300 episodes: As of this very day, that’s how long Grey’s Anatomy has been on air. This evening, the show will join a very small and exclusive club. It will also become the first female produced and lead television show to hold such an honor.
During its time on air Grey’s has given its queer female audience more than a few memories. There have been three queer women regulars on Grey’s Anatomy; Callie, Arizona, and for two seasons in the middle, Leah. The show also produced four queer women reoccurring characters; Penny, Eliza, Carina and Erica. That’s seven women who helped open some minds and make a more realistic representation of the world. Taken together, they make up the largest cohort of its kind in network television history. Grey’s Anatomy also gave us the largest and most celebrated gay wedding on a network television drama to date, and the most heart-wrenching lesbian divorce this side of Bette and Tina. Not to even mention, of course, the longest running queer character on network television!
Sometimes, simply being there in the long haul matters. It counts. Even when it gets boring and overlooked because you always know you can depend on it. Come Thursday, you can always get your fix. There are always another episode waiting for you in your Netflix queue. Grey’s has been that comfort blanket for a lot of us. I want to hightlight that familiarity and say: thank you.
There’s a lot to celebrate! Let’s take a little winding trip down memory lane. Indulge in a little nostalgia, if you will. Without further adeu, here are my Completely Un-Scientific Ranking of Grey’s Anatomy’s 30 Greatest Gay and Trans Moments over the last 300 hours of our lives together:
30. Penny existed. And no, I’m still not ready to talk about it. (Season 12)
Oh “Perfect Penny”.
I am sure that there are some Penny Blake fans out there. I am not here to rain on your parade. She made the list, okay?? That’s what I have to give her. Plus, let’s look at it like this: Callie moving herself and Sofia cross-country, stalling her career and isolating herself from her friends in the process, over a woman she’s been dating for just a few months, is essentially U-Hauling on steroids.
29. “You Can’t be Kind of a Lesbian” (Episode 5.07 “Rise Up”)
I’m not going to say that this type of biphobia doesn’t exist within queer women’s communities. It does.That why I’m including it in the list.
But man, this hurts.
28. Callie Dancing in her Underwear, Part 1 (Episode 3.02 “I Am A Tree”) and Part 2 (Episode 10.5 “I Bet It Stung”)
Oh wait… there’s more…
Sexy? YES! Specifically gay? If we are counting my feelings watching these scenes, then also Yes.
27. This Quiet, Subtle Moment from the Sweetest Old Lesbian Couple (Episode 7.05 “Almost Grown”)
Joanne: A trainee? Cutting into Ellie’s brain? No.
Derek: I know it sounds like a leap, but these doctors study and assist for years. At some point, we have to let them operate. It’s how we make new surgeons.
Joanne: Let them learn on someone else.
Ellie: Who? Someone who’s too scared to interrogate the doctors? They have to learn on someone, might as well be an old lady.
Joanne: You’re my old lady. This should be my call.
Ellie: You’re a teacher, Joanne. Let the kids learn.
Joanne: [to Derek] She’s my life. She has been my life for 40 years. Do you hear me?
Cue the waterworks. I know that for a lot of people, this less than a minute of dialogue will barely register as a blip. But whenever I see this scene, my heart leaps. Ellie has been Joanne’s entire world for 40 years, and no one bats an eye.These are the type of small moments of recognition that I wish were normalized across all of television.
26. This Young Trans Couple Came to Wreck Your Hearts (Episode 9.14 “The Face of Change”)
Brian and Jess first met at a transgender support group in Seattle. Jess was taken away by Brian from the first moment she saw him, but never thought he’d notice her. Brian tells her that would’ve been impossible. Today is Brian’s top surgery; he’s been saving up forever for it. Brian’s father shows up at the last minute. He becomes violent, misgendering his son and blaming Jess for things that are nobody’s fault. Because there is no “fault” in being trans, it’s natural as breathing air.
Jess remains firm, she will be there for Brian throughout his surgery. She’s his family now. Brian comes through just fine, and his father isn’t there when he wakes up, but Jess is. She’s still holding his hand. She never left.
25. Arizona’s Brother Tim Couldn’t Wait To Dance So Hard At Her Wedding (Episode 7.20 “White Wedding”)
But he died serving in the army. He didn’t get to live to see it. I’m not crying! You’re crying!
24. Callie Worries that She’s “Not a Good Enough” Lesbian (Episode 7.05 “Almost Grown”)
Callie: She’s a much better lesbian. I mean, I was sort of a late bloomer in that area, but she’s got this whole circle of lesbian friends, you know? It’s just like, like this subculture. And, uh, I’m always just… I’m always just a little bit left out, Just a little bit talked down to because I have a long history of enjoying sex with men, which I don’t think is something I have to apologize for.
You are damn right that you have nothing to apologize for. You are doing great, sweetie!
23. Leah “I’m All About that Kinsey Scale Life, Yo!” Murphy (Episode 10.06 “Map of You”)
May we all be lucky enough to slide over to Arizona’s way one day.
24. Callie Torres Just Wants to Have Pizza and Beer in Bed with Her Wife, OK? And Have Lots and Lots of Sex. (Episode 8.06 “Poker Face”)
Listen, I’m not saying that this scene started a lot of my personal fantasies and taught me some things about myself. But I’m also not not saying it, if you know what I mean.
23. Dr. Webber is the World’s Greatest Wingman, We Should Have Known it All Along (Episode 12.07 “Something Against You”)
20. Rosalind Warren Makes Her Debut (Episode 11.02 “The Great Pretender”)
This episode is somewhat of a mixed bag. On the positive side of things, we are introduced to a trans character directly related to a series regular, Dr. Ben Warren. We also get to watch Dr. Miranda Bailey model good allyship and demonstrate best practices of how to cope with a family member’s coming out. That’s incredibly important to have on one of the most watched nights of television.
On the other hand, Rosalind is played by a cis male actor, which only furthers the malicious and incorrect stereotype that trans women aren’t really “women”. Also, after this episode Rosalind isn’t mentioned again until SEASON 14! There was so much potential for Rosalind’s future on the show, but Grey’s didn’t commit to making the jump.
19. Calzona Shower Sex (episode 6.11 “Blink”)
Need I say more?
18. Callie Runs from her Queerness, Declares She’s a “Huge Fan of Penis” (Episode 4.13 “Piece of My Heart”)
Sometimes it takes our best friends to help us see ourselves clearly. Addison certainly was that person for Callie, asking “Do you speak the Vagina Monologues now?”
And sometimes, when we see ourselves for the first real time, we run as fast as we can in the opposite direction. It happens. This is a judgement free zone.
17. Eliza Minnick has game. Arizona Robbins has better game. (Episode 13.09 “You Haven’t Done Nothin”)
Point. Set. Match.
16. Callie Needs Rules for “Exploring the Motherland” (Episode 5.04 “Brave New World”)
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaawkard. The most awkward first date I have ever seen. Which also means it’s also the most realistic first date I’ve ever seen.
15. Alexandra Billings is Brilliant in Every Role She Takes On, Her Episode of Grey’s Anatomy is No Different (Episode 3.07 “Where the Boys Are”)
Donna (Alexandra Billings) and her wife Vicky are in for Donna’s gender affirmation surgery. Donna’s pre-op labs show that she has breast cancer. Her hormones are essentially feeding the tumor. If she continues with the treatment she will most certainly die.
Donna continues with the surgery anyway. She would rather die as herself than live another moment as somebody else. Vicky worries, and almost leaves, but ultimately returns to her side. Where was she going to go, she wonders. Donna is her very best friend.
14. Grey’s tackles “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (Episode 4.14 “The Becoming”)
Todd and Darren share a love that dare not speak its name.
Yes, “soldiers in love” is trite and cliché. But I dare you to watch this and not cry. I DARE YOU.
13. Seriously, Everything About Dr. Carina DeLuca (Season 14)
https://youtu.be/EHjuuCTrMZE?t=55s
I cannot believe that in its 14th season, Grey’s Anatomy is still bestowing us with such gifts. The show is arguably bolder, funnier, and more feminist than it ever was before (and that’s saying a lot!). No character demonstrates that narrative growth better than Dr. Orgasm DeLuca
12. Arizona Robbins is the Shane McCutcheon of Grey Sloan Memorial (Episode 8.18 “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”)
Arizona: Her. And Her. Hmm, and her? Over by the soda machine? Yeah, twice.
Callie: Ok, that’s Noelle. She’s not even gay.
Arizona: Well, she was that night.
WELL. SHE. WAS. THAT. NIGHT.
11. L-E-G-E-N-D-A-R-Y (Episode 12.01 “Sledgehammer”)
Being a Shane sometimes has its own drawbacks, ya know?
10. Wilson Cruz Visits to Fight the Good Fight Against DOMA (Episode 7.12 “Start Me Up”)
Kyle: This was supposed to be the best day of our lives. You think I’m silly, I know. With the horses and the bagpipes. So does he. We don’t get marriage in Washington. We get domestic partnerships. We get to go to city hall, stand in line, and sign some papers. So call me crazy, but I just wanted the big day that everybody else gets.
And I fought for it. I organized rallies. I stood in the cold outside the statehouse. I had some neanderthal throw hot coffee on me. I fought for a wedding. And waited. And they still said no.
So when we got tired of waiting, and Brady and I went to go sign the papers, I wanted it to be special. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. And I wanted it to feel like that, not like some trip to the DMV. I wanted it to be special.
Amen.
9. Leah Murphy Turns Out to be a Category 10 Clinger (Season 10)
Some of you will argue with this being ranked so high, but if Leah’s 0-100 approach to love isn’t the gayest thing you’ve seen on television, I truly don’t know what is.
8. Calzona’s First “I Love You” (Episode 6.08 “Invest in Love”)
It was quiet, shy even. It played over the closing credits. Nevertheless, it was an “I love you” heard ‘round the world.
7. Arizona Robbins: Lesbian-ic. (episode 12.12 “My Next Life”)
You can see her gayness from space.
6. The B in There Doesn’t Just Stand for Badass! (Episode 11.05 “Bend and Break”)
Bisexual Badass Callie Torres, played by actual Bisexual Badass Sara Ramirez. Bless.
5. This Little Ball of Perfection Right Here. (Episode 12.16 “When It Hurts So Bad”)
Sofia Robbin Sloan Torres. For the record.
4. “You Can’t Pray Away the Gay!” (Episode 6.05 “Invasion”)
Mr. Torres: Leviticus: Thou shall not lie with a man as one lies with a female, it is an abomination
Callie: Oh, don’t do that daddy! Don’t quote the bible at me!
Mr. Torres: The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and the sin is exceedingly grave.
Callie: Jesus: A new commandment that I give unto you, that you love one another.
Mr. Torres: Romans: but we know that laws–
Callie: Jesus: he, who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone…
Mr. Torres: So you admit it’s a sin?
Callie: Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy! Jesus: blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God! Jesus: blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Jesus is my savior daddy, not you! And Jesus would be ashamed of you for judging me! He would be ashamed of you for turning your back on me. He would be ashamed.
… Is there a more classic moment in all of Grey’s Anatomy history?
I think not.
3. The Entirety of Episode 12.01 “Sledgehammer.” Yes, really. The entire episode.
I wish that I could quote all 43 minutes of this episode to you directly. It’s an absolute love letter to the young queer women who have been such a backbone of the Grey’s Anatomy fandom.
Jess and Alia are high school girlfriends in love. They arrive at Grey Sloan Memorial after a mutual suicide attempt, and it’s gut wrenching from the very first moment you see them. Jess thinks that dying is the only way they will be able to stay together (I really wish that Romeo and Juliet came with trigger warnings for young readers). The girls are bullied at school, Alia is afraid to come out to her Muslim father, and Jess’ right-wing parents are sending her to a Gay Conversion Camp. It’s awful and bleak.
But, Callie sits with Jess and rubs her head. She tells her that she’s bisexual. That it will get better one day. Oh, and then Maggie punches out Jess’ homophobic mom! Arizona cheers her on, of course. And then Alia’s father turns out to be the warmest teddy bear who loves his daughter and only wants her happiness! And then Jess and Alia get a happy ending of sorts!
You will cry everyone of your gay feelings into a popcorn bowl until snot is sniveling down your nose and your eyes are red and puffy.
Just… do yourself the favor of firing up your Netflix queue and re-watching this one.
2. Callie and Arizona’s Wedding (Episode 7.20 “White Wedding”)
The only one of its kind in all of network television.
1. “You Are Glasses” (Episode 5.06 “Life During Wartime”)
No explanation needed. Ten years later, and many a queer woman can still quote this monologue directly from memory. Let’s do it one more time, together, for old time’s sake:
Erica: When I was a kid, I would get these headaches, and I went to the doctor, and they said that I needed glasses. I get the glasses, and I put them on, and I’m in the car on the way home, and suddenly I yell. Because the big green blobs that I had been staring at my whole life, they weren’t big green blobs. They were leaves on trees. And I didn’t even know I was missing the leaves. I didn’t even know that leaves existed, and then…leaves! You, [Callie Torres] are glasses.
Did I miss any of your favorites? I’m sure I did! I’m sorry in advance. (You’ll notice that I skipped a lot of seasons 9-12, or as I like to call them Calzona: The Dark Years). Do you disagree with my completely made up ratings system? I look forward to hearing you passionately tell me your thoughts in the comment section!
Happy 300th, Grey’s Anatomy. You’ve had your ups and you’ve had your downs, but through it all you have been steadfast. You’ve been there. And for that, we thank you.
tbh, i hate penny so much i’d forgotten about her until this. everything else is perfect though.
Alaina! This made me laugh so hard. I also had a similar expierence with Eliza while making the list- I was about half way through and then had to double back! I had almost completely forgotten her!
31. Calzona sparked my gay awakening.
Oof. I havent watched this show in a couple years but dang if I don’t have some tears in my eyes just from REMEMBERING this stuff.
I also have a soft spot for Worst Intern Leah. She was an embarrassing mess and I would watch an entire spinoff about her.
Re: the “glasses” speech though, that has always made me so uncomfortable? Life if anybody ever said anything vaguely like that to me (unlikely, tbh) I would run away so fast.
Finally, i love your writing! You have such a joyful voice, I’m always pumped to see your name up there!
oh my goodness, that is such a kind thing to say, thank you @dufrau!
And I think that the thing about the glasses speech is that on its own, divorced from the show, it’s a great analogy about queerness.
But, in the actual context of when those words are said- I definitely don’t blame Callie for feeling overwhelmed. That’s A LOT all at once.
I am so, so, so gay. I am extremely gay.
Oh, Oh! Leisha Hailey played straight, but there was a lesbian character named Alice in the same episode. Had to be intentional. And also the literally 7 Tegan and Sara songs in S1-S3. I started the series a week ago, haven’t reached peak gay yet.
Oh fun! There’s nothing like the first time! Enjoy!
I know this is a hot topic but Dr. Lauren Boswell (aka Dr. Peyton) for sure is in my personal top 5 gay moments of the past 300 episodes of Grey’s. I know it was Arizona cheating and all but that scene in the on-call room during the thunderstorm…and just everything about Lauren/Arizona’s chemistry…Set me on fire.
I… do not disagree
Yes!
Arizona broke my heart along with Callie’s but that on-call room scene made me longing for more.
UGH SHE WAS SO *nnnnggggffffff*
(tbh would be down for a Hilarie Burton return if we’re never going to see Sara Ramirez again…)
I… do not disagree Again
I LOVED Lauren because I wanted the queer ladies to be treated the same as everyone else on the show, and everyone else on the show cheats with abandon. Plus it was hot.
OMG. Their chemistry is what made Penny and Mizic, etc. seem so awkward to me! They ruined all the rest! Dr. DeLuca helped, though. Reassured me that they can sometimes find WLW chemistry on this show intentionally.
Your explanation of #9 is the most accurate thing I’ve read all day.
This list put a smile on my face. I stopped watching the show ages ago, but I still did during #1 and that is a well deserved top spot, because the whole glasses thing was so natural and raw and unexpected and my gf at the time was just dealing with her bisexuality and she really needed that moment and I think the world at the time, did too.
I still wonder if my ex would have grown to be more comfortable in her skin if Erica Hahn hadn’t walked off into that parking lot or if she had stuck around until Arizona.
What a thing to be wondering about.
Callie and Erica’s first kiss takes me back to all my baby gay feelings.
MEMORIES!
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were.
Oh wow, what a fantastic list. Great job, CP!
So many memories here…
Wilson Cruz fighting Against DOMA made me cry like a baby at the time the episode aired, Autostraddle had a beautiful article about Callie and Arizona’s wedding, Sara Ramirez singing The Story would have made my personal list, though…
thank you, Shonda. For everything.
This is an awesome list! I’m going to watch a couple of the eps in this list tonight!
I started watching Grey’s before I even knew I was queer, and I’ve changed and grown as a person so much, and I’m sure the show helped some of it. Some times I love it, some times I hate it, just like family :)
I came to Grey’s late, but it still meant and means so much and I got so weepy reading this list. Thank you, Carmen; thank you Shonda.
Erica was a series regular on the show too before she left through the parking lot of no return.
Some were my favorites and some could have not been on the list. Any part of the musical episode especially the Calzona Universe and U duet (though they cut most of it on the show, it is on the soundtrack). Good Man in a Storm? Bar bathroom Calzona kiss, the list can go on and on for my Calzona loving heart.
I didn’t mind Rosalind being played by a man because the character pre-transition and was still physically male. If they bring her back now post transition maybe they will recast with a trans actress (I can’t think of the one who played on Chicago Med).
However, I didn’t like the Jess and Brian story and I thought those actors were terribly miscast, Rachel Brosnahan and I don’t know the actor who played Jess but I found him playing the character too over the top.
Finally made an account just so I could comment on this. Such is the power of Callie Torres.
So I know that the Leaves on Trees monologue is every bit as important as you’ve said but for me, the big moment where I personally felt seen by the series was a little later (same ep I think) when Callie, confused and a little uneasy about said revelation, sleeps with Mark as a sort of experiment. Afterwards she talks to him about how she thought sleeping with women would be different than with men, she thought that she was also supposed to have the same intense feelings as Erica. That scene just so perfectly encapsulated my own experience figuring out I was bi. It wasn’t an issue of being afraid of being gay or straight. It was the complete confusion that comes with being both and neither.
I love this! Thank you for sharing with us.
This list reminds me of how much I love Shonda and how grateful I am for Grey’s, but it also makes me look forward to her move to Netflix…those shows are going to be so, so gay.
Unpopular opinion but trigger warnings before Romeo and Juliet? Really? That’s got to be a joke, right?
Good list though.
That’s a good question!
I think my answer is “yes and no”. I generally don’t like making “trigger warning” jokes because I believe that triggers are real for a lot, a lot of people. I couldn’t find another quippy way to word what I really meant, “I think that it’s socially irresponsible to teach a book that romanticizes teen suicide as the greatest love story to a bunch of hormonal, unstable, impulsive teenagers without giving it greater context”. There’s been quite a bit of research on the topic, actually.
If I find a better way to phrase it, I will update accordingly!
So, the TL/DR answer your question: Yes, I am being a bit hyperbolic for humor. No, I’m not joking about the potential ramifications of teaching Romeo & Juliet to teenagers.
The opening of Romeo and Juliet is the trigger warning though, right?? It’s like “this is a tragedy and all ur favs die. Let’s get to it then!”
And wasn’t the tragedy that they only killed themselves bc a GIANT MISCOMMUNICATION? Like if Romeo had just waited an hour?? IDK I hated Romeo and Juliet and also if anyone is teaching this as a romance they’re doing it wrong bc R&J is Fuckin Dumb
Agreed that it is not a romance, but a tragedy. Weirdly, our society does romanticize it, or at least the idea of being so distraught that you kill yourself being some ultimate expression of love. So in that context, I agree that there need to be more strongly-worded discussions and cautions when making kids read it.
Good point, it should definitely not be taught as a romance!
Everyone, I am SO SORRY that I forgot both the “I’m a Good Man in the Storm” speech and Callie singing “The Story” from the musical episode!!!!!
(Also an honorable mention to Callie and Arizona’s first kiss in the bathroom of Joe’s Bar)
I feel as if I have let you all down, truly. :cries: :cries: :cries: :cries:
…. Will you forgive me?
This is a sensational list, no need to apologize
Love ya! You’re doing great
This post made me dream last night that I met Erica Hahn and told her I am so, so, so gay; I am extremely gay.
I miss Cristina. She was a fantastic character. Her “he’s not the sun” speech was gold and I still think about it and consider it solid life advice for every woman.
On the other hand I’m glad that Derek is gone, such a sanctimonious ass
One of the best speeches that sometimes I want to scream at other TV characters. Well, and characters in other media (e.g. books and movies) as well. :)
I was not a huge fan of Derek, but he was a good character. I was all right with him with Meredith. They worked ok. Doesn’t change how right Christina was, though. I think most of the anger I had at him could be framed in anger at a society that values men like him much more than women like Meredith, leading to their sanctimony without
(cut off my own sentence)…any checks and balances.
You are so right, Grey’s is like a comfort blanket!