With a TV series as prolific and acclaimed as The Simpsons, it’s nearly impossible not to have an array of camp and queer episodes.

Since everyone’s favourite yellow American family premiered its first fully-fledged episode in 1989 after years of animated skits on The Tracy Ullman Show, it has become a centre-point for highlighting and satirising American culture; and the gays are no exception.

As Homer once put it The Simpsons likes its beer cold, its TV loud, and its “homosexuals FA- LAMING!” Indeed, there are an array of characters, gags, and episodes that are ‘cromulently’ queer.

But which episodes are out-and-out the gayest? Here are just a few popular episodes that take the cake – or the donut – for queer energy.

Season 2, episode 2: ‘Simpson and Delilah’

The first episode of The Simpsons to have an apparent queer theme, episode 2 of the show’s highly-regarded second season, Simpson and Delilah, features one of the series’ most engimatic characters; Karl.

The episode sees Homer, frustrated by the setbacks in his life over his baldness, use an experimental hair-growth product to bring back his luscious locks. His new do sees him quickly climb the ranks of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plantr, eventually hiring Karl as his personal assistant.

While never explicitly mentioned, Karl’s infatuation with Homer is nothing if not romantic. During the episode, Karl goes out of his way to dress Homer, write him reports for his meetings, and even sacrifices his job to save Homer after he’s accused of medical fraud.

All of this culminates in Karl confronting Homer – bald yet again after Bart uses up his hair-growth serum – and trying to motivate him for a huge financial meeting that could define his career. After Homer calls himself a fool, Karl objects, exclaiming “my mother taught me never to kiss a fool” before passionately kissing Homer.

Season 13, episode 10: ‘Half-Decent Proposal’

If any episode of The Simpsons defines the relationship between Carl Carlson and Lenny Leonard, it’s Half-Decent Proposal. The tenth episode of the show’s sluggish thirteenth season sees Marge reluctantly agree to a weekend getaway with her ex-boyfriend, Artie Ziff, in exchange for $1 million.

When Homer becomes anxious that his relationship with Marge might be jeopardized by the getaway, he decides to take a job at a dangerous oil field in West Springfield along with Lenny, who feels similarly dejected about his relationship with Carl.

What ensues can only be described as a love story of the ages between Lenny and Carl. During their trip to the oil field, Lenny points out Mount Carlmore – a literal mountain-sized tribute to Carl that he carved “one beautiful summer” – if that’s not gay, we don’t know what is.

After the oil rig catches fire, Marge, Artie, and Carl attempt to save the pair. Saving Homer first, Lenny laments that there’s “nothing left” for him, before Carl appears, saying “don’t be so sure.” This sparks life into Lenny, who immediately hops on the helicopter to safety.

Season 16, episode 10: ‘There’s something about Marrying’

One of the more controversial episodes of The Simpsons, There’s Something About Marrying is as much a gleeful celebration of same-sex marriage as it is an outdated struggle to finish.

After Springfield legalises same-sex marriage, complete with a musical number about how how being “Gay-o is Okay-o,” Marge’s sister, Patty, comes out as a lesbian. She tells Marge that she is in love with and intends to marry Veronica, a pro-golfer, which makes Marge uncomfortable.

The episode then begins to descend into outdated territory when Marge discovers Veronica is actually a crossdressing man whose real name is Leslie Swisher. After the Simpson matriarch reveals Leslie’s secret at the wedding, Leslie reveals he disguised himself as a woman to join the women’s golf tour.

The nail-bitingly cringeworthy culmination of a bizarre twist sees Leslie ask if Patty will still marry him, to which she responds: “Hell no, I like girls.”

Season 8, episode 15: ‘Homer’s Phobia’

Another divisive episode, episode 15 of the show’s eight season, Homer’s Phobia, makes this list on the appearance of the king of queer “trash” cinema, John Waters, alone. Waters’ role as a quirky, queer antiques seller whose sexuality makes Homer uncomfortable further cements its place on the list.

After one of Bart’s hijinks destroys the family’s dryer, Marge tried to sell a family heirloom to John, a collector of trinkets and doodads. After the Simpsons take a liking to his colourfully camp nature, Homer suggests they invite him and “his wife” over, to which Marge informs him that John is gay.

Horrified at the discovery, Homer starting acting cold towards John and worries that his sexuality could have an affect on Bart. He, along with Moe and Barney, try to “masculinise” Bart by taking him deer hunting, eventually resulting in a reindeer attack. John, Lisa, and Marge save the group, prompting Homer to accept John’s sexuality.

Season 14, episode 17: ‘Three Gays of the Condo’

Quite possible one of the gayest episodes of The Simpsons, season 14’s seventeenth episode, The Gays of the Condo, sees Homer reach new heights of camp, firmly earning it a place in this list.

After the revelation that Marge considered breaking up with Homer before she became pregnant with Bart, Homer plans to move out of the Simpson home. He eventually moves to the Springfield “gayborhood” with two men, Grady and Julio, spending his evenings partying in gay nightclubs and sharing Margaritas with his new friends.

As Marge tries to convince Homer that she still loves him, Grady and Julio continue to comfort Homer. Eventually, Grady reveals he has feelings for him and kisses him, prompting Homer to literally leap out of a window – go figure.

Honourable Mentions: ‘Cape Feare’ and ‘Lisa vs Malibu Stacy’

Several episodes of The Simpsons, while not explicitly queer, have such camp energy it would be criminal not to shout them out.

Cape Feare, the episode in which the Simpson family enter witness protection to escape from Robert ‘Sideshow’ Twerwilliger, has no explicit queer plots save for a recurring gag in which Grampa Abe Simpson, left behind, tries to get his “pills” back from the now delapedated Simpson home.

At the end of the episode, the family return to find that, without his pills, Grampa Simpson has gained “feminine” features, including long hair, breasts, and red lipstick. While likely just a throwaway gag, the scene strongly suggests that Abe is trans masc in some capacity.

Similarly, Lisa vs Malibu Stacy, while not explicitly queer, earns a mention on this list because Waylon Smithers plays a prominent role in the episode, and is argubaly at his gayest. The episode is filled to the brim with LGBTQ+ gags, not only showing Smithers’ doll collection that would make Trixie Mattel weep, but his infamous screensaver of Mr Burns, naked, telling him he’s “quite good at turning me on.”

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