Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation
- Hannah Costello
- Apr 8, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 30, 2020
I think we all know that LGBTQ+ content in media takes up the smallest percentage of coverage we see today. Whether that's in cinema, television or general news, it is predominantly heterosexual, cisgender storylines that rarely comment on there being an LGBTQ+ community at all. But why is it so important to people within this said community that representation happens?
First let's talk about what we do see within typical movies, tv series and books. It usually starts with a nervous boy living next door to a mysterious girl to which he knows he has to pursue because they will fall in love. Or there's a princess in dire need of saving from the obvious option, a prince!... or Shrek? I guess.
(Disclaimer all generalisations about contents of storylines are just stereotypical assumptions based upon common things we see).
Either way, storylines do typically follow the same path and don't get me wrong I like watching them too! Some of them are great and for great reason. However, if I take my own experience into account, as I cannot speak for anyone else, I can't fully connect to what I see because it's not relatable and it's not something I can see in myself. Sure, it's a relationship and it's love which I can relate to but it's only one standard version of it. These standard versions make people who view it also believe this is the standard version which could be why there is more representation and expectation of this.
When someone is figuring out their identity it is often crucial for them to see that they are normal and beautiful just like everyone else. When discovering my own sexuality I looked for something to hold onto that showed me this. I still do. Which is why when a new lesbian relationship in a movie or series is created I jump at the chance to watch. I can see myself. Although the lesbian usually dies so I always have that in the back of my mind... The 100... I'm still not over it.
By including LGBTQ+ situations in media formats it adds the normalcy that heterosexual cisgender groups currently have. This normalcy is what the world currently needs.
Although, I do have to highlight that this representation is getting better. Several modern storylines now do include LGBTQ+ matters. We have: Queer Eye (Netflix), Orange Is The New Black (Netflix), Killing Eve (BBC), Dear Simon, Wynonna Earp (SYFY), Booksmart, RuPaul's Drag Race (Netflix). That's just skimming the service really. And most of the time the storylines are respectful but they still don't get seen as much or released into the cinemas for example; Seasons of Love (2019) and Boy Meets Girl (2014).
We may finally be moving in the right direction and understanding that this is a topic that needs to be talked about, for everyone's sake.
We are all people after all and there might be some really interesting stories that could still be portrayed.
I hope this is some understanding as to why we need representation and maybe why more people should look out for it.
Wonderful!