How Queer!

In order to talk about the types of queer characters that we like to see in the TV and movie scene, we must understand the difference between liberation and assimilation, as well as incidental and queer-focused media.  Rue and Jules from Euphoria are a great example of queer-focused characters, because they are both main focuses of the show and Jules is able to explore trans issues, but her trans-ness is not her only identity trait, nor is it the premise of the show. Assimilation is the idea that minority groups or communities can blend in and "become the same" as the majority group or community; in this case, queer people assimilating with straight and cis people.  In this context, liberation is the idea of existing as our own people and not complying with the standards and expectations that our inherently heterosexual and cisgender society imposes on us, as queer people. Queer characters that would be considered "assimilating" are usually there as a token q

Upon cleaning out one of my offices this past week, I found some waivers from 2005 for getting HIV testing at the doctor's office where I work. I also found waivers from the state, and info sheets about HIV, one of which used outdated terms to refer to the virus. These waivers were to be signed by the patient to inform them about the HIV testing procedures in Oregon, and get their acceptance or denial to perform the HIV blood test. The waivers also had a box to check the reasoning behind this test, which had options like, "Patient Requested", "High-Risk Behavior", and "Symptomatic". My boss, who was a practicing laboratory technician during this time, mentioned that these waivers are no-doubt rooted in deep homophobia. He said that people were still so ignorant to the science, and that HIV and AIDS were still thought of as a "gay" thing, even in the mid-2000s. He said that the waivers were kind of a way to explain to patients that, "we

Representation in media is one of the biggest educators and encouragement for those who have historically not had much representation. I am a big fan of queer literature, as this is often one of the best and most accurate portrayals of queer characters and experiences. Here is my list of ten queer young-adult books that you should definitely read! Forgive Me If I've Told You This Before Karelia Stetz-Waters Content warning: Sexual assault, Religious homophobia  This book has been one of my favorites for several years. It is set in Oregon between 1989 and 1992, when Measure 9 was on the ballot in Oregon. The story follows Triinu, a church-going Estonian goth girl who tries to suppress her attraction to girls. This book deals with homophobia from the church, sexual harassment, peer pressure, bullying, the battle of equal rights for gay people in Oregon, and the struggle of discovering your sexuality in a rural, conservative state in the early 90s. One other thing that I re

Queer people have long been underrepresented in the media, and recently that has improved greatly, with the increased awareness of queer people, as well as people who come out as queer only after they've gained popularity. In this article I will be showcasing different people or characters who adequately represent the queer community in the public eye, what representation means to us, and who we look up to as role models. Bex Taylor-Klaus To me, representation means having aspects of your own identity shown in a positive light in the media. This can manifest in characters in TV shows or movies, or in real people with said traits who are succeeding in the forefront of the media. Representation is so important for queer people (and for any underrepresented group) because it shows that someone can be successful and queer, and that people like you can achieve your goals while being a proud queer person. Margaret Cho Personally, I think that Bex Taylor-Klaus is one of the b

Recently, queer representation in the media has been at a record high. There's still a long way to go, but compared to the representation of the past, we have a record number of out queer influencers at the forefront of the industry. Lachlan Watson (they/them) Instagram Lachlan is one of the youngest self-identifying non-binary actors in Hollywood, and they have been open about the way they identify, and the challenges that queer people face. Lachlan's Instagram is full of high fashion shots of them in absolutely amazing outfits. Watch Lachlan as they star in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix. King Princess (she/her) Instagram King Princess is a genderqueer musician known for her explicitly queer love songs, and relatable content. She stated in an interview with them. that she makes her art explicitly queer in order to help guide queer youth and mold the "new normal". You can find King Princess's Music on all streaming platforms!

This past weekend was Pride Weekend in Portland, Oregon. A weekend full of block-parties, parades, queer dance parties, marches, and lots of gay shit! This weekend is about celebrating queer spaces and queer bodies, however that may be.I started out this weekend at Crush bar for the Neon Pride Black-Light Dance Party, DJed by DJ Aurora. The night was filled with queer bops like Lady Gaga's Born This Way, and The Weather Girls' It's Raining Men, as well as amazing neon costumes and body paint. One of my favorite things about Crush is their wall of queer icons, which was highlighting Stonewall this month. There were photos of Stonewall heroes such as Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. One of my favorites was a large print of a group of activists holding a banner stating, "Stonewall means fight back! Smash gay oppression!". Crush also has a large selection of mixed drinks, my favorite being the "A Little Switchy", a bitter citrus and hibiscus concoction

Queer-coding is when characters are given attributes, traits, or behaviors to suggest that they are queer without explicitly stating that they are. Queer-coding can also be used to mark a character as an outsider, a villain, or a target of ridicule because of the queer-coded traits. Team Rocket from Pokémon This practice originated from a code in the 1920s and 30s called the Hays Code. The Hays Code was a censorship law that was meant to discourage "bad" people or "bad" actions; this would include crimes, sex, and blasphemy, among others. It was against the code to portray a protagonist committing a crime or doing any sort of wrongdoing, unless they were subsequently punished for it. This code was technically optional, but if you wanted to be making movies in Hollywood, this code needed to be followed, otherwise no movie company would endorse it. Writers, directors, and producers would not want to sanction a film that would not be approved by the Hays Code, b

The movie "Jongens" is a Dutch language movie which follows Siger, a teen athlete, through training for the championship relay race and discovering his sexuality. A flirtatious friendship develops between Siger and Marc after the two share kisses at the lake, while swimming after practice one night. The boys also attend a training camp for the upcoming relay race, which they are both part of, and the two sneak out to go to the beach together. When Siger's friend Stef begins to date a girl, encouraging Siger to do the same, Marc gets pushed away due to Siger's confusion and misunderstanding of his own emotions. Throughout the entire movie Siger seems very pensive and a bit hesitant about the relationship, and seems to be confused about his feelings for Marc; this leads to Marc feeling confused and ignored, and the boys have a fight, after a girl kisses Siger in front of Marc. Siger tries to apologize to Marc, but Marc, who was expecting more of an explanation, brushe