12 of the Best Fictional Queer Teachers

The new comedy series English Teacher debuts on FX Network on September 2, led by Brian Jordan Alvarez who plays gay high school teacher Evan, who works to balance his life with the demands of his job, his students, and work culture. The education system has often been seen as a wasteland when it comes to male educators. Given the belief that education is a female-dominated field, it's no surprise that many fictionalized portrayals of male teachers have either been macho sports coaches or gay men. The role of a teacher has always been important, as he not only acts as an educator, but as a nurturer to students seeking guidance. As students leave summer behind and head back to school, it's the perfect time to put the spotlight on queer educators. This week's listicle highlights 12 of film and television's best gay teachers. Leave a comment below if we missed any of your favorites. Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
 

 

Julien Keller
Film: The Good Teacher (2024)
Based on true events, Julien (François Civil) is presented as a young teacher who is dedicated to his job teaching literature and committed to helping his students succeed when one of them wrongfully accuses him of sexual harassment. The teenage girl's accusation puts him in a fight to clear his name, which is further complicated by his closeted lifestyle with his boyfriend Walid (Shaïn Boumedine). The culture of silence leads him to find few allies even among his fellow educators. When his homosexuality is revealed, the spiral of discrimination around him becomes even more heightened putting his career further in jeopardy.

 

Joe Casey
Series: Waterloo Road (2023 - present)
As Deputy Head teacher, Joe (James Baxter) finds himself in a position to help the student body. Like most of the characters, his personal life bleeds into the school community with his partner Mike (Ryan Clayton) joining him at work as the school's police liaison officer, helping him to keep order. Their struggles in fostering brothers Dwayne (Thapelo Ray) and Zayne (Inathi Rozani), while trying to keep professional distance from the students is often highlighted. Joe does his best inside and outside the classroom, attempting to help students with their issues. Joe has been known to give additional attention to Waterloo Road's queer students, like Kai (Adam Ali).

 

Sam
Series: Genera+ion (2021)
The MAX original teen drama explored modern sexuality of the next generation living in a conservative community. New guidance counselor Sam (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) is dropped into the middle of the powder keg. He attempts to form a bond with the confident and openly gay student Chester (Justice Smith), but finds things getting complicated when Chester finds him on a gay dating app. Sam navigates the growing complexity of his professional connection to Chester, while trying to help the teen through his emotional struggles and keeping his personal life out of the equation, despite Chester's pressure to get to know him on a more personal level.

 

David Gold
Film: Guidance (2014)
David (Pat Mills) begins this dark comedy as a washed-up former child star who fakes his credentials to get a job as a high school guidance counselor. Still struggling with his alcohol & drug problems, mixed with his denial about his homosexuality, David becomes oddly popular among the students after exposing them to his unhealthy coping mechanisms. David becomes an unlikely inspiration as he ends up helping the students resolve many of their own problems. This gives way to a surprising warmth from the character, who finds himself on the road to better understanding himself while trying to survive the wild world of high school.

 

Jacob Hill
Series: Abbott Elementary (2021 - present)
Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti) is the sixth grade history teacher at Abbott Elementary. As an openly gay educator and one of the few white teachers, Jacob is always shown to be as sensitive as possible when it comes to his role in a school of black students. He navigates any issues of race and sexuality with a careful and supportive mindset, attempting to be as understanding as possible, despite his general awkwardness and occasional pessimism. Jacob has been shown to put the children first, even when it comes to the series' more comedic moments, including kids' uncomfortable questions. His dedication to his job has never been questioned.

 

Stephen Carmichael
Series: Bad Education (2022 - 2024)
Former student Stephen (Layton Williams) returns to his school as a drama teacher for the school's Class K of misfits. The flamboyant educator finds himself providing help and inspiration to a new crop of misfit students, while on the surface attempting to use them and their skills to further his dreams of becoming a star and leaving education behind. His arrested development often leads to him bonding with his students, including the social media-obsessed gossip Usma (Asha Hassan) and the smart but quiet Warren (Ali Hadji-Heshmati), though Stephan's influence is known to cause his students to neglect their actual studies in order to further his agenda.

 

Howard Brackett
Film: In & Out (1997)
While the plot of the comedy revolves around Howard (Kevin Kline) attempting to prove that he is not gay after being outed on television by former student Cameron (Matt Dillon) while accepting an award, it's Howard's relationships with his students that become the most profound message of the film. Howard eventually accepts his homosexuality and is fired from his job. During the graduation ceremony, it is Cameron and the student body that come to Howard's defense. The graduates, and Howard's supporters, all claim to be gay out of solidarity, showing their pride in his work as their teacher and acknowleding his inspiring presence.

 

Mickey
Film: After School (2023)
Based on true events, the Taiwanese drama begins with an adult trio of former students paying a visit to their terminally ill teacher Mickey (Yan-Hsi Hou). Viewers are taken back to their high school days when Mickey's outspoken arrival coincided perfectly with their coming of age. The openly gay teacher provided inspiration and even a safe haven in their tumultuous lives. Hsiang (Yi-tai Chui) harbors a crush on his straight best friend Cheng Heng (Huai-Yun Zhan), whose rebellion gets him into trouble, requiring Mickey's help. It's learned that Mickey also inspired the third student Shang Ho (Chien-Ho Wu) to embrace her trans journey after being bullied.

 

Nigel Charles Ratburn
Series: Arthur (1996 - 2021)
The animated series Arthur often featured the titular character's third grade teacher Mr. Ratburn (voiced by Arthur Holden). Mr. Ratburn was shown to be a tough educator, never shy about issuing homework and school projects to his students. He revealed that he always wanted to challenge them, to help them grow as people. He also bonded with them personally, sharing stories of his time as a student football player, and fighting his own childhood obesity, showing them that he was not unlike them when growing up. It's the students' affection for him and attempt at matchmaking that leads to them learning of his homosexuality.

 

Mr. Ajayi
Series: Heartstopper (2022 - present)
Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) begins the series closed off from the majority of his classmates, taking refuge in the quiet art room. It's there where gay teacher Mr. Ajayi (Fisayo Akinade) dispenses helpful advice to help the openly gay Charlie with any of his troubles that he's facing at the moment. Charlie finds a mentor and confidante in Mr. Ajayi, helping him to navigate his feelings for his classmate Nick Nelson (Kit Connor). Mr. Ajayi works to help Charlie build his confidence and be proactive in confronting his feelings. Mr. Ajayi also acted as an ally to Charlie against bullying, looking to make sure that school remained a safe place for him.

 

Adam
Film: Where Butterflies Don't Fly (2022)
Closeted teacher Adam (Jirí Vojta) lives a quiet life with his secret partner David (Jakub Krejca). He's a dedicated teacher and when outcast gay student Daniel (Daniel Krejcík) wanders away during a school trip, Adam goes after him. Both men end up trapped in an intricate cave system underground, forced to depend on one another to survive. After hearing Daniel's lack of survival instinct and care for his own life, Adam works to keep them both alive. He opens up to his student about his own personal journey as a gay man, gaining his trust and helping to inspire Daniel to see the possibility of a happier future despite his current misery.

 

Dan Sherry
Film: Handsome Devil (2016)
Boarding school students Ned (Fionn O'Shea) and Conor (Nicholas Galitzine) form an unlikely queer friendship with a little help from their outspoken new English teacher Dan (Andrew Scott). Dan fights against the rugby-obsessed school culture and uses both literature and music to bring Ned & Conor together, despite their outward differences and initial roommate conflicts. Dan encourages them to listen to their hearts and let go of the stigma and expectations placed on them by the outside school community. Dan himself takes that journey along with the film's two protagonists, taking his own steps to live a more openly queer lifestyle in his job. He ends the film introducing his boss to his male partner.