On one side, gigant general media outlets, such as newspapers, magazines and news portals, cover themes related to the queer community more and more each day. Despite reaching an extensive audience, these coverages often suffer from superficiality, focusing on punctual cases, spreading stereotypes and reinforcing the invisibility from the majority of the community.
From the other site, specialized media outlets play a fundamental role in providing continuous and deep coverage surrounding matters that directly affect the community. ‘Gay Blog BR’ is one the main specialized media outlets in Brazil that has been remarkable due to its positive and optimistic approach.
In a conversation with Vinícius Yamada, editor-in-chief of Gay Blog BR, he highlights:
“A decade ago, the queer universe only gained prominence in famous media outlets in cases of violence or mockery. Nowadays, we can see a progress regarding the fact that the sexual orientation is not necessarily the headline. Erika Hilton, for instance, has been calling the attention of media outlets as a result of her successful political agenda – not for being a ‘trans deputy’.
However, we still have a long way ahead of us. The depth and nuance to discuss our lives intricacies are not enough. In my perspective, media outlets have the responsibility of not only reporting news, but also educating and promoting inclusivity.
Is important to celebrate the victories and the advancements we have already achieved, but we can’t forget to have a critical eye and to require more from the platforms that have the power of influencing the public opinion. The fight for fair representation and relevant information is ongoing, and all of us have a fundamental role in that.
“The media does not only report the news. It educates people”
To comprehend the relevance of communication in theLGBTQIAP+ community, it is essential to resort to the queer communication theory. Authors such as Judith Butler, José Esteban Muñoz and Jasbir Puar foster critical discussions about the representation of sexuality in the media, advocating for authentic, inclusive and transforming communication.
Judith Butler, for example, through her gender performativity theory, claims the media’s fundamental role in the perpetuation or deconstruction of gender standards.
José Esteban Muñoz explores the queer aesthetics and potential of defying and reimagining alternative futures, proposing new ways of being and living to create space for diversity.
Jasbir Puar discusses homonationalism and how some LGBTQIAP+ narratives are co-opted by nationalist beliefs, marginalizing groups that don’t fit in these boxes. This criticism is crucial for avoiding the co-opting of the fight for queer rights for political purposes.
In that sense, LGBT media outlets in Latin America play a vital role in providing coverage that not only informs people, but also capacitates and connects the community. Media outlets such as the ‘Homosensual’, in Mexico, that address matters such as how to support your trans partner, exemplify how the media can be an ally on the education and promotion of sensible debates.
By giving voice to the stories of marginalized and misrepresented people, these media outlets also fill gaps left by traditional media.
