{"id":17436,"date":"2022-06-24T10:00:44","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T08:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1667193"},"modified":"2022-06-24T10:26:14","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T08:26:14","slug":"what-is-pride-stars-behind-major-lgbtq-characters-talk-representation","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/what-is-pride-stars-behind-major-lgbtq-characters-talk-representation\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Pride? Stars behind major LGBTQ+ characters talk representation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 24 June 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Just what does Pride mean in 2022?<\/p>\n

The annual month of focus on LGBTQ+ culture can be seen as everything from a celebration to a protest and a rallying cry.<\/p>\n

A key component in Pride has \u2013 and likely always will be \u2013 the medium of television. In fact, the small screen has had its fair share of ups and downs when it comes to portraying LGBTQ+ stories.<\/p>\n

For Pride 2022, RadioTimes.com<\/a> spoke to some of the stars and creatives behind recent major LGBTQ+ characters on our screens about the importance of Pride and also which examples of representation have been major inspirations to them in their careers and personal lives.<\/p>

Sasha Lane (Conversations with Friends)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Sasha Lane attends a special screening for Conversations with Friends in May 2022 in West Hollywood, California.<\/span><\/figcaption> Rodin Eckenroth\/FilmMagic<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Sasha Lane recently portrayed Bobbi in the BBC\/Hulu series Conversations with Friends<\/a> and also has appeared in films such as American Honey and The Miseducation of Cameron Post.<\/em><\/p>\n

What portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals and issues have really had an impact on you?<\/b><\/p>\n

I think for me\u00a0The L Word<\/strong> was the first LGBTQ show that I had watched. I was a pre-teen at the time and came across it. It was a group of smart, independent, sexy women who were lesbian and bisexual, but went through exactly what any heterosexual people would \u2013 heartbreak, major life decisions, jealousy and confusion.\u00a0\u00a0The mess of chaos and beauty of life \u2013 I appreciated it. And also of course had a major crush on Katherine Moennig and Sarah Shahi.<\/p>\n

What does LGBTQ+ Pride mean to you?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Pride to me means honour to one\u2019s self and the journey they and those before them took to achieve something, someone, anything really. It\u2019s an internal and sometimes outward territorial expression of who you are.<\/p>\n

Jesse James Keitel (Queer as Folk, 2022)<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Jesse James Keitel attends the Peacock Queer as Folk premiere screening during NewFest Pride 2022 in New York.<\/span><\/figcaption> Dia Dipasupil\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Jesse James Keitel can be seen as Ruthie in the 2022 reimagining of Queer as Folk and also has had roles in Big Sky and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.<\/em><\/p>\n

What portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals and issues have really had an impact on you?<\/b><\/p>\n

Individually, Laverne Cox\u2019s<\/strong> career has been tremendously thrilling. Her work and advocacy are such an open love letter to the community and she has been a beacon of inspiration for me. For projects, I think VENENO<\/strong> set the bar for what trans storytelling could be. The beauty in the pain in that story is breathtaking. And it was told from such an empathetic point of view.<\/p>\n

How do you think LGBTQ+ representation could be improved on-screen?<\/b><\/p>\n

We need to see more LGBTQ+ creators behind the camera if we want to see real triumphant strides made in front of the camera. What makes our reimagining of Queer As Folk so impactful is that it is made by the communities it is representing.<\/p>\n

What does LGBTQ+ Pride mean to you?<\/b><\/p>\n

I used to view Pride as, \u201cWhere do I fit in? Who am I in the community?\u201d But now I think of Pride as where do WE fit in? Where do we, as LGBTQ+ people, fit into the culture? It\u2019s about championing each other because we are all under attack.<\/p>\n

Ben Aldridge (The Long Call)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Ben Aldridge at The Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards in London in October 2021.<\/span><\/figcaption> David M. Benett\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ben Aldridge recently portrayed DI Matthew Venn in ITV crime drama The Long Call<\/a> and has also appeared in Pennyworth and Fleabag.<\/em><\/p>\n

What portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals and issues have really had an impact on you?<\/b><\/p>\n

HBO\u2019s Looking<\/strong> had a real impact on me. I watched it when I was abroad on a very long TV job. I was the only gay person in that environment and I hadn\u2019t realised how much I needed the company of those characters. I think it\u2019s the first time I had watched anything about queer dating and friendship that I truly understood and related to. Seeing what you know is a pivotal experience, it strengthens and emboldens. When it was over I really missed them. I still do.<\/p>\n

How do you think LGBTQ+ representation could be improved on-screen?<\/b><\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s the best it\u2019s ever been, there\u2019s no doubt. That doesn\u2019t mean it couldn\u2019t be better, more diverse, explore intersections, be more specific. I want to see more joy. I want to see more projects that have the courage to tell it like it really is, not cater to or be aware of their potential straight audience.<\/p>\n

What does LGBTQ+ Pride mean to you?<\/b><\/p>\n

LGBTQ+ Pride is vital. It helps us to heal shame, allows us to celebrate our existence and reminds us that the work is not done. Until it is truly globally safe for every member of this community to live freely and equally, Pride will and should always be political.<\/p>\n

Jack Rooke (Big Boys)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Jack Rooke in March 2022 in London.<\/span><\/figcaption> David M. Benett\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images for dunhill<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Jack Rooke is the creator, writer and narrator of the semi-autobiographical Channel 4 comedy Big Boys<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

What portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals and issues have really had an impact on you?<\/b><\/p>\n

As a kid, I\u2019m pretty sure Ian in Shameless<\/strong> made me gay (laughs). I loved that show so much. It\u2019s still a favourite with really brilliant performances in every series. I also really remember Ianto Jones in Torchwood<\/strong> (*swoons*) as being a really touchingly written same-sex attraction between him and Jack Harkness. In more recent years, I adore Broad City<\/strong>. It\u2019s my favourite comedy ever. I think that Broad City really subtly and hilariously portrayed two queer characters in Ilana and Abbi that realise their sexuality in very simple, fluid and honest ways, especially in the latter seasons.<\/p>\n

How do you think LGBTQ+ representation could be improved on-screen?<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Getting rid of the gatekeeper commissioners, tee-hee-hee! BBC Comedy has been taken over by Jon Petrie and he\u2019s already commissioned so many more queer creatives in the 10 minutes he\u2019s been there. I am so excited for Mawaan Rizwan\u2019s series Juice<\/strong> next year \u2013 it\u2019s the best pilot I\u2019ve seen in ages and explores LGBTQ+ identity in such a fresh and artfully hilarious way. I also think it\u2019s important we accept that we\u2019re in a period of self-discovery for a lot of people. Everything is changing and shifting and we have to be respectful of people\u2019s right to change and be whoever they want to be. We\u2019ve just seen that with the Rebel Wilson stuff, like let\u2019s let her be whoever she wants, with whatever label she wants. It\u2019s all up for change and it\u2019s all up for grabs, let\u2019s just accept the privacy and fluidity of it all and see how great stories can be told on screen without the need for concrete labelling.<\/p>\n

What does LGBTQ+ Pride mean to you?<\/b><\/p>\n

It means paying respect to queer history and it means educating everyone, even ourselves. It\u2019s about learning about the stories Russell T Davies has written so beautifully in It\u2019s A Sin<\/strong>, as well as Section 28 and the history of queer prejudice in this country. By learning, we can prevent the same mistakes from happening and we can pay homage to older queer generations that fought for the freedom many of us experience today, despite there still being some work to do!<\/p>\n

Michael Cimino and George Sear (Love, Victor)<\/strong><\/h2>