For a 1990s magical girl anime, Sailor Moon gave its viewers a variety of inclusive LGBTQ+ characters to fall in love with and be inspired by. Unfortunately for the United States, much of that queerness was censored in the original English dub, with Michiru and Haruka being reframed as cousins, Zoisite being a girl, and the last season never even being adapted at all.
However, when Viz Media re-dubbed the original Sailor Moon series, these LGBTQ characters were finally depicted as the creators intended. This inclusivity also extends to Sailor Moon Crystal, the reboot anime of Sailor Moon that follows the manga more closely. Now, fans can enjoy a cast of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and genderqueer characters with magical powers and complex personalities in both subbed and dubbed form. While some queer characters are more apparent in the series, others are more vague and even theorized by fans.
Updated by Lauren Younkin on June 8, 2025: Even with its debut being over 30 years ago, the original Sailor Moon is still one of the most progressive anime out there in terms of the wide array of queer identities depicted among its cast. This list has been updated to reflect further characters that audiences view as being queer-coded and to comply with CBR’s current standards of formatting.
Usagi Tsukino Is Canonically Bi or Pansexual
She's Inspired Many Different Generations of Women
Usagi Tsukino is the show’s main protagonist who leads her team of Sailor Guardians to fight villains that try to take over Tokyo. As the series’ leading heroine, it’s only natural that she’s at the center of much of the romance in the story. Apart from her central love story with Mamoru, Usagi experiences plenty of other romantic encounters. In every adaptation, Usagi is seen gawking at both male and female characters, and gender doesn’t seem to matter much when it comes to her romantic feelings. Approximately half of her crushes in the show are not cisgender men as well, namely Haruka Tenoh and Seiya Kou.
Usagi often makes comments about how pretty other girls are, eluding to her possible attraction of the same gender. In the end, Usagi chooses Mamoru Chiba, but marrying Mamoru does not erase her potential bisexuality or pansexuality. Thus, Usagi remains an LGBTQ+ icon at the heart of the Sailor Moon franchise.
Fish Eye Is Gay & Possibly Non-Binary or Gender-Nonconforming
He Gives Much-Needed Representation for Genderqueer Individuals
Fish Eye is a part of the Amazon Trio in the Dead Moon Circus, who are featured in the Dream arc of Sailor Moon. The other two members of the group — Tiger’s Eye and Hawk’s Eye — look for female victims, while Fish Eye exclusively looks for men as his. When hunting for a new victim, Fish Eye uses his charm and appeal to seduce various men into his traps. He often takes a more feminine form, dressing in hyper-femme attire while referring to himself as a woman.
It’s never really confirmed what Fish Eye’s true gender identity is, though a few hints are dropped here and there. Though he uses he/him pronouns, Fish Eye seems to be most comfortable when presenting in a more feminine manner. Given this, it’s safe to say that Fish Eye is non-binary in some regard, or at the very least gender-nonconforming.
Haruka Tenoh Is a Non-Binary Lesbian
It's Rare to See This Type of Character in Almost All Forms of Media
Haruka Tenoh, also known as Sailor Uranus, is considered a handsome boy by most of the main characters at first glance. Likewise, just about anyone who first meets her mistakes her for a cisgender male due to how she normally presents herself. However, it’s stated within the series that Haruka is actually «both man and woman,» as indicated by her interchangeable masculine and feminine fashion sense. In addition, Haruka is also in a romantic relationship with Michiru Kaioh, who fights by her side as Sailor Neptune.
Haruka and Michiru’s relationship has faced a good deal of censorship in the US with the English dub. The dub attempted to alter the romantic relationship between the two by painting them as «cousins.» Despite the US’ best attempt, this didn’t really work considering that Haruka and Michiru’s on-screen interactions were never changed. Even fans who grew up only watching the English dub were able to understand that the two were far too intimate to be cousins.
While it is up to fans to interpret what she means by «both man and woman,» Haruka is non-binary concerning her presentation, gender identity, and pronoun usage. Fans speculate she could be intersex, while others state that she could be bigender or genderfluid. Regardless of her gender identity, Haruka remains an iconic LGBTQ+ character within the series, and her relationship with Micihiru is a fan-favorite to this day.
Michiru Kaioh Is a Lesbian in a Committed Relationship With Haruka
Michiru Stands for All Femme Women of the World
Michiru Kaioh, also known as Sailor Neptune, is the romantic partner of Haruka Tenoh and can often be seen by her side. These two are a dynamic duo in both their civilian and Sailor Guardian identities, and it’s clear from the start that they share a very special bond. Haruka and Michiru trust each other above all else, working together like a flawless, well-oiled machine. Throughout the series, characters often note how incredible they are together, and even Usagi and the main girls can’t help but fawn over their rock-solid relationship.
Viewers get to see how much these two characters love each other through their sacrifices in the show, such as Sailor Uranus ending her own life once she sees Sailor Neptune killed by the talisman as it’s taken out of her body. Another instance is in the final arc of the series, when the two join forces to deceive Sailor Galaxia in hopes of helping Sailor Moon. No matter what trial comes their way, Michiru and Haruka always face it all together. Their unshakeable love is nothing short of inspiring and has easily made them the fan-favorite couple.
Zoisite Is Gay & Gender-Nonconforming in the '90s Anime
While Not the Same in Every Adaptation, That Doesn't Take Away From His Queerness
In the case of Zoisite, a henchman of Queen Beryl and Queen Metalia in Sailor Moon‘s first arc, his manga counterpart isn’t portrayed as LGBTQ+ in any way. Likewise, in Sailor Moon Crystal, Zoisite appears to be a cishetero man. In this version of the story, he’s considered one of the Princes of Heaven, a knight for Prince Endymion who is meant to be with one of the inner Sailor Guardians.
Similar to Michiru and Haruka’s censorship, Zoisite was also a victim of the American adaptation. In an attempt to erase the gay relationship between Kunzite and Zoisite, Zoisite was presented as a woman. This is likely due to fear of backlash from parents who wouldn’t want their children watching a gay romance unfold. That being said, despite the censorship, fans know exactly what was originally intended for this character.
However, in the ’90s anime, Zoisite is shown to be in a romantic relationship with Kunzite, and the two seem to be very much in love. Apart from this, Zoisite is also known for disguising himself in feminine-presenting attire, often posing as a woman when targeting unsuspecting victims in the same vein as Fish Eye. There’s nothing indicating that he’s trans or non-binary, but at the very least, Zoisite is definitely gender-nonconforming. Either way, he’s one of many LGBTQ+ characters featured in the ’90s adaptation of the series.
Kunzite Is Gay & In Love With Zoisite in the '90s Anime
His Hatred for the Sailor Guardians Stems From His Heartbreak
In the ’90s anime, Kunzite was almost always seen at the side of Zoisite in the presence of Queen Beryl. There was even a point where one of them stated they would rather die in each other’s arms than be parted, seeing the latter as a far worse fate. Throughout Sailor Moon‘s first arc, it’s clear that Kunzite is madly in love with Zoisite. He even vows to avenge his beloved partner after his death, and his attacks on Sailor Moon and the rest of the Sailor Guardians become much more ruthless and hate-fueled as a result.
Like Zoisite, in the original manga and Sailor Moon Crystal, Kunzite is yet another knight for Prince Endymion and meant to be with one of the Sailor Guardians instead. Given this fact, Kunzite’s queer identity in the ’90s Sailor Moon isn’t accurate to the source material. However, fans still love the representation, and Kunzite and Zoisite’s romance remains a favorite even now.
Fiore's Obsession with Mamoru Has Led Fans to Believe He Is Gay
Subtext Between Characters Exists for a Reason
Fiore is an anime-only character and the main antagonist in Sailor Moon R: The Movie. He has a strong history with Mamoru Chiba, which has driven him to near-obsession. An alien from a far-off planet, Fiore once came to Earth as a young child. Here, he meets and befriends Mamoru, who happens to be the first friend he ever made. Mamoru gives him a red rose as a gift, which leads Fiore to search for the perfect flower to give to Mamoru in return.
This promise is what drives Fiore as a villain, as he goes to any lengths necessary to find what he’s looking for. While he never officially comes out as gay in the film, most fans view him as LGBTQ+ due to his actions nonetheless. These indicate his strong love and desire for Mamoru, which many believe goes far beyond mere platonic feelings.
Seiya Kou Is Most Likely Non-Binary & a Lesbian
Her Go-To Disguise Being a Man's Appearance Leaves Room for Interpretation
Seiya Kou, also known as Sailor Star Fighter, finds herself on planet Earth trying to find Princess Kakyuu after their planet is destroyed. She presents as male in her human disguise, singing as a part of the boy band The Three Lights. Upon her arrival, she takes an immediate interest in Usagi, and they become close as the last arc of the show progresses. By the series’ end, Seiya admitted that she fell completely for Usagi despite Usagi’s commitment to Mamoru.
The topic of Seiya’s gender has always been a heated discussion among Sailor Moon fans. While she has both a female and male form in the ’90s anime, Seiya is always female in the manga and merely disguises herself as a man. Overall, the general consensus seems to be that she and the other Starlights are non-binary and are often counted among the popular LGBTQ+ characters within the series.
Taiki Kou Is Non-Binary & Thought To Be Queer
Yet Another Starlight With a Rather Ambiguous Gender Identity
Taiki Kou, also known as Sailor Star Maker, faithfully tags alongside her leader Sailor Star Fighter, also known as Seiya Kou. Just like Seiya, she presents as male in her human disguise, letting everyone know that she is a guy. She also sings as part of the boy band The Three Lights. Much like her beloved leader, Taiki’s gender identity is a highly debated topic in the fandom, with most believing her to be non-binary in some fashion.
Unfortunately for Taiki, she never gets a true love interest in the series, as most of the story centers on Seiya’s growing feelings for Usagi. Still, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t see any sort of romance. Fans have picked up on a hinted attraction between Taiki and Ami Mizuno, otherwise known as Sailor Mercury. Though this relationship isn’t canon, it confirms in most fans’ minds that Taiki is at least queer, if not a lesbian.
Yaten Kou Is Non-Binary & Possibly Asexual or Queer
Her Lack of Interest in Other Characters Points Towards a Lack of Sexual Attraction
Yaten Kou, also known as Sailor Star Healer, is the third member of the Sailor Starlights and fights alongside Taiki and Seiya as their partner. Just like the other two, she presents as male, states that she is a man when among regular Earth humans, and performs as part of The Three Lights. Likewise, Yaten’s gender has also been called into question, with many believing her to be non-binary, much like her fellow Starlights.
Similar to Taiki, Yaten was never given a true love interest in the show. In fact, Yaten never showed interest in men or women alike apart from friendship. This has led some fans to see her as asexual. However, just as many believe she could be queer or lesbian, and many tend to ship her with Minako Aino, a.k.a. Sailor Venus. The two formed a strong bond in the last arc of the series, though it never became anything more than friendship.
