Written By: Athena Yeh & Mika Lai
Literature
Notes for a Crocodile
Notes for a Crocodile is a Taiwanese, coming-of-age novel set in the 1980’s that entails a group of college queer misfits, exploring the themes of love, friendship and artistic expression.
Red, White & Royal Blue
The original novel to the upcoming film, Red, White & Royal Blue encircles the crossover of royalties and is the perfect summer romance novel to read, anticipating the release of the new movie.
Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid who is also the author of Daisy Jones & The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo encompasses an interview with Evelyn Hugo regarding- well as the title states- her seven husbands. At an early stage of the novel, it is evident that Evelyn Hugo’s true love was a woman, and through this interview, we- as readers- are able to grasp what it was like to be LGBT+ and a member of Hollywood during the 1950’s. The story is full of love, laughter and tears, and has now become one of the most recommended books since it was published.
movies
Love, Simon
Released in 2018, the movie depicts a closeted teenager named Simon(Nick Robinson), who messages another closeted teenager on the internet hoping to find a connection. Throughout the movie, we witness the hardships of coming out as a teenager and Simon's search for his happy-ever-after.
Happiest Season
Unlike regular heterosexual, cliche Christmas films, Happiest Season entails a lesbian couple, Abby(Kristen Stewart) and Harper(Mackenzie Davis), who is closeted to her family. Harper is unable to open up to her family, as her dad is a conservative politician, who heavily reinforces keeping up the family image. Harper’s mother sets her up with a male ex-classmate, and Harper struggles with her identity as well as dealing with social pressures. The film is full of drama, romance, humor and emotion, and is played by an exceptional cast.
But I'm a Cheerleader
But I'm a Cheerleader is the ultimate classic. Like the title, it follows a cheerleader who comes to terms with her sexuality after being sent to conversion camp by her friends and family. Ironic to what you might expect, she and her roommates begin to accept themselves, rebelling from oppression. The film is farce, quirky but also emotional and inspiring.
Television
Brooklyn 99
Although Brooklyn 99 is more of a light-hearted, humorous sitcom, it still provides a perfect example of unforced, casual representation. Raymond Holt(Andre Braugher) is an openly gay police captain, and later on in Season 5, Detective Rosa Diaz(Stephanie Beatriz) comes out as bisexual. Despite most episodes centered around solving cases, there are occasional episodes that explore and showcase the LGBT experience, such as Captain Holt’s marriage with his husband, Holt’s struggles on promotion due to his sexuality, Rosa Diaz’s attempt to come out to her traditional parents and many more. Most importantly, when LGBT topics are brought up, it is done realistically and impassively, normalizing the
Modern Family
Modern Family is an American sitcom revolving around the everyday lives of three vastly different yet connected families. With a multitude of queer characters, this show isn’t afraid to embrace the traditional stereotypes of LGBTQ+ people, but also adds an element of originality to these characters, ultimately conveying the message that people are more than just their sexuality or gender.
Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy is another good example of unforced representation. Being LGBT isn’t talked about frequently, and does not revolve around the character, but the realistic and effortless representation throughout the show is one of the reasons that made it so successful. In Season 4, character Callie Torres, comes out as bisexual in Season 4. She begins a relationship with Arizona Robbins, the show depicts Torres tackling with biphobia and a lack of support from her religious family. In Season 18, Amelia Shepherd dates Kai Bartley, who is non-binary. The audience is thrilled to see Amelia, who has been constantly dealing with staying sober, happy. She states: “(insert quote i can’t find)”
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