Representation of the queer community within the news and entertainment media has been progressing at different rates for different individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, panelists at a BU event discussed last Wednesday.
Throughout the pandemic, according to a study by GLAAD, the percentage of series regular LGBTQ+ characters scheduled to appear on primetime television declined from 10.2% to 9.1%
“My goal is … having our community portrayed in its full diversity, because the reality is early on it was stereotypes, tropes and primarily cis-gender gay white men,” speaker Cathy Renna said to open the panel discussion.
The Boston University College of Communication hosted the panel discussion on Oct. 20, titled “We’re Not There…Yet: Taking a Look at LGBTQ+ Representation in the Media.”
Panelists included Kelly Jenkins, the host and producer of public access television series “Kelly’s Quest: The Transitional Journey,” Irene Monroe, a theologian and the co-host of the podcast “All Rev’d Up,” and Renna, the communications director at the National LGBTQ+ Task Force and the president of Target Cue, an LGBTQ+-focused communications and public relations firm.
At the event, the panelists discussed how despite the success of TV shows featuring queer characters in U.S. media recently — with shows such as “Schitt’s Creek” — steps must be taken in media to better represent the LGBTQ+ community in its entirety, with respect and care.
Renna said in an interview that one prominent area of improvement in media representation “was, is and will continue to be full, nuanced diverse representations of our community.”
“The biggest challenge is that we have to help this culture and people understand that life is not binary,” Renna said. “I’m someone who’s willing to look at the gray of the world, not everything is black and white.”
Renna said there is increasing awareness of stereotypes targeting the LGBTQ+ community, and while some progress has been made to better represent the transgender community in a variety of mediums, there is a “complete lack of coverage” of the bisexual community.
Renna also said there is an issue of balance in depicting queer relationships in the media today, bringing into question how the media treats the LGBTQ+ community when portraying those stories.
As an example, Renna recalled when producers or reporters wanted to report a story about same-sex parents. The Family Research Council — a Protestant, anti-LGBTQ+ organization — was reached out for their perspective despite openly denouncing queer identities, she said.
“They would want to talk to the Family Research Council about what they thought about the fact that more of us were creating families and being families,” Renna said. “I would always say … if you were doing an article about a biracial couple, would you call the [Ku Klux] Klan and see what they thought? … The light bulb went off over their head.”
Panelist Monroe said at the event that media coverage of especially the Black LGBTQ+ is lacking and incomplete, noting the coverage is “always a tragic story, it’s nothing about empowerment.”
William Feldman, moderator of the panel event and a COM alumnus, said in an interview that the pressure of social media also potentially reinforces negative stereotypes and harmful communication towards members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“The bigger problem facing us right now is what we discussed in the discussion about social media, where we have a form of media that is driven by algorithms that elevate the worst kinds of communications,” Feldman said.
Feldman said after the discussion that it was frustrating to discuss the same issues of LGBTQ+ representation for the past 30 years.
“Whether we focus on the positive or the negative, it’s really important to do both,” Feldman said after the panel concluded. “If you don’t acknowledge the progress that has been made, then in despair, you begin to think that there’s nothing that I can do that is going to make a difference.”
COM Dean Mariette DiChristina said in an interview the inclusion and recognition of diverse communities should be prioritized in communications and media representation.
“I will say as somebody who has a non binary child and people in my family who are in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum that I’m really pleased at how BU is taking all issues around diversity very seriously,” DiChristina said. “We all need to see somebody who’s like us.”
Renna said at the discussion that as “a kid reading comic books I’d have to really read between the lines to try and find somebody to look like me.” Now, she said, it’s changing — pointing to DC Comics announcing they’re releasing a new comic featuring an openly gay character.
Jenkins said even as LGBTQ+ characters are increasing in media representation, it is essential to keep pushing for more inclusion.
“We just need to have more storytellers,” Jenkins said at the event. “The good stories, hopefully, will overshadow the tropes that are being pushed out … if we can have enough authentic stories being put out and promoted, I hope that that rises to the top.”
