We must not allow ourselves to become like the system we oppose. We cannot afford to use methods of which we will be ashamed when we look back, when we say, '...we shouldn't have done that.'
Desmond TutuRead
When I meet gay kids and they know who we are, I remember that's amazing because literally every gay person in every gay story I knew growing up was doomed to die. There weren't any positive gay stories and it's incredible that has changed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the significance of positive representation of gay stories for the LGBTQ+ youth.
Olly Alexander highlights the transformation in the portrayal of gay individuals in media over time. In the past, LGBTQ+ narratives were often tragic, denoting a sense of hopelessness for young gay people. However, the emergence of positive representations serves as a monumental shift, providing hope and affirmation to today's youth, showcasing that their stories can be filled with joy and triumph rather than tragedy.
Themes
GayRepresentationHopeStories Lgbtq+
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech at a pride event, I could use this quote to emphasize the importance of representation.
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