Over the last few weeks, the LGBT Fans Deserve Better movement has been advocating to achieve real change in the quality of LGBTQ representation in the media, giving hope to the LGBTQ community everywhere –that our stories matter and our lives are important.
In an attempt to create such a change and to improve the representation of the LGBTQ community in the media, the writers and producers of the CTV Network show Saving Hope co-created a pledge to the LGBTQ Fandom.
Sonia Hosko and Noelle Carbone were in the writers room when the ‘bury your gays tropes’ discussion had reached a focal point on Social Media. The Saving Hope crew were incredibly supportive, wonderful, open minded people who were really willing to listen and understand the problem and get behind a solution. After sitting down and taking into consideration what LGBTQ fans wanted to see in terms of change in representation, as well as things which were clearly unacceptable and needed to be voiced, all the creators of the pledge came together to put together to put together a list of 7 points which we believe will allow change as well as prevention in future writing of LGBTQ characters.
The entire Saving Hope writers room set precedent as the first to sign the pledge, showing the LGBTQ community that they are ready to take this journey with us and most importantly we have been heard.
LGBTQ representation is a complex issue that requires multi-layered solutions. Change is not an easy task. But with continued coverage, what started as backlash over Commander Lexa’s mishandled, trope-ridden on-screen death, has the potential to grow into a culture-shifting power: This movement has gone beyond the realms of fandom and into mainstream media, a vital step that has added strength and legitimacy to young LGBTQ voices.
lgbtfansdeservebetter.com is honored to have been given the opportunity to collaborate with its creators to present to you the Pledge to the LGBTQ Fandom, an important step towards achieving this goal.
Over the last few weeks, the LGBT Fans Deserve Better movement has been advocating to achieve real change in the quality of LGBTQ representation in the media, giving hope to the LGBTQ community everywhere –that our stories matter and our lives are important.
In an attempt to create such a change and to improve the representation of the LGBTQ community in the media, the writers and producers of the CTV Network show Saving Hope co-created a pledge to the LGBTQ Fandom.
Sonia Hosko and Noelle Carbone were in the writers room when the ‘bury your gays tropes’ discussion had reached a focal point on Social Media. The Saving Hope crew were incredibly supportive, wonderful, open minded people who were really willing to listen and understand the problem and get behind a solution. After sitting down and taking into consideration what LGBTQ fans wanted to see in terms of change in representation, as well as things which were clearly unacceptable and needed to be voiced, all the creators of the pledge came together to put together to put together a list of 7 points which we believe will allow change as well as prevention in future writing of LGBTQ characters.
The entire Saving Hope writers room set precedent as the first to sign the pledge, showing the LGBTQ community that they are ready to take this journey with us and most importantly we have been heard.
LGBTQ representation is a complex issue that requires multi-layered solutions. Change is not an easy task. But with continued coverage, what started as backlash over Commander Lexa’s mishandled, trope-ridden on-screen death, has the potential to grow into a culture-shifting power: This movement has gone beyond the realms of fandom and into mainstream media, a vital step that has added strength and legitimacy to young LGBTQ voices.
lgbtfansdeservebetter.com is honored to have been given the opportunity to collaborate with its creators to present to you the Pledge to the LGBTQ Fandom, an important step towards achieving this goal.
Hi, anon, thanks for writing in. I was just listing what I liked about the show and Regina Hall appears in the most recent episodes as Jimmy’s love interest and honestly rather steals the show when she’s on. I quite like her but she’s a guest star and we know Sara and Jimmy will eventually find their way to each other. I don’t see why we can’t get someone like that but more permanent for Annelise.
Hi, anon, thanks for writing in. I was just listing what I liked about the show and Regina Hall appears in the most recent episodes as Jimmy’s love interest and honestly rather steals the show when she’s on. I quite like her but she’s a guest star and we know Sara and Jimmy will eventually find their way to each other. I don’t see why we can’t get someone like that but more permanent for Annelise.
Posted on
So I guess all the shows I was excited for with f/f arcs have men right
in the middle of them. I don’t need no men to be involved ever, that’s
neither fair nor realistic. But. Surely it’s not entirely fair to center
these stories on men to this extent either? (And I exclude You Me Her
which is a different type of show from this list.)
Of ongoing shows with men involved: – The Family – Lol at my tags for last week’s gifset :/
– Home Fires – Today’s ep was really tough to watch. Teresa trying to convince herself she can be with a man and then making out with him even after visibly recoiling. Not having a great time with dealing with the closet myself right now, so it hit really close to home.
– The Catch – Well, lol, didn’t expect too much from this, although I was hoping it’d be longer and more interesting than what we’ve gotten so far, but who knows, always a chance. Except Shivani Ghai (Felicity) is a guest star…
– General Hospital – This is more about upcoming spoilers that aren’t yet confirmed, but it seems like Kristina will be working out her sexual confusion by going out with a guy. This isn’t exactly rare in real life, but it’s even less rare in fiction, and is used so, so often (just look at this list). Given that there are sections of the viewing audience that are so homophobic and so ready to pair Kristina with a dude, not loving the idea of giving them an option. There are also girls out there who know they’re gay and that’s it. But they don’t get the coming out story, they’re the love interest or the corrupter or the predator.
– Faking It – I mean, has Faking It ever not had boys in the middle of everything?
– Vis a Vis – Ongoing love triangle of sorts. The man is an utter douche but it seems like the show likes him. The f/f pair were more popular than expected, so there might be more hope for them, but it’s a women in prison show, and a dark one at that.
– Wynonna Earp – Not much to say about this one, the male leg of the triangle is a total loser, and it was clear going in what it we were going to get but it’s still a m-f-f triangle and it’s still in this part of the list. Given the stats, it’s not a very original way to go about things.
– Saints & Sinners – Lady Ella’s cheating on her husband and he’s a big figure in the show even after his death.
The f/f arcs that don’t have men involved: – Orphan Black – Delphine’s dead, Shay seems to be out of the picture
– The lOO – Lexa’s dead
– Janet King – Ash’s dead. There are some potential romance options unfolding, but her wife/mother of her children is dead. That part of it is sad af to watch.
– Jane the Virgin – Rose is dead and aside from that, Luisa’s barely in the show nowadays?
– Seis Hermanes – Both dealt with men over long arcs but at least not currently?
– Grandfathered – I like this show and I like everyone in it and I like Annelise and I like Regina Hall. But of the five main/regular characters, four are in endgame-type will they-won’t they het pairs, and Annelise remains the odd woman out. She’s had one ep really about her and dating and that ended with her going to the other woman’s house and yelling at her and her new lover. It really needs to do better with her, she’s a fabulous character and it’s just bad storytelling to waste her like that, aside from being monumentally unfair.
– Rosewood – Is like the one show that does not have any of these issues.
Posted on
So I guess all the shows I was excited for with f/f arcs have men right
in the middle of them. I don’t need no men to be involved ever, that’s
neither fair nor realistic. But. Surely it’s not entirely fair to center
these stories on men to this extent either? (And I exclude You Me Her
which is a different type of show from this list.)
Of ongoing shows with men involved: – The Family – Lol at my tags for last week’s gifset :/
– Home Fires – Today’s ep was really tough to watch. Teresa trying to convince herself she can be with a man and then making out with him even after visibly recoiling. Not having a great time with dealing with the closet myself right now, so it hit really close to home.
– The Catch – Well, lol, didn’t expect too much from this, although I was hoping it’d be longer and more interesting than what we’ve gotten so far, but who knows, always a chance. Except Shivani Ghai (Felicity) is a guest star…
– General Hospital – This is more about upcoming spoilers that aren’t yet confirmed, but it seems like Kristina will be working out her sexual confusion by going out with a guy. This isn’t exactly rare in real life, but it’s even less rare in fiction, and is used so, so often (just look at this list). Given that there are sections of the viewing audience that are so homophobic and so ready to pair Kristina with a dude, not loving the idea of giving them an option. There are also girls out there who know they’re gay and that’s it. But they don’t get the coming out story, they’re the love interest or the corrupter or the predator.
– Faking It – I mean, has Faking It ever not had boys in the middle of everything?
– Vis a Vis – Ongoing love triangle of sorts. The man is an utter douche but it seems like the show likes him. The f/f pair were more popular than expected, so there might be more hope for them, but it’s a women in prison show, and a dark one at that.
– Wynonna Earp – Not much to say about this one, the male leg of the triangle is a total loser, and it was clear going in what it we were going to get but it’s still a m-f-f triangle and it’s still in this part of the list. Given the stats, it’s not a very original way to go about things.
– Saints & Sinners – Lady Ella’s cheating on her husband and he’s a big figure in the show even after his death.
The f/f arcs that don’t have men involved: – Orphan Black – Delphine’s dead, Shay seems to be out of the picture
– The lOO – Lexa’s dead
– Janet King – Ash’s dead. There are some potential romance options unfolding, but her wife/mother of her children is dead. That part of it is sad af to watch.
– Jane the Virgin – Rose is dead and aside from that, Luisa’s barely in the show nowadays?
– Seis Hermanes – Both dealt with men over long arcs but at least not currently?
– Grandfathered – I like this show and I like everyone in it and I like Annelise and I like Regina Hall. But of the five main/regular characters, four are in endgame-type will they-won’t they het pairs, and Annelise remains the odd woman out. She’s had one ep really about her and dating and that ended with her going to the other woman’s house and yelling at her and her new lover. It really needs to do better with her, she’s a fabulous character and it’s just bad storytelling to waste her like that, aside from being monumentally unfair.
– Rosewood – Is like the one show that does not have any of these issues.
