Victoria Cendejas

Jennifer Rodrick
Queer Studies 115
September 23, 2016

The LGBTQ+ Community and Social Media

Social media is somewhere that we can all go to in order to be whoever you want and say
whatever you want. Social media, particularly Twitter, have given a greater voice to Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities around the world(Salzburg Academy on
Media and Global Change). Social media has been an amazing tool for all of us; however, I
believe that it has helped the LGBTQ+ community more than it has helped anyone. It has given
the LGBTQ+ community a sense of hope, safety, and security. When those from the LGBTQ+
community have a conversation with someone while theyre face-to-face, then they begin to feel
insecure and judged by everyone. Instead, when theyre talking through social media sites, then
it allows them to speak their mind and actually feel like they belong in this society. Social media
and television have empowered the LGBTQ+ community because it allows others to find
themselves, feel connected with everyone else, and it creates a support system, which has
positively shaped the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other forms of social media websites have made the
people from the queer community feel like they are not alone. Social media helps people
connect with others who are experiencing common situations and those connections foster
hope. (John Hoffman). Social media provides hope and support for those who are in need of it,

especially for those in the LGBTQ+ community. If anyone ever needs support or someone to talk
to, they automatically turn to social media to talk about their problems. For example, my best
friend didnt know how to come out to his parents, but when he did, he finally felt comfortable
and accepted. That was when he decided to turn to social media for their approval as well, and
as expected he received very positive comments from his friends and family. By turning to social
media, he felt safe and accepted by everyone, however when he was out in public places he felt
uncomfortable and never acted like him. Now, he turns to social media in order to show everyone
who he really is, instead of whom he isnt.
Even though social media helps people who are in the LGBTQ+ community, I believe
there is also a down side to it. For example, there are times when people can say they are one
thing; however, they turn out to be the exact opposite. One day, my best friend thought he had
met another gay boy online, and they decided they wanted to meet. They scheduled a time and
place to meet each other however; the boy turned out to be the exact opposite of who he really
was. The other boy told him the truth when they met up; he told him that he wasnt gay. He had a
girlfriend, he just wanted to experiment with another guy and see whether or not he would enjoy
it. My best friend politely declined his offer and began to leave, and then the other boy wanted to
force my best friend into doing something he did not want to do. Luckily, they were in a public
place so others began to help my friend leave and find some help. Although there are some down
sides to social media, there are more supporters for the LGBTQ+ community than there are
enemies.
Earlier this year in Orlando, there was a shooting in a gay club; there were 300 people in
the club, unfortunately, 50 people were shot to death that night. On social media, many people
decided to show their support to those in the LGBTQ+ community and to those who had loved

ones pass away that night. They started a trend on social media with the hashtag, #LoveWins.
It went viral on Twitter and Instagram; it was all of the LGBTQ+ supporters showing that those
in the queer community were not alone and
that they were loved. All of the supporters
wanted them to feel loved and we wanted
them to know that even when tragedies like
this happen, there will always be people who
are going to be there to support them at the
end of the day.
Even though social media has played a
huge role for the queer community, television
has also helped the LGBTQ+ community.
There are a lot of shows and movies that have
influenced the coming out of individuals
throughout the years. Social media and
television has created a domino effect for all of us. If we see that one person does something and
gets positive feedback for it, then hopefully others will do the same and hope for a very similar
outcome. Ever since Ellen DeGeneres made television history by coming out of the closet on
her popular primetime sitcom Ellen in 1998, gay and lesbian characters have become
increasingly prominent in the media. (John Hoffman). For example, when Ellen DeGeneres
came out as lesbian on her show, she got a lot of positive feedback from her supporters. This
caused her fans to come out and show that they were part of the queer community as well in
hope for the same outcome. When Ellen came out as lesbian on her show, she made her fans

realize that it is okay to not be a part of a normal society; she showed them that it is okay to be
different and happy. Therefore, when she motivated those from the LGBTQ+ community to
finally come out, they did. The LGBTQ+ community has become larger and more known
because she allowed them to feel a sense of safety and relief.
Social media has shaped the LGBTQ+ community in a positive way because it has helped
the queer community find a place to feel comfortable and accepted. It has also made more people
want to come out instead of concealing themselves and have people not know who they truly are.
Where there is support, there is also hate; however, there is more support for those who need it.
If there are still people who have not come out as a part of the LGBTQ+ community, then I
suggest that you should come out. This is because there are a lot of people just like you and
thanks to social media, they can now feel safe, hopeful, and united.

Works Cited
1

Social media and the LGBT Community. The Salzburg Academy on Media and Global

Change. Creative Commons Attribution, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2016.

Nenga, Sandi, Jacqueline Muir-Broaddus, Abigail Riggs, Ryan Guiliano, Jason Dolloff,
and Travis Norton. Journal of Homosexuality. The Influence of Media Role Models on
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Identity:: Vol 58, No 3. Sarah C. Gomillion and Traci A.

Guiliano, 25 Feb. 2011. Web. 08 Dec. 2016.

Hoffman, John. Sharing Our Way towards Equality: Social Media and Gay Rights.
Nonprofit Information Networking Association. Nonprofit Quarterly, 14 May 2012. Web.

08 Dec. 2016.
Mailonline, Alexander Robertson For. Our Thoughts and Prayers Are with All Those
Who Have Been Affected: The Queen Leads Tributes as Britain Reacts to Terror Attack
after Gunman Kills 50 in US Gay Club. Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 13 June
2016. Web. 08 Dec. 2016.