I remember a (now critically-acclaimed) drama series in the early 1990’s called “My So-Called Life” starring Claire Danes.
Controversial for the time, the show’s singular gay character, a teenager named Rickie, led a tormented, sometimes homeless life with a background of abuse and trauma. While he could usually pull it together and attend school with a smile on his face while amongst friends, any story lines that focused on him specifically were always quite depressing.
I loved the show, and thought it was awesome that it brought a gay character to mainstream television. But I had to wonder if it perpetuated negative stereotypes and myths about the LGBT community in general. It seemed like if a person watching had been questioning their sexual identity, they would almost want to stifle it, if they thought they would be leading Rickie’s life as a gay person.
Nowadays, TV shows are becoming more positive in their portrayals of their LGBT characters, which is wonderful! With so many more LGBT-focused story lines in popular teen TV shows like Glee and DeGrassi, mainstream media is definitely providing more uplifting exposure of LGBT issues to the world of pop culture. And maybe now those (especially young people) who are watching, and questioning their sexuality, are feeling more empowered to do so because of the positive role models they are seeing on TV.
Logic would dictate, then, that more youth in general might be giving their sexual identity a closer look. The more positive images and depictions we see in the media of LGBT lives, the healthier the mainstream perspective is going to be. This can be extremely pivotal in the mind of a young person who is questioning their sexuality!
As PFY's LGBT Youth Services Program Coordinator, I am definitely seeing more youth questioning their sexual identity at younger and younger ages. We are always here to help young people who are struggling with this aspect of their lives, in a safe and confidential environment. Should you have any questions about the information in this article, feel free to contact me at 516-679-9000 ext. 128 or tengel@longislandcrisiscenter.org.
