LGBTQI+ and their representation in media

LGBTQ+ is defined as the acronym “used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” (The center, n.d.). The representation of the queer community has been ignored for years by the media. Moreover, queer people have been strongly criticized and even delegitimized. Their presence in media has increased, but it still has significant challenges to overcome that will be presented in this blog.

The first approach about the queer community in television was mainly focused on HIV/AIDS as a “homosexual disease”. They focused on negative portrayals of the community and the stereotypization of their members. Moreover, the media represented only specific parts of the community and left others hidden in the silence and the oblivion. The media has been responsible for multiple scenarios of LGBTQ+ misrepresentation, the creation of incorrect views, and harming the queer community not only psychologically but physically. This issue is far from being solved, and it is vital to discuss the media’s impact on this topic.

It is widely known how media persuades our perception of the world. Media representation is crucial for communities that historically have been rejected, hated, and even punished for their beliefs and feelings. Proper portrayals of the queer community can teach society how people’s beliefs do not interfere with their quality as human beings. As stated by Katie Couric “The media can be an instrument of change, it can maintain the status quo and reflect the views of the society or it can, hopefully, awaken people and change minds.”