I think the queer community has been positively impacted or changed through LGBTQIA+ series such as “We’re Here” by being shown examples of self-confidence and acceptance throughout the episodes. Andrei Manila, a Filipino gay cheerleader, found it difficult to fully express himself around his family because of the different beliefs in the culture they grew up in. His mother did not accept his coming out and said cheerleading was for girls.
Once Manila started embracing his inner drag and performing in front of audiences without letting a lack of support hold him back, he changed his perspective of how he would let others affect him. This sharpened his self-identity in terms of allowing him to let this side of him show throughout his cheerleading and drag performances.
What the episodes of “We’re Here” do differently in order for non-LGBTQIA+ people to join the conversation of LGBTQIA+ acceptance in America is the drag queens bring people out of their comfort zones and encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ communities to participate in drag performances unapologetically and in full acceptance of their inner selves. The drag queens invite queer individuals to explore their diversity and uniqueness with their support and with other family members cheering them on.
Shows like “We’re Here” aim for judgment-free zones and teaching self-love and importance. The goal is to turn marginalized groups that deal with intersectionality into groups that thrive in their differences. This promotes acceptance of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. This sends a message to people of all genders express themselves the way they want and not worry so much about what others think of them.
Within the framework of journalism, I think journalists can improve their news coverage of the conversations happening among the LGBTQIA+ community by interviewing diverse groups and giving a platform to this community by letting them share their stories and testimonies through the media. This can come in the form of multimedia, print or broadcast journalism. Journalists can help these individuals have a voice and allow others the opportunity to hear their struggles and potentially relate with their experiences and hardships in social, community and family life.
Based on my overall reflections of the website, screening event, panel discussion and “We’re Here” show, I think some ways that representations of gender, race and sexuality can be covered differently in journalism are showing people of different gender, racial and sexual identities and expressions in the media. This can involve showing their work, what they do during a typical day in their life and how they interact with other members of society.
