Virginia Laurie, Washington and Lee University

The ‘Twilight’ actress is set to marry screenwriter Dylan Meyer, prompting the question: How can the media help with LGBTQ+ visibility?

Joy Young, Chapman University

The timeless superhero is coming out as bisexual — a refreshing twist that is equal parts heroic change and tangled conflict.

Zach Terrillion, Oberlin College

Some members of the LGBTQ+ community look askance at more femme expression among gay men. It’s time to embrace this aspect of the community instead.

Ian Linn, Oberlin College

While the show seeks to fight stereotypes by taking them to the extreme, it doesn’t go nearly far enough to make a meaningful statement.

Lauren Sung, University of Georgia

Batman’s most iconic sidekick recently came out as bisexual in an issue of ‘Batman Urban Legends.’ It’s a big step for representation, but queerness has a long history in DC comics.

Kelsi Karpinski, Michigan State University

Marvel’s cinema franchise confirming this character’s sexual identity demonstrates the importance of increasing diversity and representation in popular media.

Savannah McCracken, University of Arizona

The ‘Love, Simon’ spinoff is taking huge strides away from its predecessor in its realistic representations of teenage sexuality and the difficulties that arise with coming of age.

Alexa Katherine Will, University of Pittsburgh

Even a year after the series’s end, the show deserves to be praised for containing one of the few real portrayals of asexuality on TV.

Samantha Havela, University of Michigan

Lifetime’s newest Christmas film welcomes LGBTQ+ characters into the hearts of viewers this holiday season.

Sarah Gudenau, Oakland University

While the show has approached many serious themes throughout its six seasons, it hasn’t always addressed them properly.

Renee Cantor, University of Pittsburgh

In her memoir, Carmen Maria Machado documents her experiences in an abusive queer relationship, telling a story that often goes untold.

Luke Gair, Sewanee: The University of the South

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? A gay sponge, according to Twitter speculation. The ocean eccentric is helping to normalize the LGBT community on TV.

Katie Klear, Columbia College Chicago

In attempts to combat the lack of diversity, writers from non-marginalized communities often miss the mark when writing about groups they don’t identify with.

Angel Lin, University of California, Santa Barbara

You might think the Netflix original just provides a twist on the love triangle trope, but you don’t know the half of it.

Michelle Young, Simon Fraser University

The new coming-of-age drama explores what it means to love one another — and yourself

Nanda Illahi, Okayama University

The LGBTQ+ show is bringing a new and necessary viewpoint to Japan’s Yaoi and Yuri-saturated pop culture.

Matthew Robison, University of South Florida

This small publishing duo is making waves with their thoughtful reissues of out of print novels.

Kristin Auld, St John’s University

You better skate to it!

Christine Bushart, Georgia State University

The facts aren’t straight, either.

Sema’Jay Hall, San Francisco State University

You might never want to come back.