7 Coming Out Scenes on Television We Will Never Forget

'Schitt's Creek's David Rose Comes Out as Pansexual

One of the hallmarks of Schitt's Creek is that it exists in a town void of homophobia. That said, that doesn't mean that the coming process has been forgotten. After hooking up with his soon to be best-friend Stevie Budd, David Rose ends up having to come out to her -- she had previously assumed he was gay. The scene's writing, in the hands of Daniel Levy breaks down sexuality (and specifically pansexuality) in as simple and easily comprehensible way as possible. What kind of wine drinker ar you?

'Master of None's Denise Comes Out as Lesbian

The great thing about diversifying the sets of film and television means that a variety of people get to inject their own personal stories into mainstream narratives. That happened on Master of None when Lena Waithe referenced her own experiences coming out to help write Denise's moment. It showed not only Denise's journey to the moment but also humanized her mother's reaction, which was just as important for Waithe. In the end, it won the show an Emmy.

'Glee's Santana Comes Out to Her Abuelita

Not all coming out stories have a fairy tale ending and it certainly seemed that way when Santana came out to her grandmother on Glee. Played by Naya Rivera, Santana's coming out was a bit of a journey that began with first coming out to herself -- as it does in everyone's journey. But of the other folks she decided to come out to was her grandmother. And while the emotional, heartfelt speech she had readied brought tears to our own eyes, it wasn't enough to get through to her grandmother.

'Madam Secretary's Kat Sandoval Comes Out as Queer

Though the political drama Madam Secretary long had queer visibility in the bisexual assistant Blake Moran, Kat Sandoval came in as a bit of a revelation. Played by Sara Ramirez, the character had her own on-screen coming out moment after helping to protect queer and trans refugees who were the victims of human rights abuses. Her explanation of queerness in the moment is *chef's kiss.*

'One Day at a Time's Elena Comes Out as Gay

Coming out often isn't a one and done thing. For many of us, it's a practice we end up repeating multiple times as evidenced Elena's story arc on One Day at a Time. Aftr she begins to discovr her own sexuality she let's her family in on the news, coming out to her mother, and then other members of the family. Her grandmother's reaction strikes the show's perfect balance of heartfelt and comedic.

But later in the episode the truly heartwrenching moment occurs. When her father reacts negatively to Elena's coming out, standing her up for the father daughter dance at her quinceanera, the rest of her family is there to show her the love she needs.

'Andi Mack's Cyrus Goodman Comes Out as Gay

While Cyrus Goodman on Disney Channel's Andi Mack was already known to be gay, for quite a bit the character never spoke the words. That's until he decided to tell his friend Jonah Beck about his sexuality. He notably had a crush on Beck previously. This has an imprint on our memory for a few reasons: one the seamlessness with which he works it into the conversation, the way the news is received, and the fact that it's all done on a show for teens. The scene has gone down in history as the first time a Disney Channel character has uttered the words "I'm gay."

'Ellen's Ellen Comes Out as Gay

Talk about making history. You really can't discuss coming out scenes and television without discussing "The Puppy Episode" from Ellen. Written in part by Ellen DeGeneres herself -- Ellen played the lead character Ellen Morgan, -- the episode features Laura Dern in the role of Susan, who ends up coming on to Ellen. Ellen decisively turns down those advances as she did not identify as queer. Later, Ellen comes out to herself, then to her friends, and finally in the penultimate, a bit of a heart wrenching scene Susan (and an entire airport.) The episode's airing coincided with DeGeneres' own coming out.