Editor's Note:  This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's Voices of Youth Battle Creek program which is supported by the BINDA Foundation, City of Battle Creek, Battle Creek Community Foundation, and the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health. This series features stories created by Calhoun County youth in partnership with professional mentors.

BATTLE CREEK, MI — Questions about queer representation in the media abound.  Whether the debate is triggered by a celebrity, a character, or even just hints at something not cishet (cisgender/heterosexual), a representation issue is bound to blow up on social media.

And then comes the inevitable discourse. From Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears at the 2003 VMAs to the show Heartstopper, debate and issues arise frequently, prompting the question, what exactly is queer representation? Not only what is it, but how does it impact the queer community and society as a whole?

What is queer representation? 

According to the Oxford Dictionary, representation means "the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way or as being of a certain nature." When we’re talking about queer representation, we’re discussing the description or portrayal of those in the queer community. But not everyone agrees about what that representation means.

Deana Spencer, 54, co-founder and president of Battle Creek Pride, says, “Queer representation means seeing and hearing queer voices and images in media, television, and music.” 

Paris Thomas, a 19-year-old who goes to Michigan State University, says representation means “having a part of your identity being acknowledged and represented in some kind of way, showing that you matter.” 

Sydney Olthoff, a 19-year-old queer woman who goes to the University of Michigan, says, “Representation means placing queer people in the roles of queer characters that are complex and important to the story. While queerness could be a central point of the narrative, representation also means showing the experiences of all kinds of queer people, not just those who are organizing or struggling with their identity.” 

And John Jane (who requested anonymity), a 19-year-old lesbian, says, “I think any media that properly represents my identity, as in I can imagine myself as that person in a piece of media because I have endured their struggles. Another important aspect is having my identity shown in a positive light for people to understand me truly, and how to support my identity.”

Queer representation becoming more common

Queer representation in media has become more common in the 21st Century. If you look back at movies from the late 20th Century, you will likely find some form of queer representation, but often they are based on stereotypes. 

Olthoff says that her first exposure to queer representation was on a popular television show.  “One of the first times I was exposed to queer representation (and understood what it was) was in 'Friends', in which Ross’ ex-wife at the start of the series divorced him because she came out as a lesbian – the butt of many jokes throughout the series despite her being such a small side character that I don’t even remember her name.” 

Less stigma in the media

Queer representation has affected our society in many ways, both good and bad. Regarding the positive effects, there’s less stigma around the topic than there used to be. It’s much easier today to discuss matters important to queer folks than it was, say, 50 years ago. For example, the soap opera Eastenders, which began in 1985, faced a lot of backlash for featuring a kiss on the forehead between two men. Meanwhile, today shows like "Young Royals" can ‘get away’ with a lot more queer themes and content.

Growing queer representation in media has helped break down the societal walls around discussing queer identities and promoting queer communities. Along with this, queer people, no matter their age, can finally sit down to read a book or watch a movie and see themselves in a character. 

“The first thing that comes to mind is seeing openly queer couples represented on 'Gray’s Anatomy' about 15 or so years ago,”  says Spencer.

Sydney Olthoff, student at University of MichiganOlthoff says of former shows and depictions, “I don’t think I have ever felt seen in my queer/bisexual identity as a woman, because film and TV if ever mentioning bisexuality, use it as a coming of age 'step' to being gay."

Then that changed for Olthoff. "I felt seen, however, by the show 'Sex Education.' The characters all had complex journeys to navigate their sexualities, not only the queer characters. The femme characters who liked women on the show did not perpetuate, at least in my opinion, the stereotypes of queer women normally on TV. 

"Still, I am a cis white person who could easily be straight-passing, and representations of my queerness have been much easier to find than queer POC and trans people.” 

Olthoff adds that in past sitcoms and movies, LGBTQ characters were often viewed in humorous contexts. “The lesbian character in 'Friends' was made the butt of the joke, even if used to make fun of her ex-husband Ross for not realizing her queerness or demeaning his masculinity, not to depict the experience of a queer woman.” 

Feeling 'seen' in media is empowering

John Jane says that the first time she remembers seeing queer representation was when she was 10 years old, but the first time she felt truly seen in the media was when she was 17. “It wasn’t the first time I saw representation regarding my identity, but I think I did not feel fully seen before because it did not acknowledge my other identities intersecting with my queer identity," she says.  "Instead, I felt like I had to choose to be one or the other before I saw adequate representation. Almost always, I saw scrutiny for my identity from the multiple communities I am a part of.” 

Thomas says that the first she felt seen was “when a character was part of the LGBTQ community and also the African American community.” 

Representation of intersecting identities validates

Queer representation in popular media can help those in the queer community embrace the many ways they identify. John Jane says, “For me, it has encouraged me to embrace my intersecting identities. I feel a lot happier practicing my religion and being lesbian because of the queer representation I consumed over the years.” 

Seeing representation of themselves in the media, queer people can feel more comfortable with their identities and can finally embrace their intersecting identities knowing that they’re not the only ones who share those intersections.

Queer representation can also draw unwanted attention

While appropriate queer representation in the media can be helpful to those in the community, it also has brought negative attention through cruel posts on social media about how awful and “sinful” these characters are. 

It can also reinforce stereotypes if done carelessly. Often, especially in early forms of queer representation in the media, gay men were shown as hyper-feminine and “womanlike,” which conformed to a stereotype. While there are some gay men out there who enjoy being feminine and have hobbies that would be considered ‘for women,’ this does not apply to all gay men. Lesbians are often depicted as ‘man-hating’ and butch, which is not what the entirety of that community is. 

This stereotyping continues throughout all identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella in some way shape or form. Those interviewed agree that representation in the past was a lot more stereotypical than it is now. 

“I think the best way is to acknowledge intersecting identities and the unique struggles that come with being queer rather than solely creating characters based on being queer,” says John Jane. 

Additional risks with increased queer representation

There are, of course, those who think that too much queer representation in media exists. 

Deanna Spencer, Co-Founder of Battle Creek Pride“I think with anything there can be negative effects," says Spencer. "With the heightened representation, some folks view it as 'shoving it down their throats,' which can have the opposite effect of what I described above and cause heightened anger and disgust which can lead to more violence and verbal assaults.” 

Those who oppose the queer community are usually very open and verbal about it, sometimes even resorting to hate crimes. “There are negative effects from people who don’t agree with those views,” says Thomas.

John Jane, however, thinks the risk of under-representation is greater than the risk of over-representation.

"I think if there are any negative effects, it would be because people are being repressed from learning about queer identities in their education, so they are more likely to see it through media, and it can be hard to decipher what is good and bad queer representation if they do not understand queer identities fully,” says John Jane.

And Olthoff says, “It is sometimes frustrating to see a (presumably) straight artist, like Taylor Swift or Harry Styles, for example, make so much money from queer people and feeding into fan theories about their sexuality. Alternatively, queer representation can sometimes force queer artists into a box and make it seem like the only path is to be a queer character or make queer art.” 

Some artists and creators are, many assume, straight, but profit off of the queer community. Some would call this queerbaiting, a term that refers to a marketing technique for fiction and entertainment in which creators hint at, but do not depict, same-sex romance or other queer themes.

Queer representation inspires pride

The queer community typically reacts positively to representation. Those interviewed agree they love seeing themselves and their community being broadcast for the world to know about. 

Spencer says “I feel a sense of pride anytime I see us represented. It empowers [me] to hold my head a little higher, and to not be shy about holding my partner’s hand in public, or giving her a kiss, regardless of who is watching.” 

The advent of the legalization of same-sex marriage and the popularity of Pride celebrations has helped legitimize queer representation in the media; most people in the queer community value helping others feel as comfortable and safe as they can.

Increased queer representation inspires a sense of comfort regarding media, which previously queer folks sometimes viewed as a harsh and scary thing. Thomas says that a positive effect of this representation for her is "being able to be out and proud. Knowing that I’m seen and heard and that there’s other people who relate to me.” 

John Jane says, “It feels like my voice is finally heard, that I am not the only one experiencing such struggles.” When asked what she feels when she sees queer rep, she says, “I would say validation, affirmed, connected, and resonance.”

Regarding accuracy, the representation in media now has come a long way, but still has a ways to go, with some forms of media being more advanced than others. Also, media from some countries does a better job of portraying the complexity and humanity of queer folx.

Thomas says, “I think we have great representation, especially in cartoons. I watch a lot of cartoons and the YA (young adult) ones do a great job of showing that rep." She lists shows like "She ra," "Toh,", "Kipo," and "Arcane." 

John Jane adds, “I think it would depend on where I consume the queer media from. For example, in some countries, I have seen good representation and it continues to surge. Other countries, they still suppress the representation. As a whole though, I think it has been pretty good [compared to] before. A lot of the media I have been seeing has more depth in the representation and includes characters that are not solely defined by their queer identity.”

Where is queer representation lacking?

Some queer identities have yet to be fully explored in media. The asexual/aromantic community deserves better representation as well as the transgender community. John Jane adds, “I think a particular group that should have better representation are queer Muslims.”

Spencer says, “Honestly, anyone that isn’t LGB. I immediately think of the trans community (although that is finally starting to change a little), Asexual individuals, Gender Fluid/Queer, non-binary, to name a few.”  Thomas says that they believe that it should be “equal rep all around.”

Ohthoff says, “Queer representation for more minoritized and attacked identities needs to be expanded to make queer people, especially youth, feel more comfortable and feel less othered. While representation in the media is important, seeing people that reflect your identity and values in positions of power can mean a lot more for the rights and livelihoods of queer youth, especially during this administration."

John Jane says, “I have a lot of mixed feelings [around the topic]...Queer rep is why I understood myself so well at a young age, but at the same time, that took a lot of effort on my end because I never saw myself fitting in with queer representation. I’m aware that queer representation will solely revolve around queer identities, but a huge part of being queer is seeing it through multiple cultural lenses." 

The value of queer representation exceeds the risks

Queer folks agree that seeing characters that are like themselves in media shows them they are not alone, outcasts, or freaks of nature. 

“Queer representation is incredibly important to me. Seeing depictions of myself and folks like me in the media gives a sense of pride for me," says Spencer. "It also helps to break down barriers and removes stigmas around queer folks by showing us raising kids, arguing with our spouses/partners, going to work, having family discussions about money, death, walking the dog, and every other everyday things that we all do. It shows people in that community that it's okay to be the way they are and that they are seen."

John Jane agrees. “It’s incredibly valuable to me. If I did not have it, I may have suppressed my queer identity and struggled to come to terms with it at an older age. It helped me learn from a young age how to navigate my queer identity and understand my community, especially since I did not have anyone close to me that was queer themselves.” 

Olthoff says it relieves her of the pressure of conforming to stereotypes.

"Accurate queer representation is important to me because beyond normalizing an identity, there are important and intriguing stories to tell about queer people. If a show, film, book, etc. has a queer character that heavily leans into weird stereotypes, it tends to ruin the story for me because it is hard to focus on anything else.” 

Accurate representation is not just important for individuals, it's important for the queer community by helping folks feel solidarity and belonging. 

Olthoff says, “When I was coming out in 2018, I felt safe to do so within my friend group partly because of the media we were consuming, which was slowly including more queer characters, and the conversation about queer actors and artists became much more public. It is vitally important for youth to see themselves in the media they are consuming to drown out the hateful noise, especially now, that is telling them their identities are not real, valid, or safe to express.” 

John Jane agrees. “It’s so important to have this representation for the queer community because I think it’s the easiest way for people to understand their queer identity when they may not have a strong community in their environment to learn from. I experienced this when I was younger, but due to the representation, it helped me understand that my intersecting identities can coexist.”

"Media can empower us and make us feel seen and understood," says Olthoff, "but it cannot act as a shield from the swell of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+ attacks across the country.” 



Suggestions for Media with Queer Representation:

For kids' media, take a look at shows like "Amphibia (recommended for ages 7+), "The Owl House,"  (ages 10+), and "Ridley Jones" (ages 3+).  Suitable books include "Julian is a Mermaid" (2018) by Jessica Love, "Mommy, Mama, and Me" (2009) by Leslea Newman, "And Tango Makes Three" (2004) by J. Richardson and P. Parnell, and "The Secret Ingredient" (2023) by Paul Castle,

For young adults, shows such as "Heartstopper," "Young Royals," and "Sex Education," have queer representation. These additional shows have queer representation, though it's not in the main storyline: "Never Have I Ever," "Ginny and Georgia," and "Modern Family." Books include "Hot Dog Girl" (2019) by Jennifer Dugan and "They Both Die at The End" (2017) by Adam Silvera.

All of these shows include queer representation, and while it may not be at the forefront of the show, it’s there and it helps normalize the idea. Also take a look at books like ‘Julian is a Mermaid’ (Jessica Love, 2018) ‘Mommy, Mama, and Me’ (Leslea Newman, 2009), ‘And Tango Makes Three’ (J. Richardson and P. Parnell, 2005), and ‘The Secret Ingredient’ (Paul Castle, 2023).


Lila McCarthy, Voices of Youth Battle Creek Writer


Lila McCarthy (She/Her) is a 15-year-old lesbian born and raised in Michigan. She’s a theatre kid, a musician, a singer, and a writer. She’s published three articles before this one, all on topics of body image or queer issues, but she loves writing fiction books and TV shows in her spare time. She takes classes at Kellogg Community College and is a sophomore in high school (homeschooled).