Most of the violence perpetrated against the LGBTQ community is a result of systematic dehumanization on the basis of sexual orientation. Homophobia is so pervasive in our society that large segments of the population simply do not see queer identities as people — which is why they feel no moral compunction bullying or even murdering them (CGTN America, 2017). If they do not perceive their homophobia as a problem, they will not attend educational workshops or make an effort to question their biases. One of the best ways to humanize LGBTQ identities and prevent discrimination is through mainstream culture because it is an indirect yet effective way to challenge preconceptions.
The emotions elicited by media affect our beliefs, behavior, and politics. People spend an average of six hours per day watching TV programming and are the best way to promote an inclusive ecosystem (Nielsen, 2020). I even have friends who were antipathetic to gay couples until they felt emotionally involved with a gay storyline in their favorite TV show. This illustrates how important it is to portray positive LGBTQ characters on popular shows and movies and uplift LGBTQ entertainers and athletes in the public eye. However, it is important that they are not used as tokens and that heteronormative standards of behavior are challenged even through heterosexual characters. For example, media should avoid the “macho” and “feminine” binary, portray positive straight-queer friendships, and freely discuss different specters of sexuality (Learning for Justice, n.d.). Furthermore, the struggles of the LGBTQ community should be depicted on screen so viewers understand that discrimination and stigmatization are not abstract concepts but real issues that affect people’s lives. Positive media representation and empathetic portrayal of struggles are essential for humanizing the LGBTQ community, raising awareness, and preventing discrimination and stigmatization.
References
CGTN America. (2017). LGBT activists confront growing violence against community [Video]. Web.
Learning for Justice. (n.d.). Ten ways homophobia affects ‘straight people’. Web.
Nielsen. (2020). Being seen on screen: Diverse representation & inclusion on TV. Web.