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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Vic chapter.

When I came back to school this term, my university friends were very excited to show me a new Queer TV show that had been released on Amazon Prime in mid-August. It was a show called A League of Their Own.

Glad to consume some new Queer content, I sat down with them to watch it. The 10-episode show transported me to another world, a world that was gayer than I ever thought it could be. In terms of female Queer representation in television, A League of Their Own truly takes the cake 🎂. It would be a spoiler to say how many gay characters there are in this show, so you’re just gonna have to trust me when I tell you there are a lot of lesbians. 

When I finished the series I was truly shocked… but in the best way possible. The show had the most perfect mix of Queer characters and stories, along with fantastic attention to detail in terms of Queer culture. I had never been happier. Shortly after I finished it though, my mind started to drift to all my other favourite, similar Queer shows that had been undeservingly cancelled. I soon became afraid.

In the past couple of years there have been a solid amount of good TV shows, all focused on Queer female characters, that have suddenly been discontinued after 1 or 2 seasons. What do these shows have in common you might ask? a) Lesbians and b) all-around stunning Queer representation. 

Many shows from different genres have been canacled without a second thought. Amazon Prime’s high stakes drama The Wilds, is a huge example of this, as the main love story follows a lesbian couple falling for eachother after a tragic plane crash. Lesbians in coming-of-age comedies aren’t safe either, as Netflix’s Everything Sucks, whose main character is a young girl discovering her sexuality, also endured an undeserved cancelation.  Alike all the others, these shows are also clearly written with the hope of another season. We, the viewers, are inevitably left with unanswered questions, unresolved conflicts, and unfufilled Queer romances. 

Most of these shows had amazing production values, complex characters, and intriguing storytelling. Netflix’s 6 episode semi-horror drama, I’m Not Okay With This, is a great example of well produced Queer content. The story follows a young girl in a small town who suddenly discovers that she has dangerous powers, all while struggling with the feelings she has for her presumed-straight best friend. 

Aesthetically, I’m Not Okay With This  is a masterpiece by its Mise-en-scene alone. The costumes, lighting, coloured filters, and set fit so well with one another to give off a comfy, but ultimately eerie, 70s vibe (despite taking place in the modern day). The show left a great impression on a lot of people, especially because the season ended on such a chilling cliffhanger. However, despite a lot of interest in the shows renewal, Netflix cancelled it. 

The list goes on: Trinkets, Paper Girls, First Kill, Teenage Bounty Hunters, Batwoman, Gentleman Jack. Sure there are a few existing lesbian side characters in currently popular streaming TV shows like Fabiola from Never Have I Ever and Robin from Stranger Things, but most shows that feature a female Queer character in the main spotlight or plotline have been cancelled. This is happening on almost all streaming services. 

Outside of cancellations, the television industry has also been particularly fond of killing off Queer female characters as well. From Lexa from The 100, Charlie from Supernatural, to Dani from The Haunting of Blye Manor, and even Eve, from Killing Eve, TV show writers have been ruthless towards female Queer characters. Utilizing a character’s Queerness to attract Queer viewers and leave them heartbroken by the end. It’s extremely frustrating to all members of the LGTBQ+ community, as the prospect of good representation in media is forever fleeting. 

With my newfound love for the gay baseball players from A League of Their Own, I spend my days terrified that I’ll wake up one morning to find that the show has been cancelled. I can’t deny that I would be utterly heartbroken if it was. It’s a show that is funny, well-written, and full of heartwarming representation. It has women! In love! With each other!

The show takes place in 1943 and is about a group of girls who are chosen to be players in the new female baseball league in America. Mainly featuring the spunky team of loyal, hardworking, and mostly butch, Rockford Peaches. 

The main romance throughout the series is a confidently displayed Queer one between two of  the main characters. Carson Shaw is a slightly withered married woman from a farm, who is suddenly thrown into the world of Greta Gill, a tall, eccentric woman who has been jumping from town to town her entire life. These two characters share many hardships and obstacles, while also sharing a plentiful of steamy scenes in between it all.

Besides the amazing Queer relationships, the show does a great job at covering what it was like to live not only as a woman, but as a Black woman during the 1940s. For the second protagonist of the series is Max Chapman, a deeply complex woman that desperately tries to follow her dream of being a professional pitcher. She continues to push herself beyond her limits throughout her journey, all to stay true to her love for baseball. 

Looking back at the shows I have mentioned with the fear that A League of Their Own might suffer the same fate, I can’t help but question if streaming services really do hate lesbians. Those shows were all highly rated and had promising futures, but something about a strong Queer female in the spotlight, especially if they are a person of colour, is just too much for Netflix and Amazon Prime to handle. 

While we wait in anticipation, I will continue to have hope that the characters within A League of Their Own will get the chance to continue to grow. It would be a shame to lose another well-crafted piece of Queer media that could continue to inspire and adore the hearts of many.

Jessica Legati is the Social Media Director for the Her Campus Chapter at the University of Victoria. In her position, she actively monitors and operates all Her Campus UVic social media accounts, creating regular content and actively engaging with followers. Outside Her Campus, Jessica is a fourth-year writing student at UVIC with a minor in digital and interactive media in the arts. Her specialization is in screenwriting, and during the pursuit of her degree, she has also learned to love filming and editing. In the summer, she works as a Head Filmmaking Instructor at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario. Jessica's free time is mostly spent following the intense world of Formula One racing, but outside of motorsport, she is a chill gal who loves singing, playing guitar, and hanging out with her friends. She is super fond of fictional series like Marvel, Harry Potter, and Doctor Who, and one day hopes to write for television and film.