Throughout history, the LGBTQ+ community has always been rejected or made invisible to society completely; and therefore, queer stories have not reached mass audiences until now when a booming branch of movies, series, and books with a LGBTQ+ narrative have emerged and popularized on Netflix and cinema. Although, they are some questions and concerns may arise.

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Stereotypes and prejudices may hinder every source of media and information, especially those in which the main topic follows an oppressed or minoritarian group as it is the ones of sexual diversity and racial or ethnic groups. With stories such as Netflix’s Heartstopper and Love, Simon a new light is shed on gay love stories that are often reduced to secondary characters or to only a few minutes of a movie/series. Gay, lesbian, and trans love was portrayed as this unnecessary circumstance that just occurred, it was seen as a taboo. If not, it was idealized and unreal. For instance, with Heartstopper, which is based on a comic book, the whole story tries to convey the true the way real young people feel, with an open, natural, and sensitive vision of love and sexual identity, without ever losing delicacy and emotion. Nick and Charlie’s affection presents itself as any other heterosexual relationship enjoying the beauty of love, not as an abnormal connection.

 

Moreover, Love, Simon, a story with a setting on a high school follows a teen who has not came out but finds love whatsoever. He ends up facing issues related to homophobia and its limitations but love always wins, as it should. Simon finds himself and is able to express that with the people close to him. Everyone deserves that… as a matter of fact, it is a human right. Stories like this are important and needed because it allows people who do not feel accepted to see themselves portrayed and represented. Feeling seen, represented, and valued can change everything as does love.