12 Queer-Coded Nickelodeon Characters From The 1990s

Nickelodeon has had queer representation for decades

Anyone who didn’t picture themselves getting slimed on Nickelodeon at some point during the 1990s missed out on a huge part of life.

Outside of the surprisingly tasty dessert treat, Nickelodeon was rife with TV shows and movies that helped shape our childhoods and often our overall lives, as well. Many of these characters also had a place within the LGBTQ+ communities, and writers and creators at Nickelodeon gave us a voice on television when representation was still minuscule.

Although it took around 30 years for the representation to be what it is now, here’s a look at 12 Nickelodeon characters from the 1990s who were either queer or queer-coded.

1. Ed Bighead, Rocko's Modern Life

Mr. Ed Bighead was a grumpy neighbor on Rocko’s Modern Life, and the season 4 episode “Closet Clown” had him realizing he was a member of the LGBTQ+ community. After berating a clown and saying no one “liked their kind,” he realized he actually enjoyed being one for himself. His coming out was well-received, and his wife maintained that she was just happy he hadn’t been cheating on her.

2. Rachel Bighead, Rocko's Modern Life

Alongside her father, Rachel Bighead, born as Ralph, is revealed to be a transgender woman working in an ice cream truck. Granted, this wasn’t revealed until Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling was released in 2019, but we'll take it all the same. The writers teamed up with GLAAD to avoid controversy and let the arc be told as it needed to and solidified themselves as allies.

3. Harriet the Spy

Nickelodeon’s first major studio film was Harriet the Spy, a spy-comedy based on the 1964 novel of the same name by lesbian author Louise Fitzhugh. Harriet herself was presented as a tomboy in the text, and although her sexuality itself was never addressed, many believe that Fitzhugh modeled the character after herself, and she remains an icon in queer culture either way.

4. Mr. Simmons, Hey Arnold!

​Fourth-grade teacher Mr. Simmons is a fan-favorite on Hey Arnold! During the show’s original airing, many people speculated on his sexuality, and series creator Craig Bartlett eventually set the record straight (or, rather gay) during the promotion of Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie. While addressing fan theories, he admitted that Peter, whom we meet during a Thanksgiving episode, is, in fact, Mr. Simmons’s partner.

5. Marco, Animorphs

​Animorphs was a popular book series in the 90s and is one of my personal all-time favorites. The books received a brief stint as a TV show on Nickelodeon for two seasons. While one of the Animorphs, Marco, never had anything addressed in the series as to his sexuality, co-writer of the series Michael Grant tweeted that Marco was bi and claimed it as canon. In the show, the series also ends with Marco dancing alongside Ax, an alien in human morph in a move that went judgment-free from the rest of the school.

6. Betty DeVille, Rugrats

I don’t think it comes as a shock to anybody that Betty DeVille from Rugrats, Phil and Lil’s awesomely incredible mom, is a lesbian. Like Rachel Bighead, this wasn’t something that was officially revealed until the 2021 reboot. Regardless, she’s been an icon in the queer community for decades and represents what it's like to be a strong and independent woman while raising two kids, and her no-nonsense attitude made her one of the best characters on the show.

7. Ren and Stimpy

Ren and Stimpy were quite the duo during their stint on the show named after them. Their relationship has come under much speculation over the years as to whether they were officially in a relationship together or just really, really, really close friends. Show creator John Kricfalusi has never confirmed nor denied any rumors, but the homosexual subtext throughout the series has been embedded into queer culture.

8. SpongeBob and Patrick, SpongeBob Squarepants

Many years of speculation went behind the relationship between the titular character SpongeBob Squarepants and his bestie, Patrick Star. The show originally premiered in 1999 and carries on through the present day, and Nickelodeon confirmed SpongeBob’s sexuality in a Pride post in 2020. Granted, they never identified his actual sexuality, so he may also be bisexual, but fans can still rest well in their thoughts of SpongeBob and Patrick keeping each other warm at night.

9. Sandy Cheeks, SpongeBob Squarepants

Another SpongeBob character whose sexuality is constantly under speculation is Sandy Cheeks. Sandy, however, is more often referred to as asexual, which is an identity that’s often overlooked when people discuss sexualities. Whether she’s a lesbian or asexual, she’s still an important member of the community and is one of the most entertaining characters on the show.

10. Alex Mack, The Secret World of Alex Mack

While Alex Mack on The Secret World of Alex Mack never outright came out as a lesbian, her fashion trends at least became pivotal for lesbian influence. Her backward cap, jean overalls, and tomboy attitude are often speculated as closeted lesbian, especially considering the early 1990s run the show originally had. Needless to say, if we were given either a reboot or a continuation with Alex Mack later in life, it’s likely she’d be out and proud.

11. Debbie Thornberry, The Wild Thornberrys

Debbie Thornberry is the sister of Eliza on The Wild Thornberrys, and although she never outright came out of the closet, her baggy jeans, flannels, and angsty journaling about being misunderstood established her as a staple closeted lesbian.

12. Reggie Rocket, Rocket Power

Rocket Power is the best underrated Nickelodeon show, if you ask me. One of the best characters is none other than Reggie, older sister to Otto, who also helped me find out I was gay when I had a little cartoon crush on him as a child. When Reggie started bringing around her “friend” Dani, speculation grew about her sexuality, and although nothing was ever confirmed, this badass skateboarding legend is hailed in the queer community either way.