5 LGBT Characters on Doctor Who throughout New Who
Big Finish, Doctor Who
With all the talk about the thirteenth Doctor, many people have speculated about whether or not the BBC will explore bisexual or lesbian character features. However, this wouldn’t be the first time that a siginificant character would be LGBTQIA.
Many people have been wondering whether or not the Thirteenth Doctor will be a lesbian, or will she change her views to men? To me, it doesn’t matter, as that’s not why I watch the show. A good romance is lovely, but I’d much rather see a great story with great aliens.
However, even if the Thirteenth Doctor does prefer women, this would not be the
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first time there have been characters who are LGBTQIA.
People were surprised when a news site released that there might be some bisexual action when the Doctor first regenerates. If you had just gone from a man your whole life to a woman, wouldn’t you be confused?!
Just for fun, I picked five of my favorite characters that show other ways to love people. It’s not wrong, it’s life and love.
BBC
5. Clara Oswald
Clara Oswald was always sort of a character who marched to the beat of her own drum. She obviously had an affection for the Doctor, and his age never was a problem for her, as she tells Madame Vastra in the Deep Water. She talks about her pin up of Marcus Aurelius, and how it was the only person she was ever interested in as a girl. Further, she says that if anyone as old as a mountain range could turn someone’s eye, it was her.
If we go to Oswin Oswald, who we know now is one Clara’s futuristic people, openly mentions about her crush on a girl named “Nina” and a boy called “Rory.” Then, during season nine, in The Magician’s Apprentice, Clara talks about how good of a kisser Jane Austen is. My My!
I’m not going to put labels on characters, but Clara definitely seems to show interest in guys and girls. We saw a fantastic relationship between her and Danny Pink, one that came to a tragic end. But when she left the Doctor (after he didn’t remember her) to go with Ashildr, many people were able to make up a fanfic or two (or three or four) about the happenings of two girls in a TARDIS.
What is about a TARDIS that makes such a beautiful setting for romance?
4. River Song
River Song was deemed an “omnisexual” character. Whether that’s just what happens with the future or River Song personally, who knows? But between the lines about River’s wives, as well as things that have happened on birthdays, she’s has a history.
Alex Kingston continues to follow that line of sexuality, such as when BBC announced that Jodie Whittaker was the Thirteenth Doctor. She said nothing much of the change of gender, only that she was such a cradle robber! Nothing about the new gender, only how this affects her as Jodie Whittaker’s wife!
It’s good that people like Alex Kingston can acknowledge easily that their characters are obviously not going to care about the change. There’s so little we know about River Song’s past, so it’s hard to point out times where she talks about being with a woman.
We only know that she’s been with different species, and doesn’t care what’s on the outside of a person, as long as they’re hot. And truly, what’s better than that to have a character believe?
BBC
3. Madame Vastra & Jenny
Hi. I’m a lizard from the dawn of time, and this is my wife.
Madame Vastra and Jenny was the first lesbian couple I can think of that was put in the New Series of Doctor Who. The best part? They didn’t hide it! They were out and proud, even in Victorian London. In the same episode, Clara talks about her ability to love the Doctor, no matter what age, Vastra explains their situation.
In the same episode, she openly flatters and is painting Jenny in her underwear. Or so Jenny thinks. She’s doing something different, apparently just wanting a view of her wife! (Though she does tell Clara to take her clothes off…) If that isn’t marriage, what is?
For the Sherlock fans in the room, there were also comments from people about how the way Vastra solves crimes, with Jenny’s help, is akin to Sherlock Holmes stories put out by Arthur Conan Doyle. The man does include the nature of their relationship.
"SIMEON: And her suspiciously intimate companionVASTRA: I resent your implication of impropriety. We are married."
Vastra and Jenny were the first two characters in the show that gave me hope that the show could have characters that were openly gay. While Jack Harkness was the first openly gay character, he quickly moved onto Torchwood, a show for a more mature audience.
BBC
2. Bill Potts
One of the most interesting parts of Bill Potts was that she was a lesbian. It was supposedly a “big deal!” that the Doctor had a companion who was a lesbian since it would most likely come up during an episode or two.
Besides that BBC/Moffat told us in every episode that Bill was gay, despite stating it made no difference, it played incredibly well. The first episode was when it was really part of the episode, when Heather, the girl with the iris star was taken to pilot a ship (and turn into water?). Bill and the Doctor travel throughout the universe to see how good Heather is at piloting.
Besides that she was part of the “antagonist” of the episode, Pearl Mackie brought everything in the episode. It was a great telling of love at first sight, and how much Bill really wanted to be with Heather. Even though she barely knew her, she somehow was willing to do anything. Only at the last minute did she let her go off to be a different species.
While the show also explored a relationship with a Penny, that one fell flat, but it did incorporate a little lesson for people. Bill is with someone who is new to the dating scene and tells her nothing they’re doing is wrong. Inevitably, Bill has to leave, but the scenes were good for anyone struggling, in my opinion.
When we thought all Bill was dead, Heather came and saved her from being a Cyberman. She turned Bill into whatever species she is, and now they’re roaming the universe together.
What better ending? Instead of killing off LGBT characters, as many shows do, they made her life better!
Big Finish
1. Jack Harkness
Oh, Jack Harkness. Words can never describe how much I love Jack Harkness, and I’m not alone. When he came aboard the TARDIS in the first season in The Empty Child, his charm and charisma led him to be a fan favorite. He was always up for a good time (normally that meant sex), and, like River Song, didn’t care who or what species or gender you were.
It also helped that he aged very slowly, and gave him more time to go through everyone he liked as he relived his life. Soon, the character became so popular, that he was given his own television show Torchwood, after Rose Tyler left.
It was on this show that we saw his character fall for the amazing Ianto, a human man that is still many people’s first choice with Jack Harkness. John Barrowman played the part perfectly, and no one cared about the fact that his character was gay, everyone was too distracted by his smile.
John Barrowman is the true embodiment of why it shouldn’t matter what someone thinks or what they’re into. Let them live their very long life until they end up part of the Headless Monks. (Maybe that won’t work for everyone.)