Queer representation in films has gotten way better since the dawn of film. It’s gone from no representation, to offensive and stereotypical representation, to not great representation but it’s better than nothing. But why does representation of LGBTQ+ people in films still fall short?
Josh Floyd, a filmmaker and member of the lgbt community, says the main reason you don’t see a lot of Queer rep in films, is studios wanting films to appeal to as wide an audience as possible.
“By a wider audience that means, like a cisgender heterosexual audience. And most big film companies just want to make as much money as they can and by doing so they tend to cut out anything that might be deemed as controversial”
He says that Queer representation being quote controversial, is really only with a small, but vocal minority. They end up voicing their negative opinions, usually loud enough for the people in charge to notice, and those people decided putting a gay person in their movie isn’t worth the trouble.
Floyd also says good representation starts from the beginning.
“if you’re writing a story about trans people, like get a trans writer, there’s lots of trans writers that don’t have jobs right now. Starting with a solid foundation of a good script that has the experience of that comes from the perspective of people that the story is about.”
There’s an argument to be made about straight cisgendered writers not having the ability to put proper representation into their stories. Floyd disagrees.
“I think that that’s like a weak argument because as a writer, you can always consult people, you can always reach out to other people to help you with your writing. I don’t think that there’s any actual good reason for there to not have representation.”
Floyd isn’t alone in these thoughts either. Luke Morrison, a McMaster Student and Gay Rights Activist, believes the higher ups don’t have enough Queer voices.
“In terms of who’s making decisions higher up, you’re not going to have somebody who their ear to the ground for understanding the queer discourse. It’s been an uphill battle to, to include representation in an institution that’s existed, you know, for many, many, many years.”
He also says that the rep we do see on screen tends to be of one kind. Gay men.
“It’s probably the most easily digestible, like group to put in there. I feel it also gains the most ‘brownie points’, in a way.”
He also commented on the lack of representation of non-binary people, especially those that do not present in a feminine way.
Representation is important, for people of all ages. Seeing people who look like you, or act like you, or love like you, is important to remind people that they’re not alone and other people like them do exist. It’s imperfect, and we still have a way to go, but at least we’re not a stereotype anymore.
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