By Dimah Sowidan
The evolution of media over the years has significantly influenced the LGBTQ+ community, providing a powerful platform for representation and advocacy. As the LGBTQ+ community harnesses these developments, the portrayal of diverse and inclusive stories has become critical in the ongoing fight for equality. Often being situated within political discourse, LGBTQ+ representation is historically rooted in stereotypical portrayals that have inevitably bred prejudice. However, the past decades have seen changing societal attitudes towards queer representation in media. This shift in representation serves to dismantle harmful narratives that have perpetuated discrimination and isolation which highlights the fluidity and complexity inherent in these aspects of human experience. As media continues to evolve in its portrayal of LGBTQ+ individuals, it is vital to showcase the diverse realities of LGBTQ+ individuals through authentic depictions. The media platform not only provides an outlet for self-expression to young adults, but also paves the way for social change. By eschewing monolithic views, rallying for proper representation grants visibility to a marginalised group shrouded in stigma and fosters a more inclusive society where diversity is not merely tolerated, but celebrated.
Impact on Young Adults: Identity Formation from Early Development
The Canadian Paediatric Society has suggested that children exposed to television and other media from a young age, experience positive impacts on how they choose to authentically represent themselves. This early exposure can validate their experiences and feelings, helping them avoid shame or discomfort as a result of doubting their own perceptions and suppressing their emotions due to discrimination, bullying and judgement.
However, the relationship between increased media coverage and better representation is more complex, and correlation does not always imply causation. While more media coverage can provide diverse role models and narratives, it does not automatically guarantee high-quality or accurate representation. The nature and quality of the content are crucial factors. Moreover, the context in which media is consumed also plays a significant role. Parental guidance, societal attitudes and the broader cultural environment influence how children interpret and internalise media messages. What we show to our future generations will affect how they choose to live.
The 90s and Early 2000s: Breaking Ground
The acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community has grown globally since 1981, and representation in media has been a tale of gradual visibility. In 1960, Allen Drury's play Advise and Consent faced public backlash for being one of the first mainstream works to portray a gay character.
Similarly, An American Family was one of the first reality shows to provide an “unbiased” representation of a gay youth, Lance Loud, who became an icon in the LGBTQ+ community. Lance was one of the first openly gay individuals that lived life openly on television. The show, which detailed the life of a white upper-middle-class family, maintained its massive audience due to its raw honesty, with the claim that “nothing like this has ever been done.” This approach enabled the show to humanise gay individuals and help combat the stigma around those living with HIV/AIDS.
In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres made television history.
In a groundbreaking episode of her sitcom, Ellen, her character, Ellen Morgan, came out as lesbian. This mirrored the actress’ own coming out, which was a milestone moment that opened the doors to more authentic LGBTQ+ characters in mainstream media. These shows began to dismantle long-held stereotypes and shift to accurately depict queer individuals as complex and relatable, providing some much needed visibility for queer people, Validate the experiences of many who had never seen themselves represented on screen.
DeGeneres’ coming out paved the way for more LGBTQ+ focused television shows, with the likes of Will and Grace and Ugly Betty premiering in the following years. The impact of DeGeneres’ coming out goes beyond the entertainer herself as it influenced the media landscape over the next few decades. In 2016, DeGeneres was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in recognition for her contributions.
The Modern Era: Diverse and Authentic Voices
Over the past few decades, there has been a remarkable transformation in the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals across various media platforms. Orange Is the New Black (OITNB), which premiered in 2013, is a pioneer. Set in a women’s prison, the show featured an ensemble cast that included a number of LGBTQ+ characters, each with a unique background and story. OITNB delved into the personal history of its characters, exploring their lives before and during incarceration. This approach allowed the depth and humanity of LGBTQ+ characters to shine through as the show took a nuanced take on issues such as identity, acceptance and systemic discrimination.
The British romantic comic and recently adapted show Heartstopper, is about two high school boys, Charlie, a nerdy and awkward boy outed and bullied for being gay, falls for Nick, a popular rugby player struggles to figure out his sexuality, slowly starting to reciprocate Charlie’s feelings.
Illustrated by Alice Oseman, the author shares character Isaac, who, like her, is both asexual and aromantic. Asexuality, commonly shortened to ace, refers to a lack of sexual attraction to others, while aromanticism, or aro, refers to a lack of romantic attraction, with individuals generally not desiring romantic relationships. As Oseman stated, there is hardly any ace of aro representation on the big screens, making it difficult for those struggling to find representation. The show has received endless support and love and continues to cultivate a growing fanbase. Oseman has been praised highly as she has worked to represent and spread awareness of the struggles queer youth face in the education system.
Popular TikTok star turned actress Yasmin Finney plays Elle in Heartstopper. She has shared her experiences as a black transgender woman attending a boys' grammar school, remarking “For me, school was the same. There’s always been voices of toxic masculinity that just clearly aren’t educated enough.” Finney noted that Heartstopper effectively highlights the point at which such behaviour crosses the line from mere jokes to something more damaging. She also mentioned that those who bullied her in high school are “not really doing much in their lives now.”
Role Models and Empowerment
One example of media that has played a significant role in the formation of a shared social and political identity for the LGBTQ+ community is the TV series Pose. The show is set in the late 1980s and early 1990s and focuses on African-American and Latino LGBTQ+ individuals in New York City. Pose features a cast of many transgender actors, such as MJ Rodriguez and Dominique Jackson, providing authentic representation and visibility within the community. The show highlighted important historical issues that have been affecting the LGBTQ+ community, such as the HIV/AIDS crisis, discrimination, and struggles for rights and acceptance.
The show has played a significant role in introducing ballroom culture, an underground subculture in which people walk, perform, dance, lip-sync and model in different categories where people are provided with a sense of community and belonging. The show pays homage to the real life struggles and successes faced by numerous members of the Black, Latino, trans and queer community such as acceptance, discrimination, bullying, abuse, and drug usage.
Pray Tell, a character from Pose, portrayed by Billy Porter, highlights the significant role of ballroom culture and the impact of HIV/AIDS on the LGBTQ+ community. His character’s
activism and struggles with health issues resonate with the real life challenges faced by Black and Latino gay men. Porter remarked “It's our time, our time to be seen.” Billy became the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy in 2019 as recognition for his performance and achievement in television through his role in Pose.
Challenges and Criticism: Moving Forward
Media exposure from a young age can have a significant influence on how a child can perceive and represent themselves. The evolution of media has had a profound impact on making progress to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, feels seen and valued. As our society becomes increasingly interconnected, our media must continue to evolve in a way that supports and uplifts all identities. Therefore, we must fight for not only representation, but accurate representation in the media.
As more young queer people enter the media-making industry, we are seeing at large a greater transformation in LGBTQ+ representation across various spheres of society. More queer groups and individuals are amplifying their voices and stories on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Youtube, by creating content that reflects their authentic selves, they challenge stereotypes and provide visibility for underrepresented identities within the LGBTQ+ community – driving others to do the same.
Support
Our organisation, Pride Beats Prejudice (PBP), plays a vital role in this fight. We are committed to helping LGTBQ+ individuals understand their rights. We offer legal support, advocacy, and resources to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals facing discrimination receive the protection and justice they deserve. If you need support, you can easily book a consultation through our PBP webpage. Simply click on the 'book' button to schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated team members when we reopen bookings in September.
Here are some useful links for support and additional information on the subject matter:
- Akt (akt.org.uk)
- Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) (asexuality.org)
- Black Beetle Health (blackbeetlehealth.co.uk)
- Clare Project (clareproject.org.uk)
- Consortium (consortium.lgbt/member-directory)
- Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (FFLAG) (fflag.org.uk)
- LGBT+ hate crime helpline (0207 704 2040)
- LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline (0800 999 5428)
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