Why I Write LGBTQ Stories
There are a million reasons, but today I want to share a bit of my journey as a writer and why I consciously choose to include LGBTQ stories into all of my work. As a queer individual, this choice is deeply personal and ultimately rooted in my own experiences, but it’s also because I believe representation matters. As both a writer and a reader, I appreciate seeing LGBTQ characters and stories.
Writing LGBTQ stories shouldn’t be a political thing, but unfortunately it is to many people. That said, that’s not how I approach it. For me, it’s simply a reflection of the diverse realities of the world we already live in. Our communities are vibrant, rich in experiences, and encompass a spectrum of identities and stories, and I believe they all deserve to be told. I just happen to be queer. Same with my characters.
Growing up, finding LGBTQ characters in literature was damn near impossible. Visibility within literature (and all media) validates the existence of queer individuals, providing a sense of belonging and normalizing diverse identities. I write LGBTQ stories to contribute to the visibility that empowers and validates readers who might be seeking reflections of their own experiences. Obviously I can’t (and wouldn’t) speak for the entire LGBTQ community; I just want to be one more person sharing stories that might connect with other queer folks, in all our various presentations.
Unfortunately, queer characters in literature have often been confined to stereotypes or portrayed through narrow lenses. We’ve seen a shift in that over my lifetime, for sure, and I’m immensely grateful for the characters I’ve been able to connect in television, books, and movies. For me, writing LGBTQ stories allows me to contribute to this shift away from the stereotypical depictions that dominated media in my childhood and young adulthood. We’re just human beings after all, and in my stories I even tend to avoid coming out stories or queer pain. Instead, I’m focused on normalizing us by creating awesome characters who just so happen to be super gay. I love imagining a brighter more beautiful world where we all get to be ourselves, and it’s not such a big deal.
I think we all understand that stories have the power to bridge gaps and cultivate empathy, so by placing the reading into the lives of LGBTQ characters, I hope readers can gain insights into different perspectives, experiences, and challenges they otherwise may never have reason to explore. This allows for a deeper understanding of the LGBTQ community, promoting empathy and breaking down barriers that stem from ignorance or misconceptions. While my primary (personal) reason for writing these stories is for LGBTQ people to see themselves on the page, this is a welcome side effect in larger society.
Love is universal, and LGBTQ love stories deserve to be celebrated alongside any others. I have three children, two of whom identify somewhere outside of the cis/het binaries, and I want them to grow up in a world where they are seen living, loving, and thriving just like any other person. So, for myself and my children, choosing to include LGBTQ stories is a way of authentically representing a part of who I am. It's an acknowledgment of my own journey, struggles, triumphs, and the importance of having narratives that resonate with my authentic self. To not write LGBTQ characters would be to deny a part of myself, and I don’t do that anymore.
Happy reading!
