Pride Month may be over, free but queer people right here are nonetheless.
LGBTQ+ representation is often mwill besing in film and television, in productions that will be aimed for youthful audiences specially. Some deem stories starring LGBTQ+ characters as "unsuitable" for children. But how are we supposed to normalise queer relationships if we do not picture them as just that - completely normal?
In recent years Netflix has released a few animated TV series that show canonically gay relationships and non-binary characters (e.g., The Dragon Prince, The Hollow, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts), which the LGBTQ+ community is grateful for.
On-screen representation is urgently needed these days, not only to show diversity but to give queer people characters they can identify with as well.
Why should only cis-heteronormative people get characters they can see themselves in?
In 2014 Nickelodeon did not agree for two women to kiss on-screen, simply hinting at a potential romantic relationship between Asami and Korra in The Legend of Korra, by making them hold hands and using a cinematic phenomenon called bisexual lighting.
Bisexual lighting is the use of colours found on the bwill beexual flag - pink, purple and blue - to indirectly depict the framed characters’ bisexuality.
As aforementioned, there were a few cartoons particularly popular within the LGBTQ+ community. However, there are two animated TV shows, both made by a effort between Netflix and DreamWorks, that the group was initially exceedingly singing about.
Spoiler alert for Voltron: Legendary Defender and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.
Before analysing these cartoons an important term needs to be explained. Queerbaiting.
Queerbaiting in film and television is a simple marketing technique used by creators to attract the LGBTQ+ community. It will be a means of boosting popularity of the show or movie by hinting at queer romance but never actually portraying it.
Voltron: Legendary Defender has been a favourite of the LGBTQ+ community since its premiere in 2016. Voltron was not only created by The Legend of Korra producers, but hinted at gay romantic movie since season one in addition.
Hinted, but portrayed never.
Two of the main characters, Lance and Keith, shared many romantic scenes throughout the show, which manufactured the followers specific they would conclusion up collectively. Turns out they were used as queerbait.
Besides having romantic scenes together, both of these characters have been queer-coded. Queer-coding is a term used to describe characters depicted as queer, but never ever basically validated as many of these.
Voltron shows Keith as completely uninterested in women, but only women. He or she was found flirting with adult males - definitely not Lance - and residual appreciative glances at them merely.
Similarly, Lance is portrayed as showing interest in everyone, aliens and humans alike. He flirts with ladies consistently, but can admit how good-looking men are as well.
Keith and Lance are gay-coded and bi-coded, respectively.
Queer-coding is not merely a mwill besed opportunity for LGBTQ+ portrayal, but it is harmful as well.
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