'SNL' has featured several queer cast members!
(L-R) Terry Sweeney; Bowen Yang; Kate McKinnon on 'Saturday Night Live' over the years.
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images; Courtesy NBCUniversalThis year marks the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live! The iconic comedy show, which has been going on for half a century now, has featured a few LGBTQ+ cast members who left their mark on the show.
The LGBTQ+ cast of SNL might not be as extensive as we'd like it to be, but they are mighty! Many of these comedians are considered some of the best Saturday Night Live cast members in the show's history, and that's definitely something worth celebrating.
Denny Dillon
Denny Dillon appeared in the sixth season (1980-1981) of SNL and left after just that one season. Overall, Dillon was the first LGBTQ+ cast member in Saturday Night Live history — she was even out to her colleagues on the show, just not to network executives (via Vulture).
Terry Sweeney
Terry Sweeney joined the SNL cast in season 11 and became the show's first out LGBTQ+ cast member. His partner, Lanier Laney, was also a writer on the show. Alas, Sweeney was reportedly bullied by host Chevy Chase and left the show after just one season.
Danitra Vance
While it's true that Danitra Vance wasn't out when she appeared on the show, she did join SNL in season 11 and became the first Black lesbian cast member of the series. Unfortunately, Vance left Saturday Night Live after just one season.
Kate McKinnon
Kate McKinnon joined Saturday Night Live in 2012. During her second season, McKinnon was already promoted to a full-time cast member. Moreover, McKinnon is undoubtedly one of the most iconic SNL stars in the 21st century, and stayed on the show through 2022.
John Milhiser
John Milhiser joined SNL in 2013 and was a cast member for the 39th season of the series. He even shared a memorable sketch with Lady Gaga.
Sasheer Zamata
Sasheer Zamata didn't publicly come out as a "late in life lesbian" until 2024, but she starred on SNL a decade earlier, from 2014 to 2017.
Bowen Yang
Bowen Yang, who's now been nominated for four Emmy Awards for his work on SNL, became the first queer Asian cast member when he joined the show as a featured player in season 45.
Punkie Johnson
In 2020, Punkie Johnson became the newest Black lesbian to join the cast of Saturday Night Live — following Vance and Zamata. With that said, she was the first of them to be out as a lesbian while still appearing on the show. In 2024, it was announced that Johnson wouldn't return for another season.
Molly Kearney
In 2022, SNL cast its first-ever out nonbinary cast member, comedian Molly Kearney. Unfortunately, Kearney left the show after just two seasons.
