As an LGBTQ+ person I found solace & identification through the General Hospital character, Blaze. The actress who portrays her, Jacqueline Grace Lopez, not only does a wonderful job representing gay-folk but also since she is "double trouble" & represents the Latin community.

Seeing Blaze grapple with her mother's disapproval mirrored my own experiences and offered, despite the pain, a comforting bond of shared experience to viewers like me across the globe. However, this representation and her critical story have abruptly ended, which illustrates the often overlooked problems when LGBTQIA+ and POC narratives vanish from our small screens. The character of Blaze had been an exception to this trend, but now that that's changed, we feel her loss strongly for all viewers seeking representation.

Sadly, according to a GLAAD report, of the approximate 879 regular characters expected to appear on primetime scripted broadcast programming in the 2020-2021 season, only 70 (8%) identified LGBTQ. This statistic becomes even more disheartening when one realizes that minority groups within the LGBTQ community, including POC, are even less represented (GLAAD’s 'Where We Are on TV' report, 2020). This is a very real problem, one that needs a solution. Bringing back Jacqueline Grace Lopez as Blaze & continuing her story would diversify the representation on screen and provide an all-important lifeline to viewers everywhere who identify with Blaze's experience.

We're asking for the long-term reunion of Blaze and Kristina. This request isn't merely for the sake of their relationship but to shed light on the nuanced issues, triumphs, and challenges of being LGBTQIA+ which Jacqueline Grace Lopez so skillfully depicted. It's time our stories were told consistently, responsibly, and without interruption.

Support our drive for diversity, inclusion, and representation on General Hospital. Sign this petition to bring back Jacqueline Grace Lopez as Blaze.