LGBTQ+ Representation in Mainstream Media and Fashion

Over the course of the past couple years, it's safe to say that LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media (tv, cinema, magazine, music, and fashion) has reached an all-time high. I wanted to touch upon this subject because it is something I have always felt extremely opinionated about, and I've noticed a rise in the discussion of LGBTQ media representation across social media platforms.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past week, you would know that comic phenomenon DC has announced that in the 5th issue of the superhero series "Superman: Son of Kal-E", main character Jon Kent a.k.a the new Superman preceding his father, will be bisexual, after falling for a male character by the name of Jay Nakamura.

Now, I've noticed that the immediate reaction to this announcement hasn't been the best, and many people still lack basic knowledge about why representation matters. Some people are thinking "why does Superman have to be gay now?", "why couldn't they just leave it as the traditional story?", "why do gay people have to dip their toes in everything?!" Well, I'm here to tell you why!

In retrospect, the conversation is much bigger than Superman, so we have to address multiple issues when discussing this subject. First of all, I'd like to address that Superman, along with hundreds of other comic book Superheroes such as Spiderman, Batman, Catwoman, The Green Lantern, etc., have all always had love interests from the very beginning of these comic stories. All of these love interests have been those of hetero-sexual relationships, as that is the societal norm. However, we must ask ourselves, when do other entities get to have representation? Let me paint an easier picture for you to see: I'm a black girl. Growing up, I would watch TV like every other kid - and my favorite things to watch were always the TV shows that centered around people that looked like me, people I could relate too. I loved watching That's So Raven, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, True Jackson V.P. etc., because it made me feel like one day that could be me. Despite the amount of racism and prejudice in the world, there were other black girls just like me who could make it big one day - and that was an important message that I needed to see growing up. As a minority myself, it's important that I keep myself well rounded and understand that other minority groups that I'm not a part of can experience different prejudices and biases that I don't directly deal with myself - but can empathize with. And that is exactly why I wanted to write about this topic, because I want my readers to be well-rounded as well. I should add that this blog is a zero tolerance platform for any type of hatred, bigotry, bias, or judgement. This is a positive-vibe, everyone welcome, and everyone equal type of platform!

The same way that it was important for me to grow up knowing that I had potential to be a successful black women, is the same way it is important for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community to receive representation for them to feel like they are normal human beings that are being seen and heard as well. If hetero-sexual couples can be played by actors on TV and be shown in comics, why can't homosexual couples have the same platform without receiving backlash? Children will be exposed to the reality of sexuality one way or another, most likely in the real world - whether they go to the mall and see a gay couple, take public transportation and see a transgender person, or they have a friend with parents of the same sex. Homosexuality is no longer the stigma that some of us have considered it to be. Members of the LGBTQ+ community don't need to hide themselves anymore. It's important to educate ourselves as adults, but also extend that knowledge to the generations after us, because it should be de-stigmatized in an effort to prevent LGBTQ+ members feeling like they are outcasts, and in an effort to prevent bullying and homophobia. It's incredibly important that LGBTQ+ members are represented in mainstream media because it portrays their image in a positive light that proves to them that they can also be successful and aspirational beings in society. This is especially important for youth growing up in homophobic homes. Imagine the decrease in the LGBTQ+ suicide rate if the community had been represented in mainstream media earlier!

You're also probably wondering what this has to do with my blog, what this has to do with fashion and why do I even care? Personally, this topic is important for me because I am a triple minority (black, female, member of the LGBTQ community), and I know what it feels like to be represented and to not be represented. Growing up, I constantly felt like I had to be girly (which I admit, I inherently am) because I grew up around so many females and intersectionality didn't really seem like an option. However, now that I am a young adult, I wonder how my life would have been different if I felt like I had more room to express myself emotionally - would it have saved me form the plethora of insecurities I have today? Would it have saved me years of trying to figure out who I am and what I like? I won't ever have an answer to these questions. But at least I know when it's time to raise my own family, I can consider these aspects.

Fashion has always done a great job at equal representation in the LGBTQ+ community for the most part, and it's interesting to see mainstream media following close behind in the past few years. Shows like RuPaul's Drag Race and Project Runway have allowed members of the LGBTQ+ community to feel represented in the art and creative world for years. One of my favorite things about fashion is that it gives everyone the creative freedom to be themselves, whatever that may be. Fashion basically birthed the term androgyny. I mean look at androgynous icons such as David Bowie, Grace Jones, Janelle Monae, Harry Styles, Sam Smith - the list goes on! These are the people that are making it possible for us to feel like we can blur the lines! Fashion, like all other art forms, is not meant to be white or black. Art is meant to be open to interpretation, and fashion is the best example of such. But art also includes TV, cinema, music, literature and so much more. So why are we trying to gatekeep art? Why are we trying to keep our peers and loved ones in a closet? It's important to celebrate our individuality, and if you can't accept that other groups outside of the one's that you identify with will be represented in mainstream media, then you probably shouldn't consume it!

As an aspiring member of the elite fashion community, I can only hope to be able to spread my message on a larger platform and to a greater crowd one day. I hope you enjoyed this blog post and hopefully learned something from it. Feel free to leave comments about what you guys thing about this topic. I'd love to open a discussion about this!

Wishing you all peace, love and light.