Why LGBT representation in pop culture matters

Remember that moment when Korra and Asami kissed? Remember swooning to Hayley Kiyoko’s “Girls Like Girls”? Cheering for Queer Eye? Crying over Moonlight or Love, Simon?

Rare moments in pop culture allow LGBT people to see themselves fully, such as in Tangerine or Sense8, but in other moments we learn to catch glimpses of ourselves, like when Magnus and Alec fell in love on Shadowhunters or Janelle Monáe’s “Dirty Computer” emotion picture. These moments are few and far between, and sometimes we invent them: there’s a queerness to certain pop culture icons that are never fleshed out even as others live the lives we wish we could.

This is a space where pop culture becomes a mirror and delivers with it a reckoning of who we really are. This is a space for People Like Me.

People Like Me

Natalie Wee is a writer and community-builder of Peranakan descent.

Keep Reading

Tim Hortons and the no good very bad ‘Harry Potter’ collaboration

Tim Hortons licensing “Harry Potter” in 2026 essentially means directly funding J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans crusade
Makayla Couture, Juice Boxx, Aurora Matrix

‘Canada’s Drag Race All Stars’ Episode 3 recap: Reset to the mean

After starting the season with a bang—or two—this episode gets back to business as usual

Elliot Page is great in ‘The Odyssey.’ Let’s talk about that

Despite online controversy, director Christopher Nolan casting him is not a “woke” psy-op. It’s just the right actor for the right role
Carole Pope

Carole Pope wants Chappell Roan to know who she is

“Antidiva” solidifies the Canadian rock star’s legendary status—from her iconic crotch-grab to her contemporary impact
Advertisement