Members and allies of the LGBT community are demanding that TV and media stop introducing queer characters only to consistently kill them in senseless and shocking ways.
Lesbians are not unfamiliar with dying—and dying violently—in the media. In a study by Autostraddle from March 2015, an alarming 31% of lesbian or bisexual characters on American scripted TV shows between 1976-2016 ended up dead. A further 38% were simply guest characters or written off with no resolution, whilst only 10% got a “happy ending”. With our own list of dead lesbian/bisexual characters at 146 (and counting), LGBT fans demand better from media creators. These deaths almost always serve to further the plot or to provide character development for more central characters left to process the shock of the loss.
I’m 20. I grew up in France with my mom and my sisters. My family and my friends always accepted me as a bisexual woman even if few of them don’t really understand what it means. But when I was younger (around 12 years old) and that I realised I might like girls too, I … Read more "I’m 20. I grew up"
I grew up in Saudi Arabia and then Pakistan. The first time I knew there was a name for people like me was when I accidentally stumbled upon a youtube video of Pepa and Silvia from Los Hombres De Paco. That is when I first realized I was not alone, I was not unnatural, not … Read more "I grew up in Saudi"
I’m a sixteen year old girl who just found myself. It was around January when I decided that I was gay. It took so long for me to figure it out, but when the episodes of the 100 came out, I was scared to tell my parents, seeing as my grandma who lives with us … Read more "I’m a sixteen year old"
LGBT fans everywhere deserve better than the state of LGBT representation in the media today. We encourage anyone who supports the better representation and handling of LGBT characters and stories in the media to join us in our movement.
We want content creators everywhere to understand that LGBT characters are not expendable, they are not only tertiary characters, and LGBT relationships are not stepping stones for "real" heterosexual relationships. Storytellers can do better, and we want creators and viewers alike to commit to demanding better.
Why so many queer female characters die on TV? By Vox
(warning: death scene)
We encourage anyone who supports the better representation and handling of LGBT characters and stories in the media to join us in our movement. Anyone, no matter the position they find themselves in; critic, viewer, writer, production staff are welcome to join us in spreading our message.
We also ask any media outlets or journalism sites to consider bringing attention to our cause and spread our message to as many people as possible.
Leskru is raising money for The Trevor Project, the only national organization providing suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth in crisis.
As a member of the television/media industry, please indicate your commitment to improving LGBTQ representation in the media by signing the pledge.
Learn the context for fans outrage over The 100’s perpetuation of damaging tropes.
The greatest database of fictitious queer female characters on TV ... EVER
