Over the course of more than three decades, The Simpsons has hinted multiple times that Lisa Simpson might be a member of the LGBTQ community. While present-day Lisa has had romantic relationships with and crushes on boys, the animated sitcom has also shown scenes set in the future, where she appears to be in relationships with women. Though those “what-ifs” scenes are not considered canon, fans can’t help but wonder whether the series’ ultimate plan is to make Lisa queer in the actual storyline.
Is Lisa Simpson queer?
The Simpsons has never confirmed Lisa Simpson as queer, but showrunner Al Jean previously said that the character identifying herself as LGBTQ later in the series is a “possibility.”
“In my opinion, and this is just my opinion, that is definitely a possibility for Lisa’s life,” Jean said in an exclusive interview with Digital Spy in September 2022. “She is open and, you know, somebody who loves everything. Why not?”
Despite that comment from the Simpsons boss, it doesn’t look like the show is going to set up a queer storyline for Lisa anytime soon, instead, the show will continue to explore Lisa’s future with one of her heterosexual crushes, Nelson Muntz.
“In an episode in the future, it’s actually her and Nelson, which is again, a little bit of a leap!” said Jean of what fans can expect from Lisa’s romantic life later in the series. “We have a show coming up where in the future Lisa might get together with Nelson and features Simu Liu from Shang Chi as Lisa’s husband.”
Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa in The Simpsons, also addressed the speculations surrounding the character’s sexuality during an appearance in the Stryker & Klein show on KROQ Radio back in 2020.
When asked if Lisa is bisexual, the voice actress said: “For me, I think Lisa definitely identifies as female, but the other thing I would say is, she’s eight, so even if you do happen to be transgender or people who are in the LGBTQ community often say ‘I knew from the get-go!’ But in my heart and soul, Lisa is 8 and she loves girly things.”
“But I totally am on board with her exploring other ways of life,” Smith continued. “If that’s what makes her happy, I’m into that. Sure thing. But, she’s 8, people. She’s 8.”
Lisa Simpson’s romantic life
Lisa Simpson was revealed to have a crush on Nelson Muntz in the episode Lisa’s Date with Density and on Langdon Alger in the episode Bart on the Road. Both installments were first aired in 1996.
Lisa is also shown with a boyfriend in some episodes. In 2010’s Treehouse of Horror XXI, Lisa is in a romantic relationship with Edmund Dracula, and in 2007’s The Simpsons Movie, Lisa and Colin are lovers.
Lisa also becomes engaged to, and later almost marries Hugh Parkfield in 1995’s Lisa’s Wedding. While 2000’s Bart to the Future and 2011’s Holidays of Future Passed both suggest that Lisa will go on to wed Milhouse Van Houten, the latter episode shows Lisa being in both a monogamous and later polyamorous, lesbian relationships.
Are there LGBT characters in The Simpsons?
Yes, The Simpsons has featured several LGBT characters over the years. Here are a few notable examples:
- Waylon Smithers Jr.: Mr. Burns’ loyal assistant, Smithers, is a prominent character who initially kept his sexual orientation a secret but eventually came out as gay in the episode The Burns Cage.
- Patty Bouvier and Selma Bouvier: Marge Simpson’s sisters, Patty and Selma, were revealed to be lesbians in the episode There’s Something About Marrying.
- John: John is a recurring character and one of Homer’s friends. He is openly gay, and his partner, voiced by John Waters, also makes appearances on the show.
- Grady: Grady is a character who has been depicted as a friend of the Simpson family. He is openly gay, and his sexual orientation is mentioned in the episode Three Gays of the Condo.
The Simpsons has been praised for its ability to address social issues, including LGBTQ+ representation, through humor and satire. While the show has made strides in including diverse characters, it has also faced criticism for the way some issues have been handled. Overall, the portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in The Simpsons reflects the evolving cultural landscape and the show’s attempts to represent a variety of experiences.
Where to watch The Simpsons
Catch Lisa Simpson and her family and friends in The Simpsons season 34 every Sunday, at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Past seasons of the series are available to stream on Disney+.