LGBTQ+ Representation In Children’s Media

The representation of the LGBTQ+ Community in children's media is a taboo subject, with some taking the stance that depicting such “mature content” will have disastrous results, and that we should not push the “gay agenda”.

I am here to say that this is complete bullsh*t.

There is nothing “inappropriate” about LGBTQ+ people and relationships, and there never has been. The only reason there is perceived to be such is because of sexualisation and fetishisation. If you get a hard on when you see two lasses holding hands, well, I hate to be the one to tell you this (not really, I actually take great pleasure in it)…but…that's a you problem.

We are not your fetish. We are PEOPLE. And we deserve to be depicted as such. Why do you feel so uncomfortable with the idea of showing a transgender character (by transitioning through the course of the storyline or showing them presenting as the opposite gender in the past, you pervert), or two girls - or two boys - holding hands? Why do we automatically gain an R rating, just for not fitting into neat little boxes like you do?

“But when kids see lesbians kissing, they’ll feel all confused and it will make them uncomfortable!”. I don't see LGBTQ+ children start crying or throwing up when a straight couple kiss, do you? Looks to me like someone's projecting again…

Now let's turn to the second argument, the “Gay Agenda”. This is the idea that those in the LGBTQ+ Community are planning to turn everyone gay/trans/etc, and take over the world. Or at least, that's how I understood it from all the straight people who complain about it. Supposedly, children seeing LGBTQ+ people on TV and in other media will turn them gay, the evidence of which are the apparently growing numbers of gay and transgender people. I mean, it's not like societal acceptance and support means people are less afraid of being lynched if they wear something rainbow in public or something, am I right?

I know this next bit may be hard for most some straight, cis white people to hear, but the sun doesn't actually shine out of your arses. I know it may be hard to believe, with how everyone else's lives are forced to revolve around them, but it's the truth: not everything has to be about you.

Those of us in the LGBTQ+ Community could not care less about what your kids do as long as they aren't hurting anyone, and we aren't interested in “converting” them over to “our side”, either. You may think that the reason we're pushing so hard for equal portrayal in the media is because we want cishet children to see characters like Luz and think; “Wow, she's really cool, I want to be like her!”. It's not.

“Well, if your gay characters aren't for brainwashing straight children into being gay, then what are they for? There's no need to portray LGBTQ+ people in children's media, you're pushing too hard for it!”. Well that, ladies and gentlemen, is where LGBTQ+ children come in.

Imagine, for a moment, that a child with two mommies or two daddies saw The Owl House? When the fifteenth episode of the first season plays and they see Willow’s two dads, do you think they're going to feel estranged? When a little girl who likes other girls, or a little boy who likes other boys watch Amity and Luz become girlfriends, do you think they’ll feel disgusted? When a child who doesn't quite feel like a girl or a boy is introduced to Raine Whispers, and hears them being called “they”, do you think they will struggle to understand them?

Fuck no! They’ll rush to their parents’ room, yelling “look look look!”, and show them, because FINALLY, they see a girl with two dads like them; because FINALLY, here is a relationship that's ringing bells; because FINALLY, here is someone that displays their identity.

They will fall head over heels in love with this show, because at long last, here are characters and situations that proudly and openly display what they have always felt odd for having as if it's nothing! They’ll feel so unbelievably special and completely normal at the same time - why do you think other pieces of media like Steven Universe or She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power, or Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure are so popular with younger members of the LGBTQ+ Community?

It isn't about teaching straight, cisgender children that “Queer is the new black!”, (or however the hell you expect us to word it), it's about teaching all children that LGBTQ+ people are normal and valid. This is a crucial step on the path to ending all discrimination based off of sexual orientation and gender identity, and achieving complete equality. We are never going to reach that goal by just not teaching kids to hate gay or trans people: that's like expecting them not to drown in a pool because you aren't holding their heads underwater.

So go ahead and pull them out, asshole.