Queer Representation

Queer representation in film is key so that everyone can feel represented. There have been many issues with LGBTQ+ representation in media because of the overused stereotypical tropes and inaccurately representing queerness. This has led to misconceptions about the community and increased homophobia as being queer is often portrayed as being out of the norm and wrong. It creates a stigma around homosexual and transexual people and it alienates them. This can lead to queer people feeling like they do not belong and have negative impacts on young people who are still trying to figure out their identity and sexuality. In addition, it has been proven that the LGBTQ+ community is perceived more positively by individuals who have seen accurate queer representation in the media. Although in the last few years, queer representation has greatly increased and improved in the film world and in media in general it is not nearly enough as many misconceptions and homophobic stereotypes are still present.

Typical Tropes:

Several overused and homophobic stories are used to represent queer characters in film, this type of representation is discriminatory as it portrays stories that most queer people do not resonate with. The three most common ones are the male idealization of lesbian couples, the use of camps to explore queerness, and the portrayal of gay people with HIV/AIDS. These homophobic stereotypes put gay people in a box and it makes them feel like there is something wrong with them as the media shows that they "are not normal." These ideas can have a very negative impact on queer individuals and that is why queer representation needs to be respectful, relatable, and genuine.

I hate the idea of a character being known as "the gay one," why does their sexuality have to be their entire personality, I think there are many other characteristics people should be remembered by, as their sexuality does not define them as a person. I want to avoid this in my production and I want my characters to be remembered for their personalities instead of their sexuality.

Do It Right:

For queer representation to be considered good the character must be identifiably queer, they must be significant to the plot and they must have a personality that goes beyond their sexuality. I want to make sure my characters are a good representation of the queer community as this is something really important to me.

Here are some productions I think do a good job at representing queer characters: Moonlight, The Half of It, The Owl House, She Ra, and Sex Education.