LGBT+ around the world

Understanding the spectrum: Gender Identities in the modern entertainment industry

Asger S., Bastian B., Clara S. & Noah B

The LGBT+ community

The LGBT+ community is characterized by its resilience and vibrant culture. They are very passionate about their beliefs and will keep fighting until they reach their goals. In modern times LGBT+ is widely celebrated, but it started as a protest in 1969 against police brutality at the Stonewall Inn in New York city. There was a law that required men and women to dress like their gender on their state-issued Id. However the LGBT+ people in the Inn started fighting back. Police brutality then increased amid six days of riots which caused other members of the LGBT+ community to take action.

Gender Identities around the world – norms and conflicts

In the modern world, gender identities play a big role. More and more people identify as transgender or other genders from the LGBT spectrum. Nowadays many people choose to talk about genders on a spectrum instead of the old binary genders. Most of the world recognizes the LGBT+ community as a normal thing, however some countries still choose to not recognize them as people. Recently Peru chose to officially diagnose people mentally ill if they are transgender or non-binary. Peru, together with many other countries, choose to see LGBT+ people as mentally disturbed. In many African and middle eastern countries, their culture and religion play a big role in this. 

The gender identities are deeply intertwined with cultural, social, and political contexts. While some regions show significant progress in recognizing and accepting diverse gender identities, others maintain strict binary norms, often enforced through legal and social mechanisms. The global movement towards gender inclusivity faces both advancements and setbacks, with ongoing efforts needed to achieve equality and acceptance for all gender identities.   

Representation in the modern entertainment industry

Representing LGBT+ people in games and movies has been more and more popular in modern times. In almost every movie there has to be a character that is not in the binary gender system. It has come to a point where if a movie or tv series does not have a LGBT+ character, people will get angry. However there are also people who get mad when there is too much so called “gayness” in a movie. For example when the Buzz lightyear movie came out there was a big fuss about a scene where two girls kiss. A lot of parents and just people in general did not think that was appropriate. So it is very hard for the entertainment industry to not offend everyone. Especially now that people from the LGBT+ community have become a bit tired of the blatant stereotypes and personalities as they do not think it is the right way to inform and or teach children about those types of people. Navigating these expectations can be challenging for the entertainment industry. On one hand, there is pressure to include diverse representations, but on the other, there is the risk of offending certain audiences. This balancing act is further complicated by the fatigue felt by some members of the LGBT+ community towards stereotypical portrayals. Many feel that such depictions do not accurately represent their expenses and are not suitable for educating or informing children about diversity. Audiences now demand nuanced LGBT+ characters, not defined solely by gender or sexual orientation. This reflects a broader push for inclusivity in media, reshaping the entertainment industry.