Representation matters and the Arrowverse hasn’t disappointed its audience. Many of the superheroes featured on this universe’s shows are members of the LGBTQ+ community. These superheroes provide positive representation for queer people who can see themselves in these characters and relate to their stories and their struggles.
In addition to being healthy examples for the LGBTQ+ community in mainstream media, these characters lead epic love stories. Not only do fans see themselves showcased in the Arrowverse shows, but they also get to see queer couples loving each other free of judgment. Of course, fans root for these relationships. After all, love is love.
9 Alex Danvers & Maggie Sawyer Could Have Been The Endgame
Maggie Sawyer first appeared in Supergirl as a police detective looking for clues after the assassination attempt on President Olivia Marsdin. Soon, she and Alex Danvers — Kara’s sister and a fearless DEO agent — developed a friendship that turned into something else. Although Alex first doubted her feelings for Maggie, their relationship grew so strong they even got engaged after a whole season together.
Unfortunately for many fans, Floriana Lima left the show for schedule conflicts in 2016. In “Damage”, the fifth episode of the third season, both women realize they have very different life expectations and decide to break up. Although their relationship didn’t get far, Alex and Maggie are one of the first serious lesbian couples in the Arrowverse. Their healthy dynamic pioneered in positive representation for sapphic women in the fandom.
8 John Constantine & Desmond Share A Tragic Story
John Constantine and Desmond met in a bar where the former worked. The attraction was immediate and soon they started a relationship. However, due to Constantine’s line of work, their happiness didn’t last long. Neron the demon tried to kill Constantine, but Desmond made a deal with him, offering his soul if he spared his lover’s life. Unaware of this negotiation, Constantine sent Neron to Hell, condemning his boyfriend too.
Even though their relationship was doomed from the beginning, Desmond and John shared a real bond. Unfortunately, there are things not even the most intense love can heal, and spending some time in Hell is one of them.
7 Nia Nal & Querl Dox Are Way Too Wholesome
Querl Dox, aka Brainiac 5 or Brainy, arrived in National City from the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes and choose to stay behind as a member of the Super Friends during the third season of Supergirl. Nia Nal, an original character inspired by Dream Girl, joined the team a season later. First, they became friends, but soon, their love blossomed.
Since Nia is a trans woman and Querl is an alien living among humans, they understand and support each other when society ostracizes them. Besides, they fight side to side for their right to have a place in society. Their relationship is one of the most wholesome romances in the Arrowverse.
6 Leo Snart & Ray Terrill Are Gay Amidst War
Leo Snart is Leonard Snart’s doppelganger from Earth-X in the Crisis On Earth-X crossover. He’s a rebel working against the Nazis with the Freedom Fighters. When he joined this team, he met Ray Terril, an Earth-1 man who found his way into Earth-X and join the rebellion, aware that it was the right thing to do. After some time fighting together, Ray and Leo fell in love.
Although Leo and Rey aren’t major characters in the Arrowverse, their story is a sweet and effortless glimpse of an LGBTQ+ relationship in the middle of a plot centered on something else. Their relationship isn’t the central topic of their arc, it’s just another relationship in the Arrowverse. Because of this, it’s a step further casual queer representation in mainstream media.
5 Anissa Pierce & Grace Choi Deserved More Screen Time
Anissa Pierce, aka Thunder, is Black Lightning’s oldest daughter. She’s a lesbian meta-human with the ability to control her own body density. This skill grants her superhuman force as well as invulnerability. Grace Choi is her wife. She’s a bisexual shape-shifter who has been running from a human trafficking ring since she was a child. Both women work together as members of Team Black Lightning.
Granted, Anissa and Grace got off to a rocky start. Several miscommunication issues and a lack of commitment on Anissa’s part caused Grace to doubt this relationship because Anissa kept pushing her away. However, once they finally accepted they had a chance for love, they became inseparable. While Black Lightning ended too soon, their love story transcended. Many fans agree they deserve a spin-off as members of The Outsiders. Unfortunately, The CW has no plans for this super team yet.
4 Ryan Wilder & Sophie Moore Are Finally Canon
The most recent “will they, won’t they?” on the Arrowverse has become canon after a year. Ryan Wilder, the woman behind the Batwoman mask, and Sophie Moore, the ex-girlfriend of Kate Kane and former second-in-command of Crows Security, finally kissed in the woods after a dramatic moment.
Fans are still waiting to see where this relationship will go, but everyone is excited about the possibility of Wildmoore becoming Batwoman‘s main romance. These two fierce women of color in an LGBTQ+ relationship are a great example of representation done right in the Arrowverse.
3 Curtis Holt & Nick Anastas Love Each Other Despite Their Differences
Curtis Holt was a member of Team Arrow and a founding member of the New Team Arrow. He’s an Olympic athlete, a tech genius, and a vigilante named Mr. Terrific. His husband, Nick Anastas was originally a noble police officer against vigilantism. However, after getting fired by corrupt police captain Kimberly Hill, he understood being a vigilante was the only way to fight crime effectively.
Since Curtis and Nick had a very different approach to justice when they first met, their relationship seemed doomed. However, they soon found a common ground and fell in love. Even though they aren’t the main love story in Arrow, their love goes beyond dimensions since they’re also a couple on Earth-2. Their relationship provides positive gay representation on this show.
2 Alex Danvers & Kelly Olsen Started A Life Together
Although fans loved Alex Danvers’s chemistry with Maggie Sawyer, Floriana Lima left Supergirl for scheduling conflicts, so Sanvers — as the fandom calls them — became a thing of the past. Alex spent some time alone until Kelly Olsen, Jimmy Olsen’s little sister, Army veteran, and brilliant psychologist arrived in National City.
Soon Kelly was promoted to a regular on the show and her story with Alex became one of the main romances in Supergirl. In fact, both women tied the knot in the series finale. What’s more, they adopted Esme, an alien girl in search of a family. After years of struggling with her own sexual identity, Alex got her happy ending.
1 Sara Lance & Ava Sharpe Are Goals
Originally a member of the League of Assassins, Sara Lance joined the Legends of Tomorrow and eventually became their leader. Ava Sharpe was an agent of the Time Bureau tasked to protect the timeline from the actions of people like Sara since the Legends were modifying said timeline with no consideration for what their actions would lead to.
Sara and Ava started as enemies. However, they soon became allies and, finally, lovers. Eventually, they got engaged and then they got married in the season six finale of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Not only do they share an amazing enemies-to-lovers arc, but their relationship is completely free of drama. Avalance is probably the healthiest couple in the Arrowverse, LGBTQ+ or not.
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