Difference between revisions of "Queer character"
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A '''queer character''', for the purposes of this site, is a character in fiction or a person in non-fiction who is not heterosexual or not cisgender. This includes characters who are described as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, non-binary, or any of the various other categories. | A '''queer character''', for the purposes of this site, is a character in fiction or a person in non-fiction who is not heterosexual or not cisgender. This includes characters who are described as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, non-binary, or any of the various other categories. | ||
| − | It is estimated that about 5% of people are queer, although, it's difficult to get accurate demographics for queer people since there is no agreed upon definition, and many nations still criminalize queer behavior. With a world population of 7.7 billion, that equates to around 385,000,000 people | + | It is estimated that about 5% of people are queer, although, it's difficult to get accurate demographics for queer people since there is no agreed upon definition, and many nations still criminalize queer behavior. With a world population of 7.7 billion, that equates to around 385,000,000 people. Despite this huge number, queer people see very little representation in media, and, when they do, they are often mocked or stereotyped. In the past couple decades, there has been an increase in the number of positive queer characters in media, which is fantastic. However, because media with queer characters are still noteworthy, I maintain a category of their appearance in my Wiki. This category includes any media with a queer character regardless of how they're portrayed. |
In my teens I was an Evangelical Christian and was taught that queer people were evil, so I had a very negative opinion of any queer characters in media and only approved of them when they were punished. After leaving religion and meeting plenty of wonderful queer people, I became ashamed of how terrible I was to them. I now openly embrace queer people and see positive queer representation in media to be a wonderful thing. | In my teens I was an Evangelical Christian and was taught that queer people were evil, so I had a very negative opinion of any queer characters in media and only approved of them when they were punished. After leaving religion and meeting plenty of wonderful queer people, I became ashamed of how terrible I was to them. I now openly embrace queer people and see positive queer representation in media to be a wonderful thing. | ||
Revision as of 17:06, 17 October 2019
A queer character, for the purposes of this site, is a character in fiction or a person in non-fiction who is not heterosexual or not cisgender. This includes characters who are described as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, non-binary, or any of the various other categories.
It is estimated that about 5% of people are queer, although, it's difficult to get accurate demographics for queer people since there is no agreed upon definition, and many nations still criminalize queer behavior. With a world population of 7.7 billion, that equates to around 385,000,000 people. Despite this huge number, queer people see very little representation in media, and, when they do, they are often mocked or stereotyped. In the past couple decades, there has been an increase in the number of positive queer characters in media, which is fantastic. However, because media with queer characters are still noteworthy, I maintain a category of their appearance in my Wiki. This category includes any media with a queer character regardless of how they're portrayed.
In my teens I was an Evangelical Christian and was taught that queer people were evil, so I had a very negative opinion of any queer characters in media and only approved of them when they were punished. After leaving religion and meeting plenty of wonderful queer people, I became ashamed of how terrible I was to them. I now openly embrace queer people and see positive queer representation in media to be a wonderful thing.
Examples
These are works which are important to me that feature a queer character. For a complete list, see the queer character category.
| Title | Released | Media | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Rock | 2006-10-11 | TV Series | Devon Banks, Jonathan, J.D. Lutz, and Randy are all gay. |
| Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl | 1947-??-?? | Biography | Anne seems bi-curious in one diary entry. |
| American Dad! | 2005-02-06 | TV Series | Roger is pansexual, Greg and Terry are gay, Linda Memari is bi. |
| Arrested Development | 2003-11-02 | TV Series | Gob Bluth is bi, Barry Zuckerkorn is gay. |
| Bob's Burgers | 2011-01-09 | TV Series | Marshmallow, Marbles, Glitter, Cha-Cha are all transgender women. |
| Bohemian Rhapsody | 2018-10-23 | Film | Freddie Mercury is bisexual. |
| Borderlands (series) | 2009-10-20 | Video Game | Axton, Mad Moxxi, and Mr. Torgue are bi, Tiny Tina, Athena, and Janey are lesbian, and Sir Hammerlock is gay. |
| Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | 2015-10-12 | TV Series | Josh Wilson is gay, Darryl, Maya, and Valencia are bi. |
| Cryptonomicon | 1999-05-?? | Novel | Alan Turing and Rudy are gay. |
| Derry Girls | 2018-01-04 | TV Series | Clare is lesbian. |
| Dune | 1965-08-01 | Novel | Baron Harkonnen is gay. |
| Family Guy | 1999-01-31 | TV Series | Meg and Stewie are bi, Jasper and Bruce are gay, |
| Futurama | 1999-03-28 | TV Series | Enos Fry and Old Man Waterfall are gay. |
| Gone Home | 2013-08-15 | Video Game | Sam and Lonnie are both lesbian. |
| The Handmaid's Tale | 1985-??-?? | Novel | Moira is lesbian. |
| Harry Potter series | 1997-06-26 | Novel | Professor Dumbledore is gay, though he never exhibits gay behavior. |
| Hedwig and the Angry Inch | 1998-??-?? | Theatre | Hedwig is a transgendered woman, Yitzhak is a drag queen, and Luther is gay. |
| The Office | 2005-03-24 | TV Series | Oscar Martinez, Gil, Matt, and Robert Lipton are all gay. |
| Ready Player One | 2011-08-16 | Novel | Ache is lesbian. |
| Rent | 1996-01-26 | Theatre | Tom and Angel are gay, Maureen is bi, and Joanne is lesbian. |
| Rocky Horror Show | 1973-06-19 | Theatre | Most characters are queer in some way. |
| Saved! | 2004-01-21 | Film | Dean and Mitch are gay. |
| Scott Pilgrim | 2004-08-18 | Graphic Novel | Ramona is bi, Roxy is lesbian, Wallace is gay. |
| The Simpsons | 1989-12-17 | TV Series | Waylon Smithers and John the owner of the collectibles shop are gay, Patty Bouvier is lesbian. |
| South Park | 1997-08-13 | TV Series | Mr. Slave, Satan, Tweek, and Craig are gay. Mr. Garrison changes throughout the show. |
| Undertale | 2015-09-15 | Video Game | Several characters are various forms of queer including Alphys, Undyne, and the royal guards, and possibly Frisk, Mettaton, and Napstablook. |
Links
- lgbtqgamearchive.com - Queer characters in videogames.
