Why are there so many lesbian cops in pop culture???
A new Lesbian Cop has dropped.
In the latest episode of the Disney+ series Hawkeye, we got to meet a new member of the Lesbian Cop Club, Wendy Conrad. While she may be the latest queer character to be introduced into the MCU, she shares a long legacy with other lesbian cops in TV and movies.
Throughout TV and movie history, lesbians and cops are like peanut butter and jelly, and it seems like half of the time a TV show or movie (that isn't about lesbians) has an adult lesbian character, she's a cop.
Why is this? Well, it certainly makes the lesbian characters more palatable to conservatives and moderates. She may be eating her wife's [redacted], but at least she's also harassing the homeless and arresting Black people! *eye roll*
It's also interesting to note how many of these lesbian cops are women of color. Again, queer women of color are more easily accepted by "average Americans" if they're helping to uphold the systems that oppress them.
This list is far from exhaustive. Lesbian cops appear in many more shows and movies, so many that we can't include them all here. It also doesn't include other queer cops like the bisexual Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and nonbinary detective Brianna Bishop in the short-lived series Deputy.
Specter- 'Onward'
The lesbian cyclops cop herself! Disney's first lesbian character in a movie was voiced by Lena Waithe.
Wendy Conrad- 'Hawkeye'
The newest addition to the club, NYPD officer Wendy Conrad (played by Adetinpo Thomas) has a few lines in the fourth episode of the Marvel show. Even though she shares a name with a comics character, don't expect much more from her in the MCU.
Nicole Haught- 'Wynonna Earp'
One of the best lesbian TV characters of all time, Officer Haught, played by out actress Kat Barrell, will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Wendy Carr- 'Mindhunter'
Wendy, played by Anna Torv, starts as a psychologist and educator in Boston, but becomes a behavioral science consultant for the FBI.
Stef Foster- 'The Fosters'
Teri Polo starred opposite Sherri Saum as a lesbian cop who adopts and fosters a group of kids with her wife in this Freeform series.
Arleen Gonzales- 'Law & Order: LA'
Rachel Ticotin played Lt. Gonzalez, a commanding officer of the LAPD in this procedural.
Bethany Mayfair- 'Blindspot'
Marianne Jean-Baptiste played this lesbian FBI assistant director in the first two seasons of Blindspot.
Grace Billets and Kizmin Rider- 'Bosch'
Played by Amy Aquino and Rose Rollins, these two are detectives with the LAPD and girlfriends.
Diana Berrigan- 'White Collar'
A lesbian FBI agent played by Marsha Thomason, she was originally a probationary agent but became part of the main cast in seasons 2-6.
Kima Greggs- 'The Wire'
Shakima "Kima" Greggs is a lesbian cop in the Baltimore Police Department played by Sonja Sohn.
Laurel Hester- 'Freeheld'
Julianne Moore played this real-life lesbian police officer who fought for her domestic partner's right to receive pension benefits in this drama co-starring Elliot Page, Michael Shannon, and Steve Carell.
Gail Peck and Frankie Anderson- 'Rookie Blue'
These two lesbian cops got together in season six of the police procedural.
Jackie Quiñones- 'Hightown'
The main character of the show, Quinones is a National Marine Fisheries Service Agent who gets involved in a murder investigation. She's played by Monica Raymund.
Maggie Sawyer- 'Supergirl'
Played by Floriana Lima, Maggie Sawyer was a cop who became Alex Danvers' love interest and helped her to come out.
Eunice Noon and Teri Darego- 'The End of the F***ing World'
A lesbian FBI agent played by Marsha Thomason, she was originally a probationary agent but became part of the main cast in seasons 2-6.
Tammy Gregorio- 'NCIS: New Orleans'
Vanessa Ferlito played this Washington FBI Special Agent who came out in season three of the show. She was the first main LGBTQ+ character in the NCIS franchise.
Danielle Ferrington- 'The Fall'
A police officer played by Niamh McGrady.
Abigail "Tommy" Thomas- 'Tommy'
Edie Falco starred as the titular lesbian cop who becomes the first female Chief of Police for the LAPD in this show that lasted one season.
