The Importance of Representation
The best way to introduce a blog full of rants and rambles about lesbian media is to explain why I care so much, and why you probably should too. Good representation in media can be somewhat subjective but it boils down to showcasing minorities in diverse, prominent roles. Not every main character has to be some varying level of diverse, but not every ensemble cast should be all white, straight, and mostly male.
(cough cough)
Other than making the show more interesting and allowing for different stories to be told, good representation means a lot to people. For children who may have never seen someone like themselves succeeding in a field they want to work in or experiencing a situation that is somewhat unique, media may be the only outlet they have to see that they're not alone. Many young LGBTQ+ kids might discover their identity when seeing a storyline that mirrors their feelings.
(Cyrus from Andi Mack, the first ever openly gay main character on a Disney Show.)
Or, after spending years in the closet and feeling like they'll never be able to be their true self, a show could give them hope for the future or, in extreme cases, keep them alive. Even for adults, being able to see relatable content can cheer you up on a bad day or resonate enough to help with a tough decision. Unfortunately, especially for lesbians, there's not as much content as you would hope to see and the representation you can find isn't always great. The community is full of tropes and cliches, queer baiting, over and under sexualizing, and the bare minimum of screen time to be able to check that diversity box. At this point, TV shows know if they cast two women with chemistry a mob of gay women will be dedicated to their show for an unhealthy amount of time, even if it's not a good show or confirmed relationship.
(Lena and Kara from Supergirl, who are both written as straight characters and yet have a loyal enough fanbase that they won Hypable's Ship of the Year in 2017 out of 100 couples.)
Actively, lesbians settle for some of the worst treatment in media just in the hopes that they'll be represented. My goal is to break down the bad, shine a spotlight on the good, and begin "queering" a space for us in television.
