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LGBTQ media or queer media refers to media whose primary
target audience The target audience is the intended audience or readership of a publication, advertisement, or other message catered specifically to the previously intended audience. In marketing and advertising, the target audience is a particular group of cons ...
is members of the
LGBTQ LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...
community. Secondary targets are LGBTQ+ allies, and in some instances those who oppose gay rights may be targeted as a form of activism. Gay or queer media can also be defined as web sites, films, magazines and other cultural products that were created by queer individuals, or groups that are typically
out Out or OUT may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films *Out (1957 film), ''Out'' (1957 film), a documentary short about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 *Out (1982 film), ''Out'' (1982 film), an American film directed by Eli Hollander *O ...
, meaning that they are public or open about their identity. LGBTQ creators do not always include LGBTQ themes or issues in the media that they produce, but there are often at least subtle references to queerness in these media. There have been both positive and negative representations of gay people across popular media, including film, television, literature, press, etc. LGBTQ representation in the media is powerful, particularly for youth. There have been studies that have shown that media can have an influence on LGBTQ+ people's
self-realization Self-realization is a term used in Western philosophy, psychology, and spirituality; and in Indian religions. In the Western understanding, it is the "fulfillment by oneself of the possibilities of one's character or personality" (see also ...
,
coming out Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBTQ people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity. This is often framed and debated as a privacy issue, ...
, and current identities.


Africa

Namibian LGBTQ organization The Rainbow Project has broadcast the radio show ''Talking Pink'' in the country since 1999.


Asia


China

''
Les+ Magazine ''Les+ Magazine'' is a Beijing-based community magazine. It was started in 2005 by a group of young Chinese lesbian A lesbian is a homosexual woman or girl. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual ...
,'' a magazine aimed at queer women, was founded in Beijing in 2005.


India


Magazines and newspapers

India's first LGBTQ magazines appeared in the 1990s, with '' Bombay Dost'' in 1990 and '' Pravartak'' in 1991.


Europe

LGBTQ periodicals began being published in European countries in the 1970s, and have been published in a number of countries, including Hungary ('' Mások'', 1991) Ireland ( ''Gay Community News'', 1988), the Netherlands (''
Gay Krant ''Gay Krant'' was a Dutch magazine written for the gay community, published every month since 1980. It was published by the Best Publishing Group under leadership of Henk Krol. The magazine has its headquarters in Amsterdam. After a bankruptcy ...
'', 1980), Romania ( ''Switch'', 2005) and Sweden ( ''QX'', 1995). France began seeing LGBTQ magazines in the late 1970s, with '' Gai pied'' in 1979. The 1980s saw further publications, including '' Gaie France'' (1986) and '' Illico'' (1988).


Germany


Periodicals

The first gay journal in the world, ''
Der Eigene ''Der Eigene'' (, ) was the first Homosexuality, gay journal in the world, published from 1896 to 1932 by Adolf Brand in Berlin. Brand contributed many poems and articles; other contributors included writers Benedict Friedlaender, Hanns Heinz Ewe ...
'', was published in
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
beginning in 1896 by
Adolf Brand Gustav Adolf Franz Brand (1874–1945) was a German writer, egoist anarchist, and pioneering campaigner for the acceptance of male bisexuality and homosexuality. Early life Adolf Brand was born on 14 November 1874 in Berlin, which was then par ...
. A number of LGBTQ periodicals were published in
Weimar Germany The Weimar Republic, officially known as the German Reich, was the German Reich, German state from 1918 to 1933, during which it was a constitutional republic for the first time in history; hence it is also referred to, and unofficially proclai ...
, including ''Die Insel'' (1926) and '' Das 3. Geschlecht'' (1930), which is thought to be the first
transvestite Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes traditionally or stereotypically associated with a different gender. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and express onesel ...
magazine in history. Weimar Germany was also home to multiple lesbian periodicals, including '' Die Freundin'' (1924), '' Frauenliebe'' (1926) and ''
Die BIF ''Die BIF – Blätter Idealer Frauenfreundschaften'' (Papers on Ideal Women Friendships), subtitled ''Monatsschrift für weibliche Kultur'' (Monthly magazine for female culture), was a short-lived lesbian magazine of Weimar Germany, published f ...
'' (mid to late 1920s). These publications had ceased by 1933, with the rise of the Nazi party to power. In the second half of the 20th century, a major LGBTQ periodical in Germany is ''Siegessäule'', which was established in 1984.


United Kingdom


Magazines and newspapers

In the United Kingdom, the 1960, 1970s, and 1980s saw a number of LGBTQ magazines and newspapers established, including '' Arena Three'' (1964-1971), '' Gay News'' (1972-1983), '' Capital Gay'' (1981-1995) and ''
Pink Paper The ''Pink Paper'' was a UK publication covering gay and lesbian issues published by Millivres Prowler Limited. Founded in 1987 as a newspaper, it switched to internet-only publication in June 2009. The decision to go online-only was announce ...
'' (1987-2009). In the 21st century, the U.K. is home to online newspaper
PinkNews ''PinkNews'' is a UK-based online newspaper marketed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning community (LGBTQ+) in the UK and worldwide. It was founded by Benjamin Cohen in July 2005, initially released in print, b ...
.


Radio

By the 1990s, the BBC hosted two gay and lesbian radio shows: ''Gay and Lesbian London'', and ''Gaytalk''.


Middle East

The Middle East has seen its first LGBTQ periodicals in the 21st century, including '' My.Kali,'' founded in 2007, and '' El Shad'', created in 2014.


North America


Canada


Comics

Beginning in 1987, Canadian lesbian cartoonist Noreen Stevens illustrated the comic strip '' The Chosen Family'', which featured LGBTQ characters and was based on Stevens' own experiences.


Periodicals

A number of LGBTQ-related periodicals have been published in Canada, in both English and French-speaking communities. '' Les Mouches fantastiques'', the earliest known gay or lesbian periodical on the continent, was published in Montreal from 1918 to 1920. Early Canadian periodicals in the
gay rights movement Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) movements are social movements that advocate for LGBTQ people in society. Although there is not a primary or an overarching central organization that represents all LGBTQ people and their i ...
included ''Gay'' (1964), ''TWO'' (1964), '' The Body Politic'' (1971), '' FILE Megazine'' (1972), ''
Amazones d'Hier, Lesbiennes d'Aujourd'hui ''Amazones d'Hier, Lesbiennes d'Aujourd'hui'' (''AHLA''; ''Amazons of Yesterday, Lesbians of Today'') is the name of a quarterly French language magazine published starting 1982 by a lesbian collective in Montreal made of Louise Turcotte, Danielle ...
'' (1982), ''Perceptions'' (1983), ''
Wayves ''Wayves'' () was a Canadian print magazine, published 11 times yearly in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Atlantic Canada. The magazine was published by a non-profit A nonprofit organiza ...
'' (1983), ''Fugues'' (1984), and ''Rites'' (1984). One of the first queer zines, '' J.D.s'', was published by G.B Jones and
Bruce LaBruce Bruce LaBruce (born January 3, 1964) is a Canadian artist, writer, filmmaker, photographer, and underground director based in Toronto. Life and career LaBruce was born in Tiverton, Ontario. He has claimed both Justin Stewart and Bryan Bruce a ...
from 1985 until 1991. In 2012, LGBTQ literary magazine '' Plenitude'' was launched in Canada.


United States


Books and pamphlets

The early 1970s saw the publication of texts by lesbian feminists, such as Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon's '' Lesbian/Woman'' in 1972 and Jill Johnston's '' Lesbian Nation'' in 1973. In 1977, American gay authors Charles Silverstein and
Edmund White Edmund Valentine White III (January 13, 1940 – June 3, 2025) was an American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer, and essayist. A pioneering figure in LGBTQ and especially gay literature after the Stonewall riots, he wrote with ra ...
released the sex manual ''
The Joy of Gay Sex ''The Joy of Gay Sex'' is a sex manual for men who have sex with men by Charles Silverstein and Edmund White. The book was first published in 1977 and was inspired by the bestselling 1972 book ''The Joy of Sex''. The original print run was for ...
.'' In 1982, the
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (SPI), also called Order of Perpetual Indulgence (OPI), is a charitable, protest, and street performance movement that uses drag and religious imagery to satirize issues of sex, gender, and morality (particular ...
published '' Play Fair!'', a brochure about safe sex for gay men. In 1981, the lesbian feminist S/M organisation Samois, based in San Francisco, published the anthology '' Coming to Power''. The work combined short stories with advice.


Comics

Beginning in 1983, American lesbian cartoonist
Alison Bechdel Alison Bechdel ( ; born September 10, 1960) is an American cartoonist. Originally known for the long-running comic strip ''Dykes to Watch Out For'', she came to critical and commercial success in 2006 with her Graphic novel, graphic memoir ''Fun ...
illustrated '' Dykes to Watch Out For'', a comic strip revolving around a primarily lesbian cast. In 1989, gay cartoonist Eric Orner launched '' The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green'', a comic strip featuring a gay male protagonist.


Film

The
Motion Picture Production Code The Motion Picture Production Code was a set of industry guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most motion pictures released by major studios in the Cinema of the United States, United States from 1934 to 1968. It ...
, an industry guideline in which
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...
's motion picture producers agreed to self-censor all major motion pictures from 1934 to 1968, led to LGBTQ invisibility in film in United States film. However, even in the 1960s and 1970s, when LGBTQ representation in film was becoming more commonplace, it was also becoming more
homophobic Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who identify or are perceived as being lesbian, Gay men, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred, or ant ...
. Gay characters in this time period were represented very negatively, whether that meant they were dangerous and suicidal, or predatory and violent. Examples of such movies include '' The Children's Hour, The Boys in the Band, Midnight Express,'' and ''
Vanishing Point A vanishing point is a point (geometry), point on the projection plane, image plane of a graphical perspective, perspective rendering where the two-dimensional perspective projections of parallel (geometry), parallel lines in three-dimensional ...
.'' In 1977, American director Arthur J. Bressan Jr. released ''Gay USA'', thought to be the first documentary by and about LGBTQ people. In the 1990s, films that included LGBTQ themes, such as ''
The Birdcage ''The Birdcage'' is a 1996 American comedy film produced and directed by Mike Nichols. Elaine May's screenplay adapted the 1978 French film ''La Cage aux Folles (film), La Cage aux Folles'', itself an adaptation of a La Cage aux Folles (play), 1 ...
,
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Flawless'' and '' In & Out'' were quite popular. 2005, ''
Brokeback Mountain ''Brokeback Mountain'' is a 2005 American neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus. Adapted from Brokeback Mountain (short story), the 1997 short story by Annie Proulx, the screenplay ...
'' grossed over $178 million and in 2017, ''
Moonlight Moonlight consists of mostly sunlight (with little earthlight) reflected from the parts of the Moon's surface where the Sun's light strikes. History The ancient Greek philosopher Anaxagoras was aware that "''the sun provides the moon with its ...
'' won the Academy Award for Best Picture along with Actor in a Supporting Role and Adapted Screenplay. The gay man and heterosexual woman couple has become a popular film genre in recent years. This coupling exists in popular films such as ''
My Best Friend's Wedding ''My Best Friend's Wedding'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by P.J. Hogan from a screenplay by Ronald Bass who also produced. The film stars Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Rupert Everett. ''My Best Friend' ...
,
The Object of My Affection ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
,'' and '' The Next Best Thing.'' According to Helene Shugart, writing in
Critical Studies in Media Communication ''Critical Studies in Media Communication (CSMC)'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering media and mass communication from a cultural studies and critical perspective. The journal is published by Taylor & Francis Taylor & Francis G ...
, homosexuality is recoded and modified in these films to approve
sexism Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's sex or gender. Sexism can affect anyone, but primarily affects women and girls. It has been linked to gender roles and stereotypes, and may include the belief that one sex or gender is int ...
and
heteronormativity Heteronormativity is the definition of heterosexuality as the normative human sexuality. It assumes the gender binary (i.e., that there are only two distinct, opposite genders) and that sexual and marital relations are most fitting between peo ...
. In 2016 Pride Flix, a film label, was founded by a group of filmmakers with the aim of promoting LGBTQ+ content. Although short-lived, the label released several films. By the early 2020s, they stopped releasing films and the label was quietly dissolved.


Magazines and newspapers

Prior to the beginning of the gay rights movement, some gay and lesbian magazines were published in the U.S. ''Vice Versa'', published 1947 and 1948, is the earliest known lesbian periodical in the U.S. The first national distributed lesbian periodical was ''The Ladder'', founded in 1956. Publications in the 1960s included ''Drum'' (Philadelphia, 1964) and ''The Advocate'' (Los Angeles, 1967). In 1966, midwest gay activist Drew Shafer founded '' The Phoenix: Midwest Homophile Voice'', the first known LGBTQ magazine published in the Midwestern U.S., in
Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...
. The beginning of the gay rights movement, from 1969 through the 1970s, saw a number of LGBTQ newspapers established across the country. These included '' Come Out!'' (New York City, 1969), ''The'' ''Gay Blade'' (Washington, D.C., 1969), ''
Bay Area Reporter The ''Bay Area Reporter'' is a free weekly LGBT newspaper serving the LGBT communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is one of the largest-circulation LGBT newspapers in the United States, and the country's oldest continuously published ne ...
'' (San Francisco Bay Area, 1971), '' Fag Rag'' (Boston, 1971), '' Lavender Woman'' (Chicago, 1971), '' Chicago Gay Crusader'' (1973), ''Gay Community News'' (Boston, 1973), the '' San Francisco Sentinel'' (1974), '' Philadelphia Gay News'' (1976), '' Gaysweek'' (New York City, 1977), and ''
San Francisco Bay Times The ''San Francisco Bay Times'', the first LGBTQ newspaper founded jointly by gay men and women, launched in 1978 and remains one of the largest and oldest LGBTQ newspapers in Northern California. The business includes the 24/7 live-streaming Cas ...
'' (1978).


Radio

In 1956,
Pacifica Radio Pacifica may refer to: Art * ''Pacifica'' (statue), a 1938 statue by Ralph Stackpole for the Golden Gate International Exposition Places * Pacifica, California, a city in the United States ** Pacifica Pier, a fishing pier * Pacifica, a conce ...
became the first known listener-sponsored non-commercial American radio network to allow openly LGBTQ individuals airtime. One of the nation's earliest LGBTQ radio programs was ''Lesbian Nation'' (1972-1973), an interview show created by
Martha Shelley Martha Shelley (born December 27, 1943) is an American activist, writer, and poet best known for her involvement in lesbian feminist activism. Life and early work Martha Altman was born on December 27, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, to parents o ...
, a member of the
Daughters of Bilitis The Daughters of Bilitis (), also called the DOB or the Daughters, was the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. The organization, formed in San Francisco in 1955, was initially conceived as a secret soc ...
and the
Gay Liberation Front Gay Liberation Front (GLF) was the name of several gay liberation groups, the first of which was formed in New York City in 1969, immediately after the Stonewall riots. Similar organizations also formed in the UK, Australia and Canada. The GLF p ...
. In 1975, the LGBTQ interview program ''Wilde 'n' Stein'' began broadcasting on Houston's KPFT station. In
Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
, '' Gay Spirit Radio'' began airing in November 1980. The program includes interviews, news, and music segments.


Television

The
Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters The Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters, also known as the Television Code, was a set of ethical standards adopted by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) of the United States for television programming from 1952 to 1983. Th ...
indirectly prohibited positive homosexual representation from 1952 to 1983, preventing many queer actors in the television field from coming out and further preventing representation of the LGBTQ+ community in commercial television. However, many LGBTQ communities made use of
public-access television Public-access television (sometimes called community-access television) is traditionally a form of non-commercial mass media where the general public can create content television programming which is Narrowcasting, narrowcast through cable tele ...
to broadcast self-created programs. These included variety shows like ''The Emerald City'' (1977-1979), '' Gay Morning America'' (1984-1985) and ''Candied Camera'' (1990s), scripted programs, like soap opera ''Secret Passions'', informational shows ('' Dyke TV'', '' Gay USA'') and interview programs like ''The Glennda and Brenda Show.'' In the 1980s, LGBTQ public access programs spoke frankly about the HIV/AIDS crisis, sharing information and educating viewers on the disease. In 1997, ''
Ellen Ellen is a female given name, a diminutive of Elizabeth (given name), Elizabeth, Eleanor, Elena, and Helen (given name), Helen. Ellen was the 609th most popular name in the U.S. and the 17th in Sweden in 2004. People named Ellen include: * Elle ...
'' became the first show to have a gay main character. After this, there was an increase in shows that included recurring gay characters such as ''
Will & Grace ''Will & Grace'' is an American television sitcom created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. Set in New York City, the show focuses on the friendship between best friends Will Truman (Eric McCormack), a Gay men, gay lawyer, and Grace Adler (Debra ...
,
Dawson's Creek ''Dawson's Creek'' is an American teen drama television series about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college. It aired from January 20, 19 ...
,
Spin City ''Spin City'' is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996, to April 30, 2002, on ABC. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show is set in a fictionalized version of the New York City mayor's off ...
, ER,
Buffy the Vampire Slayer ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. The concept is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film, also written by Whedon, a ...
,
Nightline ''Nightline'' (or ''ABC News Nightline'') is ABC News (United States), ABC News' Late night television in the United States, late-night television news program broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC in the United States with a franchis ...
,
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy ''Queer Eye'' is an American reality television series that premiered on the Bravo (American TV network), Bravo network in July 2003, initially broadcast as ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy''. The series was created by executive producers David ...
, Queer as Folk, The Young and Restless,
Ugly Betty ''Ugly Betty'' is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from September 28, 2006, to April 14, 2010. It is based on the Colombian telenovela ''Yo soy Betty, la fea' ...
'' and ''
Glee Glee may refer to: * Glee (music), a type of English choral music * ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy * ''Glee'' (Bran Van 3000 album) * ''Glee'' (Logan Lynn album) * Gle ...
.'' Reality TV shows have also frequently represented openly gay people, such as MTV's ''The Real World'', CBS's ''
Survivor Survivor(s) may refer to: * one who survives Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Survivors, characters in the 1997 KKnD series#Armies, ''KKnD'' video-game series * ''The Survivors'', or the ''New Survivors Foundation'', a fictional ...
'' and ''
The Amazing Race ''The Amazing Race'' is an adventure reality competition franchise in which teams of two people race around the world in competition with other teams. ''The Amazing Race'' is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselv ...
.'' In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and storylines across a wide range of television genres.


Oceania


Australia

In 1978, the Gay Teachers and Students Group of Melbourne released '' Young, Gay and Proud'', a book aimed at teenagers exploring a gay identity.


New Zealand

In 1973, the Sisters for Homophile Equality (SHE) in
Wellington, New Zealand Wellington is Capital of New Zealand, the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the List of cities in New Zealand, third-largest city ...
founded '' The Circle'', which continued to publish until 1986.


South America

In Brazil, the zine '' Chanacomchana'', published between 1981 and 1987, aimed to organize feminists around lesbian issues.


See also

* Censorship of LGBTQ issues * LGBTQ marketing * Lists of LGBTQ figures in fiction and myth * List of LGBTQ-related films * Queer coding *
Queerbaiting Queerbaiting is a marketing technique for fiction and entertainment in which creators hint at, but do not depict, same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation. The purpose of this method is to attract (" bait") a queer or straight ally audien ...


References


Further reading

* * {{LGBTQ, culture *