Like many concepts, heteronormativity is also human-made. Until humans made heterosexuality the ‘norm’, there was no fixed concept of what ‘normal’ is. Sexuality is more of a spectrum; it depends on each individual how they perceive themselves. Due to society’s continuous insinuation that heterosexuality is the ‘right’ and only sexuality, humans gradually believed and expected to see heterosexuality everywhere.
The lack of LGBT+ representation in mainstream media is one of the main reasons how heteronormativity is established. Hollywood is notoriously known for its extremely heterosexual content. With thousands of people watching movies and shows or keeping up with their favorite celebrities daily, the media has a strong impact on how people perceive things. If all a person ever sees are straight people on their screen, it is easy to be convinced that there is only one sexuality. The lack of inclusivity not only makes it harder for people in the LGBT+ community to come out as themselves, but it can also put them in danger. For instance, when Ellen Degeneres came out, she was shamed, lost her jobs, and faced difficulties finding one afterward for no one would hire her. All simply because she is not straight. It is precisely the fear of being discriminated against that forced many people, even celebrities, to stay in the closet. However, it is those brave heroes like Ellen Degeneres that have helped the LGBT+ community to break the silence and move forward; not that she is the only hero in the community.
It is not until movies and TV shows like Sex Education started to show more gay characters, who are not the stereotypical flamboyant ‘gay best friend’ with one sole purpose of helping the main straight, female lead, and until more and more celebrities, like Lil Nas X- who came out as gay, or Sam Smith- who identifies as non-binary, decide to embrace their identity that people started to realize homosexuality is normal. There is great power in representation as it brings out empathy and courage in people. And perhaps, it could even be enlightening. Although many changes have been made for the better since now and then, thought that homosexuality does not exist as been deeply rooted, thanks to Hollywood, it is hard for many to see it any other way.
Many regulations and laws in the United States have also made it harder for people who identify as LGBT+ be seen. In 1993, Don’t ask don’t tell was enforced. This rule forbade people in the military to come out or freely express themselves, forcing them to remain closeted. Until the COVID-19 pandemic happened, The Food and Drug Administration had forbidden people who are involved in homosexual sex to donate their blood. They claimed gay people have a high risk of transmitting diseases such as HIV/ AIDS. Is it not their right to free speech, to express themselves? Is that not what America is all about? What happened to that famous saying, “Land of the free, home of the brave”. These hate-filled laws and regulations have done nothing except harming and slowing down its own country.
The lack of representation and freedom to be themselves made many people view those within the LGBT+ community as a contagious disease, a sin, disgusting, and abnormal. Not letting kids come in contact with different sexuality, whether in school, in books, or at home is not ‘protecting’ them or ‘preventing’ them from being gay. If anything, it either blinds that kid with ignorance and hate or makes the kid feels like a ‘freak’ and might have an identity crisis for not being straight. In reality, normality is relatively and is only determined by what the mainstream media decides to portray.
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