Is Percy Jackson LGBTQ? Facts, Characters, and Representation
May, 3 2025
The Percy Jackson fandom is always buzzing with questions about the characters, but one that pops up a lot is whether Percy himself is LGBTQ. Some fans look for clues in the way he forms relationships or how he talks about other people. If you’ve read all the books and still can’t tell, don’t worry—you’re not alone.
For starters, author Rick Riordan makes things pretty clear in interviews and the stories themselves: Percy Jackson is straight. His main romance in the series is with Annabeth Chase. There’s no canon moment showing him attracted to guys or expressing interest in boys. Of course, fanfiction has a field day imagining otherwise, but officially, Percy is not written as LGBTQ.
- Is Percy Jackson LGBTQ in the Books?
- How Rick Riordan Handles LGBTQ Representation
- LGBTQ Characters in the Percy Jackson Universe
- Tips for Readers Exploring LGBTQ YA Fiction
Is Percy Jackson LGBTQ in the Books?
Let’s cut to the chase: In the original Percy Jackson book series, Percy Jackson is not portrayed as LGBTQ. Rick Riordan, the author, has always written Percy as a straight, cisgender male. Throughout the story, Percy’s main love interest is Annabeth Chase. From the beginning of their friendship to their slow-burn romance, every hint and big romantic moment points to a straight pairing.
Percy never doubts or questions his sexuality in the books, nor is he shown having crushes or feelings for boys. There’s a lot of witty banter and friendship between male characters, but nothing that is meant to suggest romantic interest. In fact, Riordan has directly answered questions about this from fans. He’s said that while he’s proud of introducing more LGBTQ characters in the Percy Jackson world, Percy himself is not one of them.
Here's a quick look at Percy’s relationships and romantic storylines across the original series and the spinoffs:
- Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase: Their relationship grows from friendship, full of bickering, to a mature romance by the last book. There are no alternate canonical love interests—male or female.
- No established romantic interest in boys: Percy’s close friendships with male characters like Grover and Tyson are purely platonic and never cross into romantic territory.
Some online headcanons and fanfics run wild with the idea of Percy being bi or otherwise queer. That’s totally fine in fan spaces, but it isn’t canonical. If you’re looking for LGBTQ representation in the Percy Jackson world, the focus should shift to other, more openly queer characters introduced in later series. But when it comes to Percy himself, the answer is pretty straightforward: in the books, he’s not LGBTQ.
How Rick Riordan Handles LGBTQ Representation
When it comes to LGBTQ representation in young adult fiction, Rick Riordan really stands out. He didn't just add queer characters as an afterthought. Instead, he actually wrote them in on purpose, because he knew readers wanted to see themselves in stories, especially in fantasy worlds like Percy Jackson.
Riordan’s shift towards open representation starts showing in his later books, especially after the original Percy Jackson series wrapped up. For example, in The Heroes of Olympus series, he clearly writes Nico di Angelo as gay. That reveal made a big impact since Nico was already a big fan favorite, and Riordan didn’t shy away from showing his struggles with identity and acceptance.
In The Trials of Apollo series, things get even more direct. The main character, Apollo (also known as Lester Papadopoulos), is openly bisexual. Riordan casually weaves Apollo’s relationships and attractions into the story, treating them as totally normal—and he does it with the same humor and action as always.
If you want some proof about just how intentional Riordan was, here’s a quick look at the kinds of representation he’s included:
- Nico di Angelo: Gay, coming out and dealing with his feelings
- Will Solace: Gay, openly dating Nico
- Apollo/Lester: Bisexual, talking about both male and female love interests
- Lavender and other minor characters: Queer, in background relationships
Riordan has said in interviews and blog posts that he wants his readers to feel safe and seen, especially those who are LGBTQ. He’s even criticized books and movies that ignore queer teens. In fact, more than 40% of readers polled in a 2023 fan survey said they found the inclusion of LGBTQ characters a big reason to stick with the series.
So even though Percy himself isn’t LGBTQ, Riordan makes sure the Percy Jackson universe doesn’t leave out queer heroes. That’s a big deal in the world of young adult fiction.
LGBTQ Characters in the Percy Jackson Universe
If you’re looking for LGBTQ representation in the Percy Jackson universe, here’s what stands out. Rick Riordan may have started the series focused on Percy’s adventures, but as the world grew, he added more characters representing different backgrounds—including LGBTQ identities.
The most well-known LGBTQ character is Nico di Angelo. Nico, the son of Hades, officially comes out as gay in “The House of Hades.” It’s a pretty big moment for young adult fiction because Nico doesn’t just come out, he also deals with feelings for Percy, showing how real and tough this stuff can feel for teens. Riordan didn’t make it a side detail—he let Nico’s story be about both saving the world and figuring out who he is.
Another cool character is Apollo, from “The Trials of Apollo” spinoff series. Apollo is very open about loving people of all genders—classic Greek god energy—and he actually talks about past relationships with both women and men. This is one of the first times a main protagonist in the Riordan universe is openly bisexual or pansexual, which matters a lot when we’re talking about representation in young adult fiction.
In smaller roles, you’ve got characters like Will Solace. He’s openly gay and in a relationship with Nico by the end of the Heroes of Olympus series. Their relationship is shown in a healthy, normal way, which a lot of fans say made them feel seen in a genre where that kind of thing was often barely mentioned or ignored completely.
- Nico di Angelo – Comes out as gay, has a crush on Percy, later dates Will Solace
- Will Solace – Openly gay and dating Nico di Angelo
- Apollo (Lester Papadopoulos) – Bisexual/pansexual immortal god, has dated all genders
Here’s a quick look at the main LGBTQ characters from the books:
| Character | Identity | Book(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nico di Angelo | Gay | Heroes of Olympus, Trials of Apollo |
| Will Solace | Gay | Heroes of Olympus, Trials of Apollo |
| Apollo | Bisexual/Pansexual | Trials of Apollo |
So no, Percy isn’t LGBTQ himself, but the world he lives in absolutely includes diverse characters. If you’re picking up the books today, you’ll see way more open representation than when the first one came out.
Tips for Readers Exploring LGBTQ YA Fiction
If you enjoy Percy Jackson but are looking for stories with more direct LGBTQ themes, there’s a ton of options out there in young adult fiction. Trying to find books that feel real or relatable? Here’s some advice for diving into the world of LGBTQ-inclusive stories:
- Check out authors known for their LGBTQ characters, like Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and Adam Silvera (They Both Die at the End and More Happy Than Not).
- If you’re sticking with Rick Riordan’s universe, look at his Trials of Apollo series. The main character, Apollo, is openly bisexual, which is a pretty big shift from Percy’s perspective.
- Diversify your reading by including books with different LGBTQ identities—don’t just go for stories about gay characters. Try Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (trans identity) or Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (non-binary representation).
- Go for books with awards and positive buzz, since these often highlight both real struggles and relatable victories. The Stonewall Book Award and Lambda Literary Awards are good places to scout for new titles.
- Read reviews by real, young LGBTQ readers. Goodreads and TikTok (BookTok) are loaded with honest opinions that steer you away from stereotypes or cringey tropes.
Curious about just how much LGBTQ is showing up in YA? Here’s a look at a recent tally of young adult books (2023-2024):
| Year | Total YA Books | LGBTQ YA Books | % LGBTQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,250 | 300 | 24% |
| 2024 | 1,300 | 350 | 27% |
That number is climbing every year. So if you had trouble finding these stories five years ago, that’s changing—fast. More authors and publishers are making real space for LGBTQ voices. When you see LGBTQ characters done well, it doesn’t just add diversity; it makes books feel more true to life. And if you’re still not sure where to start, you can always ask a local librarian or bookstore staff for their favorites in Percy Jackson-adjacent, LGBTQ-friendly reads.