Day 12: LGBTQ+ Representation

| CHALLENGE | DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 | DAY 6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 | DAY 9 | DAY 10 | DAY 11 | DAY 12 | DAY 13 | DAY 14 | DAY 15 | DAY 16 | DAY 17 | DAY 18 | DAY 19 | DAY 20 | DAY 21 |

^{Image courtesy of Penn Libraries, University of Pennsylvania}

During Hollywood’s Hays Code era, which banned a number of topics, themes, and actions in order to keep film “presentable” and “safe,” depictions of lesbian and gay characters fell into the “immoral” and “perversion” categories, keeping the stories of LGBTQ+ characters and actors hidden. TV and film have come a long way since that era; 2020 proved to be the highest year yet for LGBTQ+ representation in media.

Although there is still a smaller representation of queer and non-binary characters in TV and film, Hollywood has moved past the Hays Code and we’ve seen an increase of more nuanced and diverse depictions of queer people in the last few years. Younger people searching for this representation have a wider variety of characters and stories than ever to share the struggles, joys, and normality of queerness.

IF YOU HAVE…

10 Minutes	and	15 Minutes	and	1 HOUR
	and		and
READ THIS REPORT conducted by GLAAD to analyze what queer representation looks like in today’s media and their recommendations.	and	VIEW THIS TIMELINE that follows the history of LGBTQ+ representation in film, beginning in 1894 to current day.	and	WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY that explores the range of transgender American experiences by profiling 11 people who identify as transgender and nonbinary.

REFLECT

Take a moment to reflect today’s challenge and any insights you experienced.

• How did this challenge make you feel?
• What did you learn?
• What did you notice about yourself after taking the challenge?
• Consider sharing this new awareness with a friend or group to help deepen your understanding of the information.
• Continue the conversation online and connect with others by joining our Racial & Social Justice Facebook group.

Let us know why this challenge is important to you by leaving your comment here.

Thank you for joining us in our Stand Against Racism Challenge. Our work continues every weekday from May 2 – May 30. Each day you’ll be offered some content to help you take a deeper dive into the daily topic.

We ask that you undertake this challenge with an open mind and willingness to explore new ideas and allow yourself to sit with any emotions that may come up for you.

This content may be hard to process so consider having a self-care plan in place beforehand. This can include meditation before or after engaging, watching your favorite show, or doing something creative.

We look forward to going on this journey towards true equity and justice with you!

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