Netflix delivers masterclass in owning homophobes who feel gay TV characters are ‘unnecessary’
From Sex Education and Sense8 to AJ and the Queen and Hollywood, Netflix does not disappoint when it comes to LGBT+ representation in television and film.
The turbulent, decades-long trajectory of queer representation on the small screen has gone from flat one-episode secondary players to fully-fleshed characters central to storylines.
Indeed, the amount of queer characters on our screens has consistently hit new heights each year, according to annual reports by GLAAD. But as visibility for lives so often shoved into margins or not shown at all on TV increases, as does the potential for backlash.
But don’t worry, if anybody comes at Netflix for its track record in accurately reflecting the world that, newsflash, does contain LGBT+ people, they’ve got the community’s back.
When a Twitter user decided to share a meme depicting how Netflix allegedly shoves “an unnecessary gay character” into “any new series”, the streaming giant immediately shut their bigotry down.
“Sorry you have yet to realise that every gay person is very necessary,” the service’s Twitter account wrote Wednesday (May 6) evening.
sorry you have yet to realize that every gay person is very necessary https://t.co/xTOEcLWryc
— Netflix (@netflix) May 6, 2020
We, for one, appreciate this being a statement, rather than a question, as did a lot of Twitter users.
Netflix just earned 826 lesbian points https://t.co/UHesD5u16K— Lesbian Points (@LesbianPoints) May 6, 2020
Netflix>Disney https://t.co/CLoV5imstS— Browntable – Mauricio (@Browntable_Ent) May 6, 2020
Netflix said gay rights https://t.co/zYGCGFRzMt— – Senpai the Broke – (@thatshortartist) May 7, 2020
just this once… https://t.co/eAUAiZJHQE pic.twitter.com/7WvCFvy898
— ?ryan is still changing his carrd? (@AaronWitch) May 7, 2020
Some users defended Netflix and, you know, queer people’s existence, in the brand’s mentions as homophobes crept in.
pic.twitter.com/nispUwCO2s— audition for cmiyc (nsfr) (@itsborlebitch) May 6, 2020
pic.twitter.com/k7HEWnqHOw— tierney ? (@envelopeys) May 6, 2020
Why do they need a reason to be that when no one had a reason to be cis or straight?— ✨?Sarah?✨ (@legndofphoenix) May 6, 2020
Although some pointed out the complexity of a corporation’s likes-friendly support for the LGBT+ community, as activism becomes tangled in profit margins.
Rainbow capitalism https://t.co/HHsYVBm6jn— Scott Greer (@ScottMGreer) May 6, 2020
"Of course we support you now that it is legal and therefore profitable to do so, why did we wait until now? No more questions! watch our movies!" https://t.co/cfKaiA4ufQ— 『Ryuuko Matoi』@Kamen Rider Ex Aid (@Smug_Legend) May 7, 2020
necessary for your bottom line maybe
corporations don't give a shit about your social issues please understand this https://t.co/A2lqHc7FTO— Seqi (@seqilol) May 7, 2020
If that's true then why does everything you put us in either sideline us, insult us, or kill us… https://t.co/7sGI76d9MI— ?️??️⚧️???????Ⓠⓤⓔⓔⓝ??? (@JoannaBlackhart) May 7, 2020