When I was a freshman, I made a presentation about the lack of positive LGBT (specifically bisexual and asexual) representation in the media, comparing the LGBT section of Netflix to opening the refrigerator and finding nothing inside. Since that time, Netflix has stepped up their game and I am so happy with the representation we currently have. Is it enough? No, of course not. But it's getting better, which means that it will continue to improve. This being said, I thought that I would share some of my favorite LGBT shows (and one movie) that I watched over the course of Corona-cation. Did I seriously write that?
Feel Good: Netflix
Feel Good: Feel Good does not make you feel good. Mae (blonde) is in a relationship with George (brunette) who is a closeted lesbian (she does come out). The deadpan humor is hilarious, which lifts you from the bleak storyline. Mae is a recovering drug addict who argues that addicts never recover, they just find something else to obsess over. In her case, it's being in relationships. It explores the pressures that come with navigating the spectrum of gender and sexuality. Mae lets herself go in the last comedy set that she performs, expressing her confusion, as well as George's confusion, with Mae's gender identity. This is the reality of so many youths today, and it can become consuming which can lead to negative escapes such as alcohol and drug abuse. Having someone come out and say "I feel this too, you are not alone" is what helps many of the affected. What better way of showcasing this than through Netflix?
One Day at a Time: Netflix
One Day at a Time: This show is beautiful. It is full of representation. In the home of a strict Catholic Cuban grandma, Elena comes out as a lesbian and is accepted into the family. This show portrays the accurate steps that family members take when the big news is dropped onto them. Some don't react as positively, and that is also mentioned in One Day at a Time. There are non-binary characters, one of them being Elena's partner. Their relationship is wholesome and pure, written just as any couple would have. There is an episode on consent, sex, as well as verbal harassment directed towards female-passing relationships. Visit this article for a more in depth description on the representation.
Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments (Season 3B): Netflix
Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments (Season 3B): The only reason I chose to continue watching this show was for this couple. Magnus (bed) and Alec (neck tattoo). Their relationship developed so much throughout the years and it was given the correct representation at the end of the show. In season one, they were exploring their relationship, where season two and three were steady on. What's great about this show, is that Magnus and Alec are given the exact same screen time as other couples on the show. If anything, it's healthier than most relationships presented. The characters sexualities are not up in the air, but they are labelled. Magnus is bisexual and is open about his relations with men and women. Alec is gay, expressing interest in two men throughout the show. Mainly Magnus. These two are not the only same-sex couple showcased in season 3B. Helen and Aline are mentioned later in the series, however, their relationship is brought to justice. Among them, Raphael (vampire) was the only asexual character in the 2017-18 show year. Shadowhunters is one of the few shows that represents intersectionality, where the characters have lives, personalities, jobs, and flaws, that being LGBT is not the driving force of their identity, instead it adds another layer to it.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Season 5): Netflix
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Season 5): None of the characters are explicitly heterosexual. There is a married lesbian couple introduced in the first season, and the non-binary shape shifter, Double Trouble, was voiced by a non-binary character. After five seasons of romantic tension between the Catra (left) and Adora (right), the show concluded with an on screen kiss. This is a revolutionary moment in children's media and LGBT representation. This is the show that I needed when I was ten, eleven, twelve years old. This was the show that would have made me feel normal. Intersectionality is the future that we must accommodate in the future of television.
The Half of It: Netflix
The Half of It: This is a movie that features a queer Chinese American protagonist, Ellie Chu. She's in love with Aster Flores (this name is hilarious, Aster is a type of flower, and Flores means Flowers in English), but she doesn't pursue her feelings. Instead, she helps Paul, the typical small-town boy on the football team, to woo Aster over. While Ellie writes letters to Aster on behalf of Paul, Paul and Ellie become close friends. And Paul (aka Ellie) and Aster become close too. This was a love story where no one won, but they all did. They all left that year looking for new experiences and looking back fondly on the past year, knowing that those memories are uniquely theirs.
The Umbrella Academy: Netflix
The Umbrella Academy: Klaus (cross legged) is an open pansexual character on The Umbrella Academy who often gender-bends. He suffers from veteran PTSD after watching his boyfriend die on the battle field. This is a great step in the right direction, however, if Netflix wants to continue to be the diverse network it is, it will progress Klaus' character, allowing him to be more open and fluid.
Queer Eye (Season 5): Netflix
Queer Eye (Season 5): The Fab 5 are back for Queer Eye season 5 and it couldn't have come at a better time. I absolutely love these guys (and non-binary person) they cheer up my day and makes me believe that there are still good people in the world who live to make others' lives better. This season was by far my favorite, I was smiling ear to ear throughout the entire show with Karamo's new and looser personality, Bobby's confident stance, and Jonathan's acceptance of themselves after just recently coming out as non-binary. This cast is full of beautiful souls. They are doing God's work.
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