Romance is one of the most popular genres of media among viewers worldwide. The almost dreamy feeling of being loved reciprocally, when portrayed efficiently, can be a master play on gaining streams and being lucrative. Although there is a high seek for romantic media like series, most streaming platforms, especially Netflix, have been canceling and not renewing a great number of narratives that have lesbian centered relationships on the plot.
The feeling of belonging to society is an unconscious goal for most people, diversity and representation beyond the cis male hetero is essential for the self-esteem development of an individual who does not fit into these boxes. Especially for those in a phase of growth and self-discovery, turning on the TV or opening some social media and seeing someone with similar characteristics to yours is not only comforting but also essential. In recent years, series with LGBTQ+ representation have become very popular, especially among young people, such as Glee, Pose, and more recently, Heartstopper.
Having its first season released in the first half of 2022, Heartstopper was a boom, especially among pre-teens and young adults. The popular series, based on a collection of comics by author Alice Oseman, centers the story between Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor), a gay and bisexual boy who fall in love with each other and deal with self-acceptance and belonging in society. As it is a lightweight series that does not focus on negative issues about LGBT identity, after its premiere, many viewers, stated that the representation of same-sex couples and bisexuality was essential for their self-acceptance and well-being.
Even with the presence of Tara (Corinna Brown) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) in the plot – a lesbian couple who is also a favorite among viewers -, the focus of the plot is not the two. Within the lesbian community, the desire to have a series like Heartstopper focused on a couple of girls is very present.
In almost all sapphic media representations they either cannot be together or one of them dies, causing, as a frustrating pattern, lesbian people to feel increasingly invisible. In addition to stories with tragic endings like Killing Eve, several series produced to focus on lesbian couples have suffered a wave of cancellations, especially after the first season.
Series such as I Am Not Okay With This, Everything Sucks and First Kill were not renewed after their debut season, despite public acclaim, causing a lot of questioning within the community: Why are heterosexual series created and renewed frantically? Why the only LGBT series that are highly renewed are those with gay representation? Who makes the choice, and what are the criteria for cancellation?
It’s important to note that the decisions to cancel shows are typically made by networks or streaming platforms based on various factors, including viewership ratings, production costs, and other business considerations. However, the cancellation of shows with sapphic representation can be particularly disheartening because it feels like a setback for representation and diversity in media as the lesbian community faces unique challenges and prejudices outside and inside the LGBTQIA+ environment. It is highly important to consume media that resonates with your roots and living experiences. As a lesbian myself, it can be tough to circulate in surroundings where narratives like yours are not viewed as valuable as others.
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The article above was edited by Clara Rocha.
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