Queer kids exist, and that's starting to be accepted and reflected in the wider culture. A small number of mostly animated children's series like She-Ra and Steven Universe have included queer characters and relationships in major plotlines. But it's imperative that the trend continues, and not just for the enjoyment and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth.

A generation ago, it was regrettably rare to see a queer character on screen, and when it did happen, they were almost always one-dimensional and deployed for comedic effect. Openly queer characters in kids' programming were unheard of, and villains were often not-so-subtly coded as gay. The dynamic was similar to the absence of or offensive representation of people of color. The number of TV shows and films made by and for Black people did not match the makeup of American society.

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Much has been written about how shows like Will & Grace helped to change public perception about the LGBTQ community, but such shows (Will & Grace was still farcical) were made to commercially appeal to a mostly straight audience; they weren't necessarily attempting to depict the reality of life as a queer person. Things are far from perfect, but they've gotten better overall. More progressive shows like Orange Is the New Black explore LGBTQ issues in proper depth. Characters like Oscar Martinez from The Office and Raymond Holt and Rosa Diaz from Brooklyn 99 present a more accurate illustration of queerness in the workplace. They're neither stereotyped nor do they "just happen to be gay." The challenges they face are essential to their identity.

But the final frontier for queer representation is in what's often problematically labeled as family-friendly programming, and a great deal of that comes in the form of franchises that have large and loyal fandoms. For far too long, the inclusion of queer characters (especially queer youth) was simply out of the question. As public opinion has evolved, studios have thrown LGBTQ fans a few bones, but promises never seem to live up to the hype. Disney-owned properties alone have advertised that there would be queer characters in Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars and Onward, but in truth, any relevance to the characters' identity or relationships was so blink-and-you'll-miss-it, it all made exactly no impact and stunk of tokenism. Frozen, in particular, centers around Elsa, who has become a queer icon regardless of the studio's messaging, but Disney championed the apparent homosexuality of Oaken, the Trading Post owner.

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The reason for the hesitancy is obvious but still based on misunderstanding (and probably anti-queer sentiment). Some people still wrongly believe that queerness means more about deviant sexual activity than it does about healthy sexuality and identity, and they worry that it's dangerous for their children to be exposed to gay, lesbian, or transgender characters in fiction meant for all or younger audiences. This is flawed logic in more ways than a single article can untangle. Kids are constantly exposed to straight characters and their relationships, not to mention age-inappropriate depictions of straight sex and the objectification of women. Overwhelming straight representation can't turn a queer kid straight, but it can make them feel isolated and abnormal. Seeing a queer character in a TV show or a fantasy film cannot and will not turn one's child gay. It also won't encourage one's child to be sexually active any earlier in life.

What it will do is normalize the idea that queer kids exist, for queer kids and their peers. Popular shows like Adventure Time, Sailor Moon, Gravity Falls and The Loud House have all featured queer characters and couples as a matter of fact in their worldbuilding. The Legend of Korra was groundbreaking in that it was the first kids show to have a queer lead, and Netflix's She-Ra made the budding romance between Adora and Catra essential to the plotline. Seeing these characters, not in the background or as comic relief, but as inextricable parts of the story will teach all kids that LGBTQ people are inextricable parts of our society.

It's easy for fans of franchises who've had the luxury of representation all their lives to overlook the importance of seeing yourself reflected in the art and culture that you love. LGBTQ kids have every right to that experience. For them, it can be vital to their mental and emotional health. As queer kids without strong support systems process their feelings and identities, having heroes -- or even just on-screen avatars -- that share those feelings and identities can mean the difference between hope and despair.

KEEP READING: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Set a New Standard for LGBTQ Rep

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