To my followers, particularly those who do not identify as lgbtq, might be wondering why there is all of a sudden a flood of posts about the death of a fictional character named Lexa. For those of you that don’t watch The 100, Lexa was one of the most-well written queer characters on TV and was killed off in the crappiest way. Right after she finally got the woman she loved, after working incredibly hard to rebuild the relationship. It was absolutely heartbreaking for her as a character but also for fans.
A lot of you might find it stupid or silly for people to be this upset over a fictional character’s death but unfortunately, this is all too common for queer characters. Even though they have gained more representation, they are either portrayed in a negative fashion (villainized) or they don’t get a “happy ending” (death, left alone). Or they character is sidelined and you barely notice them. I can count on one hand the number of times a queer couple has gotten a happy ending. How many times has a straight couple gotten their happy ending on tv and in movies? You probably can’t even count because there are so many.
LGBTQ characters have helped many work through their sexuality and find acceptance for themselves when society might be telling them otherwise. I know this is very true for my girlfriend, watching Naomi and Emily on Skins helped her during a difficult time when she was struggling to accept herself. But when the characters are treated this way, it makes people who are already struggling with their sexuality feel as though they will not get their happy ending. Or they don’t deserve it. These characters are role models or someone they feel like they can relate to when they might not have that in their life. This is one of the reasons that the lgbtq community gets more attached and emotionally invested in these fictional characters and couples. They have made an incredible difference in many people’s lives.
So, if you see an uproar over a fictional queer character, do not roll your eyes or say “it’s just a show”. Understand the meaning and representation behind these characters. One day, I hope the treatment of queer characters gets better. I keep hoping. Lexa was one that I had so much hope for but she too was killed off and her lover was left alone, once again.
