan Shaver || [[Tommy Dorfman]] || Ryan told Hannah he was gay in episode "[[List of 13 Reasons Why episodes#ep8|Tape 4, Side B]]".<ref name="thirteen reasons">{{cite web |title=13 Reasons Why (Season 2) |url=https://www.pluggedin.com/tv-reviews/13-reasons-why-season-2/ |website=Plugged In}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Darwish |first1=Meaghan |title=13 Reasons Why Star Christian Navarro Talks Tony's New Relationship & More Season 2 Details |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/689812/13-reasons-why-season-2-tony-christian-navarro/ |website=TV Insider}}</ref>
|-
| Tony Padilla || [[Christian Navarro]] || Tony is openly gay. He used to date Ryan and Brad, but is now dating Caleb.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brammer|first1=John Paul|title='13 Reasons Why' Made Tony a Gay, Latinx, Catholic Teen — Here's Why That Matters|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/13-reasons-why-tony-latinx-lgbtq-representation-machismo|website=[[Teen Vogue]]|date=April 21, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Brad || [[Henry Zaga]] || Brad is gay, and Caleb's boyfriend.<ref name="thirteen reasons"/>
|-
| Caleb || R.J. Brown || Caleb is gay and Tony's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pannell |first1=Ni'Kesia |title=Where every 13 Reasons Why character ended up after season 3 |url=https://www.insider.com/where-everyone-ends-up-13-reasons-why-season-three-2019-8#jessica-davis-ends-the-season-as-an-outspoken-class-president-and-a-murder-witness-3 |website=Insider |access-date=10 April 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Tamika || Clarke Hollingsworth || Tamika is ____ and Courtney's girlfriend.<ref name=brabaw/>
|-
| Montgomery "Monty" de la Cruz || [[Timothy Granaderos]] || Monty is gay and closeted.<ref name=morris>{{cite web|last1=Morris|first1=Lauren|title=A look back at Monty and Winston's relationship 13 Reasons Why as he attempts to avenge his death|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2020-06-05/monty-winston-13-reasons-why/|website=[[Radio Times]]|date=5 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="alexwinston"/>
|-
| Winston Williams || Deaken Bluman || Winston is gay. He tells Alex in the final episode "[[List of 13 Reasons Why episodes#ep49|Graduation]]", that he loved Monty but that he also loves him.<ref name=morris/><ref name="alexwinston">{{cite web|last1=Sorren|first1=Martha|title=Alex & Winston's Relationship On '13 Reasons Why' Has Many Obstacles|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/alex-winstons-relationship-on-13-reasons-why-has-many-obstacles-22957769|website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]|date=June 5, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Alex Standall || [[Miles Heizer]] || Alex is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kickham|first1=Dylan|title=Alex's Sexuality In '13 Reasons Why' Season 4 Tells A Story Of Self-Discovery|url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/alexs-sexuality-in-13-reasons-why-season-4-tells-a-story-of-self-discovery-22956053|website=[[Elite Daily]]|date=5 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Charlie St. George || [[Tyler Barnhardt]] || Charlie is bisexual. He dates Alex and comes out to his dad in episode "[[List of 13 Reasons Why episodes#ep48|Prom]]".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Smail|first1=Gretchen|title=Alex & Charlie's Relationship On '13 Reasons Why' Is Worth Rooting For|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/alex-charlies-relationship-on-13-reasons-why-is-worth-rooting-for-22959770|website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]|date=5 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Hansen Foundry || [[Reed Diamond]] || Hansen is gay. He is a member of staff at the school.<ref>{{cite web|title=13 Reasons Why season 4 binge recap|url=https://ew.com/tv/recaps/13-reasons-why-season-4-binge-recap/|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=5 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[195 Lewis]]'' ||rowspan="2"| 195 Lewis<br/> (series website) || Yuri || Rae Leone Allen || Yuri is lesbian.<ref name="195 Lewis">{{Cite web|last1=Pennington|first1=Latonya|title='195 Lewis' Is Black Lesbian Perfection|url=https://wearyourvoicemag.com/culture/195-lewis-black-lesbian-perfection|website=Wear Your Voice|date=November 14, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Camille || Sirita Wright || Camille is lesbian.<ref name="195 Lewis"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 || rowspan="2"|''[[24 Legacy]]'' || rowspan="2"|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] || Andy Shalowitz || [[Dan Bucatinsky]] || Andy Shalowitz is openly gay. He is a communication analyst at CTU.<ref name="24 legacy">{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Joe |title=24: Legacy reveals first gay characters in the series' 16-year history |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/24-legacy-reveals-first-gay-characters-series-16-year-history/ |website=Gay Star News |date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="24legacy lgbt">{{cite web |title=Dan Bucatinsky on Playing Openly Gay Andy Shalowitz in 24 |url=https://www.out.com/entertainment/2017/2/20/dan-bucatinsky-playing-openly-gay-andy-shalowitz-24 |date=20 February 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Thomas Locke || [[Bailey Chase]] || Thomas Locke is gay. He is a CTU agent and the head of field operations.<ref name="24 legacy"/><ref name="24legacy lgbt"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2017–2019 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)|A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Netflix]] || Charles || [[Rhys Darby]] || Charles is gay and used to be in a relationship with Sir.<ref name="series of unfortunate events">{{Cite news|last=Gallagher|first=Caitlin|title=Charles & Sir's Relationship In A Series Of Unfortunate Events Is Finally Made Clear In The Netflix Series|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/charles-sirs-relationship-in-a-series-of-unfortunate-events-is-finally-made-clear-in-the-netflix-series-30444|website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]|date=January 20, 2017}}</ref><ref name="lemony snicket"/>
|-
| Sir || [[Don Johnson]] || Sir is gay and used to be Charles' partner in both business and marriage.<ref name="series of unfortunate events"/><ref name="lemony snicket">{{cite web |title=Lemony Snicket Has the Gay TV Villains We've Been Waiting For |url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2017/1/17/lemony-snicket-has-gay-tv-villains-weve-been-waiting |date=17 January 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Babs || [[Kerri Kenney-Silver|Kerri Kenney]] || Babs is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Babs, A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series) |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/babs/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2017– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Ackley Bridge]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Channel 4]] || Nasreen Paracha || [[Amy-Leigh Hickman]] || Nasreen comes out to her mother as a lesbian and tells her she's in love with another woman (series 1, episode 5).<ref name="Ackley Bridge"/>
|-
| Lila Shariff || Anneika Rose || Lila is a lesbian and a science teacher.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lila Shariff, Ackley Bridge|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/lila-shariff/}}</ref>
|-
| Naveed Haider || Gurjeet Singh || Naveed is gay.<ref name="Bridge fans"/>
|-
| Sam Murgatroyd || Megan Parkinson || Sam is lesbian and Nasreen's girlfriend.<ref name="Ackley Bridge">{{cite web |title=Ackley Bridge has now got a lesbian storyline |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/07/17/ackley-bridge-is-set-to-feature-a-lesbian-storyline/ |website=Pink News |date=17 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Cory Wilson || [[Sam Retford]] || Cory is bisexual. Cory and Naveed kissed and slept together. Cory slept with a girl the day after he had sex with Naveed.<ref name="Bridge fans">{{cite web |last1=Chase |first1=Stephanie |title=Ackley Bridge fans are heartbroken over Cory and Naveed |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a863405/ackley-bridge-cory-naveed-heartbreak/ |website=Digital Spy |date=7 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2017– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[American Gods (TV series)|American Gods]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Starz (TV channel)|Starz]] || [[Bilquis]] || [[Yetide Badaki]] || Bilquis is pansexual and a goddess.<ref name="american gods">{{cite web|last1=Henderson|first1=Taylor|title=The Gay Sex Scene in American Gods Isn't Pornographic, It's Art|url=https://www.pride.com/tv/2017/5/12/gay-sex-scene-american-gods-isnt-pornographic-its-art|website=[[Pride.com]]|date=May 12, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Cast of American Gods">{{cite web|last1=Schnelbach|first1=Leah|title=The Cast of American Gods (Plus Neil Gaiman) Hit the New York Comic-Con Stage to Talk Season Two!|url=https://www.tor.com/2018/10/05/american-gods-season-two-new-york-comic-con-2018-panel/|website=Tor.com|date=October 5, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Jinn]] || [[Mousa Kraish]] || Jinn is gay. Jinn and Salim become romantically involved.<ref name="american gods"/><ref name="Cast of American Gods"/>
|-
| Salim || [[Omid Abtahi]] || Salim is gay. Jinn and Salim become romantically involved.<ref name="american gods"/><ref name="Cast of American Gods"/>
|-
| Samantha ("Sam") Black Crow || [[Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs|Devery Jacobs]] || Sam is lesbian.<ref name="american gods"/><ref name="Cast of American Gods"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017–2019 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Andi Mack]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Disney Channel]] || [[Cyrus Goodman]] || [[Joshua Rush]] || Cyrus is gay and enters a relationship with TJ in the finale. ''Andi Mack'' is the first Disney Channel series with a character that comes out as gay.<ref name="cyrus and tj">{{cite web|last1=Voss|first1=Brandon|title="Andi Mack" Series Ends With Disney Channel's First Gay Romance|url=http://www.newnownext.com/andi-mack-series-finale-disney-channels-first-gay-romance-couple/07/2019/|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=July 28, 2019}}</ref><ref name="last ever episode">{{cite web |last1=Besanvalle |first1=James |title=Fans react to emotional last ever episode of Andi Mack |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/andi-mack-we-were-here-episode |website=[[Gay Star News]] |date=July 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Messer|first=Lesley|title='Andi Mack' stars weigh in on the show's historic coming out episode|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/andi-mack-stars-weigh-shows-historic-coming-episode/story?id=50922766|website=[[ABC News]]|date=November 4, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| TJ Kippen || [[Luke Mullen]] || TJ is gay, and holds hands with Cyrus in the finale. ''Andi Mack'' made history with Disney's first character to say "I'm gay".<ref name="cyrus and tj"/><ref name="last ever episode"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017–2019 ||rowspan="2"|''[[Anne with an E]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[CBC Television|CBC]] <br> [[Netflix]] || Josephine Barry || Deborah Grover || Josephine is a lesbian. She had a long-term partner, now deceased.<ref name="anne with an e">{{cite web |last1=Nguyen |first1=Hanh |title='Anne With an E' Boss Answers Burning Questions About the Queer Soirée, Season 3, and More |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/07/anne-with-an-e-season-3-queer-soiree-bash-moira-walley-beckett-1201984101/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |date=July 15, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Cole Mackenzie || Cory Grüter-Andrew || Cole is gay.<ref name="anne with an e"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Atypical (TV series)|Atypical]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Casey || [[Brigette Lundy-Paine]] || Casey is bisexual.<ref name="atypical tv">{{cite web |title=Atypical Isn't The Lesbian Representation You'd Think |url=https://afterellen.com/atypical-isnt-the-lesbian-representation-youd-think/ |website=Afterellen |date=10 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Izzie || [[Fivel Stewart]] ||Izzie is bisexual. Casey and Izzie begin dating.<ref name="atypical tv"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– ||rowspan="2"| ''The Bastards of Pizzofalcone'' ||rowspan="2"| [[RAI]]|| Alex Di Nardo || Simona Tabasco || Alex is lesbian. Alex and Rosaria are in a relationship.<ref name="pizz">{{cite web|last1=Megna|first1=Rebecca|title=I bastardi di Pizzofalcone, Alex e Rosaria arriva la svolta: parla Simona Tabasco|url=https://www.gossipetv.com/i-bastardi-di-pizzofalcone-alex-e-rosaria-la-svolta-parla-simona-tabasco-377010|website=Gossip e TV|date=16 October 2018|language=it}}</ref><ref name="bastards of pizzo">{{cite magazine|last1=Vivarelli|first1=Nick|title=New Naples-Set Series 'Bastards of Pizzofalcone' Scores Record TV Ratings in Italy|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/new-naples-set-tv-series-bastards-of-pizzofalcone-scores-stellar-ratings-in-italy-1201980055/|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Rosaria Martone || Serena Iansiti || Rosaria is lesbian. Alex and Rosaria are in a relationship.<ref name="pizz"/><ref name="bastards of pizzo"/>
|-
|2017– || ''[[Black Spot (TV series)|Black Spot]]'' || [[France 2]] <br/> [[Netflix]] || Martial "Nounours" Ferrandis || Hubert Delattre || Nounours is a gay police officer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Spot: What Makes It Tick? |url=https://www.thecinejournal.com/black-spot-what-makes-it-tick/ |website=The Cinematic Journal |date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Blood Drive (TV series)|Blood Drive]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[SyFy]] || The Scholar || Darren Kent || The Scholar is ____.<ref name="Blood Drive Review"/>
|-
| The Gentleman || Andrew James Hall || The Gentleman is ____.<ref name="Blood Drive Review">{{cite web |last1=Foutch |first1=Haleigh |title=Blood Drive Review: A Silly, Pulpy, Grindhouse Romp |url=https://collider.com/blood-drive-review/ |website=Collider |date=13 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2017– ||rowspan="7"| ''[[The Bold Type]]'' ||rowspan="7"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Adena El-Amin || [[Nikohl Boosheri]] || Adena is a lesbian Muslim feminist and professional photographer who begins a romance with Kat.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Yap|first1=Audrey Cleo|title=On 'The Bold Type,' Actress Nikohl Boosheri Plays a 'Confident, Empowered' Lesbian Muslim|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/bold-type-actress-nikohl-boosheri-plays-confident-empowered-lesbian-muslim-n794676|website=[[NBC News]]|date=August 22, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Kat Edison || [[Aisha Dee]] || Kat is bisexual. When she falls in love with Adena she first thinks she is lesbian. However, she later has feelings for a man and realizes she is attracted to men and women.<ref name="the bold type">{{cite web|last1=Gaudens|first1=Reed|title='The Bold Type' understands bisexuality better than most shows, and we have the receipts|url=https://hiddenremote.com/2017/07/19/bold-type-understands-bisexuality-better-than-most/|website=Hidden Remote|date=July 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name="better queer future">{{cite magazine|last1=Cuby|first1=Michael|title=Seen: On The Bold Type, Kat Edison Is Fighting for a Better Queer Future|url=https://www.them.us/story/seen-the-bold-type-kat-edison|magazine=[[Them.]]|date=March 24, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Leila || Katerina Tannembaum || Leila is lesbian and Adena's ex.<ref name="the bold type"/><ref name="better queer future"/>
|-
| Tia Clayton || Alexis Floyd || Tia is lesbian and Kat's love interest.<ref name="the bold type"/><ref name="better queer future"/>
|-
| Oliver Grayson || Stephen Conrad Moore || Oliver is gay.<ref name="gay sidekick">{{cite magazine|last1=Gilchrist|first1=Tracy E.|title=The Bold Type's Stephen Conrad Moore Is Nobody's 'Gay Sidekick'|url=https://www.advocate.com/advocate-exclusives/2019/3/15/bold-types-stephen-conrad-moore-sick-being-gay-sidekick|magazine=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]|date=April 16, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Andrew || Adam Capriolo || Andrew is gay and a [[drag queen]].<ref name="gay sidekick"/>
|-
| Eva Rhodes || [[Alex Paxton-Beesley]] || Eva is lesbian and Kat's love interest.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Zoe Christen|title=The Bold Type Embraced Its Worst Self This Season|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bold-type-season-4-kat-eva-story-line-finale.html|website=[[New York (magazine)#Digital expansion and destination sites|Vulture]]|date=July 17, 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Borderliner]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Nikolai Andreassen || [[Tobias Santelmann]] || Nikolai is closeted and has a secret boyfriend, Kristoffer.<ref name="borderliner">{{cite web|last=O'Keefe|first=Meghan|title=Netflix's 'Borderliner' Is Going To Be Your New Scandi-Noir Obsession|url=https://decider.com/2018/03/06/borderliner-netflix-scandi-drama/|website=[[New York Post#Website|Decider]]|date=March 6, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Kristoffer Lund || Morten Svartveit || Kristoffer is gay and Nikolai's boyfriend.<ref name="borderliner"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2017– ||rowspan="3"| '' [[Charité (TV series)|Charité]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Netflix]] || Sister Therese || [[:de:Klara Deutschmann|Klara Deutschmann]] || Therese is lesbian.<ref name="charite"/>
|-
| Otto Marquardt || [[:de:Jannik Schümann|Jannik Schümann]] || Otto is gay.<ref name="charite">{{cite web|last1=Dell|first1=SMatthias|title="Charité" Unsere Ärzte, unsere Schwestern|url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/film/2019-02/charite-staffel-2-klinik-fernsehserie-nationalsozialismus|website=[[Die Zeit]]|date=18 February 2019|language=de}}</ref>
|-
| Martin Schelling || [[:de:Jacob Matschenz|Jacob Matschenz]] || Martin is gay.<ref>{{cite web|title=Verschüttet|url=https://www.daserste.de/unterhaltung/serie/charite/sendung-staffel-2/charite-folge-4-108.html|website=[[ARD (broadcaster)|Dar Este]]|date=5 March 2019|language=de}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2017– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Claws (TV series)|Claws]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] || Quiet Ann || [[Judy Reyes]] || Quiet Ann is ____.<ref name="claws"/><ref name=":2claws">{{cite web |last1=Ferber |first1=Lawrence |title=TNT's Claws Season Two Is Even Gayer With Twink-Mobster Romance and Quiet Ann Gets Loud |url=http://www.newnownext.com/tnts-claws-season-two-is-even-gayer-with-twink-mobster-romance-and-quiet-ann-gets-loud/06/2018/ |website=NewNowNext |date=June 11, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Uncle Daddy || [[Dean Norris]] || Uncle Daddy is ____.<ref name="claws">{{cite web |title=Claws Features a Butch Lesbian, a Bisexual Crime Boss and a Chance to Stop Talking About Breaking Bad |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/claws-features-a-butch-lesbian-a-bisexual-crime-boss-and-a-chance-to-stop-talking-about-breaking-bad-385841/ |website=Autostraddle |date=6 July 2017}}</ref><ref name=":2claws"/>
|-
| Toby || Evan Daigle || Toby is ____.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reddish |first1=David |title=Out queer actor Evan Daigle talks playing the gayest character on TV in Claws |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/06/queer-actor-evan-diagle-talks-playing-gayest-character-tv-claws/ |website=LGBTQ Nation |date=30 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Feature: Actor Evan Daigle of TNT's Claws Chats With Us Again About the Series and Toby |url=https://occhimagazine.com/feature-actor-evan-daigle-of-tnts-claws-chats-with-us-again-about-the-series-and-toby/ |website=Occhi Magazine |date=22 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2017– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Dark (TV series)|Dark]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Netflix]] || Peter Doppler || [[Stephan Kampwirth]] || Peter is gay and closeted.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Kaitlin|title=Here's How Everyone in Netflix's Dark Is Connected|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/dark-how-everything-connected-netflix/|website=[[TV Guide]]|date=December 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Fletcher|first1=Rosie|title=Netflix horror series Dark season 1 finale explained – spoilers ahoy!|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a845451/dark-netflix-explained-ending-season-finale-spoilers/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=19 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Agnes Nielsen || [[Antje Traue]] ||rowspan="2"| In 1953, Agnes and Doris were secret lovers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Matadeen|first1=Renaldo|title=Netflix's Dark: How the Town's Families Tie Into the Time-Travel Drama|url=https://www.cbr.com/netflixs-dark-families-time-travel-connections/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=June 19, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Doris Tiedemann || [[Luise Heyer]]
|-
| Bernadette Wöller || [[:de:Anton Rubtsov|Anton Rubtsov]] || Bernadette is a trans woman.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Connolly |first1=Thomas |title=Not Where But When: Past and Future in Netflix's 'Dark' |url=https://www.popmatters.com/dark-baran-bo-odar-jantje-friese-2639153548.html |website=PopMatters |date=July 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Sean T. |title='Dark' on Netflix Season 2 Premiere Recap: I'll Follow You Into the Dark |url=https://decider.com/2019/06/21/dark-on-netflix-season-2-episode-1-review/ |website=Decider |date=June 21, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Daytime Divas]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[VH1]] || Kibby Ainsley || [[Chloe Bridges]] || Kibby is bisexual.<ref name="Daytime Divas">{{cite web |title=Daytime Divas Inspires Happy Tears With Its 8-Year-Old Trans Character and Also Janet Mock |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/daytime-divas-inspires-happy-tears-with-its-8-year-old-trans-character-and-also-janet-mock-387622/ |website=Autostraddle |date=20 July 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Ella || Will Buie Jr. || Ella is an eight year old trans girl, introduced in the series "[[Daytime Divas#ep1|Pilot]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Daytime Divas Inspires Happy Tears With Its 8-Year-Old Trans Character and Also Janet Mock |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/daytime-divas-inspires-happy-tears-with-its-8-year-old-trans-character-and-also-janet-mock-387622/ |website=[[Autostraddle]] |date=20 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Minor |first1=Kelsey |title=Finding Room for a Trans Story in Diva World |url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2017/7/17/finding-room-trans-story-diva-world |website=The Advocate |date=17 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Betancourt |first1=Manuel |title=TV Is Teaching America How to Treat Trans Kids |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/vbmvbd/tv-is-teaching-america-how-to-treat-trans-kids |website=Vice |date=July 5, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="9"|2017– ||rowspan="9"| ''[[Dear White People (TV series)|Dear White People]]'' ||rowspan="9"| [[Netflix]] || Lionel Higgins || DeRon Horton || Lionel is gay.<ref name="dear white people">{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Taylor |title=Dear White People Breaks New Ground in Black LGBTQ Representation |url=https://www.pride.com/tv/2019/8/08/dear-white-people-breaks-new-ground-black-lgbtq-representation#media-gallery-media-8 |website=Pride |date=8 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Silvio Romo || D.J. Blickenstaff || Silvio is gay and Lionel's love interest.<ref>{{cite web |title=With Three LGBTQ Characters And Counting, Here's Why "Dear White People" Is All-Inclusive |url=https://instinctmagazine.com/with-three-lgbtq-characters-and-counting-heres-why-dear-white-people-is-all-inclusive/ |website=Instinct Magazine |date=11 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Neika Hobbs || [[Nia Long]] ||rowspan="2"| Neika and Monique are a lesbian couple.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dear White People Season 3 Finally Gives Us the Nerdy Black Gay Girls We Deserve |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/dear-white-people-season-three-finally-gives-us-the-nerdy-black-gay-girls-we-deserve/ |website=Autostraddle |date=19 August 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Monique || Zee James
|-
| Connor || Luke O'Sullivan || Connor and his "not exactly" girlfriend Becca, try to seduce Lionel into a threesome. Connor is using Becca as a buffer to cover up his primary interest in men.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bowen |first1=Sesali |title=R29 Binge Club: Dear White People Recaps |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/04/152099/dear-white-people-recap-season-1-episode-summary}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dear White People's Surprise Full Frontal Scene Brilliantly Captures How Weird College Is |url=https://decider.com/2017/05/15/netflix-dear-white-people-full-frontal/ |website=Decider |date=16 May 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Kelsey Phillips || Nia Jervier || In season 2, episode 4, Kelsey tells Coco that she's a lesbian.<ref name=bowen29>{{cite web|last1=Bowen|first1=Sesali|title=Why This Dear White People Lesbian Narrative Is So Important|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/05/198440/dear-white-people-season-2-kelsey-lesbian|website=[[Refinery29]]|date=May 8, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Wesley Alvarez || Rudy Martinez || Wesley is gay and Lionel's love interest.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yarbrough |first1=Xavier |title=Why White? A Look Into the Pairing of Black Queer Characters in Media |url=https://geeksofcolor.co/2018/05/30/why-white-a-look-into-the-pairing-of-black-queer-characters-in-media/}}</ref>
|-
| P. Ninny || [[Lena Waithe]] || P. Ninny is a lesbian.<ref name=bowen29/>
|-
| Genifer || Quei Tann || Genifer is transgender.<ref name="dear white people"/>
|-
|2017–2019 || ''[[The Deuce (TV series)|The Deuce]]'' || [[HBO]] || Paul || [[Chris Coy]] || Paul is gay and a bartender at Vincent Martino's bar, the Hi-Hat.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Coates|first1=Tyler|title=The Deuce Goes Where Most Cable Shows Won't|url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a13066232/the-deuce-episode-7-recap-au-reservoir/|website=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|date=October 22, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– || rowspan="2"|''[[Dynasty (2017 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[The CW]]<br/>[[Netflix]] || [[Steven Carrington]] || [[James Mackay (actor)|James Mackay]] || Steven has a one-night stand with Sam in the pilot episode.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Etemesi |first1=Philip |title=Dynasty: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Steven |url=https://screenrant.com/dynasty-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-steven/ |website=ScreenRant |date=28 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sam Jones (Dynasty)|Sam Jones]] || [[Rafael de la Fuente]] || Sam is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dynasty: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Sammy Jo |url=https://screenrant.com/dynasty-things-didnt-know-about-sammy-jo/ |website=Screen Rant |date=24 August 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2017 || ''[[Emerald City (TV series)|Emerald City]]'' || [[NBC]] || The Witch of the West || [[Ana Ularu]] || West is a lesbian, and a slutty junkie who runs a [[brothel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wait, WTF Is Emerald City About? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/emerald-city-wtf-moments.html |website=Vulture}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=West, Emerald City (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/west/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[The End of the F***ing World]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Channel 4]] <br> [[Netflix]] || Eunice Noon ||[[Gemma Whelan]] || Eunice Noon is a lesbian. Noon and Darego are police force partners.<ref name="end of the world">{{cite web|last1=Riese|title=I Demand a Lesbian Cop Show Spinoff of "The End of the F**king World"|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/i-demand-a-lesbian-cop-show-spinoff-of-the-end-of-the-fcking-world-409019/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Teri Darego || [[Wunmi Mosaku]] || Teri Darego is a lesbian.<ref name="end of the world"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Famous in Love]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Alexis Glenn || Niki Koss || Alexis is bisexual and has an affair with Rachel.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alexis Glenn, Famous in Love |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/alexis-glenn-famous-love/}}</ref>
|-
| Rachel Davis || [[Katelyn Tarver]] || Rachel is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rachel Davis, Famous in Love |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/rachel-davis-famous-love/}}</ref>
|-
|2017– || ''[[Feud (TV series)|Feud]]'' || [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] || [[Victor Buono]] || [[Dominic Burgess]] || Victor is ____.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gallagher |first1=Caitlin |title='Feud' Explores Victor Buono's Homosexuality & How Difficult Life Was For Gay People In The '60s |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/feud-explores-victor-buonos-homosexuality-how-difficult-life-was-for-gay-people-in-the-60s-45060 |website=Bustle |date=March 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[The Frozen Dead (TV series)|The Frozen Dead]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[M6 (TV channel)|M6]] || Irène Ziegler || [[Julia Piaton]] || Ziegler is openly lesbian and the captain of the St. Martin detective squad.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Didier|first1=Carine|last2=Guerrin|first2=Stéphanie|title=" Glacé " : ce thriller devrait vous glacer|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/ce-thriller-devrait-vous-glacer-10-01-2017-6546465.php|work=[[Le Parisien]]|date=10 January 2017|language=fr}}</ref>
|-
| Greta || [[Sophie Guillemin]] ||Greta is Ziegler's [[significant other|partner]] and owner of a local inn where they reside together.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Piccoli|first1=Dana|title=Netflix's The Frozen Dead features a dedicated lesbian detective|url=http://blog.bellabooks.com/2018/01/netflixs-the-frozen-dead-features-a-dedicated-lesbian-detective.html|website=[[Bella Books]]|date=January 9, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Godless (TV series)|Godless]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Marie Agnes MacNue || [[Merritt Weaver]] || Mary Agnes is bisexual. The widow of the town's mayor, she wears her husband's clothes and is in a same-sex relationship with the town's schoolteacher, Callie Dunne.<ref>{{cite web|last=Herman|first=Alison|title='Godless' Is a Beautiful but Unoriginal Western|url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2017/11/22/16680570/godless-netflix-review|website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]|date=November 22, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Callie Dunne || [[Tess Frazer]] ||Callie is a lesbian and the town's teacher. She was a prostitute in La Belle's brothel before it was turned into a school.<ref>{{cite web|last=Froston|first=Karen|title=Diamonds in the Rough: Lesser-Known Lesbian Finds You Can Watch or Read|url=http://www.afterellen.com/tv/550873-diamonds-rough-lesser-known-lesbian-finds-can-watch-read|website=[[AfterEllen]]|date=December 20, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|2017– || ''[[Gone (TV series)|Gone]]'' || [[NBC]] || James || [[Andy Mientus]] || James was kicked out of his home after his father found out that he was gay and later got kidnapped because of it.<ref>{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title='Gone': Andy Mientus Cast As Series Regular In Drama Series For NBCU, RTL & TF1|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/gone-andy-mientus-cast-series-regular-drama-series-nbcu-rtl-tf1-1202112403/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=June 13, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Good Fight}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[CBS All Access]] || Maia Rindell || [[Rose Leslie]] ||rowspan="2"| Maia is lesbian. Amy is lesbian and Maia's girlfriend.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Rice|first1=Lynette|title=Good Wife spinoff first look: Rose Leslie embraces lesbian lover|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/12/16/good-wife-spinoff-rose-leslie-lesbian/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=December 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Giles|first1=Kayleigh|title=Game of Thrones' Rose Leslie strips off for racy lesbian shower scenes in The Good Fight|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/770167/Game-of-Thrones-Rose-Leslie-nakes-lesbian-shower-The-Good-Fight|work=[[Daily Express]]|date=February 21, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Amy Breslin || [[Heléne Yorke]]
|-
|rowspan="3"|2017 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Gypsy (TV series)|Gypsy]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Netflix]] || Jean Holloway ||[[Naomi Watts]] || Jean is bisexual, married to a man, and becomes obsessed with Sidney.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Raeside|first1=Julia|title=Gypsy review – Naomi Watts is a charmless psychotherapist in a 'risk-taking lesbian' disguise|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2017/jun/29/gypsy-review-naomi-watts-lesbian-disguise-risk|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=29 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Sidney Pierce || [[Sophie Cookson]] ||Sidney is bisexual and the former girlfriend of one of Jean's male patients.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Johns|first1=Merryn|title=Breaking Boundaries|url=http://www.curvemag.com/Culture/Breaking-Boundaries-12227/|website=[[Curve (magazine)|Curve]]|date=July 14, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Dolly Holloway || Maren Heary ||Dolly is Jean's daughter and may be lesbian or transgender.<ref>{{cite web|last=Romero|first=Ariana|title=This Is The Hidden Lesson In Netflix's New Series Gypsy|url=http://www.refinery29.com/2017/06/161618/|website=[[Refinery29]]|date=June 30, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''{{sortname|The|Halcyon|The Halcyon (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="2"| [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] || Toby Hamilton || [[Edward Bluemel]] || Toby is secretly gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cannon |first1=Nick |title=Edward Bluemel on Toby's gay kiss in The Halcyon: 'That was a big no back then!' |url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/edward-bluemel-gay-kiss-halcyon-448495/ |website=What's on TV |date=30 January 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Adil Joshi || Akshay Kumar ||Adil is having a secret gay affair with Toby.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Halcyon - S1 - Episode 7 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/fjv9vj/the-halcyon--s1-e7-the-halcyon/ |website=Radio Times}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2017– ||rowspan="7"| ''{{sortname|The|Handmaid's Tale|The Handmaid's Tale (TV series)}}'' ||rowspan="7"| [[Hulu]] || Moira || [[Samira Wiley]] || Moira had a girlfriend before.<ref name="handmaids tale">{{cite web|last1=Addice|first1=Danny|title='The Handmaid's Tale' LGBT Storyline Is Its Most Horrifying Narrative|url=https://hornetapp.com/stories/handmaids-tale-lgbt-hulu/|website=hornetapp.com|date=May 1, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Emily || [[Alexis Bledel]] ||rowspan="2"| Emily and Sylvia were married and had a kid before.<ref>{{cite web |title='The Handmaid's Tale' Season 2 Has LGBTQ Representation, But It Still Fails Its Queer Characters |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/the-handmaids-tale-season-2-has-lgbtq-representation-but-it-still-fails-its-queer-characters-8875406 |website=Bustle}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='The Handmaid's Tale': Alexis Bledel on Emily's Life as a Refugee |url=https://www.etonline.com/the-handmaids-tale-alexis-bledel-on-emilys-unsteady-future-as-a-refugee-exclusive-127218 |website=Entertainment Tonight}}</ref>
|-
| Sylvia || [[Clea DuVall]]
|-
| Peter || [[Ben Lewis (Canadian actor)|Ben Lewis]] || Peter is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Handmaid's Tale Finally Reveals What Happened to Luke |url=https://www.dispatch.com/entertainment/20170524/handmaids-tale-finally-reveals-what-happened-to-luke |website=The Columbus Dispatch}}</ref>
|-
| Dan || [[John Carroll Lynch]] || Dan is gay, and lynched because of his sexuality.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawler |first1=Kelly |title='The Handmaid's Tale' Episode 2 recap: Colonial times, and Alexis Bledel |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2018/04/25/handmaids-tale-season-2-episode-2-recap-unwomen-alexis-bledel-marisa-tomei/547626002/}}</ref>
|-
| Odette || [[Rebecca Rittenhouse]] || Odette is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bundel |first1=Ani |title='The Handmaid's Tale' Fans Learned A Major Detail About Moira's Past & It's Heartbreaking |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/who-is-moiras-fiancee-on-the-handmaids-tale-odettes-story-is-heartbreaking-9231907 |website=Elite Daily}}</ref>
|-
| Offred || [[Elizabeth Moss]] || Offred is a lesbian.<ref name="handmaids tale"/>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2017– ||rowspan="7"| ''[[Harlots (TV series)|Harlots]]'' ||rowspan="7"| [[ITV Encore]]<br/>[[Hulu]] || Margaret Wells || [[Samantha Morton]] || Margaret is bisexual. She and William North are common law wife and husband, and she reciprocates Nancy Birch's interest in her.<ref name="Harlots Season Two Is Queer">{{cite web |title=Harlots' Season Two Is Queer, Here, and Transcendent |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/harlots-season-two-is-queer-here-and-transcendent-430076/ |website=[[Autostraddle]] |date=6 September 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Charlotte Wells || [[Jessica Brown Findlay]] ||Charlotte is bisexual.<ref name="Harlots Season Two Is Queer"/>
|-
| Nancy Birch || [[Kate Fleetwood]] ||Nancy is a lesbian.<ref name="Harlots Season Two Is Queer"/>
|-
| Violet Cross || Rosalind Eleazar ||rowspan="2"| Violet and Amelia are in a romantic relationship.<ref name="Harlots Season Two Is Queer"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Riese|title=Hulu's "Harlots" Is a Gift to Feminists, Sex Workers, Queers and Herstory Lovers|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/hulus-harlots-is-the-best-ever-show-about-sex-work-also-has-a-lesbian-storyline-385529/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=October 23, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Amelia Scanwell || Jordon Stevens
|-
| Prince Rasselas || [[Josef Altin]] ||Prince Rasselas is a gay sex worker and lives with his male partner.<ref>{{cite web |title=5 ferocious reasons why you should be watching 'Harlots' |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2019/10/10/5-ferocious-reasons-why-you-should-be-watching-harlots}}</ref>
|-
| Lady Isabella Fitzwilliam || [[Liv Tyler]] ||Lady Isabella is Charlotte's love interest in season two.<ref name="Harlots Season Two Is Queer"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Las chicas del cable]]'' <br/> (Cable Girls) ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Carlota Rodríguez de Senillosa || [[Ana Fernández García]] || Carlota is bisexual.<ref name="las chicas"/><ref name="line on the line"/>
|-
| Oscar Ruiz || Ana Polvorosa || Oscar is a bisexual trans man who falls in love with Carlota.<ref name="las chicas">{{cite web|last1=Martinez|first1=Sam|title=Transexualidad en Las Chicas del Cable|url=http://www.maglesrevista.es/transexualidad-en-las-chicas-del-cable/|website=MagLes Revista|language=es|date=10 January 2018}}</ref> <br> Carlota and Sara have a [[Polyamory|polyamorous]] relationship together with Carlota's husband, Miguel.<ref name="line on the line">{{cite web|last1=Steinberg|first1=Lisa|title=Love On The Line|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/love-on-the-line_us_5a5a712fe4b01ccdd48b5cf0|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2017 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Man in an Orange Shirt]]'' ||rowspan="4"|[[BBC Two]] || Thomas March || [[James McArdle]] ||rowspan="4"| The story of two gay relationships set in different eras: Thomas and Michael during the 1940s, and Adam and Steve in the present.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mulkern|first1=Patrick|title=Patrick Gale reveals the secrets of Man in an Orange Shirt|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-08-07/patrick-gale-reveals-the-secrets-of-man-in-an-orange-shirt/|website=[[RadioTimes]]|date=7 August 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Michael Berryman || [[Oliver Jackson-Cohen]]
|-
| Adam Berryman || [[Julian Morris]]
|-
| Steve || [[David Gyasi]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– || rowspan="2"|''[[Mary Kills People]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Global Television Network|Global]] || Jess || Abigail Winter || Jess is ____.<ref name="Abigail Winter Is A Lesbian Teen">{{cite web |last1=Kayvon |first1=Shervin |title=Abigail Winter Is A Lesbian Teen On 'Mary Kills People' |url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/abigail-winter-is-a-lesbian-teen-on-mary-kills-people/ |website=INTO |date=8 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mary Kills People's Abigail Winter Says Jess Won't Stop Until Mary Tells Her the Truth – The TV Junkies |url=https://thetvjunkies.com/mary-kills-people-abigail-winter-interview/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jess Geller, Mary Kills People |url=https://lgbtfansdeservebetter.com/character/jess-geller-mary-kills-people/}}</ref>
|-
| Naomi || Katie Douglas || Naomi is ____.<ref name="Abigail Winter Is A Lesbian Teen"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2017– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Mindhunter (TV series)|Mindhunter]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Netflix]] || Wendy Carr || [[Anna Torv]] || Dr. Wendy Carr, a psychologist at a Boston university, is a lesbian in a relationship with Dr. Stilman.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Steiner|first1=Chelsea|title=Season 2 of Mindhunter Gives Anna Torv's Closeted Character Her Own Storyline|url=https://www.themarysue.com/season-2-mindhunter-gives-anna-torv-more-to-do/|website=[[The Mary Sue]]|date=August 19, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Annaliese Stilman || [[Lena Olin]] ||Annaliese is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ardillo|first1=Maddie|title=An Organized Sequence: The Quiet Queerness of "Mindhunter"|url=https://www.bellamediachannel.com/an-organized-sequence-the-quiet-queerness-of-mindhunter/|website=[[Bella Books]]|date=October 18, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Kay Manz || [[Lauren Glazier]] ||Kay is lesbian and works as a bartender.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Anne|first1=Valerie|title="Mindhunter" Makes Murder Boring, But Its Lesbian Love Story Is One for the Ages|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/mindhunter-makes-murder-boring-but-its-lesbian-love-story-is-one-for-the-ages/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=September 17, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 || rowspan="2"|''[[The Mist (TV series)|The Mist]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Spike (TV channel)|Spike]] || Adrian Garf || Russell Posner || Adrian is gay/pansexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mist Season 1 Spoiler Free Review |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-mist-season-1-spoiler-free-review/ |website=Den of Geek |date=19 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="Pansexual Outs Homophobic">{{cite web |title=Pansexual Outs Homophobic Jock with Gay Kiss on Stephen King's 'The Mist' |url=https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/lindsay-kornick/2017/07/21/pansexual-outs-homophobic-jock-gay-kiss-stephen-kings-mist |website=Newsbusters}}</ref>
|-
| Tyler Denton || Christopher Gray || Tyler is a bully and a closeted gay jock. He ends up in a relationship with Adrian, the boy he used to bully for being gay.<ref name="Pansexual Outs Homophobic"/><ref>{{cite web |title=THE MIST Recap: (S01E07) Over the River and Through the Woods |url=https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/themist-recap-s01e07-river-woods/ |website=Geek Girl Authority |date=4 August 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2017– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Money Heist]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[Netflix]] || Helsinki || [[Darko Perić (actor)|Darko Peric]] || Helsinki is gay.<ref name="money heist">{{cite web|last=Ul-Haq|first=Farid|title='Money Heist' Part 4 Continues to Offer Queer Representation as Chaos Unfolds|url=https://thegeekiary.com/money-heist-part-4-queer-rep-netflix/81003|website=The Geekiary|date=April 6, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Palermo || [[Rodrigo de la Serna]] || Palermo is gay.<ref name="money heist"/>
|-
| Tokyo || [[Úrsula Corberó]] ||Tokyo is bisexual.<ref name="money heist"/>
|-
| Manila || [[Belén Cuesta]] ||Manila is transgender.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dalton|first=Stephen|date=2020-04-29|title=Money Heist the Netflix Series Is Going Viral|url=https://medium.com/pop-off/money-heist-the-netflix-series-is-going-viral-dbdb8e92be91|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Medium}}</ref>
|-
| Berlin || [[Pedro Alonso]] ||Berlin is bisexual.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-05|title=Así es Berlín, según los creadores de La Casa de Papel, serie de Netflix|url=https://www.desdelacuna.net/series/berlin-la-casa-de-papel-serie-netflix-caracteristicas-descripcion-personalidad-analisis/|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Spoilers|language=es}}</ref>
|-
|2017– || ''[[Mr. Mercedes (TV series)|Mr. Mercedes]]'' || [[Audience]] || Lou Linklatter || Breeda Wool || Lou is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hatton|first1=Leslie|title='Mr. Mercedes' Might Be the Best Genre TV Show You Didn't See in 2017|url=http://www.everythingisscary.com/screen/mr-mercedes-best-genre-tv-show-2017|website=Everything Is Scary|date=December 21, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[My Dear Loser]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[GMM 25]] || In || [[Purim Rattanaruangwattana]] (Pluem) ||rowspan="2"| In and Sun become a gay couple.<ref>{{cite web|author=GMMTV|title=Trailer My Dear Loser รักไม่เอาถ่าน ตอน Edge of 17|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZYUDwkIEc4|website=[[YouTube]]|date=June 19, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Sun || [[Wachirawit Ruangwiwat]] (Chimon)
|-
|rowspan="3"|2017– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[One Day at a Time (2017 TV series)|One Day at a Time]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Netflix]] || Elena Alvarez ||[[Isabella Gomez]] || Elena is lesbian, she comes out during the series first season.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nilles|first1=Billy|title=One Day at a Time's Coming Out Storyline Is a Breath of Fresh Air|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/820230/one-day-at-a-time-s-coming-out-storyline-is-a-breath-of-fresh-air|website=[[E! News]]|date=January 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="day at a time">{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Liz Shannon|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/one-day-at-a-time-season-3-non-binary-girlfriend-interview-1201924282/|title='One Day at a Time' Stars Talk Season 3 and Why a Non-Binary Character Is Called a 'Girlfriend' On The Show|website=[[IndieWire]]|date=February 2, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Ramona || [[Judy Reyes]] ||Ramona is lesbian.<ref name="day at a time"/>
|-
| Syd || Sheridan Pierce ||Syd is non-binary. Syd is befriended by Elena and they eventually date.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Liz Shannon |title='One Day at a Time' Stars Talk Season 3 and Why a Non-Binary Character Is Called a 'Girlfriend' On The Show |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/one-day-at-a-time-season-3-non-binary-girlfriend-interview-1201924282/ |website=IndieWire |date=2 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– || rowspan="2"|''[[The Orville]]'' || rowspan="2"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] || Bortus || [[Peter Macon]] || rowspan="2"| Bortus and Klyden are partners and members of an alien race, the Moclans, where homosexuality is the norm among their species.<ref>{{cite web|last=Elderkin|first=Beth|title=The Orville's Latest Episode Shows Seth MacFarlane's Future Is Stuck in the Past|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-orvilles-latest-episode-shows-seth-macfarlanes-futu-1818655458|website=[[io9]]|date=September 22, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Klyden || [[Chad Coleman|Chad L. Coleman]]
|-
|rowspan="4"|2017– || rowspan="4"|''[[Ozark (TV series)|Ozark]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Netflix]] || Roy Petty || [[Jason Butler Harner]] || Roy is gay.<ref name="queerty ozarks">{{cite web |last1=Rizi |first1=Michael |title=2 more casualties to add to the "Bury Your Gays" trope in the grim series 'Ozark' |url=https://www.queerty.com/2-casualties-add-bury-gays-trope-grim-series-ozark-20180916 |website=Queerty |date=16 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="10 Worst Episodes"/>
|-
| Russ Langmore || Marc Menchaca ||Russ is a repressed gay man.<ref name="queerty ozarks"/><ref name="10 Worst Episodes">{{cite web |title=The 10 Worst Episodes Of Netflix's Ozark, According To IMDb |url=https://screenrant.com/ozark-netflix-worst-episodes-imdb/ |website=Screen Rant |date=10 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Trevor Evans || McKinley Belcher III ||Trevor is Roy's ex-boyfriend and his FBI agent partner.<ref name="queerty ozarks"/>
|-
| Scotty || Dennis Flanagan ||Scotty is Roy's ex-boyfriend.<ref name="queerty ozarks"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Prison Break (season 5)|Prison Break: Resurrection]]'' || rowspan="2"|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] || Sid || Kunal Sharma || Sid is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dela Cruz |first1=Janna |title='Prison Break' season 5 spoilers: Writers tease LGBT character who has an 'important role to play' |url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/prison-break-season-5-spoilers-writers-tease-lgbt-character-who-has-an-important-role-to-play/102235.htm |date=28 November 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Emily Blake || [[Marina Benedict]] ||Emily Blake is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emily Blake, Prison Break |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/emily-blake/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017–2018 || rowspan="2"|''[[Prison Playbook]]''|| [[tvN]] ||rowspan="2"| Yoo Han Yang || Lee Kyu Hyung || Han Yang is gay.<ref name="Yoo Han Yang">{{cite web |title=5 Korean actors who played LGBT characters |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3092434/how-girls-generations-seohyun-moon-bin-and-lee-joo-young |website=South China Morning Post |date=9 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Song Ji Won || Kim Joon Han ||Ji Won is gay and Han Yang's boyfriend.<ref name="Yoo Han Yang"/>
|-
|2017–2019 || ''[[The Punisher (TV series)|The Punisher]]'' || [[Netflix]] || David Schultz || Todd Alan Crain || David is a U.S. senator and closeted homosexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Punisher's Infuriating Finale Nearly Derails Season 2 |url=https://www.cbr.com/punisher-tv-season-2-finale-disappointing/ |date=20 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="9"|2017– || rowspan="9"|''[[Riverdale (2017 TV series)|Riverdale]]'' ||rowspan="9"| [[The CW]] || [[Kevin Keller (comics)|Kevin Keller]] || [[Casey Cott]] || Kevin is openly gay and had a relationships with Moose.<ref name="GayTimes-Riverdale">{{cite web |last1=Megarry |first1=Daniel |title=A definitive list of every LGBTQ character in Riverdale |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/117052/a-definitive-list-of-every-lesbian-gay-bisexual-character-in-riverdale/ |website=[[Gay Times]] |date=January 8, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Opie |first1=David |title=Why Kevin Keller Deserves A Boyfriend |url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/why-kevin-keller-deserves-a-boyfriend |website=Into |date=May 25, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Moose Mason || Cody Kearsley ||Moose is bisexual.<ref name="GayTimes-Riverdale"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bramesco |first1=Charles |title=A bomb vest, a rocket ship, a rotting corpse, an MFA seminar — Riverdale contains multitudes |url=https://tv.avclub.com/a-bomb-vest-a-rocket-ship-a-rotting-corpse-an-mfa-se-1839287285 |website=TV Club |date=23 October 2019 |access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Joaquin DeSantos || Rob Raco || Joaquin is gay. He becomes romantically involved with Kevin.<ref name="GayTimes-Riverdale"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Spencer |title=Rob Raco Talks His Debut as 'Riverdale's Joaquin |url=https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2017/02/rob-raco-talks-debut-riverdales-joaquin/ |website=TV Source Magazine |date=February 17, 2017 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Toni Topaz || [[Vanessa Morgan]] || Toni is bisexual and in a relationship with Cheryl.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Jenna|title='Riverdale' Star Vanessa Morgan Talks Toni Topaz's Bisexuality|url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/2017/12/03/riverdale-season-2-toni-topaz-bisexual-vanessa-morgan/|website=ComicBook.com|publisher=Pop Culture Media|date=December 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Romero |first1=Ariana |title=Riverdale Season 3, Episode 16 Recap: The 6 Wildest Moments Of Musical "Big Fun" |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/03/227577/riverdale-recap-season-3-episode-16-cheryl-toni-back-together |website=[[Refinery29]] |date=March 20, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Cheryl Blossom]] || [[Madelaine Petsch]] || Cheryl a lesbian and in a relationship with Toni.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Belle|first=Elly|title=Madelaine Petsch Said Her "Riverdale" Character Cheryl Blossom Is Bisexual|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/madelaine-petsch-said-her-riverdale-character-cheryl-blossom-is-bisexual|work=[[Teen Vogue]]|date=March 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Idika|first1=Nicky|title='Riverdale' star Madelaine Petsch says Cheryl Blossom is lesbian, not bisexual|url=https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/riverdale/cheryl-blossom-lesbian/|website=PopBuzz|date=15 November 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Fangs Fogarty]] || [[Drew Ray Tanner]] || Fangs is gay. Fangs and Kevin went to the prom together.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kickham |first1=Dylan |title=Is Fangs The Black Hood On 'Riverdale'? The Southside Serpent Is Up To Something |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/is-fangs-the-black-hood-on-riverdale-the-southside-serpent-is-up-to-something-8826535 |website=[[Elite Daily]] |date=April 18, 2018 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kickham |first1=Dylan |title=Did Kevin & Fangs Get Married On 'Riverdale'? One Strange Scene Has Fans Confused |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/did-kevin-fangs-get-married-on-riverdale-one-strange-scene-has-fans-confused-16971937 |website=[[Elite Daily]] |date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cummins |first1=Chris |title=Riverdale Season 3 Episode 20 Review - Chapter 55: Prom Night |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/riverdale/280849/riverdale-season-3-episode-20-review-chapter-55-prom-night |website=Den of Geek |access-date=May 6, 2019 |date=May 1, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Chic || Hart Denton || Chic may be pansexual.<ref name="GayTimes-Riverdale"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Krause|first1=Katie|title='Riverdale' Star Hart Denton Teases Possible Chic and Kevin Romance! (Exclusive)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwIev-tKCrU|website=YouTube|publisher=Entertainment Tonight|date=March 19, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Charles Smith || [[Wyatt Nash]] || Charles is gay. He's in a relationship with Chic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=MacLeish |first1=Jessica |title=Riverdale's Favorite Fake Brother Is Back |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/riverdale-recap-season-4-episode-6 |website=Teen Vogue |access-date=14 November 2019 |date=14 November 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Peaches 'N Cream || [[Bernadette Beck]] || Peaches is queer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Upadhyaya |first1=Kayla Kumari |title="Riverdale" Episode 316 Recap: How Very |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/riverdale-episode-316-recap-how-very/ |website=[[Autostraddle]] |date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Runaways (TV series)|Runaways]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Hulu]] || [[Karolina Dean]] || [[Virginia Gardner]] || Karolina is a lesbian and an alien descendant with superpowers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pulliam-Moore|first=Charles|title=Marvel's Runaways Just Proved How Easy It Is To Include Queer Characters|url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/12/marvels-runaways-just-proved-how-easy-it-is-to-include-queer-characters/|website=[[Gizmodo]]|date=December 14, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[Nico Minoru]] || [[Lyrica Okano]] || Nico Minoru is bisexual. Formerly in a relationship with Alex Wilder, now reciprocates Karolina's attraction for her.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jasper|first1=Marykate|title=The Biggest and Most Welcome Surprise on Last Night's Runaways|url=https://www.themarysue.com/runaways-nico-love-triangle/|website=[[The Mary Sue]]|date=January 10, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017–2019 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[She's Gotta Have It (TV series)|She's Gotta Have It]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Nola Darling || [[DeWanda Wise]] || Nola is a pansexual.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bryant|first=Taylor|title=Spike Lee On Creating A "Sex-Positive, Pansexual" Hero In 'She's Gotta Have It'|url=https://nylon.com/articles/shes-gotta-have-it-spike-lee-interview|website=Nylon|date=November 22, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Opal Gilstrap || [[Ilfenesh Hadera]] ||Opal is a lesbian in a relationship with Nola.<ref>{{cite web|last=Weekes|first=Princess|title=The Complex Queerness of Nola Darling in Netflix's She's Gotta Have It|url=https://www.themarysue.com/the-complex-queerness-of-nola-darling-in-netflixs-shes-gotta-have-it/|website=[[The Mary Sue]]|date=November 30, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|2017– || ''[[The Sinner (TV series)|The Sinner]]'' || [[USA Network]] || Heather Novack || [[Natalie Paul]] || Detective Novack is an out lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallagher|first1=Caitlin|title=Who's Heather Novack In 'The Sinner' Season 2? Natalie Paul's Detective Brings Harry Ambrose Back Home|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/whos-heather-novack-in-the-sinner-season-2-natalie-pauls-detective-brings-harry-ambrose-back-home-9869678|website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]|date=August 1, 2018|access-date=8 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 || rowspan="2"|''[[Slam Dance (TV series)|Slam Dance]]'' ||rowspan="2"| GMM One || Pob || Sattabut Laedeke (Drake) ||rowspan="2"| Pob and Nick are a gay couple.<ref>{{cite web|author=GMMTV|title=Trailer SLAM DANCE ทุ่มฝันสนั่นฟลอร์|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgnlVFi2DyI|website=[[YouTube]]|date=May 5, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Nick || [[Harit Cheewagaroon]] (Sing)
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Paul Stamets || [[Anthony Rapp]] ||rowspan="2"| Paul and Hugh are gay men and in a loving relationship.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tremeer|first1=Eleanor|title='It Would Be Foolish To Ignore It': 'Star Trek: Discovery' Exec Talks LGBT Representation|url=https://moviepilot.com/p/star-trek-discovery-lgbt-representation/4292772|website=[[Moviepilot]]|date=June 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kane|first1=Vivian|title=In an Historic Move, Star Trek: Discovery Will Feature an Openly Gay Couple, Played By Gay Actors|url=https://www.themarysue.com/star-trek-discovery-gay-couple/|website=[[The Mary Sue]]|date=July 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Duffy|first1=Nick|title=Star Trek Discovery star has a perfect response to angry homophobic fans|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/10/21/star-trek-discovery-star-has-a-perfect-response-to-angry-homophobic-fans/|website=[[PinkNews]]|date=21 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Hugh Culber || [[Wilson Cruz]]
|-
|2017– || ''[[Suburra: Blood on Rome]]'' || [[Netflix]] || Alberto "Spadino" Anacleti || Giacomo Ferrara || Spadino is a gay man whose traditional family forces him into accepting a sham straight marriage.<ref>{{cite web|last=Collins|first=Sean T.|title='Suburra' Recap, Series Premiere: Italians Do It Better|url=https://decider.com/2017/10/06/suburra-recap-season-1-episode-1/|website=[[New York Post#Website|Decider]]|date=October 6, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|2017– || ''[[S.W.A.T. (2017 TV series)|S.W.A.T]]'' || [[CBS]] || Christina "Chris" Alonso || [[Lina Esco]] || Officer III Alonso comes out as bisexual in episode "Homecoming" (1.07)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Riese|title=In 2017, Lesbian and Bisexual TV Characters Did Pretty OK, and That's a Pretty Big Deal|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/in-2017-lesbian-and-bisexual-tv-characters-did-pretty-ok-and-thats-a-pretty-big-deal-399797/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=January 2, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|2017– || ''[[Taboo (2017 TV series)|Taboo]]'' || [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] || Michael Godfrey || [[Edward Hogg]] || Michael Godfrey is probably gay, and is the secretary at the East India Company and lives in a London [[Molly House]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Taboo Recap: Dirty Deeds |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/01/taboo-recap-season-1-episode-3.html |website=Vulture}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017–2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Valor (TV series)|Valor]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[The CW]] || Thea || [[Melissa Roxburgh]] ||rowspan="2"| Thea is a closeted bisexual CIA agent. She has two short-term relationships with Zoe Cho, and Leland Gallo.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Marshall|first1=Melissa|title=Valor Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Soldier Ready|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2017/10/valor-season-1-episode-3-review-soldier-ready/|website=TV Fanatic|publisher=Mediavine Inc.|date=October 23, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Zoe Cho || Chelle Ramos
|-
|rowspan="21"|2017 ||rowspan="21"| ''[[When We Rise]]'' ||rowspan="21"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || [[Cleve Jones]] || [[Guy Pearce]] ||rowspan="2"| Cleve Jones is gay and an [[AIDS]] activist. The miniseries is about the growth of the [[LGBT]] civil rights movement in San Francisco, from the 1970s until the 2010s, with characters based on actual persons.<ref name=":1when we rise">{{cite web|last1=Anderson|first1=Stephanie Marie|title=A who's who of 'When We Rise'|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sexuality/fast-lane/article/2017/02/19/whos-who-when-we-rise|website=[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]]|date=24 February 2017}}</ref><ref name=":2when we rise">{{cite web|last1=Bendix|first1=Trish|title=Dustin Lance Black on Capturing America's LGBTQ Herstory in "When We Rise"|url=http://gomag.com/article/dustin-lance-black-capturing-americas-lgbtq-herstory-rise/|work=[[GO (American magazine)|GO Magazine]]|date=February 24, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| young Cleve Jones || [[Austin P. McKenzie]]
|-
| [[Roma Guy]] || [[Mary-Louise Parker]] ||rowspan="2"| Roma Guy is a feminist [[lesbian]] and social justice activist.<ref name=":1when we rise"/><ref name=":2when we rise"/>
|-
| young Roma Guy || [[Emily Skeggs]]
|-
| Diane || [[Rachel Griffiths]] || rowspan="2"| Diane is a lesbian nurse.<ref name=":1when we rise"/><ref name=":2when we rise"/>
|-
| young Diane || [[Fiona Dourif]]
|-
| [[Ken Jones (activist)|Ken Jones]] || [[Michael K. Williams]] ||rowspan="2"| Ken Jones is a gay activist.<ref name=":1when we rise"/><ref name=":2when we rise"/>
|-
| young Ken Jones || [[Jonathan Majors]]
|-
| Matt || [[Tyler Young (actor)|Tyler Young]] || Matt is gay and has a relationship with young Cleve.<ref name=":1when we rise"/><ref name=":2when we rise"/>
|-
| Michael || [[Charlie Carver]] || Michael is a gay sailor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inside the Carry-On: Charlie Carver |url=https://dujour.com/lifestyle/charlie-carver-when-we-rise/ |website=DuJour |date=21 February 2017}}</ref>
|-
| [[Pat Norman (activist)|Pat Norman]] || [[Whoopi Goldberg]] || Pat Norman is a lesbian activist, founder of the Lesbian Mothers Union and first openly gay employee of the [[San Francisco Health Department]].<ref name=":1when we rise"/><ref name=":2when we rise"/>
|-
| [[Del Martin]] || [[Rosie O'Donnell]] || Del Martin is a feminist lesbian and activist, and co-founder of ''[[Daughters of Bilitis]]''.<ref name=":1when we rise"/><ref name=":2when we rise"/>
|-
| [[Phyllis Lyon]] || [[Maddie Corman]] || Phyllis Lyon is a feminist lesbian and activist, and co-founder of ''Daughters of Bilitis''.<ref name=":4when we rise">{{cite web|last1=Werder|first1=Corinne|title=Meet the Real Women Featured in "When We Rise"|url=http://gomag.com/article/meet-real-women-featured-rise/|work=[[GO (American magazine)|GO Magazine]]|date=February 27, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Jean || [[Caitlin Gerard]] || Jean is a lesbian.<ref name="when we rise premiere">{{cite web |title=When We Rise Premiere Recap: Outsiders Gather in San Francisco |url=https://ew.com/recap/when-we-rise-series-premiere/ |website=EW.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Cecilia Chung]] || [[Ivory Aquino]] || Cecilia Chung is a [[trans woman]] and political activist.<ref name=":2when we rise"/>
|-
| Scott || [[Nick Eversman]] || Scott is gay, living in a treehouse.<ref name="when we rise premiere"/>
|-
| [[José Sarria]] || [[Michael DeLorenzo]] || José Sarria is a gay political activist and founder of the [[Imperial Court System]].
|-
| [[Bobbi Jean Baker]] || [[Jazzmun]] || Bobbi Jean Baker is a [[transgender]] activist.<ref name=":4when we rise"/>
|-
| [[Anne Kronenberg]] || [[Britt Irvin]] || Anne Kronenberg is the campaign manager for [[Harvey Milk]] and his aide on the [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors]].<ref name=":4when we rise"/>
|-
| [[Sally Miller Gearhart|Sally Gearhart]] || [[Carrie Preston]] || Sally Gearhart is a feminist lesbian and political activist.<ref name=":1when we rise"/><ref name=":2when we rise"/>
|-
| Jim Foster || Denis O’Hare || Jim Foster is the first openly gay man to ever speak at a Democratic convention.<ref name="when we rise premiere"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017 || rowspan="2"|''[[Will (TV series)|Will]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] || [[Christopher Marlowe]] || [[Jamie Campbell Bower]] || Christopher is probably gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=TNT's Sexy Shakespeare Show Will Is Wild and Delightful |url=https://www.themarysue.com/tnt-will-review/ |website=The Mary Sue |date=7 July 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Thomas Walsingham || Edward Hayter || Thomas is allegedly Marlowe's homosexual lover.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Fine Mystery - Marlowe - What (little) We Know {{!}} Much Ado About Something {{!}} FRONTLINE {{!}} PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muchado/fine/bios.html}}</ref>
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2018==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
<!-- Please do NOT put in a character like this → John is _____. If you don't know what their sexual orientation is, find a source to verify their sexual identity.-->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="5"| 2018– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[9-1-1 (TV series)|9-1-1]]'' || rowspan="5"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] || Michael Grant || [[Rockmond Dunbar]] || Michael is gay.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fremont|first1=Maggie|title=9-1-1 series premiere react: 'Pilot'|url=https://ew.com/recap/9-1-1-series-premiere/|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=January 3, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Henrietta "Hen" Wilson || [[Aisha Hinds]] || Henrietta is lesbian and married to Karen.<ref name="karen and henrietta">{{cite web|last1=Hogan|first1=Heather|title=Boob(s On Your) Tube: "9-1-1" Reveals Its Lesbian Character Just As We Predicted With Our Supreme TV Gaydar|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/boobs-on-your-tube-9-1-1-reveals-its-lesbian-character-as-we-knew-it-eventually-would-409905/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=February 2, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Karen Wilson || [[Tracie Thoms]] || Karen is lesbian. She and Henrietta are raising the son of Hen's ex-girlfriend.<ref name="karen and henrietta"/>
|-
| Josh Russo || Bryan Safi || Josh is gay.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Meredith|title=Will the 118 Need to Help 9-1-1's Own After the Episode 13 Cliffhanger?|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/928821/911-season-3-episode-13-maddie-call-center-hostages/|website=TV Insider}}</ref>
|-
| Eva Mathis || [[Abby Brammell]] ||Eva is Hen's ex and an incarcerated criminal.<ref name="karen and henrietta"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[A Discovery of Witches (TV series)|A Discovery of Witches]]''|| rowspan="2"| [[Sky One]] || Sarah Bishop || [[Alex Kingston]] ||rowspan="2"| Sarah and Emily are a lesbian couple.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sobel|first1=Ariel|title=A New TV Show About Lesbian Witches Brews Excitement|url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2018/9/17/new-tv-show-about-lesbian-witches-stirs-excitement|date=September 17, 2018|website=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]}}</ref>
|-
| Emily Mather || [[Valarie Pettiford]]
|-
|2018– || ''[[A Million Little Things]]'' || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Daniel Dixon || Chance Hurstfield || Daniel is gay. He came out to his mother and sister in season 1.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zapata |first1=Kimberly |title=All About the Season 2 Cast of A Million Little Things |url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a28774714/a-million-little-things-cast/ |work=[[O, The Oprah Magazine]] |date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[A Very English Scandal (TV series)|A Very English Scandal]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[BBC One]] || [[Jeremy Thorpe]] || [[Hugh Grant]] ||rowspan="2"|Jeremy Thorpe was the leader of the Liberal Party for nine years. He was a closeted homosexual who had affairs with men and was in a secret relationship with Norman Scott.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Boissoneault|first1=Lorraine|title=The True Story of "A Very English Scandal" and the Trials of a Closeted Gay Politician|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-very-english-scandal-and-trials-closeted-gay-politician-180969454/|work=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]]|date=June 27, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Norman Josiffe|Norman Scott]] || [[Ben Whishaw]]
|-
|rowspan="4"|2018– ||rowspan="4"| ''After Forever'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Amazon Prime Video]] || Brian ||[[Kevin Spirtas]] || Brian is gay. Brian and Jason were in a relationship until Jason's death.<ref name=":1after forever">{{cite web|title=After Forever|url=http://afterforevertheseries.com/|date=2018|access-date=18 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2after forever">{{cite magazine|last1=Reddish|first1=David|title=Micro series 'After Forever' takes an intimate look at older gay men-and death do us part|url=https://www.queerty.com/amazons-forever-takes-intimate-look-older-gay-men-death-us-part-20180425|website=[[Queerty]]|date=April 25, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":3after forever">{{cite news|last1=Simon|first1=Ray|title=New series on Amazon Prime takes on love and loss|url=http://www.epgn.com/arts-and-culture/television/13309-amazon-s-new-series-takes-on-love-and-loss|work=[[Philadelphia Gay News]]|date=April 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":4after forever">{{cite magazine|last1=Artavia|first1=David|title=A Looking, Queer as Folk for Fifty-something Golden Gays|url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2018/11/29/looking-queer-folk-fifty-something-golden-gays|magazine=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]|date=November 29, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Jason || [[Mitchell Anderson]] || Jason is gay.<ref name=":1after forever"/><ref name=":2after forever"/><ref name=":3after forever"/><ref name=":4after forever"/>
|-
| David Taylor || Mike McGowan || David is gay and Brian's boyfriend.<ref name=":1after forever"/><ref name=":2after forever"/><ref name=":3after forever"/><ref name=":4after forever"/>
|-
| Brenda || Erin Cherry || Brenda is lesbian.<ref name=":1after forever"/><ref name=":2after forever"/><ref name=":3after forever"/><ref name=":4after forever"/>
|-
|2018– || ''[[All American (TV series)|All American]]'' || [[The CW]] || Tamia "Coop" Cooper || Bre-Z || Tamia is lesbian. She is the cousin of the main character.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bowen |first1=Sesali |title=Bre-Z Just Told Us Exactly Why All American's Coop Is So Dope |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/10/214999/bre-z-all-american-coop-interview |website=[[Refinery29]] |date=October 24, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Altered Carbon (TV series)|Altered Carbon]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Isaac Bancroft || Antonio Marziale ||rowspan="2"| Isaac Bancroft has a male lover, Sergei Brevlov.<ref>{{cite web |title=Altered Carbon - Season 1 |url=https://www.mediaversityreviews.com/tv-reviews/2018/11/5/altered-carbon |website=Mediaversity Reviews}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Altered Carbon Episode 6 Review: Man with My Face |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/altered-carbon-episode-6-review-man-with-my-face/ |website=Den of Geek |date=3 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Sergei Brevlov || [[Chris McNally (actor)|Chris McNally]]
|-
|rowspan="6"|2018 ||rowspan="6"| ''[[American Crime Story]]''<br/> {{Nowrap|''[[The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story|The Assassination of Gianni Versace]]''}}<br/>(season 2) ||rowspan="6"| [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] || [[Gianni Versace]] || [[Édgar Ramírez]] || Gianni Versace was gay, and murdered by spree killer Andrew Cunanan.<ref name=versace/>
|-
| [[Andrew Cunanan]] || [[Darren Criss]] || Andrew Cunanan was a gay spree killer. He murdered Gianni Versace, Lee Miglin, Jeffrey Trail and David Madson.<ref name=versace>{{Cite news|last=Miller|first=Julie|title=The Truth About Gianni Versace and Andrew Cunanan's Relationship|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/01/versace-american-crime-story-andrew-cunanan|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=January 17, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Antonio D'Amico]] || [[Ricky Martin]] || Antonio D'Amico is gay and Versace's partner at the time of his death.<ref name=versace/>
|-
| [[Lee Miglin]] || [[Mike Farrell]] || Lee Miglin was bisexual and married to the same woman for 38 years before he was murdered by Andrew Cunanan, his former escort.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chan|first1=Sewell|title='The Assassination of Gianni Versace' Episode 3: Death or Disgrace?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/arts/television/the-assassination-of-gianni-versace-american-crime-story-recap-a-random-killing.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Jeffrey Trail || [[Finn Wittrock]] || Jeffrey Trail was gay and murdered by Andrew Cunanan.<ref name="harpersbazaar.com">{{cite web|last1=Mackelden|first1=Amy|title=Who Were Jeffrey Trail and David Madson? American Crime Story Explores Andrew Cunanan's First Victims|url=http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a15922647/jeffrey-trail-david-madson-facts-american-crime-story/|website=[[Harper's Bazaar]]|date=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| David Madson || [[Cody Fern]] || David Madson was gay, and witnessed Jeffrey Trail's murder, and was also killed by Andrew Cunanan.<ref name="harpersbazaar.com"/>
|-
|2018– || ''[[Anne+]]'' || [[BNNVARA|BNN-VARA]] <br> [[NPO 3|3LAB]] || Anne || Hanna van Vliet || Anne is lesbian.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wisse|first1=Mario|title=Lesbische Webserie Was Hard Nodig'|url=https://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/showbizz/2017/11/lesbische-webserie-was-hard-nodig|work=[[Metro International#Europe|Metro]]|date=21 November 2017|language=nl|trans-title=Lesbian Web Series Was Badly Needed}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Bader|first1=Silke|title=Web Series: Anne+|url=https://www.curvemag.com/film-club/film-collection/web-series/web-series-anne/|magazine=[[Curve (magazine)|Curve]]|date=January 11, 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018–2020 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Baby (Italian TV series)|Baby]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Fabio Fedeli || [[Brando Pacitto]] || Fabio is gay and comes out to his father near the end of the first season. Fabio and Brando are attracted to each other in season two.<ref name="Fabio and Brando">{{Cite news|last1=Mitchell|first1=Molli|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1191718/Baby-season-2-cast-who-stars-actor-Netflix-series-Alice-Pagani-Benedetta-Porcaroli|title=Baby season 2 cast: Who is in the cast of Baby?|work=[[Daily Express]]|date=October 18, 2019|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Brando De Santis || Mirko Trovato || Brando is gay and comes out in the final season.<ref name="Fabio and Brando"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Black Lightning (TV series)|Black Lightning]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[The CW]] || Anissa Pierce || [[Nafessa Williams]] || Anissa is a lesbian superhero.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jackman|first1=Josh|title=Meet the black lesbian superhero ready to take over TV on The CW's Black Lightning|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/01/05/meet-the-black-lesbian-superhero-ready-to-take-over-tv-on-the-cws-black-lightning/|website=[[PinkNews]]|date=5 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bergado|first1=Gabe|title="Black Lightning" Star Nafessa Williams Talks Why Representation Matters and Bringing Thunder to Life|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/black-lightning-nafessa-williams-anissa-pierce|website=[[Teen Vogue]]|date=January 23, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Grace Choi]] || [[Chantal Thuy]] || Grace Choi is bisexual and Anissa's love interest.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Riese|title=Winter 2017/2018 TV Preview: Some Lesbian and Bisexual Content for Y'all|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/winter-2017-2018-tv-preview-some-lesbian-and-bisexual-content-for-yall-403491/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=December 5, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Chenoa || Shein Mompremier || Chenoa is a lesbian and was Anissa's girlfriend. They were together for one year before Anissa became involved with Grace.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Love|first1=Tirhakah|title=Black Lightning reveals its stakes: superheroes are bad at love|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/black-lightning-reveals-its-stakes-superheroes-are-bad-at-love|website=[[Syfy Wire]]|date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Burden of Truth (TV series)|Burden of Truth]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[CBC Television|CBC]] || Molly Ross || Sara Thompson ||rowspan="2"| Molly is lesbian. Luna is lesbian and a First Nation native. Molly and Luna are in a relationship and attend the same high school. In season 1 episode "Witch Hunt" they go to the prom as a couple, holding hands as they enter and afterwards dance together.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boobs on Your Tube: Canada Out-Gays Itself Again With Burden of Truth |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/boobs-on-your-tube-canada-out-gays-itself-again-with-burden-of-truth-430281/ |website=Autostraddle |date=24 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Luna Spence || Star Slade
|-
|rowspan="4"|2018 || rowspan="4"|''[['Cause You're My Boy]]'' ||rowspan="4"| GMM One || Mork || Drake Sattabut ||rowspan="4"| Mork and Tee are the main gay couple. Morn and Gord are the supporting gay couple. A Thai romance drama depicting relationships between male characters, known as boys love, it tells the love story of four young boys in a high school setting.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ferrer |first1=Louise |title=7 Thai Boys Love Shows To Watch If You're Obsessed With 2gether: The Series |url=https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/thai-boys-love-series-a1213-20200830 |website=Cosmopolitan |date=August 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nugroho |first1=Johannes |title=Why Thailand's erotic Boys Love TV are a hit with both gay and straight |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3104852/thailands-erotic-boys-love-tv-dramas-are-hit |website=South China Morning Post|date=11 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=GMMTV|title=Trailer อาตี๋ของผม|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHa8wMfsIms|website=[[YouTube]]|date=June 13, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Tee || [[Thanatsaran Samthonglai|Frank Thanatsaran]]
|-
| Morn || Phuwin Tangsakyuen
|-
| Gord || Neo Trai Nimtawat
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Charmed (2018 TV series)|Charmed]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[The CW (TV network)|The CW]] || Melanie "Mel" Vera || [[Melonie Diaz]] ||rowspan="2"| Melanie "Mel" Vera is a lesbian witch. She's a Women's Studies graduate student. Niko Hamada is lesbian and a police detective. Mel and Nico are in a relationship.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallagher|first1=Caitlin|title=How Is The New 'Charmed' Connected To The Original Series? The Reboot Is Casting Its Own Spell|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/how-is-the-new-charmed-connected-to-the-original-series-the-reboot-is-casting-its-own-spell-12247468|website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]|date=October 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Phillips|first1=Carmen|title="Charmed" Review: Come for the Kickass Lesbian Witch, Stay For the Sisterhood|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/charmed-review-come-for-the-kickass-lesbian-witch-stay-for-the-sisterhood-435785/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=October 15, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Nico Hamada || Ellen Tamaki
|-
|2018- || ''Class T1T5'' || [[YouTube]] || Melissa || Melissa Poh || Melissa is a lesbian student.<ref>{{cite web |title=Class T1T5 |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/class-t1t5/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018 || rowspan="2"|''[[Collateral (miniseries)|Collateral]]'' || rowspan="2"| [[BBC Two]] <br/> [[Netflix]] || Jane Oliver || [[Nicola Walker]] || rowspan="2"| Jane is a [[Vicar (Anglicanism)|vicar]] in a lesbian relationship with an illegal immigrant, Linh Xuan Huy.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sweeting|first1=Adam|title=Collateral, BBC Two review - a lecture or a drama?|url=http://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/collateral-bbc-two-review-lecture-or-drama|website=[[The Arts Desk]]|date=13 February 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Linh Xuan Huy || Kae Alexander
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2018– || rowspan="2"|''[[Condor (TV series)|Condor]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Audience (TV network)|Audience]] || Sarah Tan || [[Ellen Wong]] || Sarah Tan is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=All 214 Dead Lesbian and Bisexual Characters On TV, And How They Died {{!}} Page 4 of 4 |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/all-65-dead-lesbian-and-bisexual-characters-on-tv-and-how-they-died-312315/4/ |website=Autostraddle |date=11 March 2016}}</ref>
|-
| Sharla Shepard || [[Christina Moses]] || Sharla Shepard is a lesbian FBI agent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sharla Shepard, Condor (TV series) |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sharla-shepard/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018–2019 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Counterpart (TV series)|Counterpart]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Starz]] || Nadia/Baldwin || [[Sara Serraiocco]] || Nadia is a lesbian and classical violinist. Baldwin is a lesbian assassin.<ref name="Sara Serraiocco">{{cite web |last1=Kayvon |first1=Shervin |title=Sara Serraiocco Is A Leather-Wearing, Lesbian Assassin on Starz's Counterpart |url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/sara-serraiocco-is-a-leatherwearing-lesbian-assassin-on-starzs-counterpart/ |website=INTO |date=29 January 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Clare || [[Nazanin Boniadi]] || Clare is a lesbian.<ref name="Sara Serraiocco"/>
|-
| Greta || Liv Lisa Fries || Greta is a lesbian.<ref name="Counterpart">{{cite web |title=Counterpart |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/counterpart/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2018 || rowspan="5"|''[[Deutschland 86]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[SundanceTV]] || Tim Avery || Chris Veres ||rowspan="5"| Tim Avery is a closeted gay American G.I.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fernandez|first1=Matt|title=Chris Veres Lands Series Regular Role on 'Deutschland 86' |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/chris-veres-deutschland-86-1202610215/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 10, 2017}}</ref> Rose Seithathi is lesbian and in a relationship with Lenora Rauch. Lenora is openly bisexual, having been seen kissing a man in the previous season. Alex Edel is gay. He slept with Tobias Tischbier in the previous season.<ref name=Hughes_83ep5>{{cite web|last1=Hughes|first1=Sarah|title=Deutschland 83 recap, episode five – Cold Fire |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/jan/31/deutschland-83-recap-episode-five-cold-fire|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=31 January 2018|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref> Tobias Tischbier is gay. He tries to make a move on Alex in the first season, and later becomes sexually involved with him even though he was in a relationship with a man named Felix.<ref name=Hughes_83ep6/>
|-
| Rose Seithathi || [[Florence Kasumba]]
|-
| Lenora Rauch || [[Maria Schrader]]
|-
| Alex Edel || [[Ludwig Trepte]]
|-
| Tobias Tischbier || [[Alexander Beyer]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Dogs of Berlin (TV series)|Dogs of Berlin]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Erol Birkan || [[Fahri Yardim]] ||rowspan="2"| Erol Birkan is gay. Guido Mack is gay and Erol's partner.<ref>{{cite web|last1=ul-Haq|first1=Farid|title=Recommendation: "Dogs of Berlin" On Netflix Offers Crime & Well-Written Queer Representation|url=https://thegeekiary.com/dogs-berlin-netflix-queer/60255|website=The Geekiary|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Guido Mack || Sebastian Achilles
|-
|rowspan="6"|2018– || rowspan="6"|''[[Druck (TV series)|Druck]]'' ||rowspan="6"| [[ZDF]] || Matteo Florenzi || Michelangelo Fortuzzi || Matteo is gay.<ref name="druck tv">{{cite web |last1=Johnstone |first1=Beth |title=Why Druck is the best version of Skam |url=https://jonosrantsandreviews.com/2021/03/11/why-druck-is-the-best-version-of-skam/ |date=11 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| David Schreibner || Lukas von Horbatschewsky || David Schreibner is a gay trans teen-aged boy and Matteo's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barwenczik |first1=Lucas |title=A little flippant and imperfect |url=https://www.goethe.de/en/kul/flm/21657771.html |website=Goethe Institut |date=September 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Mia Winter || Milena Tscharntke || Mia is bisexual.<ref name="druck tv"/>
|-
| Victoria || Tijan Marei || Victoria ia a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Victoria |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/victoria-4/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Fatou Jallow || Sira-Anna Faal || Fatou is lesbian.<ref name="druck tv"/>
|-
| Kieu My Vu || Nhung Hong || Kieu is bisexual.<ref name="druck tv"/>
|-
|rowspan="6"|2018– ||rowspan="6"| ''[[Elite (TV series)|Élite]]'' ||rowspan="6"| [[Netflix]] || Ander Muñoz || [[Arón Piper]] ||rowspan="6"| Ander Muñoz is gay and in a relationship with Omar Shanaa. Omar is gay but has to hide his sexuality from his parents due to their Muslim faith. Polo Benavent is bisexual and [[Polyamory|polyamorous]]. He has a relationship with Carla and Christian in season 1 and later has a relationship with Cayetana and Valerio in season 3. He has also hooked up with Ander in season 2. Rebeka "Rebe" de Bormujo is bisexual. She confesses to Ander that she is attracted to girls and guys. She was attracted to Samuel and dated him, but also said she was sexually attracted to Carla. Valerio Montesinos is bisexual and polyamorous. He has a relationship with Cayetana and Polo.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Solari|first1=Bruno|title=Netflix's 'Elite' is a Hidden Queer Gem|url=https://www.out.com/popnography/2018/10/10/netflixs-elite-hidden-queer-gem|website=[[Out (magazine)|Out]]|date=October 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Street|first1=Mikelle|title=Polo From Elite Reveals a Much-Needed Conversation About Consent|url=https://www.out.com/television/2019/10/06/polo-elite-reveals-much-needed-conversation-about-consent|website=[[Out (magazine)|Out]]|date=October 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Kaitlin |title=The Gay Relationship On "Elite" Has Netflix Sharing Rainbows |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/10/214264/elite-netflix-homophobia-response |website=refinery29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Watch the official trailer for season 2 of LGBTQ-inclusive Netflix drama Elite |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/watch-the-official-trailer-for-season-2-of-lgbtq-inclusive-netflix-drama-elite/ |date=20 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Opie |first1=David |title=Élite season 3 continues to celebrate queerness better than any other show |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a31431744/elite-season-3-lgbtq-queer-omander-netflix/ |website=Digital Spy |date=13 March 2020}}</ref> Malick was gay.
|-
| Omar Shanaa || [[Omar Ayuso]]
|-
| Polo Benavent || [[Álvaro Rico]]
|-
| Rebeka "Rebe" de Bormujo || Claudia Salas
|-
| Valerio Montesinos || [[Jorge López (actor)|Jorge López]]
|-
| Malick D || Leïti Sène
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Everything Sucks!]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Kate Messner ||[[Peyton Kennedy]] ||rowspan="2"| Kate Messner spends the season struggling with her sexual identity, before coming to terms that she's a lesbian. Emaline Addario might be bisexual. She is seen dating a male classmate, but then she and Kate reveal their attraction towards one another and later share a kiss.<ref>{{Cite news|last= Romero|first= Ariana|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/02/191052/netflix-everything-sucks-kate-lesbian-teen-coming-out|title=Why Everything Sucks' Coming Out Story Matters|website=[[Refinery29]]|date=February 16, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Emaline Addario || [[Sydney Sweeney]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[For the People (2018 TV series)|For the People]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[ABC Studios|ABC]] || Kate Littlejohn || Susannah Flood ||rowspan="2"| Kate Littlejohn is lesbian and a prosecutor. Anya Ooms is lesbian and an ATF agent. Kate and Anya are involved romantically.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vick |first1=Megan |title=For the People Exclusive: Is Kate Getting Cold Feet With Her ATF Girlfriend? |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/for-the-people-exclusive-kate-girlfriend/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |date=May 15, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Anya Ooms || [[Caitlin Stasey]]
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Here and Now (2018 TV series)|Here and Now]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[HBO]] || Ramon Bayer-Boatwright || [[Daniel Zovatto]] ||rowspan="2"| Ramon Bayer-Boatwright and Henry are a gay couple.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Goodman|first=Tim|title='Here and Now': TV Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/review-1080645|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=February 1, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Henry || Andy Bean
|-
| Navid Shokrani || Marwan Salama || Navid Shokrani is a non-binary transgender.<ref>{{cite web |title=Here and Now - Marwan Salama's Navid Doesn't Need Validation |url=https://www.hbo.com/here-and-now/season-1/3-if-a-deer-shts-in-the-woods/marwan-salamas-navid-doesnt-need-validation |website=HBO}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Morton|first1=Ashley|title=Marwan Salama's Navid Doesn't Need Validation|url=https://www.hbo.com/here-and-now/season-1/3-if-a-deer-shts-in-the-woods/marwan-salamas-navid-doesnt-need-validation|website=[[HBO]]|date=February 25, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="7"|2018–2020 ||rowspan="7"| ''[[La casa de las flores|The House of Flowers]]'' ||rowspan="7"| [[Netflix]] || Julián de la Mora || [[Darío Yazbek Bernal]] ||rowspan="7"| Julián de la Mora is bisexual. He was in a relationship with a woman while secretly dating Diego Olvera. Diego is gay. María José (formerly José María Riquelme) is a transgender woman that was married to Paulina de la Mora before transitioning. She remarried Paulina in the final episode of season 3. Paulina is pansexual. She was married to María José before she transitioned. After splitting up, she dated Alejo Salvat before reuniting with, and remarrying, María José. Pato Lascuraín is a gay man and a drag queen. He is murdered for his sexuality. Kim is pansexual. She starts a relationship with María José. Agustín Corcuera is a closeted gay man. He kills Pato after the latter tries to expose their relationship.<ref>{{cite web|title='La casa de las flores': Pareja gay te enseña lo importante que es 'salir del clóset'|url=https://peru21.pe/cheka/casa-flores-escena-gay-permite-hablar-miedo-salir-closet-420271?foto=2|website=Perú21|language=es|date=11 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ibarra|first1=Marlene Pérez|title=Paco de León conoce su transformación en mujer de la serie La casa de las flores|url=https://www.show.news/series/Paco-de-Leon-conoce-su-transformacion-en-mujer-de-la-serie-La-casa-de-las-flores-20191020-0016.html|website=Show!|date=20 October 2019|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=La Casa de las Flores is a Turning Point for Modern-Day Mexican Television |url=https://instinctmagazine.com/la-casa-de-las-flores-is-a-turning-point-for-modern-day-mexican-television/ |website=Instinct Magazine |date=19 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=House of Flowers Creator Shares What to Expect in Final Season |url=https://www.etonline.com/house-of-flowers-creator-manolo-caro-explores-lgbtq-issues-in-final-season-exclusive-145399 |website=Entertainment Tonight}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=La Casa de las Flores |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/la-casa-de-las-flores/}}</ref>
|-
| Diego Olvera || [[Juan Pablo Medina]]
|-
| María José Riquelme || [[Paco León]]
|-
| [[Paulina de la Mora]] || [[Cecilia Suárez]]
|-
| Pato Lascuraín || [[Christian Chávez]]
|-
| Kim || [[Cristina Umaña]]
|-
| Agustín Corcuera || Emilio Cuaik
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018–2019 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Impulse (TV series)|Impulse]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[YouTube Premium]] || Jenna Faith Hope || Sarah Desjardins ||rowspan="3"| Jenna comes to term with the realization that she's lesbian, then is outed to her parents by her friend (season 2). Kate is a young woman that Jenna meets at a college party during a poetry performance and Kate kisses Jenna afterwards. Megan Linderman is queer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Anne|first=Valerie|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/impulse-season-2-makes-good-on-its-gay-promise/|title="Impulse" Season 2 Makes Good on its Gay Promise|date=October 25, 2019|website=[[Autostraddle]]|access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Kate || Sarah Swire
|-
| Megan Linderman || [[Lauren Collins]]
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[The Innocents (TV series)|The Innocents]]''||rowspan="3"| [[Netflix]] || Lil || [[Sabrina Bartlett]] ||rowspan="3"| Lil kisses June. (She may be lesbian or bisexual.) Kam has a boyfriend, but is also involved with women. (She appears to be bisexual.) Sigrid has feelings for a woman back home. (She may be lesbian or bisexual.)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Reilly|first1=Kaitlin|title=''The Innocents'' Binge Club|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2018/08/207974/the-innocents-recap-season-1-episodes-summary-netflix|date=August 24, 2018|website=[[Refinery29]]}}</ref>
|-
| Kam || [[Abigail Hardingham]]
|-
| Sigrid || Lise Risom Olsen
|-
|rowspan="4"|2018– || rowspan="4"|''[[Insatiable (TV series)|Insatiable]]''||rowspan="4"| [[Netflix]] || Bob Barnard || [[Christopher Gorham]] || Bob Barnard claims to enjoy sex with women but self-identifies as gay. He has been in love with Bob Armstrong since they were teenagers.<ref name="insatiable"/>
|-
| Bob Armstrong || [[Dallas Roberts]] || Bob Armstrong self-identifies as bisexual.<ref name="insatiable">{{cite web |title=Netflix's Insatiable sparks outrage by saying bi people 'don't exist' |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/08/16/netflix-insatiable-bisexual-outrage-exist/ |website=PinkNews |date=16 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Nonnie Thompson || Kimmy Shields || Nonnie is a closeted lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bryan |first1=Scott |title=13 Ways &quot;Insatiable&quot; Is Really Fucking Problematic |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/scottybryan/problematic-insatiable-moments |website=BuzzFeed}}</ref>
|-
| Deborah "Dee" Marshall || Ashley D. Kelley || Dee is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sarrubba |first1=Stefania |title=Is new Netflix show Insatiable really homophobic, biphobic and fat-shaming? |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/insatiable-netflix-fat-shaming-homophobia/ |website=Gay Star News |date=13 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Instinct (2017 TV series)|Instinct]]'' ||rowspan="2"|[[CBS]] || Dylan Reinhart || [[Alan Cumming]] ||rowspan="2"| Dylan Reinhart is gay. A former CIA operative-turned-university professor and best-selling author now helping the [[New York Police Department]]. Andy Wilson is gay. Dylan and Andy are married.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/why-cbs-instinct-history-making-gay-lead-matters-guest-column-1091642|title=Why CBS' 'Instinct,' With Its History-Making Gay Lead, Matters|last=Rauch|first= Michael|date=March 14, 2018|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=March 21, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Andy Wilson || [[Daniel Ings]]
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Killing Eve]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[BBC America]] || Villanelle || [[Jodie Comer]] ||rowspan="3"| Villanelle is a bisexual assassin. She has sex with women and men, had a brief relationship with her neighbor Sebastian, married a woman, and is in love with Eve. In episode "[[List of Killing Eve episodes#ep16|You're Mine]]" (season 2, episode 8), Villanelle asks Eve to run away with her. When Eve rejects her, Villanelle shoots Eve and leaves her for dead. The character of Villanelle was modeled on a real-life terrorist.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Harrison |first1=Ellie |title=Killing Eve: The real-life 'psychopath' who murdered 23 people and inspired Villanelle character |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/killing-eve-villanelle-real-inspiration-jodie-comer-idoia-lopez-riano-la-tigresa-luke-jennings-a9513881.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=14 May 2020}}</ref> Eve Polastri appears to be bisexual. She reveals an attraction towards Villanelle, even though they are bitter rivals and that their cat-and-mouse relationship contains violence and obsession. In episode "[[List of Killing Eve episodes#ep19|Meetings Have Biscuits]]" (season 3, episode 3), Eve finally kisses Villanelle for the first time, then head-butts her. Bill Pargrave is bisexual. He chose to enter into a heterosexual marriage by arrangement because he wanted to father a child, and occasionally has sex with his wife who knows about his history with men.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Baugher|first1=Lacy|title=Killing Eve: We need to know more about Villanelle's past|url=https://culturess.com/2018/05/03/killing-eve-we-need-to-know-more-about-villanelles-past/|website=Culturess|publisher=[[FanSided]]|date=May 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Roberson |first1=Jennie |title=The Unicorn Scale: Killing Eve |url=https://bi.org/en/articles/the-unicorn-scale-killing-eve |website=Bi.org |date=April 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Cook |first1=Elisabeth |title=I Think About You, Too: "Killing Eve" & Bisexual Representation |url=https://thespool.net/features/killing-eve/ |website=The Spool |date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Bill Pargrave || [[David Haig]]
|-
| Eve Polastri || [[Sandra Oh]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– || rowspan="2"|''[[Krypton (TV series)|Krypton]]'' || rowspan="2"|[[SyFy]] || [[Adam Strange]] || [[Shaun Sipos]] || Adam Strange is quite likely bisexual. In season 1, episode "[[Krypton (TV series)#ep5|House of Zod]]", Adam Strange appreciates the view of the bare ass of a tattooed male Sagitari.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Melrose|first1=Kevin|title=Wait, Did Krypton Just Hint That Adam Strange Is Gay?|url=https://www.cbr.com/krypton-adam-strange-gay-bisexual/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=April 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Krypton: The Decision to Make Adam Strange Bisexual |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/krypton-the-decision-to-make-adam-strange-bisexual/ |website=Den of Geek |date=28 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Nyssa-Vex || Wallis Day || Nyssa is bisexual and was in a same-sex relationship in the past.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Burlingame|first1=Russ|title='Krypton': Nyssa-Vex Reveals She Is Bisexual|url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/05/03/krypton-nyssa-vex-is-bisexual/|website=ComicBook.com|publisher=Pop Culture Media|date=May 2, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2018– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Legacies (TV series)|Legacies]] '' ||rowspan="4"| [[The CW]] || Josie Saltzman || [[Kaylee Bryant]] || Josie is pansexual. She was in a relationship with Penelope. Afterwards, she had a crush on Rafael and kissed him. She later dates Landon Kirby. She also had a crush on Hope. After this, she develops a crush on Jade.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nouri |first1=Sefket |title=Legacies recap: Series premiere delivers romance, drama, and magic |url=https://hiddenremote.com/2018/10/26/legacies-series-premiere-recap/ |website=Hidden Remote |publisher=FanSided Network |date=October 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Zalben|first1=Alex|title=Dear 'Legacies': You Can Keep Your Josie/Landon Romance, Thanks!|url=https://decider.com/2019/10/10/legacies-season-2-premiere-spoilers-landon-josie/|website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]]|date=October 10, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Penelope Park || [[Lulu Antariksa]] || Penelope is bisexual. She was in a relationship with Josie, and before Penelope left to attend a witches school she and Josie acknowledged that they loved each other. She also kissed MG.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Palmer|first=Catherine|url=https://theseriesregulars.com/legacies-a-revolutionary-approach-to-identity-and-relationships/|title='Legacies': A Revolutionary Approach to Identity And Relationships|website=The Series Regulars|date=March 5, 2019|access-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Drum|first1=Nicole|title='Legacies' Creator Teases Fan-Favorites Returning in Season 2|url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/legacies-season-2-julie-plec-kai-parker-chris-wood-the-cw/|website=Comicbook.com |date=April 2, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Fleenor |first1=S.E. |title=The queer witches from TV who make us proud |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/queer-witches-tv-make-us-proud |website=[[Syfy Wire]] |date=July 15, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hope Mikaelson]] || [[Danielle Rose Russell]] || Hope is bisexual. She was in a relationship with Landon and in season two admits that she had a crush on Josie when they were fourteen.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Swift |first1=Andy |title=Legacies' Danielle Rose Russell Reacts to Hope's Romantic Confession About Josie: 'That Didn't Shock Me' |url=https://tvline.com/2019/12/01/legacies-season-2-hope-josie-relationship-new-interview/ |website=[[TVLine]] |date=December 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Neetha K|title='Legacies' Season 2: Is the show queerbaiting viewers with minor hints about Hope and Josie ship?|url=https://meaww.com/legacies-season-2-queerbaiting-viewers-minor-hints-hosie-hope-josie-penelope-maya|website=MEAWW (Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide)|date=January 30, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Jade || [[Giorgia Whigham]] || Jade is lesbian. She has a budding romance with Josie.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=MacDonald|first1=Lindsay|title=Legacies Boss Says Josie and Jade's Romance 'Felt Right|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/legacies-boss-jade-josie-romance-felt-right/|magazine=[[TV Guide]]|date=March 12, 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Life Sentence (TV series)|Life Sentence]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[The CW]] || Ida Abbott || [[Gillian Vigman]] ||rowspan="2"| Ida is bisexual. She leaves her husband to be with her friend, Poppy.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Reiher|first1=Andrea|title=Life Sentence' Premiere Recap: Introducing the Abbotts, Your New Fave TV Family|url=https://www.brit.co/life-sentence-premiere-recap-lucy-hale/|website=[[Brit + Co]]|date=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Poppy || Claudia Rocafort
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Light as a Feather (TV series)|Light as a Feather]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Hulu]] || Alex Portnoy || [[Brianne Tju]] || Alex is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nicolaou|first1=Elena|title=A Complete Rundown Of The Death Predictions On Light As A Feather|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/10/213652/light-as-a-feather-violet-death-predictions#slide-3|website=[[Refinery29]]|date=October 12, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Peri || [[Adriyan Rae]] || Peri is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Block|first1=Rosemarie|title="Light as a Feather" Season 2 Lifts Its Lesbian Character Into the Spotlight|url=https://scoopsquare24.com/light-as-a-feather-season-2-lifts-its-lesbian-character-into-the-spotlight/|website=Scoop Square24|date=August 5, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Manifest (TV series)|Manifest]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[NBC]] || Bethany Collins || Mugga || Bethany is lesbian and a flight attendant on Flight 828.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bethany Collins, Manifest (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/bethany-collins/}}</ref>
|-
| Georgia Collins || Eva Kaminsky || Georgia is lesbian and married to Bethany.<ref>{{cite web |title=Georgia Collins, Manifest (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/georgia-collins/}}</ref>
|-
| Thomas || Sheldon Best || Thomas is gay and smuggled on Flight 828 to escape homophobic persecution in Jamaica.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Samantha |title='Manifest' Recap: A Stowaway On Flight 828 Could Be The Answer To Michaela & Saanvi's Problems |url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2018/10/15/manifest-stowaway-on-flight-828-season-1-episode-4-recap/ |website=Hollywood Life |date=16 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
|2018– || ''[[McMafia]]'' || [[BBC One]] <br> [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] || Semiyon Kleiman || [[David Strathairn]] || Semiyon is gay. He had a younger male lover.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV review: McMafia Episode 5 |url=https://www.thejc.com/culture/tv/tv-review-mcmafia-episode-5-1.457058}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[New Amsterdam (2018 TV series)|New Amsterdam]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[NBC]] || Iggy Frome || [[Tyler Labine]] ||rowspan="2"| Iggy Frome and Martin McIntyre are married and have adopted three children from Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blu |first1=Jasmine |title=New Amsterdam Season 2 Episode 10 Review: Code Silver |url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2020/01/new-amsterdam-season-2-episode-10-review-code-silver/ |website=TV Fanatic |date=14 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Martin McIntyre || [[Mike Doyle (actor)|Mike Doyle]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[The Novelist (Japan TV series)|The Novelist]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Fuji TV]] || Kazumi Haruhiko || Izuka Kenta ||rowspan="2"| Kazumi Haruhiko and Kijima Rio are a gay couple.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Novelist|url=https://www.viki.com/tv/36852c-the-novelist|website=[[Viki (website)|Viki]]|date= February 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Kijima Rio || Takezai Terunosuke
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Origin (TV series)|Origin]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[YouTube Premium]] || Agnes "Lee" Lebachi || [[Adelayo Adedayo]] || Agnes "Lee" Lebachi is a lesbian.<ref name="Origin TV series"/>
|-
| Evelyn Rey || [[Nora Arnezeder]] || Evelyn Rey is bisexual.<ref name="Origin TV series">{{cite web |title=Origin |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/origin/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2018 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Picnic at Hanging Rock (TV series)|Picnic at Hanging Rock]]''||rowspan="5"| [[Showcase (Australian TV channel)|Showcase (AU)]] || Michael Fitzhubert ||[[Harrison Gilbertson]] ||rowspan="5"| Michael Fitzhubert is in love with Albert Crundall. Irma Leopold kisses Miranda Reid. Greta McGraw is a geography teacher whose father exiled her from home for being a lesbian. Marion Quade is lesbian. Greta and Marion are in a relationship.<ref>{{cite web|first=Holly|last=Byrnes|title=Foxtel's Picnic At Hanging Rock turns up the homoerotic heat in saucy new series|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/foxtels-picnic-at-hanging-rock-turns-up-the-homoerotic-heat-in-saucy-new-series/news-story/151d918b1b755d4b0107219f1e2e4957|date=5 May 2018|access-date=11 July 2018|website=News.com.au}}</ref>
|-
| Irma Leopold || [[Samara Weaving]]
|-
| Miranda Reid || [[Lily Sullivan]]
|-
| Greta McGraw || [[Anna McGahan]]
|-
| Marion Quade || [[Madeleine Madden]]
|-
|rowspan="4"|2018– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Playing for Keeps (TV series)|Playing for Keeps]]''||rowspan="4"| [[Network 10|Network Ten]] || Rusty O'Reilly || [[Ethan Panizza]] ||rowspan="2"| Rusty O'Reilly is gay. He and Jack Davies were having an affair before Jack's death.<ref>{{cite web |title=Playing For Keeps: The Most WTF Moments Of The Season |url=https://10play.com.au/10-play-trending/articles/playing-for-keeps-the-most-wtf-moments-of-the-season/tpa190614wlnzo |website=10 play |date=9 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Woolford |first1=Lisa |title=Ethan's AFL 360 |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/playing-for-keeps-ethan-panizzas-afl-360/news-story/0cd0338b14bb79522f80811e5d4f992f |date=14 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Jack Davies || [[James Mason (Australian actor)|James Mason]]
|-
| Tahlia Woods || [[Olympia Valance]] || Tahlia Woods is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tahlia Woods, Playing for Keeps (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/tahlia-woods/}}</ref>
|-
| Hayley Fawkner || [[Alexandra Adornetto]] || Hayley Fawkner is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hayley Fawkner, Playing for Keeps (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/hayley-fawkner/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="8"|2018– ||rowspan="8"| ''[[Pose (TV series)|Pose]]'' ||rowspan="8"| [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] || Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista || [[Mj Rodriguez]] || Blanca is a transgender woman.<ref name="AV-Pose-S1E1">{{cite web |last1=Upadhyaya |first1=Kayla Kumari |title=Pose presents a stylish, radical celebration of queer joy |url=https://tv.avclub.com/pose-presents-a-stylish-radical-celebration-of-queer-j-1826518546 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=June 6, 2018 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Angel Evangelista || [[Indya Moore]] || Angel is a transgender woman.<ref name="AV-Pose-S1E1"/>
|-
| Elektra Abundance || [[Dominique Jackson (model)|Dominique Jackson]] || Elektra is a transgender woman.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rude |first1=Mey |title=How 'Pose' Is Changing Media Representation of Gender Confirmation Surgery |url=https://www.them.us/story/pose-gender-confirmation-surgery |website=them. |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=June 18, 2018 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Pray Tell || [[Billy Porter (entertainer)|Billy Porter]] || Pray is gay.<ref name="them-Pose-blackgaylove"/>
|-
| Damon Richards-Evangelista || [[Ryan Jamaal Swain]] || Damon is gay.<ref name="AV-Pose-S1E1"/>
|-
| Ricky Evangelista || [[Dyllón Burnside]] || Ricky is gay and Damon's boyfriend.<ref name="them-Pose-blackgaylove">{{cite web |last1=Cuby |first1=Michael |title=Why ''Pose'' Is the Best Representation of Black Gay Love Since ''Moonlight'' |url=https://www.them.us/story/pose-black-gay-love-representation |website=them. |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=July 23, 2018 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Candy Abundance || [[Angelica Ross]] || Candy is a transgender woman.<ref name=LAWeekly-Pose>{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Michael |title=Why Pose Is the Most Groundbreaking LGBTQ TV Show Ever |url=https://www.laweekly.com/arts/why-pose-is-the-most-ground-breaking-lgbtq-tv-show-ever-9673296 |work=[[LA Weekly]] |date=July 19, 2018 |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Lulu Abundance || [[Hailie Sahar]] || Lulu is a transgender woman.<ref name=LAWeekly-Pose/> <br> Lil Papi described himself as an "equal opportunity lover".<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Fever |series=Pose |date=June 24, 2018 |network=[[FX (TV channel)|FX]] |season=1 |number=4 |last=Mock |first=Janet}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Rise (U.S. TV series)|Rise]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[NBC]] || Simon Saunders || Ted Sutherland || rowspan="3"| Simon Saunders is a closeted gay student raised by a very conservative religious family. Jeremy is Simon's co-star in the play, and potential love interest. Michael Hallowell is transgender.<ref>{{Cite news|last= Rudolph|first= Christopher|title=Why NBC Changed The Lead Character On "Rise" From Gay To Straight|url=http://www.newnownext.com/rise-nbc-musical-gay-teacher-straight/01/2018/|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=January 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Altmann|first1=Alana|title=Who Plays Michael On 'Rise'? Ellie Desautels Plays An Important Role|url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/who-plays-michael-on-rise-ellie-desautels-plays-important-role-8552262|website=[[Elite Daily]]|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Michael Hallowell || Ellie Desautels
|-
| Jeremy || [[Sean Grandillo]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"|''[[The Rookie (TV series)|The Rookie]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Jackson West || Titus Makin ||rowspan="2"| Jackson West is gay. He's a rookie police officer and the son of a high-ranking police official. Gino Brown is gay. He is a nurse and in a relationship with Jackson West.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gomez |first1=Adrian |title=Timely topic: 'The Rookie' actor honored as series takes on issues of racial injustice |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2353396/timely-topic.html |website=Albuquerque Journal |date=January 28, 2021 |url-access=subscription|quote=Titus Makin stars as Jackson West in the ABC series The Rookie. He's gay. He's Black. He's a rookie.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Orlando |first1=Christine |title=This Is Us Season Finale Delayed Following State of the Union Switch |url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2019/01/this-is-us-season-finale-delayed-following-state-of-the-union-sw/ |website=TV Fanatic |date=30 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Gino Brown || Cameron J. Armstrong
|-
|2018– || ''[[Safe (TV series)|Safe]]''|| [[Canal 8 (TV channel)|Canal 8]] <br/> [[Netflix]] || Pete Mayfield || [[Marc Warren]] || Pete is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Michael |title=Safe (saison 1) |url=http://mika03-nouvellesgays.over-blog.com/2018/05/safe-saison-1.html |website=Nouvelles gays |language=fr|date=20 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Seven Seconds (TV series)|Seven Seconds]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Kadeuce Porter || Corey Champagne ||rowspan="2"| Kadeuce Porter and Brenton Butler were in a relationship before Brenton was killed by a white cop who ran over him in a hit and run.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mangum |first1=Trey |title='Seven Seconds' Breakout Star Corey Champagne On How His Character Adds To Diverse Representation On Television |url=https://shadowandact.com/netflix-seven-seconds-corey-champagne |website=Shadow and Act}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bringing Diverse Representation to "Seven Seconds"– Corey Champagne Interview |url=https://gemmamagazine.com/2018/05/24/diverse-representation-with-corey-champagne-of-seven-seconds/ |website=gemma magazine |date=24 May 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Brenton Butler || Daykwon Gaines
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Siren (TV series)|Siren]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Ryn ||[[Eline Powell]] ||rowspan="2"| Ryn is a bisexual mermaid. She is attracted to both Maddie and her boyfriend Ben. Maddie Bishop is revealed to be bisexual, as she is receptive to Ryn's attraction for her.<ref>{{cite web|title='Siren' is Serving us Intersectional—and Interspecific—Bisexual Romance|url=https://www.intomore.com/culture/siren-is-serving-us-intersectionaland-interspecificbisexual-romance|website=INTO|date=20 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Maddie Bishop || [[Fola Evans-Akingbola]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[SKAM Austin]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Facebook Watch]] || Shay Dixon || La'Keisha Slade <br> ||rowspan="2"| Shay Dixon is a lesbian. Tyler Nunez is gay and Shay's best friend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Help I've Fallen For SKAM Austin (and its Black Lesbian Character) and Can't Get Up |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/help-ive-fallen-for-skam-austin-and-its-black-lesbian-character-and-cant-get-up-424342/ |website=Autostraddle |date=26 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Priya |first1=Kanu |title=Skam Austin Season 3: Release Date, Cast, New Season/Cancelled |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/skam-austin-facebook-watch/ |website=The Cinemaholic |date=14 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Tyler Nunez || Giovanni Niubo
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Station 19 (TV series)|Station 19]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Travis Montgomery ||[[Jay Hayden]] || Travis is a gay firefighter.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roschke |first1=Ryan |title=Jay Hayden as Travis Montgomery |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/44531044/image/44531045/Jay-Hayden-Travis-Montgomery |website=Popsugar Entertainment |date=22 March 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Maya Bishop || [[Danielle Savre]] || Maya is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bastidas|first1=Jose|title='Station 19': Twitter Applauds Bisexual Main Character|url=https://popculture.com/tv-shows/2018/03/30/station-19-maya-bishop-bi-character-abc/|website=Popculture.com|date=March 29, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|2018– || ''[[Step Up: High Water]]'' || [[YouTube Premium]] ||Tal Baker || Petrice Jones<br/>([[Keiynan Lonsdale]]) || Tal Baker is gay. Keiynan Lonsdale took over the role in season 3.<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTube Red's 'Step Up: High Water' Is Like A More Dramatic 'Glee' But With Dancing |url=https://decider.com/2018/02/02/step-up-high-water-review-youtube-red/ |website=Decider |date=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cuby |first1=Michael |title=Keiynan Lonsdale Will Dance His Way Into Your Heart in "Step Up" Spinoff |url=https://www.them.us/story/keiynan-lonsdale-step-up-tv-spinoff |website=them}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Sweetbitter (TV series)|Sweetbitter]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Starz]] || Ariel || Eden Epstein ||rowspan="2"| Ariel is a lesbian and a womanizer.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dickie|first1=George|title=A small-town girl seeks herself and finds trouble in the big city in Starz's 'Sweetbitter'|url=https://ontvtoday.com/a-small-town-girl-seeks-herself-and-finds-trouble-in-the-big-city-in-starzs-sweetbitter|website=ONTVtoday|publisher=[[Gracenote]]|date=May 1, 2018}}</ref> Sasha is a gay Russian immigrant.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rudolph|first=Christopher|title=Daniyar On Playing A Gay Russian Reveler On Starz's "Sweetbitter"|url=http://www.newnownext.com/sweetbitter-starz-daniyar-sasha/05/2018/|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505002635/http://www.newnownext.com/sweetbitter-starz-daniyar-sasha/05/2018/|archive-date=May 5, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Sasha || Daniyar
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018– || rowspan="2"|''This Close'' ||rowspan="2"| [[SundanceNow]] || Michael || Josh Feldman ||rowspan="2"| Michael is a graphic novelist, and Ryan is a real estate agent. The series starts after their engagement to be married is broken.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Friess |first1=Steve |title='This Close' Is the Groundbreaking (And Very Adult) Show About Deafness We NEED |url=https://www.them.us/story/this-close-is-a-groundbreaking-show-about-deafness |website=them}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Curtis M. |title=With 'This Close,' Josh Feldman Puts Deaf, Gay Lives In The Spotlight |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/josh-feldman-this-close-sundance-now_n_5aac9824e4b0c33361b09882 |website=HuffPost |date=26 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='This Close' gets even more up close and personal for dramatic and guest star-filled second season |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/this-close-gets-even-more-close-and-personal-dramatic-guest-star-filled-second-season |website=GLAAD |date=9 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Ryan || Colt Prattes
|-
|rowspan="4"|2018– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Vida (TV series)|Vida]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Starz]] || Emma Hernandez || [[Mishel Prada]] || Emma is bisexual.<ref name="vida tv">{{cite web|last1=Villarreal|first1=Vanessa Angélica|title="Vida" Lets Its Latinx Characters Experience Sex And Pleasure|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/olliphant/vida-starz-latinx-queer-sex-and-love|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=July 18, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Eddy Martínez || [[Ser Anzoategui]] || Eddy is a lesbian.<ref name="vida tv"/>
|-
| Cruz || Maria-Elena Laas || Cruz is lesbian.<ref name="vida tv"/>
|-
| Sam || Michelle Badillo || Sam is non-binary.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fernandez|first1=Maria Elena|title=The Making of Vida's 'Radical' Queer Sex Scene |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/05/vida-making-of-queer-latina-sex-scene.html|website=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]]|date=May 21, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2018– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[You (TV series)|You]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] || Peach Salinger || [[Shay Mitchell]] <br> <br> || rowspan="3"| Peach Salinger is a lesbian. Lucy is lesbian and a literary agent in L.A. married to Sunrise. Sunrise, wife of Lucy, is lesbian and a stay at home lifestyle blogger.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hogan|first1=Heather |title=Lifetime's "You" Knows Ezra Fitz and Dan Humphrey Are the Fucking Worst|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/lifetimes-you-knows-ezra-fitz-and-dan-humphrey-are-the-fucking-worst-431861/|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=September 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mallikarjuna |first1=Krutika |title=Every Character on YOU Is Trash, but I Would Still Die for Peach Salinger |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/you-peach-salinger-queer-appreciation/ |website=TV Guide |date=January 14, 2019 |access-date=April 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Joshua|first1=Seth|title=Lifetime Network's, "You," Actually Improves Upon the Source Material|url=https://medium.com/@jschonhaut/lifetime-networks-you-actually-improves-upon-the-source-material-547acee27253|website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]]|date=October 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/you-casts-marielle-scott-georgina-reilly-city-on-a-hill-1202568811/|title='You' Casts Marielle Scott; Georgina Reilly Joins 'City On A Hill'|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=March 4, 2019|access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/you-melanie-field-magda-apanowicz-to-recur-in-series-second-season-on-netflix-1202588662/|title='You': Melanie Field & Magda Apanowicz To Recur In Series' Second Season On Netflix|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=April 4, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Lucy || Marielle Scott
|-
| Sunrise || Melanie Field
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==2019==
<!-- Alphabetical order: series A-Z. -->
<!-- Visual edits: Please be cautious when using VISUAL EDITOR to add a new row or edit rows. VE alters the Wikicode of table formatting (visible in Source screen and revision history). See Wikipedia:VisualEditor#Limitations for problems with using VE. -->
<!-- Stating a character is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc., is not enough — please support your edit with a published reliable source (i.e. citation). -->
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margins:auto; width=100%;"
|-
! style="width:75px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Show
! style="width:100px;"|Network
! style="width:200px;"|Character
! style="width:225px;"|Actor
! Notes
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2019 || rowspan="3"|''[[3 Will Be Free]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[One 31]] <br> [[Line TV]] || Shin || [[Tawan Vihokratana|Tay Tawan]] || Shin is gay.<ref name="3 Will Be Free"/>
|-
| Neo || [[Way-Ar Sangngern|Joss Way-ar]] || Neo is bisexual.<ref name="3 Will Be Free"/>
|-
| Mae || [[Jennie Panhan]] || Mae is a trans woman.<ref name="3 Will Be Free">{{cite web |title=3 Will Be Free |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/3-will-be-free/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
|2019– || ''[[All Rise (TV series)|All Rise]]'' || [[CBS]] || Judge Lisa Benner || [[Marg Helgenberger]] || Lisa is lesbian and mentor of Judge Lola Carmichael. She waited until same-sex marriage became legal to implement Wedding Day at the courthouse. Lisa had been in a four-year relationship when her girlfriend left her on that special day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Boobs On Your Tube: Grace Choi Is Back On "Black Lightning," Celebrates With Cute Queer Bed Cuddling |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/boobs-on-your-tube-grace-choi-is-back-on-black-lightning/ |website=Autostraddle |date=25 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
|2019– || ''[[Another Life (2019 TV series)|Another Life]]'' || [[Netflix]] || Zayne || JayR Tinaco || Zayne is non-binary.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Starring in a Netflix Show Helped This Nonbinary Actor Thrive |url=https://www.out.com/television/2019/9/12/how-starring-netflix-show-helped-nonbinary-actor-thrive |date=12 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="12"|2019– || rowspan="12"|''[[Batwoman (TV series)|Batwoman]]'' ||rowspan="12"| [[The CW]] || [[Batwoman|Kate Kane]] || [[Ruby Rose]] || Kate Kane is the lesbian cousin of [[Batman#Bruce Wayne|Bruce Wayne]] / Batman.<ref name=Schager>{{cite web|last1=Schager|first1=Nick|title=Ruby Rose's Kickass, Lesbian Batwoman Shows Plenty of Promise|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ruby-roses-kickass-lesbian-batwoman-shows-plenty-of-promise|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=October 6, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Sophie Moore || [[Meagan Tandy]] || Sophie Moore is lesbian and Kate's former girlfriend. After breaking up with Kate and denying her sexuality, she married Tyler. Sophie comes to terms with being lesbian, tells her husband about her past relationship with Kate, ends her marriage, and comes out to her mother.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fierra|first1=Ariana|title='Batwoman's' Meagan Tandy talks importance of Sophie Moore, season 2|url=https://www.hypable.com/batwoman-meagan-tandy-interview/|website=Hypable|date=April 25, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Julia Pennyworth || Christina Wolfe || Julia Pennyworth is lesbian, Kate's ex-girlfriend, and a British spy.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ng|first1=Philiana|title='Batwoman' Sneak Peek: Kate Kane Gets a Pep Talk from Her Ex Julia Pennyworth (Exclusive)|url=https://www.etonline.com/batwoman-sneak-peek-kate-kane-gets-a-pep-talk-from-her-ex-julia-pennyworth-exclusive-145361|website=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> Batwoman is the first lesbian superhero to forefront a prime time series.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bentley|first=Jean|title='Batwoman' Star Ruby Rose Hopes Groundbreaking Lesbian Superhero Appeals to Everyone|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ruby-rose-batwoman-1229120|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 4, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Batwoman|Ryan Wilder]] || [[Javicia Leslie]] || Ryan Wilder is a black lesbian. Javicia Leslie took over the role of Batwoman is season two.<ref>{{cite web |title=What The DC Comics Can Tell Us About The CW's New 'Batwoman' Ryan Wilder |url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/ryan-wilder-batwoman-comics |website=Bustle}}</ref>
|-
| Angelique Martin || Bevin Bru || Angelique Martin is a lesbian. She is Ryan's drug-dealing ex-girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gomez |first1=Emmanuel |title=Cuban Actress Bevin Bru Introduces Us To Angelique Martin Ryan's Ex In The CW's Batwoman [Exclusive Interview] |url=https://lrmonline.com/news/cuban-actress-bevin-bru-introduces-us-to-angelique-martin-ryans-ex-in-the-cws-batwoman-exclusive-interview/ |website=Latino Review Media |date=21 February 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Safiyah Sohail || Shivani Ghai || Safiyah Sohail is a lesbian. She is Queen of the pirate nation of Coryana.<ref name="tatiana and safiyah"/>
|-
| Tatiana || Leah Gibson || Tatiana is a lesbian. She is an assassin known as The Whisper.<ref name="tatiana and safiyah">{{cite web |title=Batwoman Episode 203 Recap: Bat Girl Magic! |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/batwoman-203-recap-bat-girl-magic/ |website=Autostraddle |date=1 February 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Evan Blake || Lincoln Clauss || Evan Blake is a non-binary queer. They are an art thief known as Wolf Spider.<ref>{{cite web |title=Batwoman Writer Explains the Importance of the Show's New Nonbinary Character |url=https://www.cbr.com/batwoman-nonbinary-evan-blake-writer-coments/ |website=CBR |date=22 February 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Reagan || || Reagan is a lesbian. She is a bartender.<ref>{{cite web|title="Batwoman" Keeps Getting Gayer and Queering Superhero Tropes |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/batwoman-keeps-getting-gayer-and-queering-superhero-tropes/|website=Autostraddle|date=28 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Gina || Favour Onosemuede || Gina is a lesbian. She is Parker Torres' girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gina, Batwoman (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/gina-5/}}</ref>
|-
| Parker Torres || Malia Pyles || Parker Torres is a lesbian. She becomes the Terrier and blackmails Gotham.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parker Torres, Batwoman (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/parker-torres/}}</ref>
|-
| Sara Lance || [[Caity Lotz]] || Sara Lance is bisexual. She had a guest appearance in 2019, episode "[[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis on Infinite Earths]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Sara Lance, Batwoman (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/sara-lance/}}</ref>
|-
|2019– || ''[[Bluff City Law]]'' || [[NBC]] || Della Bedford || [[Jayne Atkinson]] || Della is lesbian. She comes out after ending her 15-year marriage.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bandyopadhyay|first1=Alakananda|title='Bluff City Law' star Jayne Atkinson on Della's coming out story and the backlash she faces: 'It's not a deliberate mess'|url=https://meaww.com/bluff-city-law-jayne-atkinson-della-coming-out-lesbian-age-backlash-condemned-lgbtq-hollywood|website=MEAWW (Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide)|date=October 28, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– || rowspan="2"|''[[Bonding (TV series)|Bonding]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Pete || Brendan Scannell || Pete is an openly gay man who becomes an assistant to his dominatrix friend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bachchan |first1=Vrinda |title=Is Bonding Based on a True Story? Is the Netflix Show Based on Real Life? |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/is-bonding-based-on-a-true-story/ |website=The Cinemaholic |date=27 January 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Josh || Theo Stockman || Josh is gay and Pete's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix's Bonding: How Josh's Coming Out Was Ruined by [SPOILER] |url=https://www.cbr.com/netflixs-bonding-josh-coming-out-ruined-pete/ |website=CBR |date=4 February 2021}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2019– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[The Boys (2019 TV series)|The Boys]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Amazon Prime Video]]|| Ezekiel || [[Shaun Benson]] || Ezekiel is a closeted homosexual.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kuchera |first1=Ben |title=The Boys is a great show at the worst time |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/8/6/20747593/the-boys-amazon-politics-hard-to-watch |website=Polygon |date=6 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Amazon's The Boys Flips The Comic's Approach To Homophobia |url=https://screenrant.com/boys-amazon-comic-homosexuality-representation-changes/ |website=Screen Rant |date=10 November 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of The Boys characters|Queen Maeve]] || [[Dominique McElligott]] || Queen Maeve is bisexual. She had romances with Elena and Homelander; however, she was closeted.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tallerico|first1=Brian|title=''The Boys'' Recap: Dancing With Myself|url=https://www.vulture.com/amp/article/the-boys-season-2-episode-4-recap-nothing-like-it-in-the-world.html|website=[[Vulture.com]]|date=September 11, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Elena || [[Nicola Correia-Damude]] || Elena is lesbian and Maeve's ex-girlfriend.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Damshenas|first1=Sam|title=The Boys tackles bi-erasure and lack of LGBTQ+ superheroes in Hollywood|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/the-boys-tackles-bi-erasure-and-lack-of-lgbtq-superheroes-in-hollywood/amp/|website=gaytimes.co.uk|date=22 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Opie|first1=David|title=The Boys season 2 calls out queer erasure in Marvel and DC movies|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a34359719/the-boys-season-2-lgbtq-queer-maeve-marvel-dc/|work=digitalspy.com|date=October 14, 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Carnival Row]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Amazon Prime Video]] || Vignette Stonemoss || [[Cara Delevingne]] ||rowspan="2"| Vignette Stonemoss is bisexual and a fairy. Tourmaline Larou is either bisexual or lesbian, and a fairy. Vignette and Tourmaline were once lovers and are now close friends.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stevens|first1=Michael|title=Cara Delevingne In "Marie Claire"|url=http://www.sneakpeek.ca/2019/07/cara-delevingne-in-marie-claire.html|website=Sneak Peek|date=July 2, 2019|quote=I play this fairy called 'Vignette Stonemoss' who is a survivor, a really strong female lead. I'm a bisexual fairy – what else would you want to be in life?}}</ref>
|-
| Tourmaline Larou || [[Karla Crome]]
|-
| Costin Finch || Gregory Gudgeon ||rowspan="2"| Costin Finch was a closeted gay and the Headmaster of an orphanage. Dr. Morange was a closeted gay and the coroner for the Constabulary. Costin and Morange were longtime lovers and would meet in secret at the fairy brothel.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shaw-Williams|first1=Hannah|title=Amazon's Carnival Row Cast & Character Guide|url=https://screenrant.com/carnival-row-amazon-series-cast-characters-guide/|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=August 29, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Dr. Morange || John Malafronte
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[The Club (Mexican TV series)|The Club]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Santiago Caballero || [[Alejandro Puente]] ||rowspan="2"| Santiago is gay. Max is gay. Santiago and Max are dating.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kramer |first1=Gary |title=Spanish-language series to stream during isolation |url=https://epgn.com/2020/03/23/spanish-language-series-to-stream-during-isolation/ |website=Philadelphia Gay News |date=23 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Quién es Max, novio de Santiago en El Club, serie de Netflix |url=https://www.desdelacuna.net/series/max-el-club-serie-martin-saracho-actor-quien-es/ |language=es |date=2 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gay clip {{!}} El club Netflix: Santiago y Max |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCwJgS482S4}}</ref>
|-
| Max || [[Martin Saracho]]
|-
|rowspan="5"|2019– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Coroner (TV series)|Coroner]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[CBC Television|CBC]] || Ross Khalighi || Ehren Kassam ||rowspan="2"| Ross Khalighi is gay and the teenage son of coroner Jenny Cooper. Matteo is gay and Ross's boyfriend. Ross and Matteo are dating.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mazzeo|first1=Esme|title=Coroner Review: Scattered (Season 1 Episode 3)|url=https://telltaletv.com/2020/08/coroner-review-scattered-season-1-episode-3/|website=Tell-Tale TV|date=August 19, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Matteo || Graeme Jokic
|-
| Alison Trent || Tamara Podemski || Alison Trent is lesbian and Cooper's assistant.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=A.R.|title=Coroner: Tamara Podemski on Alison's backstory and why landing the role was a "huge triumph" for her|url=https://www.tv-eh.com/2019/02/08/coroner-tamara-podemski-on-alisons-backstory-and-why-landing-the-role-was-a-huge-triumph-for-her/|website=TV, eh?|date=February 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Liszewsk |first1=Bridget|title=Coroner: Noelle Carbone and Sean Reycraft Talk "All's Well" |url=https://thetvjunkies.com/coroner-noelle-carbone-sean-reycraft-talk-alls-well/|website=The TV Junkies|date=February 4, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Sabina || [[Jeananne Goossen]] || Sabina is lesbian. Alison and Sabina are dating.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coroner: Characters: Alison Trent|url=https://www.cbc.ca/coroner/characters/alison-trent|website=[[CBC Television|CBC]]|date=2019}}</ref>
|-
| Taylor Kim || Alli Chung || Taylor Kim is lesbian and a detective. She told her colleague that she left home when she was 16, and lives with her girlfriend and their three dogs.<ref>{{cite web|author=Heather M.|title=Morwyn Brebner and Adrienne Mitchell Talk Coroner's Season 1 Finale|url=https://thetelevixen.com/morwyn-brebner-and-adrienne-mitchell-talk-coroners-season-1-finale/|website=The Televixen|date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2019 ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Dark Blue Kiss]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[GMM 25]] <br> [[Line TV]] || Pete || [[Tawan Vihokratana|Tay Tawan]] ||rowspan="5"| Pete and Kao are boyfriends. Non has a same-sex crush on Kao. Sun and Mork are gay love interests. Thai boys' love series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Antonio |first1=Josiah |title=Series review: ’Dark Blue Kiss’ teaches people to accept queer family members, friends |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/10/27/20/bl-series-dark-blue-kiss-review-tay-tawan-new-thitipoon-teaches-people-to-accept-their-queer-family-members-friends |website=ABS-CBN News |date=27 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tamayo |first1=Olivier |title=What Keeps Me Calm: Watching ‘Dark Blue Kiss’ |url=https://metro.style/culture/spotlight/what-keeps-me-calm-watching-dark-blue-kiss/26271 |website=Metro.Style |date=July 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=GMMTV|title=Dark Blue Kiss |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRr2QTHukzo|website=[[YouTube]]|date=September 27, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Kao || [[Thitipoom Techaapaikhun|New Thitipoom]]
|-
| Non || AJ Chayapol
|-
| Sun || Podd Suphakorn
|-
| Mork || Fluke Gawin
|-
|rowspan="3"|2019– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[David Makes Man]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Oprah Winfrey Network|OWN]] || Mx. Elijah || Travis Coles || Mx. Elijah is gender nonconforming.<ref name="david makes man">{{cite web |last1=Cuby |first1=Michael |title=David Makes Man Is the Kind of Show That Can Make Oprah Cry |url=https://www.them.us/story/david-makes-man |website=[[Condé Nast#Digital|them]] |date=August 13, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Femi || [[Trace Lysette]] || Femi is a trans woman.<ref name="david makes man"/>
|-
| Star Child || Logan Rozos || Star Child is a trans man.<ref name="david makes man"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– || rowspan="2"|''[[Dickinson (TV series)|Dickinson]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Apple TV+]] || [[Emily Dickinson]] || [[Hailee Steinfeld]] ||rowspan="2"| Emily Dickinson is lesbian and an aspiring poet. She is in love with Sue Gilbert, her best friend, who is bisexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dickinson |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/dickinson/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| [[Susan Huntington Gilbert Dickinson|Sue Gilbert]] || [[Ella Hunt]]
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Doom Patrol (TV series)|Doom Patrol]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[DC Universe (streaming service)|DC Universe]] || [[Negative Man|Larry Trainor]] || [[Matt Bomer]] || Larry Trainor is a gay superhero. Larry and John Bowers were in a relationship before Larry's accident. When Larry is all bandaged up, he is played by actor Matthew Zuk.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thorne |first1=Will |title=Matt Bomer on Playing a Gay Superhero in DC Universe Show ‘Doom Patrol’ |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/matt-bomer-playing-gay-superhero-in-dc-universe-doom-patrol-1203150639/ |website=Variety |date=27 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Opie |first1=David |title=Doom Patrol's Matt Bomer on season 2 and the "cost" of playing a gay hero |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a32933658/doom-patrol-matt-bomer-larry-trainor-gay-lgbtq/ |website=Digital Spy |date=26 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
| John Bowers || Kyle Clements || John Bowers is gay. He was having an affair with Larry Trainor before the accident.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doom Patrol's Matt Bomer on Playing a Gay Superhero |url=https://www.themarysue.com/doom-patrol-matt-bomer-gay-superhero/ |date=3 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Matt Bomer on Bringing Queer Representation to Prestige Superhero TV (Exclusive) |url=https://www.kmov.com/matt-bomer-on-bringing-queer-representation-to-prestige-superhero-tv-exclusive/article_57495363-ccf6-53e6-bb21-b2d31a95d846.html |website=KMOV}}</ref>
|-
| Maura Lee Karupt || Alan Mingo Jr. || Maura Lee Karupt is a trans woman.<ref name="Doom Patrol Popsugar">{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Kennedy |title=Doom Patrol Is a Refreshing Ally For the Queer Community, and We Love It |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/how-doom-patrol-represents-queer-community-47627217 |website=Popsugar |date=26 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Danny the Street]] || {{N/a|N/A}} || Danny the Street is a [[Sentience|sentient]] gender-queer street with the power to teleport themselves and their residents to any location in the world. They communicate through street signs, napkins, neon signs, and anything else they can create letters on.<ref name="Doom Patrol Popsugar"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Doom Patrol's Genderqueer Street Episode Is the Queerest Thing on TV |url=https://www.pride.com/geek/2019/4/09/doom-patrols-genderqueer-street-episode-queerest-thing-tv |date=9 April 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2019– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Euphoria (American TV series)|Euphoria]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[HBO]] || Rue Bennett || [[Zendaya]] || Rue Bennett is queer and has a crush on Jules.<ref name="euphoria">{{Cite web|last1=Henderson|first1=Taylor|url=https://www.pride.com/tv/2019/4/11/drakes-new-hbo-teen-drama-euphoria-will-feature-trans-character|title=Drake's New HBO Teen Drama Euphoria Will Feature a Trans Character|website=[[Pride.com]]|date=April 11, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Jules || [[Hunter Schafer]] || Jules is a transgender young woman.<ref name="euphoria"/>
|-
| Cal Jacobs || Sean Martini || Cal Jacobs is bisexual. He is married but has a secret [[Grindr]] profile.<ref name=Pape>{{cite web |last1=Pape |first1=Allie |title=Euphoria Recap: A Very Narrow Window of Cool |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/euphoria-recap-season-1-episode-1-and-2.html |website=[[New York (magazine)|Vulture]] |date=June 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| TC || [[Bobbi Salvör Menuez]] || TC is non-binary.<ref name="trippy hookup"/>
|-
| Anna || [[Quintessa Swindell]] || Anna is non-binary and hooks up with Jules.<ref name="trippy hookup">{{cite web|last1=Romero|first1=Ariana|title=WTF Happened During Jules' Trippy Hookup On Euphoria?|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/07/239094/jules-anna-nate-sex-scene-euphoria-episode-7|website=[[Refinery29]]|date=July 29, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Five Bedrooms]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Network Ten]]|| Harry || Roy Joseph || Harry is a gay surgeon. He lives with his mother, who doesn't know he is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title='Five Bedrooms' star Roy Joseph finds his mojo |url=https://www.if.com.au/five-bedrooms-star-roy-joseph-finds-his-mojo/ |website=IF Magazine |date=24 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Five play house in Ten’s new drama |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/five-play-house-in-tens-new-drama/news-story/89f370361aa5b0ecaf0b499ea110668a}}</ref>
|-
| Pete Portelli || Adam Fiorentino || Pete Portelli is a gay cop in the neighborhood.<ref>{{cite web |title=In Bed With |url=https://pocketmags.com/dna-magazine/234-july-the-hot-bodies-issue/articles/596924/in-bed-with}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4"|2019– ||rowspan="4"|''[[For All Mankind (TV series)|For All Mankind]]'' || rowspan="4"|[[Apple TV+]] || Larry Wilson || Nate Corddry || Larry is gay and works at NASA. He marries Ellen Waverly, who is a lesbian, to save his career.<ref name="for all mankind">{{cite web |last1=Brownworth |first1=Victoria A. |title=Space, grace, erased: The Lavender Tube on Pose, For All Mankind & trans erasure in news |url=https://www.ebar.com/arts_&_culture/television//302663 |website=The Bay Area Reporter |date=March 9, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Ellen Waverly || Jodi Balfour || Ellen Waverly is a lesbian astronaut. She likes Pam, but marries Larry, who is gay, to save her career.<ref name="for all mankind"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Surrey |first1=Miles |title=For All Mankind Continues to Make Giant Leaps in Season 2 |url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/2/18/22288277/for-all-mankind-season-2-apple-tv |website=The Ringer |date=18 February 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Pam Horton || Meghan Leathers || Pam is a lesbian. She owns the bar where most of the NASA employees hang out.<ref name="for all mankind"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Liz Shannon |title=For All Mankind Season Finale Recap: Everybody Wants to Rule the Moon |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/for-all-mankind-finale-recap-season-1-episode-10-a-city-upon-a-hill.html |website=Vulture |date=20 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Elise || Mele Ihara || Elise is a lesbian and Pam's girlfriend. Guest appearance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elise, For All Mankind (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/elise-2/}}</ref>
|-
|2019– || ''[[Four More Shots Please!]]'' || [[Amazon Prime Video]] || Umang Singh || [[Gurbani Judge|Bani J]] || Umang is bisexual.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Desai|first1=Ketaki|title=They're putting the B in LGBT|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/theyre-putting-the-b-in-lgbt/articleshow/76238210.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=June 7, 2020|access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[El juego de las llaves|The Game of Keys]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Amazon Prime Video]] || Valentín Lombardo || [[Horacio Pancheri]] || Valentín Lombardo is gay.<ref name="glaad2020">{{cite web |date=2021 |title=Where We Are on TV: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/GLAAD%20-%20202021%20WHERE%20WE%20ARE%20ON%20TV.pdf |website=[[GLAAD]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115060919/https://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/GLAAD%20-%20202021%20WHERE%20WE%20ARE%20ON%20TV.pdf |archive-date=2021-01-15 |page=39}}</ref>
|-
| Daniel || [[Manuel Vega]] || Daniel is gay and Valentín Lombardo's lover.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christian Ramos, rompe esquemas con El juego de las Llaves |url=https://www.bogartmagazine.mx/noticias/christian-ramos-rompe-esquemas-con-el-juego-de-las-llaves/ |language=es |date=September 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Horacio Pancheri |url=http://adelantemagazine.com/horacio-pancheri/ |website=Adelante Magazine |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Daniel & Valentin {{!}} El Juego De Las Ilaves {{!}} Horacio Pancheri {{!}} Manuel Vega |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN9ZmuRCFEE}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Gentleman Jack (TV series)|Gentleman Jack]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[BBC One]] || [[Anne Lister]] || [[Suranne Jones]] ||rowspan="2"| Anne Lister and Ann Walker are a couple. Ann admits that she loves Anne.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stuever |first1=Hank |title=HBO’s grand ‘Gentleman Jack’ gives a 19th-century lesbian landowner the respect she deserved |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/hbos-grand-gentleman-jack-gives-a-19th-century-lesbian-landowner-the-respect-she-deserved/2019/04/21/d81c5df0-621f-11e9-9412-daf3d2e67c6d_story.html |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Dolinh |first1=Aline |title="Gentleman Jack’s" Warm, Irreverent Take on 19th-Century Lesbian Desire |url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/gentleman-jack-lesbian-desire-onscreen |work=[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]] |date=May 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bent |first1=Lloyd |title=Anne Lister: the true story behind Gentleman Jack, based on trailblazing diaries of the ‘first modern lesbian’ |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/anne-lister-gentleman-jack-true-story-diaries-lesbian-shibden-hall-suranne-jones-292550 |work=[[i (newspaper)|i]] |date=July 7, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ann Walker (landowner)|Ann Walker]] || [[Sophie Rundle]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Girls from Ipanema]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Thereza Soares || [[Mel Lisboa]] ||rowspan="2"| Set in the 1950s, Thereza Soares is bisexual and married to Nelson, with whom she has an open relationship. She has an affair with female journalist Helô. Helô is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title='Girls from Ipanema' Season 2: Writers did wrong by Ligia say fans but Adélia's developed plotline wins favor |url=https://meaww.com/netflix-girls-from-ipanema-season-2-fan-reactions-writers-did-ligia-death-wrong-adelia-complex-plot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coisa Mais Linda |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/coisa-mais-linda/}}</ref>
|-
| Helô || [[Thaila Ayala]]
|-
|rowspan="15"|2019– ||rowspan="15"| ''[[Good Trouble (TV series)|Good Trouble]]'' ||rowspan="15"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || Alice Kwan || Sherry Cola || Alice Kwan is lesbian.<ref name="good trouble">{{cite web|last1=Gilchrist|first1=Tracy E.|title=Good Trouble's Diversity Includes Groundbreaking Bisexual Character|url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2019/1/08/good-troubles-diversity-includes-groundbreaking-bisexual-character|website=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]|date=January 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Good Trouble' star Sherry Cola on a mission to break stereotypes, empower Asian queer girls |url=https://abc7chicago.com/freeform-good-trouble-sherry-cola-the-fosters/6311670/ |website=ABC7 Chicago |date=10 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Gael || Tommy Martinez || Gael is bisexual.<ref name="good trouble"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Smyth|first=Tom|title="Good Trouble" Shows Bisexual Men in a Way We Rarely See Them|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/good-trouble-bisexual-men-representation|website=Teen Vogue}}</ref>
|-
| Bryan || Michael Galante || Bryan is gay. He and Gael date.<ref name="good trouble"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gelman |first1=Vlada |title=Good Trouble Boss Talks [Spoiler]'s Sexuality — Plus, Grade the Premiere! |url=https://tvline.com/2019/01/08/good-trouble-recap-season-1-premiere-gael-bisexual/ |website=TV Line |date=9 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Elijah Adrieux || Denim Richards || Elijah Adrieux is Gael's ex-boyfriend.<ref name="good trouble"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gelman |first1=Vlada |title=Good Trouble Boss Talks [Spoiler]'s Big L-Bomb, Previews Gael's New Guy |url=https://tvline.com/2019/06/18/good-trouble-recap-season-2-premiere-jamie-says-i-love-you-callie/ |website=TV Line |date=19 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Jazmin Martinez || Hailie Sahar || Jazmin Martinez is a trans woman.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt">{{cite web |title=Good Trouble |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/good-trouble/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Joey || Daisy Eagan || Joey is non-binary.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |title='Good Trouble's' Women Are Bringing So Much Queer Visibility to TV |url=https://www.advocate.com/exclusives/2020/5/14/good-trouble-actors-speak-importance-queer-love-stories |date=14 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Lena Adams Foster || Sherri Saum || Lena Adams Foster is a lesbian.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Sherri Saum on Being Back With Her Enduring Fosters/Good Trouble Fam |url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2021/3/10/sherri-saum-being-back-her-enduring-fostersgood-trouble-fam |date=11 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Lindsay Brady || Rhea Butcher || Lindsay Brady is a non-binary queer.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |title="Good Trouble" Episode 205 Recap: Happy Heckling |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/good-trouble-episode-205-recap-happy-heckling/ |website=Autostraddle |date=17 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Meera Mattei || Briana Venskus || Meera Mattei is a lesbian.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |title="Good Trouble" Episode 102 Recap: The Coterie |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/good-trouble-episode-102-recap-the-coterie-446023/ |website=Autostraddle |date=16 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Stef Adams Foster || Teri Polo || Stef Adams Foster is a lesbian.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=‘Good Trouble’: ‘The Fosters’ Stars Teri Polo and Sherri Saum To Reprise Roles On Spinoff Series |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/good-trouble-the-fosters-teri-polo-and-sherri-saum-cast-reprise-roles-spinoff-series-1202430355/ |website=Deadline |date=20 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Sumi || Kara Wang || Sumi is a lesbian.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ferber |first1=Lawrence |title=Sherry Cola on Coming Out and Her Big Queer TV Love Triangle |url=http://www.newnownext.com/sherry-cola-on-good-trouble-big-queer-love-triangle-season-2/08/2019/}}</ref>
|-
| Shaun || Kye Tamm || Shaun is a trans man.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/>
|-
| Ruby || Shannon Chan-Kent || Ruby is a lesbian.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramos |first1=Dino-Ray |title=‘Marvel’s Helstrom’ Adds Daniel Cudmore; Shannon Chan-Kent Joins ‘Good Trouble’ |url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/marvel-helstrom-hulu-daniel-cudmore-shannon-chan-kent-good-trouble-freeform-1202779179/ |website=Deadline |date=6 November 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Sydney || Caitlin Kimball || Sydney is a lesbian.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/>
|-
| Shai Floraz || Anisha Jagannathan || Shai Floraz is queer.<ref name="Good Trouble lgbt"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2019– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Grand Hotel (TV series)|Grand Hotel]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Yolanda ("Yoli") Renna || Justina Adorno || Yolanda ("Yoli") Renna is queer. She was in a relationship with Sky Garibaldi before Marisa.<ref name="grand hotel">{{cite web|last1=Lennon|first1=Mads|title=Grand Hotel: 5 shockers from Season 1, Episode 5|url=https://hiddenremote.com/2019/07/16/grand-hotel-s1e5-recap/2/|website=Hidden Remote|date=July 16, 2019}}</ref><ref name="tv series grand hotel">{{cite web|last1=Coombs|first1=Alexa|title=The Grand Hotel--I'm not Gay, I'm Queer|url=https://www.mrctv.org/videos/grand-hotel-im-not-gay-im-queer|website=[[MRCTV]]|date=July 30, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Sky Garibaldi || [[Arielle Kebbel]] || Sky Garibaldi is a lesbian and cook at the hotel. She was murdered during a hurricane.<ref name="grand hotel"/><ref name="tv series grand hotel"/>
|-
| Marisa || Sabrina Texidor || Marisa is a lesbian and also works at the hotel.<ref name="grand hotel"/><ref name="tv series grand hotel"/>
|-
|2019– || ''[[The I-Land]]'' || [[Netflix]] || Blair || [[Sibylla Deen]] || Blair was married to a woman.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brockington |first1=Ariana |title=Everyone Who's Not Kate Bosworth On The I-Land |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/09/8379363/netflix-the-i-land-series-cast-actors}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=‘The I-Land’ Cast Guide: Who’s Who in Netflix’s New Sci-Fi Thriller |url=https://decider.com/2019/09/12/the-i-land-cast-on-netflix/ |website=Decider |date=12 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[In the Dark (American TV series)|In the Dark]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[The CW]] || Jess Damon || Brooke Markham ||rowspan="2"| Jess is a lesbian veterinarian. She's the roommate and best friend of Murphy Mason. Jess and Vanessa are in a romantic relationship and they admit that they love each other. Vanessa is either lesbian or bisexual. They break up after Jess cheats on Vanessa.<ref name="in the dark">{{cite web|last1=Bark|first1=Ed|title=Blindly Going Forth With CW Network's 'In The Dark'|url=http://www.tvworthwatching.com/post/Blindly-Going-Forth-With-CW-Networks-In-The-Dark.aspx |website=TV Worth Watching|date=April 4, 2019|access-date=19 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="pilot in the dark">{{cite web|last1=Hicks|first1=Aimee|title=In The Dark - Pilot - Advanced Preview: Honest New Series|url=https://www.spoilertv.com/2019/03/in-dark-pilot-advanced-preview-honest.html|website=SpoilerTV|date=March 30, 2019|access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Vanessa || Humberly Gonzalez
|-
| Sam || Cortni Vaughn Joyner || Sam is a butch lesbian henchwoman and liquidator.<ref name="in the dark"/><ref name="pilot in the dark"/>
|-
| Sterling || Natalie Liconti || Sterling is lesbian and Sam's girlfriend. She infiltrates Guiding Hope as a kennel assistant and dates Jess to gain her trust while keeping an eye on everyone.<ref name="in the dark"/><ref name="pilot in the dark"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"|''[[The InBetween]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[NBC]] || Tom Hackett || [[Paul Blackthorne]] || Tom Hackett is a gay detective in the Seattle police department and married to Brian Currie, a gay therapist.<ref name="the inbetween">{{cite web |title=The InBetween series premiere recap: Breaking down the episode |url=https://hiddenremote.com/2019/05/30/the-inbetween-series-premiere-recap/ |website=Hidden Remote |date=30 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="tv series inbetween">{{cite web |title=Review: She sees dead people... again. Psychic crime stopping in NBC’s ‘The InBetween’ |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-the-inbetween-nbc-review-20190527-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=27 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Brian Currie || Michael B. Silver || Brian Currie is a gay therapist, married to Tom Hackett.<ref name="the inbetween"/><ref name="tv series inbetween"/>
|-
|rowspan="24"|2019– ||rowspan="24"| ''[[The L Word: Generation Q]]'' ||rowspan="24"| [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] || [[Bette Porter]] || [[Jennifer Beals]] || Bette is lesbian.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vincentelli|first1=Elisabeth|title='The L Word: Generation Q' Review: New Vision, Old Blind Spots|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/arts/television/l-word-generation-q-review.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 5, 2019|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="lword q">{{cite web|last1=Martin|first1=Rachel|title='The L Word' Returns, Rebooted For 'Generation Q'|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/06/785262220/the-l-word-returns-rebooted-for-generation-q|website=[[NPR]]|date=December 6, 2019|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="The L Word: Generation Q">{{cite web |title=The L Word: Generation Q |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-l-word-generation-q/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| [[Shane McCutcheon]] || [[Katherine Moennig]] || Shane is lesbian.<ref name="lword q"/>
|-
| [[Alice Pieszecki]] || [[Leisha Hailey]] || Alice is bisexual.<ref name="lword q"/>
|-
| Dani Núñez || Arienne Mandi || Dani is lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="SHO.com">{{cite web |title=The L Word: Generation Q Cast - All Characters & Cast by Season {{!}} SHOWTIME |url=https://www.sho.com/the-l-word-generation-q/cast |website=SHO.com}}</ref>
|-
| Sophie Suarez || Rosanny Zayas || Sophie is lesbian. Dani and Sophie are engaged.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="SHO.com"/>
|-
| Gigi Ghorbani || Sepideh Moafi || Gigi is lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="SHO.com"/>
|-
| Micah Lee || Leo Sheng || Micah is a trans man.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="November 26, 2019"/>
|-
| Sarah Finley || [[Jacqueline Toboni]] || Sarah is lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="SHO.com"/>
|-
| José || Freddy Miyares || José is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title='The L Word: Generation Q' star Leo Sheng dishes on THAT steamy swimming pool scene |url=https://meaww.com/the-l-word-generation-q-exclusive-interview-leo-sheng-micah-lee-swimming-pool-jose-freddy-miyares-398454}}</ref>
|-
| Angelica Porter-Kennard || Jordan Hull || Angelica Porter-Kennard is not straight.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Popsugar lword">{{cite web |last1=Prahl |first1=Amanda |title=All the New and Returning Faces in The L Word: Generation Q Cast |url=https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/l-word-generation-q-cast-46974741?stream_view=1#photo-46974824 |website=Popsugar |date=8 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Felicity Adams || Latarsha Rose || Felicity Adams is a lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref>{{cite web |title='The L Word: Generation Q' casts Bette and Tina's daughter |url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/07/26/the-l-word-generation-q-bette-tina-daughter-angie/ |website=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>
|-
| Jordi || Sophie Giannamore || Jordi is not straight.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Autostraddle lword">{{cite web |title="The L Word: Generation Q" Casts Trans Actress Jamie Clayton as Tess, Which Is a Gay Name |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/l-word-generation-q-casts-trans-actress-jamie-clayton-as-tess-which-is-a-gay-name/ |website=Autostraddle |date=31 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Lena || Mercedes Mason || Lena is a lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Esposito |first1=Cameron |title=The L Word: Generation Q Recap: Oh Come, All Ye Faithful |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/the-l-word-generation-q-recap-season-1-episode-3-lost-love.html |website=Vulture |date=22 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Natalie Bailey || Stephanie Allynne || Natalie Bailey is a lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Popsugar lword"/>
|-
| Pierce Williams || Brian Michael Smith || Pierce Williams is a trans man.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="November 26, 2019">{{cite web |last1=Bendix |first1=Trish |title=‘The L Word’ got trans men wrong. The sequel plans to make it right |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-the-l-word-generation-q-trans-men-20191126-zlkxmyprzbardpsl4egdrhrvbm-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |date=November 26, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Quiara Thompson || Lex Scott Davis || Quiara Thompson is a lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Deadline the lword">{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=‘The L Word: Generation Q’ Trailer: Extended Look At Showtime Sequel Series |url=https://deadline.com/video/the-l-word-generation-q-trailer-showtime-sequel-series-jennifer-beals/ |website=Deadline |date=24 October 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Rebecca || Olivia Thirlby || Rebecca is bisexual.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Deadline the lword"/>
|-
| Tess Van De Berg || Jamie Clayton || Tess Van De Berg is a lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Autostraddle lword"/>
|-
| Heather || Fortune Feimster || Heather is a lesbian.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Deadline the lword"/><ref name="gen boring">{{cite web |title=The L Word: Gen Boring |url=https://archermagazine.com.au/2020/02/the-l-word-gen-boring/ |website=Archer Magazine |date=7 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="megan rapinoe">{{cite web |title=Megan Rapinoe set to guest star on new 'The L Word: Generation Q' |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/pride/fast-lane/article/2019/12/20/megan-rapinoe-set-guest-star-new-l-word-generation-q}}</ref>
|-
| Roxane Gay || [[Roxane Gay]] || Roxane Gay is bisexual. Guest character.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Deadline the lword"/><ref name="gen boring"/>
|-
| Maya Stevenson || Tamara Taylor || Maya Stevenson is not straight. Guest character.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Deadline the lword"/><ref name="gen boring"/>
|-
| Tina Kennard || Laurel Holloman || Tina Kennard is bisexual. Guest character.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Deadline the lword"/><ref name="gen boring"/>
|-
| Megan Rapinoe || [[Megan Rapinoe]] || Megan Rapinoe is a lesbian. Guest character.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Deadline the lword"/><ref name="megan rapinoe"/>
|-
| Zoe || Ashley Gallegos || Zoe is a lesbian. Guest character.<ref name="The L Word: Generation Q"/><ref name="Deadline the lword"/><ref name="gen boring"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Limetown (TV series)|Limetown]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Facebook Watch]] || Lia Haddock || [[Jessica Biel]] ||rowspan="2"| Lia is a lesbian journalist investigating the disappearance of the population of a small Appalachian town. Lia's girlfriend is lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Piccoli|first1=Dana|title=A lesbian crime reporter falls deep into a dangerous mystery in "Limetown" series|url=https://www.bellamediachannel.com/a-lesbian-crime-reporter-falls-deep-into-a-dangerous-mystery-in-limetown-series/|website=Bella Media |publisher=[[Bella Books]]|date=October 22, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Lia's girlfriend || [[Kandyse McClure]]
|-
|2019– || ''[[Made in Heaven (TV series)|Made In Heaven]]'' ||[[Amazon Prime Video]]|| Karan Mehra ||[[Arjun Mathur]]|| Karan is a gay wedding planner in Delhi.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=International Emmy Nominee Arjun Mathur Talks ‘Made In Heaven’, Freedom (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/streaming/news/emmy-actor-nominee-arjun-mathur-made-in-heaven-1234836561/ |website=Variety |date=20 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Arora |first1=Priya |title=An Indian TV Show Points the Way for a New Generation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/09/arts/television/amazon-india-made-in-heaven.html |website=The New York Times |date=9 April 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Merlí: Sapere Aude]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Movistar+]] || Pol Rubio || [[Carlos Cuevas]] ||rowspan="2"| Pol Rubio comes out as bisexual. Bruno Bergeron is gay. Pol and Bruno have a complicated romance, extended from the previous TV series, [[Merlí (TV series)|Merlí]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dios|first=Marisa de|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/tele/20191204/merli-sapere-aude-filosofia-bisexualidad-7762415|title='Merlí. Sapere aude': de la filosofía a la bisexualidad|work=[[El Periódico de Catalunya]]|date=December 4, 2019|access-date=22 December 2019|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jiménez|first=Adrián|url=https://www.ecartelera.com/noticias/carlos-cuevas-maria-pujalte-entrevista-merli-sapere-aude-58066/|title=Carlos Cuevas ('Merlí: Sapere Aude'): "Es un logro que Pol sea un protagonista bisexual"|website=eCartelera|date=December 4, 2019|access-date=22 December 2019|language=es}}</ref>
|-
| Bruno Bergeron || [[David Solans]]
|-
| Otilia || Clàudia Vega || rowspan="2"| Otilia is a lesbian. Amy O'Connor is a lesbian. Otilia and Amy hook up at a party.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Maltz|first=Diego|url=http://affinitymagazine.us/2017/04/09/why-is-no-one-talking-about-merli/|title=Why Is No One Talking About Merlí?|website=Affinity Magazine|date=April 9, 2017|access-date=22 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Amy O'Connor || Lesley Grant
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Nancy Drew (2019 TV series)|Nancy Drew]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[The CW]] || Bess Marvin || [[Maddison Jaizani]] || Bess Marvin is a lesbian and a waitress at The Bayside Claw. She develops a romantic interest in Lisbeth.<ref name="nancy drew"/>
|-
| Lisbeth || [[Katie Findlay]] || Lisbeth is a lesbian and a state police officer working undercover as a driver and transporter. Lisbeth tells Bess that she really likes her.<ref name="nancy drew">{{cite web|last1=Hay|first1=Carla|title=The "Batwoman" and "Nancy Drew" TV Series Are Getting Even Queerer|url=http://www.newnownext.com/batwoman-nancy-drew-gay-characters-storylines-cw/11/2019/|website=[[NewNowNext]]|date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019 ||rowspan="2"| ''[[No Good Nick]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Jeremy Thompson || Kalama Epstein || Jeremy is gay. He kisses Eric and comes out as gay to his family.<ref name="no good nick">{{cite web|last1=Ermac|first1=Raffy|title=Jeremy's Coming Out in ''No Good Nick'' Is Emotional AF|url=https://www.pride.com/comingout/2019/8/07/jeremys-coming-out-no-good-nick-emotional-af|website=[[Pride.com]]|date=August 7, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Eric || Gus Kamp || Eric is gay. He tells Jeremy that his family already knew he was gay before coming out to them.<ref name="no good nick"/>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2019 ||rowspan="3"| ''[[Now Apocalypse]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Starz]] || Ulysses Zane || [[Avan Jogia]] || Ulysses is bisexual or gay. Stoned and paranoid is pretty much his default mode.<ref>{{cite web |title=5 queerest moments in the first episode of Now Apocalypse |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/5-queerest-moments-in-the-first-episode-of-now-apocalypse/ |website=Gay Times |date=13 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Swift |first1=Andy |title=Now Apocalypse's Avan Jogia Knows His Sex Scenes With Tyler Posey Are 'Going to Be Gif'd to Death' |url=https://tvline.com/2019/03/10/now-apocalypse-sex-scenes-avan-jogia-tyler-posey-interview/ |website=TV Line |date=10 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Gabriel || [[Tyler Posey]] || Gabriel is gay. Gabriel goes on a date with Ulysses and then they swap handjobs in an alleyway.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor 3/15/2019 |first1=Jeff |title=Tyler Posey Talks "Intense" Gay Hookup Scenes in "Now Apocalypse," Calls Avan Jogia a Good Kisser |url=http://www.newnownext.com/tyler-posey-avan-jogia-sex-scenes-now-apocalypse/03/2019/ |website=NewNowNext |date=March 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tyler Posey & Avan Jogia Loved Playing Gay in 'Now Apocalypse' |url=https://www.pride.com/tv/2019/3/06/tyler-posey-avan-jogia-loved-playing-gay-now-apocalypse |website=Pride |date=6 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Isaac || [[Jacob Artist]] || Isaac is gay, and hooks up with Ulysses.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ellwood-Hughes |first1=Pip |title=Now Apocalypse 1×07 Anywhere Out of the World recap |url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2019/04/28/now-apocalypse-1x07-anywhere-out-of-the-world-recap/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=‘Now Apocalypse’: Jacob Artist & Chris Aquilino Set To Recur On Starz Comedy Series |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/now-apocalypse-jacob-artist-chris-aquilino-recur-starz-comedy-series-1202412596/ |website=Deadline |date=19 June 2018}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Osmosis (TV series)|Osmosis]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Lucas Apert || Stéphane Pitti || Lucas is gay. He is user of Osmosis, a beta dating app, that he hopes will help him with his boyfriend, and stop cheating.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berlatsky |first1=Noah |title=Netflix's Osmosis is Black Mirror without the tech paranoia |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/26/18281474/netflix-osmosis-review-french-black-mirror-nanotechnology-romance |website=The Verge|date=26 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Billie Tual || Yuming Hey || Billie is a genderqueer scientist that uses the pronouns she/her.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Voice of Reason in 'Osmosis' is Gender Non-conforming: Looking Towards the Future of the Queer Identity |url=https://www.wussymag.com/all/2019/4/18/the-voice-of-reason-in-osmosis-is-gender-non-conforming-looking-towards-the-future-of-the-queer-identity}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Osmosis: Season 1 – Review {{!}} French Netflix Series |url=https://www.heavenofhorror.com/reviews/osmosis-netflix-season-1/ |website=Heaven of Horror |date=29 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[Pandora (TV series)|Pandora]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[The CW]] || Jacqueline "Jax" Zhou || Priscilla Quintana || Jax is bisexual.<ref name="pandora tv series"/>
|-
| Cordelia Fried || Isabelle Bonfrer || Cordelia Fried is a lesbian.<ref name="pandora tv series">{{cite web |title=Pandora (TV series) |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/pandora/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Atria Nine || Raechelle Banno || Atria Nine is pansexual.<ref name="pandora tv series"/>
|-
| Aleka || Elizabeth Hammerton || Aleka is pansexual.<ref name="pandora tv series"/>
|-
|rowspan="13"|2019– ||rowspan="13"| ''[[The Politician (TV series)|The Politician]]'' ||rowspan="13"| [[Netflix]] || Payton Hobart || [[Ben Platt (actor)|Ben Platt]] ||rowspan="2"| Payton Hobart is bisexual. Initially identifies as straight and dates his classmate Alice Charles but develops a romantic relationship with his male classmate River Barkley and even has a threesome with River and his girlfriend Astrid Sloan. He and Alice later enter a short lived polyamorous relationship with Astrid before getting married.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Carmen |title="The Politician" Is a Stunningly Gay Ryan Murphy Roller Coaster |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/the-politician-is-a-stunningly-gay-ryan-murphy-roller-coaster/ |website=Autostraddle |date=October 1, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| River Barkley || David Corenswet
|-
| Astrid Sloan || [[Lucy Boynton]] || Astrid describes herself and her boyfriend River Barkley as kinda fluid, and enegages in a threeway with River and his male lover Payton Hobart. After River's death she has a brief sexual relationship with a man named Ricardo and also engages in a short term polyamorous relationship with Payton and his girlfriend Alice Charles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Astrid Sloan |url=https://bi.org/en/bi-characters/astrid-sloan |website=[[American Institute of Bisexuality|Bi.org]]}}</ref>
|-
| Georgina Hobart || [[Gwyneth Paltrow]] ||rowspan="2"| In season 1 Georgina leaves her husband Keaton for her female horse trainer, Brigitte. She later has relationships with Alison and Tino McCutcheon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gilchrist |first1=Tracy E. |title='The Politician' Pits Ben Platt Against Judith Light and Bette Midler |url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2020/6/16/politician-pits-ben-platt-against-judith-light-and-bette-midler |website=Advocate |date=16 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Georgina Hobart |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/georgina-hobart/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Brigitte || [[Martina Navratilova]]
|-
| McAfee Westbrook || [[Laura Dreyfuss]] || Throughout the series McAfee has relationships with men and women.<ref>{{cite web |title=McAfee Westbrook |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/mcafee-westbrook/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Skye Leighton || Rahne Jones || Skye Leighton is a gender non-conforming lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Skye Leighton, The Politician (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/skye-leighton/}}</ref>
|-
| James Sullivan || Theo Germaine || James Sullivan is a trans man.<ref>{{cite web |title=James Sullivan, The Politician (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/james-sullivan/}}</ref>
|-
| Marcus Standish || [[Joe Morton]] || For over ten years Marcus and his wife Dede were involved in a polyamorous relationship with a man named William Ward, although William dumps them after falling in love with another woman. Marcus and Dede briefly engage in a sexual relationship with a different man before dumping him and divorcing each other.<ref name="the vindi">{{cite web |last1=Nichols |first1=Lynn |title=Anti-Blackness and Biphobia in Netflix’s "The Politician" |url=https://www.thevindi.com/post/anti-blackness-and-biphobia-in-netflix-s-the-politician |website=The Vindicator |date=4 October 2020}}</ref>
|-
| William Ward || [[Teddy Sears]] || For over ten years Teddy was engaged in a polyamorous relationship with married couple Marcus and Dede Standish, but eventually leaves them for a woman named Hadassah Gold.<ref name="the vindi"/>
|-
|Alice Charles || Julia Schlaepfer || Alice initially only has relationships with men, including a long time relationship with her classmate Payton Hobart, an affair with Payton's best friend James Sullivan, and a brief engagement to a male classmate. She later develops a short term polyamorous relationship with Payton and Astrid Sloan before eventually dumping Astrid and marrying Payton.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sorren|first=Martha|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/09/8488292/who-is-alice-payton-girlfriend-the-politician|title=We Need To Talk About Alice, From The Politician|date=September 28, 2019|website=Refinery29|access-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210208142052/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/09/8488292/who-is-alice-payton-girlfriend-the-politician|archive-date=February 8, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Emily|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/9/27/20886425/the-politician-netflix-review-ryan-murphy-ben-platt|title=Netflix’s The Politician is a mess. But it may be a deeply meaningful one.|date=September 28, 2019|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|access-date=February 8, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731053058/https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/9/27/20886425/the-politician-netflix-review-ryan-murphy-ben-platt|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Witter|first=Brad|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/how-alice-paytons-politician-relationship-could-change-in-a-potential-season-3-22988822|title=How Alice & Payton's Relationship Will Change If 'The Politician' Returns For Season 3|date=June 22, 2020|website=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]|access-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722080244/https://www.bustle.com/p/how-alice-paytons-politician-relationship-could-change-in-a-potential-season-3-22988822|archive-date=July 22, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Andi Mueller || Robin Weigert || Andi Mueller is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Andi Mueller, The Politician (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/andi-mueller/}}</ref>
|-
| Susan || Liv Mai || Susan is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web |title=Susan, The Politician (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/susan-2/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019– || rowspan="4"|''[[Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] || [[Alison DiLaurentis]] || [[Sasha Pieterse]] || Alison is bisexual. She was in a relationship with Emily Fields in the first [[Pretty Little Liars|series]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Warner|first1=Sam|title=Pretty Little Liars spin-off reveals what happened to Alison and Emily after the series ended|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a26893855/pretty-little-liars-the-perfectionists-alison-emily-emison/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=21 March 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Dylan Walker || Eli Brown || Dylan is gay.<ref name="vice pretty liars">{{cite web |title=The ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Spinoff Is Unhinged Queer Camp |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bjqq9z/pretty-little-liars-the-perfectionist-queer-show}}</ref><ref name="hidden pretty liars">{{cite web |title=PLL: The Perfectionists Season 1 finale recap: Who is the Professor? |url=https://hiddenremote.com/2019/05/22/pll-the-perfectionists-s1-finale-recap/ |website=Hidden Remote |date=22 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Andrew Villareal || Evan Bittencourt || Andrew is gay.<ref name="vice pretty liars"/><ref name="hidden pretty liars"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Dylan Walker is the weakest link on 'The Perfectionists' |url=https://www.hypable.com/dylan-walker-weakest-link-the-perfectionists/ |website=Hypable |date=28 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Nolan Hotchkiss || Chris Mason || Nolan is bisexual.<ref name="vice pretty liars"/><ref name="hidden pretty liars"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019 || rowspan="2"|''[[Proven Innocent]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] || Madeline Scott || [[Rachelle Lefevre]] ||rowspan="2"| Madeline is bisexual. She was with Wren during her time in prison. Wren is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|last=Byrd|first=Chris|title=A legal team takes on cases involving wrongful convictions in Fox's 'Proven Innocent'|url=https://catholiccourier.com/articles/a-legal-team-takes-on-cases-involving-wrongful-convictions-in-foxs-proven-innocent/|website=Catholic Courier|date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Wren || Candice Coke
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[The Red Line (TV series)|The Red Line]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[CBS]] || Dr. Harrison Brennan || [[Corey Reynolds]] || Dr. Harrison Brennan is gay. He is married to Daniel Calder. He is shot, while unarmed, by a White cop.<ref name="the red line"/><ref name="daniel calder"/>
|-
| Daniel Calder || [[Noah Wyle]] || Daniel Calder is gay. He is a high school history teacher mourning the death of his husband, Dr. Harrison Brennan, an African American man who is shot, while unarmed, by a White cop.<ref name="the red line">{{cite web |last1=Schwartz |first1=Ryan |title=CBS' The Red Line: Grade the Premiere |url=https://tvline.com/2019/04/28/the-red-line-recap-season-1-episode-1-series-premiere-noah-wyle-cbs/ |website=TV Line |date=29 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="daniel calder">{{cite web |last1=Stuever |first1=Hank |title=Review {{!}} Noah Wyle gives a must-see performance in CBS’s occasionally clunky ‘Red Line’ |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/noah-wyle-gives-a-must-see-performance-in-cbss-occasionally-clunky-red-line/2019/04/25/79fc0694-6611-11e9-8985-4cf30147bdca_story.html |website=Washington Post}}</ref>
|-
| Liam Bhatt || Vinny Chhibber || Liam is a gay Muslim American teacher.<ref>{{cite web |title=‘The Red Line’ Actor Vinny Chhibber: ‘We Still Struggle with Stepping Outside of Stereotypical Architypes Placed Upon Us’ |url=https://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/the-red-line-actor-vinny-chhibber-we-still-struggle-with-stepping-outside-of-stereotypical-architypes/article_96a75b66-6c35-11e9-991c-234a0d49369b.html |website=India West}}</ref>
|-
| Riley Hooper || J.J. Hawkins || Riley is a trans-masculine high school student.<ref>{{cite web |title=JJ Hawkins Is a Trans Actor Playing a Trans Role on ‘The Red Line’ |url=https://www.out.com/television/2019/5/03/jj-hawkins-trans-actor-playing-trans-role-red-line |date=3 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramos |first1=Dino-Ray |title=J.J. Hawkins To Play First Transgender Character On ‘Charmed’ |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/j-j-hawkins-charmed-the-cw-transgender-actor-lgbtq-diversity-representation-inclusion-1234616731/ |website=Deadline |date=17 November 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="5"|2019– ||rowspan="5"| ''[[Roswell, New Mexico (TV series)|Roswell, New Mexico]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[The CW]] || Michael Guerin || [[Michael Vlamis]] <br> <br> || Michael is a bisexual alien.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Radish|first1=Christina|title='Roswell, New Mexico' Star Michael Vlamis on Season 2 and Exploring His Character's Bisexuality|url=https://collider.com/roswell-new-mexico-michael-vlamis-interview/|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=April 6, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Alex Manes || [[Tyler Blackburn]] || Alex is gay.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Pilot|series=Roswell, New Mexico|first=Julie|last=Plec|network=The CW|season=1|number=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Chloe |title=Roswell, New Mexico is set to improve disability representation in season 3 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a33364504/roswell-new-mexico-alex-manes-disabled-representation/ |website=Digital Spy |date=20 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Isobel Evans || [[Lily Cowles]] || Isobel Evans-Bracken is pasexual.<ref>{{cite web |title=Isobel Evans-Bracken, Roswell, New Mexico (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/isobel-evans-bracken/}}</ref>
|-
| Charlie Cameron || Jamie Clayton || Charlie Cameron is a trans woman, and a FBI agent. She uses the alias Agent Grace Powell.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charlie Cameron, Roswell, New Mexico (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/charlie-cameron/}}</ref>
|-
| Blair || Sarah Minnich || Blair is a lesbian, and a bartender at the local gay bar.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blair, Roswell, New Mexico (TV series)|url=https://lezwatchtv.com/character/blair-3/}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="11"|2019– ||rowspan="11"| ''[[Sex Education (TV series)|Sex Education]]'' ||rowspan="11"| [[Netflix]] || Eric Effiong || [[Ncuti Gatwa]] || Eric is openly gay.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Maidment|first1=Adam|title=Sex Education on Netflix: Viewers praise show's LGBT+ representation|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/01/12/sex-education-netflix-lgbt-representation/|website=[[PinkNews]]|date=January 12, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Anwar || Chaneil Kular || Anwar is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brathwaite |first1=Lester Fabian |title=The "Sex Education" Douching Episode Is Required Gay Viewing |url=http://www.newnownext.com/sex-education-season-2-douching-lesson-episode-6/01/2020/ |website=[[NewNowNext]] |date=January 31, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Adam Groff || [[Connor Swindells]] || Adam Groff is bisexual. He's in a relationship with Aimee at the start of season 1 but later kisses and pursues Eric.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Allah|first=Amari|url=https://wherever-i-look.com/tv-series/sex-education-season-1-episode-8-season-finale-recap-review-with-spoilers|title=Sex Education: Season 1/ Episode 8 [Season Finale] - Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)|website=Wherever I Look|date=January 13, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Ruthie || Lily Newmark || Ruthie is lesbian.<ref name="Sex Education"/>
|-
| Tanya || Alice Hewkin || Tanya is lesbian.<ref name="Sex Education"/>
|-
| Sofia Marchetti || [[Hannah Waddingham]] ||rowspan="2"| Sofia and Roz Marchetti are Jackson's lesbian mothers.<ref name="Sex Education"/>
|-
| Roz Marchetti || [[Sharon Duncan-Brewster]]
|-
| Rahim || Sami Outalbali || Rahim is gay. He is introduced in season 2 and is in a relationship with Eric.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Clarke|first=Emma|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/sex-education-actor-sami-outalbali-eric-boyfriend-rahim-a4335836.html|title=Who is the new 'French guy' in Sex Education? Meet the actor who plays Eric's boyfriend Rahim|work=[[Evening Standard]]|date=17 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Florence || Mirren Mack || Florence is asexual.<ref name=DodgsonSE>{{Cite web|last=Dodgson|first=Lindsay|url=https://www.insider.com/best-sex-and-relationship-lessons-from-netflix-sex-education-season-2-2020-1|title=The 11 best lessons season 2 of Netflix's 'Sex Education' teaches you about real-life sex and relationships|website=Insider|date=January 18, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Ola Nyman || Patricia Allison || Ola is pansexual.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Upadhyaya|first=Kayla Kumari|url=https://tv.avclub.com/every-character-comes-to-life-in-sex-education-s-horny-1840877590|title=Every character comes to life in Sex Education's horny and heartfelt 2nd season|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=January 9, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Lily Iglehart || [[Tanya Reynolds]] || Lily Iglehart is pansexual.<ref name="Sex Education">{{cite web |title=Sex Education |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/sex-education/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– || rowspan="2"|''[[The Society (TV series)|The Society]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Sam || [[Sean Berdy]] ||rowspan="2"| Sam is gay and hearing impaired. Grizz is gay and learns sign language so he can communicate with Sam. They are romantically and sexually involved with each other.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dominick |first1=Nora |title=27 "The Society" Moments That Prove Grizz Is One Of The Best New Characters Of 2019 |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/netflix-the-society-grizz-best-character |website=BuzzFeed}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Grizz and Sam's relationship on The Society already has fans feeling emotional |url=https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/the-society/grizz-and-sam-relationship/ |website=Pop Buzz}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sam + Grizz's Love Needs to Be Protected {{!}} The Society {{!}} Netflix |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me7GvzZJSkc |publisher=Netflix|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
| Grizz || [[Jack Mulhern]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– || rowspan="2"|''[[Special (TV series)|Special]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Ryan Hayes || [[Ryan O'Connell]] || Ryan is openly gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ryan O'Connell 'levels up' 'Special' for season 2 &mdash; and with it, Hollywood |url=https://ew.com/tv/ryan-oconnell-netflix-special-season-2/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ryan O'Connell and Netflix announce that season 2 of Special is back in production |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/ryan-oconnell-and-netflix-announce-that-season-2-of-special-is-back-in-production/ |date=4 October 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Carey || [[Augustus Prew]] || Carey is a gay journalist. He has a boyfriend, but befriends Ryan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carey |url=https://www.stage13.com/shows/special/talent/carey/ |website=Stage 13}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019 ||rowspan="4"| ''[[The Stranded (TV series)|The Stranded]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Netflix]] || Krit || Perth Tanapon ||rowspan="2"| Krit and Jack are a gay couple.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wheeler |first1=Greg |title=The Stranded – Season 1 Episode 5 Recap & Review |url=https://www.thereviewgeek.com/thestranded-s1e5review/ |website=The Review Geek |date=15 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Stranded (Netflix) Season 1, Episode 5 recap: "The Mutiny" {{!}} RSC |url=https://readysteadycut.com/2019/11/16/the-stranded-season-1-episode-5-recap-netflix/ |website=Ready Steady Cut |date=16 November 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Jack || Mark Siwat
|-
| Arisa || Chaleeda Gilbert || Arisa is a lesbian.<ref name="The Stranded">{{cite web |title=The Stranded |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-stranded/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Ying || Ticha Wongtipkanon || Ying is bisexual.<ref name="The Stranded"/>
|-
|2019– || ''[[Stumptown (TV series)|Stumptown]]'' || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] || Dexadrine "Dex" Parios || [[Cobie Smulders]] || Dex is bisexual.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Dorwart|first1=Laura|title=Cobie Smulders Plays A Bisexual Detective With PTSD In ABC's New Fall Series 'Stumptown'|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauradorwart/2019/08/26/cobie-smulders-plays-a-bisexual-detective-with-ptsd-in-abcs-new-fall-series-stumptown/#7148e5b7576a|magazine=[[Forbes]]|date=August 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bernardini|first1=Gabrielle|title=Fans Will Get to Meet Dex's Ex-Girlfriend in New 'Stumptown' Episode|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/is-dex-stumptown-bisexual|website=Distractify|date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="14"|2019 ||rowspan="14"|''[[Tales of the City (2019 miniseries)|Tales of the City]]'' ||rowspan="14"| [[Netflix]] || Shawna Hawkins || [[Elliot Page]] || Shawna is bisexual.<ref name="Tales of the City">{{cite web |title=Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/armistead-maupins-tales-of-the-city/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver || [[Murray Bartlett]] || Michael is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=Marcus D'Amico Dead: The Original Mouse From 'Tales of the City,' Was 55 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/marcus-damico-the-original-mouse-from-tales-of-the-city-dies-at-55 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=29 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Ben Marshall || [[Charlie Barnett (actor)|Charlie Barnett]] || Ben is Michael's boyfriend.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Daniel |title=Charlie Barnett Brings Black Gay Representation to 'Tales of the City' |url=https://www.advocate.com/television/2019/5/22/charlie-barnett-brings-black-gay-representation-tales-city |website=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] |date=22 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Anna Madrigal || [[Olympia Dukakis]] || Anna is a [[transsexual]] woman.<ref name="Tales of the City"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=White|first1=Brett|title='Tales of the City' on Netflix: Yes, Compton's Cafeteria Riot Really Happened|url=https://decider.com/2019/06/10/tales-of-the-city-netflix-comptons-cafeteria-riot/|website=[[New York Post#Website|Decider]]|date=June 10, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Jake Rodriguez || Garcia || Jake is a transgender male.<ref name="Tales of the City"/>
|-
| Margot Park || May Hong || Margot is lesbian.<ref name="Tales of the City"/>
|-
| Samuel Garland || [[Victor Garber]] || Samuel is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barmann |first1=Jay |title=Armistead Maupin's 'Tales Of the City' Premieres On Netflix, With Victor Garber, Molly Ringwald and More Surprises |url=https://sfist.com/2019/06/08/armistead-maupins-tales-of-the-city-premieres-on-netflix-with-victor-garber-and-more-surprises/ |website=SFist |date=8 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
| DeDe Halcyon Day || [[Barbara Garrick]] || DeDe is lesbian.<ref name="Tales of the City"/>
|-
| Claire Duncan || [[Zosia Mamet]] || Claire is Shawna's love interest.<ref name="Tales of the City"/>
|-
| Ida Best || [[Bob the Drag Queen]] || Ida is gay and a [[drag queen]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sorren |first1=Martha |title=The 'Tales Of The City' 2019 Cast Includes A 'Girls' Fan Favorite & A 'Drag Race' Alum |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/the-tales-of-the-city-2019-cast-includes-a-girls-fan-favorite-a-drag-race-alum-17948582 |website=Bustle |date=June 6, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Harrison || Matthew Risch || Harrison is gay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Darren |title=Netflix announce diverse queer cast and crew for 'Tales of the City' |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/article/netflix-announce-diverse-queer-cast-and-crew-for-tales-of-the-city/19386/ |website=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]] |date=16 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Flaco Ramirez || Juan Castano || Flaco is gay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix announce diverse queer cast and crew for 'Tales of the City' |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/article/netflix-announce-diverse-queer-cast-and-crew-for-tales-of-the-city/19386/ |website=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]] |date=16 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Mateo || Dickie Hearts || Mateo is gay and deaf.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lindsay |first1=Richard |title=Netflix Tales of the City Breaks Canon/New Ground |url=https://poptheology.com/netflix-tales-of-the-city-breaks-canon-new-ground/ |website=Pop Theology |date=18 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Inka Gisladottior || [[Samantha Soule]] || Inka is bisexual.<ref name="Tales of the City"/>
|-
|rowspan="6"|2019– ||rowspan="6"| ''[[TharnType: The Series]]'' || rowspan="6"|[[One31]] || Tharn || Mew Suppasit || Tharn is gay. Tharn and Type are love interests.<ref name="TharnType"/> [[Thailand|Thai]] [[Yaoi|boys love]] television series.
|-
| Type || Gulf Kanawut || Type is gay.<ref name="TharnType">{{cite web |title=TharnType: The Series |url=https://www.mediaversityreviews.com/tv-reviews/2020/8/23/tharntype-the-series |website=Mediaversity Reviews}}</ref>
|-
| Lhong || Kaownah Kittipat || Lhong is gay.<ref name="onehd31">{{cite web |title=รู้จัก 6 นักแสดง!! TharnType The Series เกลียดนักมาเป็นที่รักกันซะดีๆ |url=https://www.one31.net/news/detail/14780|language=th|website=onehd31}}</ref>
|-
| Tar || Kokliang Parinya || Tar is Tharn's ex-boyfriend.<ref name="onehd31"/>
|-
| Tum || Hiter Natthad || Tum is gay.<ref name="onehd31"/>
|-
| Khlui || Mawin Tanawin || Khlui is gay.<ref name="onehd31"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019 || rowspan="2"|''[[Theory of Love (Thai TV series)|Theory of Love]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[GMM 25]] || Third || Gun Atthaphan ||rowspan="2"| Third originally has a secret crush on Khai but they eventually become a gay couple.<ref>{{cite web|author=GMMTV|title=ทฤษฎีจีบเธอ Theory of Love [Official Trailer]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQT1x-4ciI4|website=[[YouTube]]|date=May 23, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Khai || Off Jumpol
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''Toy Boy'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Antena 3 (Spanish TV channel)|Antena 3]] <br> [[Netflix]] || Jairo || Carlos Constanzia ||rowspan="2"|Jairo is openly gay. Andrea is gay. Jairo and Andrea develop a romantic relationship.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Nicolaou|first1=Elena|title=The Cast of Netflix's Toy Boy Are About to Be Your New Favorite TV Crushes|url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a31401715/toy-boy-netflix-cast/|magazine=[[O, The Oprah Magazine|Oprah Magazine]]|date=March 1, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Andrea Norman Medina || Juanjo Almeida
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"|''[[Trinkets (TV series)|Trinkets]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Netflix]] || Elodie Davis || [[Brianna Hildebrand]] ||rowspan="2"| Elodie Davis is lesbian and a kleptomaniac. Sabine is a queer singer, she shows interest in Elodie (who is also interested in her) and they kiss.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Phillipson|first1=Daisy|title=LGBTQ+ TV shows to get excited about in 2019 and beyond|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a25946658/lgbtq-tv-shows-to-get-excited-about-in-2019/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=14 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Sabine || Katrina Cunningham
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019– ||rowspan="4"| ''[[The Umbrella Academy (TV series)|The Umbrella Academy]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[Netflix]] || Klaus Hargreeves || [[Robert Sheehan]] || Klaus (aka The Séance, Number Four) is gay.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Harp|first1=Justin|last2=Scott|first2=Darren|title=Robert Sheehan doesn't want his Umbrella Academy character to be labelled as just "the gay one"|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a26296278/netflix-umbrella-academy-robert-sheehan-gay-character/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=February 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rocheleau|first1=Kelly|title=How 'The Umbrella Academy' show differs from the comic - and why that's a good thing|url=https://auburnpub.com/blogs/citizen_pop/how-the-umbrella-academy-show-differs-from-the-comic---and-why-thats-a/article_8b584457-e6eb-5381-84b6-098ec74042dc.html|work=[[The Citizen (Auburn)|The Citizen]]|date=March 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gallagher|first1=Katie|title=Robert Sheehan says Klaus in Netflix's Umbrella Academy was rewritten to be gay after he was cast|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish-showbiz/robert-sheehan-netflix-umbrella-academy-22522731|work=Irish Mirror|date=14 August 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Vanya Hargreeves || [[Elliot Page]] || Vanya (aka The White Violin, Number 7) is bisexual.<ref name="The Umbrella Academy">{{cite web |title=The Umbrella Academy |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/the-umbrella-academy/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Dave || Cody Ray Thompson || Dave is gay. He and Klaus were together during the Vietnam War when [[The Umbrella Academy (TV series)#ep6|Klaus travels back in time]].<ref>{{Cite episode|title=The Day that Wasn't|series=The Umbrella Academy|first=Stephen|last=Surjik|network=Netflix|season=1|number=6}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Umbrella Academy Theory: Klaus Saved Dave's Life In Season 2 |url=https://screenrant.com/umbrella-academy-theory-klaus-saved-dave-life-vietnam/ |website=Screen Rant |date=10 September 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Sissy Cooper || Marin Irlande || Sissy is bisexual.<ref name="The Umbrella Academy"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019 ||rowspan="2"|''[[The Untamed (TV series)|The Untamed]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[Tencent Video]] || Wei Wuxian || [[Xiao Zhan]] ||rowspan="2"| Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji have a [[romantic friendship]]. The original web novel depicted a romantic relationship between the two main male characters, but it was changed for the television adaptation due to media censorship of LGBT portrayals.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lusky|first=Bridget|date=2019-12-02|title='The Untamed': Chinese boy love drama we can't stop watching|url=https://filmdaily.co/news/the-untamed/|access-date=2020-09-24|website=Film Daily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Khor|first=Emily|title='The Untamed' and how it Broke Barriers within Media Censorship|url=https://wolftracksonline.com/3338/opinion/the-untamed-and-how-it-broke-barriers-within-media-censorship/|access-date=2020-09-24|website=Wolf Tracks}}</ref>
|-
| Lan Wangji || [[Wang Yibo]]
|-
|rowspan="7"|2019–2020 ||rowspan="7"|''[[Until We Meet Again (TV series)|Until We Meet Again]]'' || rowspan="7"|[[Line TV]] || Dean || Ohm Thitiwat ||rowspan="2"| Dean and Pharm are a gay couple. [[Thailand|Thai]] [[Yaoi|boys love]] television series.<ref>{{cite web|author=Studio Wabi Sabi|title=[Official Trailer] Until We Meet Again {{!}} ด้ายแดง #UWMAseries|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlT_e3Eguz8|website=[[YouTube]]|date= October 7, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Until We Meet Again">{{cite web |title=Until We Meet Again The Series- ด้ายแดง (2019) |url=https://psycho-milk.com/2020/02/15/until-we-meet-again-uwma/ |website=Psychomilk's Love Without Gender |date=15 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="We Meet Again">{{cite web |title=Until We Meet Again The Series - Is Until We Meet Again The Series on Netflix? - Netflix TV Series |url=https://www.netflixtvseries.com/tv/95279/until-we-meet-again-the-series}}</ref>
|-
| Pharm || Fluke Natouch
|-
| In || Earth Katsamonnat ||rowspan="2"| In and Korn are a gay couple.<ref name="Until We Meet Again"/><ref name="We Meet Again"/>
|-
| Korn || Kao Noppakao
|-
| Team || Prem Warut || rowspan="2"|Team and Win are a couple.<ref name="Until We Meet Again"/><ref name="We Meet Again"/>
|-
| Win || Boun Noppanut
|-
| Alex || Mean Phiravich || Alex is bisexual. He initially had a crush on Pharm but later dates Del.<ref name="Until We Meet Again"/><ref name="We Meet Again"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[Watchmen (TV series)|Watchmen]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[HBO]] || [[List of Watchmen characters#Hooded Justice|Will Reeves]] || [[Louis Gossett Jr.]] ||rowspan="2"| Will Reeves is gay or bisexual, and had an affair with Nelson Gardner.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stefansky|first1=Emma|url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/watchmen-episode-6-hooded-justice-actor-jovan-adepo-interview|title=Jovan Adepo on That Big 'Watchmen' Scene: 'You're Supposed to Feel Uncomfortable'|website=Thrillist|date=November 24, 2019|access-date=November 25, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[List of Watchmen characters#Captain Metropolis|Nelson Gardner]] || [[Jovan Adepo]]
|-
|rowspan="4"|2019– || rowspan="4"|''[[Weird City (TV series)|Weird City]]'' ||rowspan="4"| [[YouTube Premium]] || Stu || [[Dylan O'Brien]] ||rowspan="2"| Stu and Burt are in a sexual and romantic relationship. They are assigned to be together after an app determines they are meant for one another.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The One|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMnq5v8yZp4|series=Weird City|first=Adam|last=Bernstein|network=YouTube Premium|season=1|number=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Weird City Episode 1 Review: The One |url=https://www.nerdsandbeyond.com/2019/02/13/weird-city-episode-1-review-the-one/ |website=Nerds and Beyond |date=13 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Burt || [[Ed O'Neill]]
|-
| Liquia || [[Laverne Cox]] ||rowspan="2"| Liquia and Jathryn are in a committed romantic and sexual relationship.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Smart House|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54xhRlxODxA|series=Weird City|first=Charlie|last=Sanders|network=YouTube Premium|season=1|number=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Flook |first1=Ray |title=Weird City Preview: Laverne Cox, Sara Gilbert vs. Tech Gone Bad |url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/weird-city-cox-preview/ |website=Bleeding Cool|date=29 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Jathryn || [[Sara Gilbert]]
|-
|rowspan="3"|2019– ||rowspan="3"| ''[[What/If]]'' ||rowspan="3"| [[Netflix]] || Marcos || Juan Castano ||rowspan="2"| Marcos and Lionel are a couple.<ref name="what if">{{cite web |last1=Travers |first1=Ben |title=What / If: The Ending Isn't All That Matters in Season 1, But Boy Is It Grand |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/05/what-if-ending-what-happens-season-1-netflix-1202144741/ |website=Indie Wire |date=26 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="ifwhat"/>
|-
| Lionel || [[John Clarence Stewart]]
|-
| Kevin || Derek Smith || Kevin was a one time hook-up for the couple, but became a good friend.<ref name="what if"/><ref name="ifwhat">{{cite web |last1=Swift |first1=Andy |title=What/If Creator Breaks Down the Biggest Twists From Part 1, Including the Finale's Ominous Ending |url=https://tvline.com/2019/05/27/what-if-season-1-finale-ending-explained-anne-dead-alive/ |website=TV Line |date=27 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2019– ||rowspan="2"| ''[[World on Fire (TV series)|World on Fire]]'' ||rowspan="2"| [[BBC One]] || Webster O'Connor || [[Brian J. Smith]] ||rowspan="2"| Webster O'Connor is a gay American doctor. Albert Fallou is a gay Parisian saxophonist. They are in a romantic relationship.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Prescott|first=Amanda-Rae|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/world-on-fire-queer-history/|title=How World On Fire Spotlights Previously Untold Queer History|website=[[Den of Geek]]|date=April 26, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| Albert Fallou || [[Parker Sawyers]]
|-
|rowspan="5"|2019– || rowspan="5"|''[[Years and Years (TV series)|Years and Years]]'' ||rowspan="5"| [[BBC One]] || Daniel Lyons || [[Russell Tovey]] || Daniel is gay. He was married to Ralph and is in a relationship with Viktor.<ref name="pink news years and years">{{cite web |title=Check out Russell Tovey's gay wedding in new drama from Queer as Folk creator |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/04/22/years-and-years-trailer-russell-tovey-gay-character-russell-t-davies-drama/ |website=Pink News |date=22 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="gay times years and years">{{cite web |title=Years and Years star Dino Fetscher on the "vital importance" of LGBTQ representation |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/years-and-years-star-dino-fetscher-on-the-vital-importance-of-lgbtq-representation/ |date=11 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="pride years and years">{{cite web |title=HBO's 'Years and Years' Is the Great Gay Epic of Our Time |url=https://www.pride.com/tv/2019/7/29/hbos-years-and-years-great-gay-epic-our-time |date=29 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="blade years and years">{{cite web |title=Futuristic new Brit drama ‘Years and Years’ inclusive, compelling |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/06/28/futuristic-new-brit-drama-years-and-years-inclusive-compelling/ |website=Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News |date=28 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Ralph Cousins || [[Dino Fetscher]] ||Ralph is gay. He is Daniel's ex-husband.<ref name="pink news years and years"/><ref name="gay times years and years"/><ref name="pride years and years"/><ref name="blade years and years"/>
|-
| Viktor Goraya || [[Maxim Baldry]] || Viktor is gay. He is in a relationship with Daniel.<ref name="pink news years and years"/><ref name="gay times years and years"/><ref name="pride years and years"/><ref name="blade years and years"/>
|-
| Edith Lyons || [[Jessica Hynes]] ||rowspan="2"| Edith Lyons is a lesbian. Fran Baxter is a lesbian. They are in a relationship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Years and Years |url=https://lezwatchtv.com/show/years-and-years/ |website=LezWatch.TV}}</ref>
|-
| Fran Baxter || [[Sharon Duncan-Brewster]]
|-
|}<!-- DO NOT REMOVE CLOSING MARKUP CODE -->
==See also==
{{Portal|LGBT|Television|Lists}}
* [[List of fictional asexual characters]]
* [[List of fictional intersex characters]]
* [[List of fictional non-binary characters]]
* [[List of fictional pansexual characters]]
* [[List of animated series with LGBTQ+ characters]]
* [[List of comedy television series with LGBT characters]]
* [[List of horror television series with LGBT characters]]
* [[List of made-for-television films with LGBT characters]]
* [[List of news and information television programs featuring LGBT subjects]]
* [[List of reality television programs with LGBT cast members]]
* [[List of LGBT characters in radio and podcasts]]
* [[List of LGBT characters in soap operas]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last1=Becker|first1=Ron|title=Gay TV and Straight America|date=2006|publisher=[[Rutgers University Press]]|location=New Brunswick, New Jersey|isbn=978-0813536880|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/gaytvstraightame0000beck}}
* {{cite news|last1=Beresford|first1=Trilby|title=Broadcast TV Increases LGBTQ Regulars and Lesbian Representation, Study Finds|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/broadcast-tv-increases-lgbtq-regulars-boosts-lesbian-representation-study-finds-1251737|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=November 7, 2019}}
* {{cite book|last1=Capsuto|first1=Steven|title=Alternate Channels: The Uncensored Story of Gay and Lesbian Images on Radio and Television, 1930s to the Present|date=2000|publisher=[[Ballantine Books]]|location=New York, New York|isbn=978-0345412430|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/alternatechannel00stev}}
* {{cite news|last1=Havens|first1=Kaitlin|title=Perspective: It's time to end 'Lesbian Dead Syndrome'|url=http://charlatan.ca/2020/05/perspective-its-time-to-end-lesbian-dead-syndrome/|work=[[The Charlatan (student newspaper)|The Charlatan]]|volume=49|issue=7|date=May 14, 2020}}
* {{cite book|last1=Millward|first1=Liz|last2=Dodd|first2=Janice G.|last3=Fubara-Manuel|first3=Irene|title=Killing Off the Lesbians: A Symbolic Annihilation on Film and Television|date=2017|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|isbn=978-1476668161}}
* {{cite web|author=Riese|title=All 208 Dead Lesbian and Bisexual Characters On TV, And How They Died|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/all-65-dead-lesbian-and-bisexual-characters-on-tv-and-how-they-died-312315/?all=1|website=[[Autostraddle]]|date=March 11, 2016}}
* [[GLAAD]] Primetime Television Season Report:
**{{cite web|title=2005–2006|url=http://www.glaad.org/files/2005-06%20Where%20We%20Are%20on%20TV.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204220723/http://www.glaad.org/files/2005-06%20Where%20We%20Are%20on%20TV.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-12-04}}
**{{cite web|title=2006–2007|url=https://www.glaad.org/files/2006-07%20Where%20We%20Are%20on%20TV.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011511/https://www.glaad.org/files/2006-07%20Where%20We%20Are%20on%20TV.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-05-13}}
**{{cite web|title=2007–2008|url=http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/whereweareontv2007-2008.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312041600/http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/whereweareontv2007-2008.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-12}}
**{{cite web|title=2008–2009|url=http://glaad.org/files/WWAT/WWAT_GLAAD_2008-2009.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008130316/http://glaad.org/files/WWAT/WWAT_GLAAD_2008-2009.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-10-08}}
**{{cite web|title=2009–2010|url=http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/whereweareontv2009-2010.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312041622/http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/whereweareontv2009-2010.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-12}}
**{{cite web|title=2010–2011|url=http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/whereweareontv2010-2011.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307143335/http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/whereweareontv2010-2011.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-07}}
**{{cite web|title=2011–2012|url=http://www.glaad.org/files/where_are_we_on_tv_2011.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005092908/http://www.glaad.org/files/where_are_we_on_tv_2011.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-10-05}}
**{{cite web|title=2012–2013|url=http://www.glaad.org/files/whereweareontv12.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616102134/http://www.glaad.org/files/whereweareontv12.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-06-16}}
**{{cite web|title=2013–2014|url=http://www.glaad.org/files/2013WWATV.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015021936/http://www.glaad.org/files/2013WWATV.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-10-15}}
**{{cite web|title=2014–2015|url=http://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD-2014-WWAT.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031040949/http://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD-2014-WWAT.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-10-31}}
**{{cite web|title=2015–2016|url=http://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD-2015-WWAT.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106004531/http://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD-2015-WWAT.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-11-06}}
**{{cite web|title=2016–2017|url=http://glaad.org/files/WWAT/WWAT_GLAAD_2016-2017.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105094633/http://glaad.org/files/WWAT/WWAT_GLAAD_2016-2017.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-11-05}}
**{{cite web|title=2017–2018|url=http://glaad.org/files/WWAT/WWAT_GLAAD_2017-2018.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117231741/http://glaad.org/files/WWAT/WWAT_GLAAD_2017-2018.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-11-17}}
**{{cite web|title=2018–2019|url=https://glaad.org/files/WWAT/WWAT_GLAAD_2018-2019.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702181541/https://glaad.org/files/WWAT/WWAT_GLAAD_2018-2019.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-07-02}}
**{{cite web|title=2019–2020|url=https://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD%20WHERE%20WE%20ARE%20ON%20TV%202019%202020.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109122603/https://www.glaad.org/files/GLAAD%20WHERE%20WE%20ARE%20ON%20TV%202019%202020.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-11-09}}
{{LGBT fiction}}
[[Category:Lists of LGBT fictional characters]]
[[Category:Lists of LGBT-related television shows|Dramatic]]
[[File:Sovietjak.jpg|thumb|Average Bunkerchan user|263x263px]]
Bunkerchan.net, also known as leftypol.org, is a [[datamining]] website founded in 1998. It was made as an alternative to [[4chan]]nel's [[/pol/]] board<ref>http://bunkerchan.net/leftypol/res/668788.html</ref>.
Bunkerchan.net DOES NOT tolerate intolerance nor bigotry<ref>http://bunkerchan.net/leftypol/res/668788.html</ref>. Interestingly enough though, they think that Gulags were so funny they named a board after them.
[[File:Incel.jpg|thumb|196x196px|Average bunkerchan user]]
== Citations ==
[[Category:Websites]]
[[Category:Imageboards]]


[[File:143bf0cd21d11bf255f422cedd172dad-imagejpeg.jpg|thumb|/pol/ is often visited by [[CIA|glowniggers]]|alt=]] [[File:1616533424325.png|thumb|/pol/ takes everything personally]]
[[File:143bf0cd21d11bf255f422cedd172dad-imagejpeg.jpg|thumb|/pol/ is often visited by [[CIA|glowniggers]]|alt=]] [[File:1616533424325.png|thumb|/pol/ takes everything personally]]

Revision as of 23:55, 13 June 2021

This page is coal. (You) WILL help by expanding it.

/pol/ is often visited by glowniggers
/pol/ takes everything personally
/pol/ users taking a selfie

/pol/ is a board on 4chan for political discussion, created on November 10, 2011. Originally, /pol/ started as a spin-off of /new/ 8 months after it was deleted, this deletion was due to the fact that a large portion of the users on /new/ were "stormfront users" or "nazis" which caused the moderators of 4chan to delete the board entirely before creating /pol/.

The current state of /pol/

It's widely agreed upon that /pol/ is currently a politically themed random board due to extremely low quality content and spam posted regularly (this includes: bait/shill posts, NSFW content, sperging and schizoposting). The large drop in quality can be attributed to the fact of /pol/'s massive rise in popularity during and after the election of Donald Trump when /pol/ was frequently mentioned in the mainstream media, this caused a massive influx of newfags who weren't adapted to the culture, with various conflicting political opinions to flood the board.

A left-wing board before stormfront invasion?

Some people will assert that /pol/ was a centre-left or left-wing board before "stormfront" flooded it, this is untrue, /pol/ always had a right-wing majority. The userbase mostly ranged from Ron Paul libertarians to Nazis, this can be proven by looking at early archives [1] [2] discussing /pol/ in 2012 (/pol/ itself has little to no archives before 2014).

/pol/ on other imageboards

Soyjak.party - /pol/

8kun (formerly 8chan) - /pnd/ (formerly /pol/)

endchan - /pol/

kohlchan - /pol/, but German

16chan - /pol/

Leftypol (formerly bunkerchan which was formerly /leftypol/ on 8chan) - Tranny leftist political website

See also

Chudjak

Citations