The Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation in the Media

LGBTQ representation in films has been more common than we have seen in recent years, but that doesn’t mean that our work is done. Many streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu are adding more representation, but it isn’t always done in the right way. Allies are doing their best to add more diversity into their films so viewers can connect with certain characters; however, their portrayals do not always reflect the lived experiences of real people from the community. Whether it is media and entertainment corporations such as Disney hinting at a LGBTQ+ character and never acting on it, or a film harshly stereotyping what a gay or lesbian person needs to look and act like, we still have a lot of work to do to gain equality and show allies how diverse and proud the LGBTQ+ community really is.

There are very few characters that identify as LGBTQ+ in films. In 2019, only about 18.6% of characters identified as a part of the LGBTQ+ community according to GLAAD. To me, that is disappointing. Television does not correctly portray society and communities in real life. People need to be able to connect to the things they watch, and they need to see the world for how it is and how it can be. Everyone should have the option to watch something with characters that they can deeply connect with. As a child, I grew up thinking there was only one way to love someone. I grew up with my view of the world very limited. That was until I was in late middle school, when I watched a TV show with LGBTQ+ representation where I could connect with the characters. Seeing this representation allowed me to accept similar feelings I had at the time. A world without such representation is frightening to me. I don’t know if I, and many other people included, would have accepted the feelings they were having, or even realized that they were there in the first place without a character we could deeply connect to. “I feel like I internalized a lot of that as a kid, because it was like you have to wait until all of these things are true before you can start to do anything about who you are,” Townsend, a member of the community, shared in an article from GLAAD. I am sure that many other teens who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community have had the same feelings and views as this statement. Hiding in your own skin feels like a giant weight is constantly on your shoulders.

The world needs to be an equal and accepting place for everyone. If you or someone you know is a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I urge you to email television platforms. Go explain why this matters. Show these platforms how important it is to have this type of representation in everyday life. Be the change and be the reason why the world is a better place.