As a queer individual, I, like many others, yearn for comprehensive representation on television. We want to see characters and narratives that resonate with our lived experiences and identities. Television serves as a form of escapism, yes, but it's also a mirror of society; it's time this mirror reflected all of us.

It's disheartening that in a time when diversifying media has become a societal priority, queer individuals are still left on the periphery. According to GLAAD's Where We Are on TV Report 2019-2020, only 10.2% of regular characters on primetime scripted broadcast series identified as LGBTQIA+. For streaming services, this statistic is slightly higher, but still not enough at 11.1%.

We, as viewers and proud members of the LGBTQ+ community, want to amplify our presence on screen, not for the mere sake of diversity, but to create a more realistic portrayal of societies worldwide. Amplifying queer representation in television programming will contribute towards normalizing our experiences and identities, allowing us to be perceived as we are - regular human beings with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. We applaud the inroads made, but there is more to be done.

Sign this petition to lobby for increased queer representation on television, working towards a media landscape where everyone can see themselves reflected, and let's make an essential step towards inclusivity and equality in the media.