Good article, thank you AUKN writers for presenting this in the thoughtful and decidedly personal way that you have, something almost no other media website bothers to do in the era of click and outrage bait.
While I admit to not being familiar with a whole lot of characters or shows listed here, another who I think deserves a mention is Aoi Futaba from You're Under Arrest. Some of the characters' wrong-headed behaviour towards her in the beginning might be a tough watch for some people (they even have the "shared facilities" debate within the context of the show, which is pretty incredible for something from 1996) but I think it's quite good that it shows others don't understand Aoi at first, but then they do, and then they accept her for who she is. Because understanding, both seeking it and helping to provide it, is something which seems sadly in short supply around these issues in real life. Aoi is a capable cop and a decent human being, which is really all that matters. And while the show doesn't shy away from some of the issues she faces as a trans woman, she's nearly always strong enough to deal with that herself or shrug it off as the situation merits. As such she's my kind of person in general, regardless of gender identity.