Anna Merlo, University of Queensland, Australia

The new Netflix series has heart and angst in equal measure and is a must-see this summer.

L.R. Staples, Sarah Lawrence College

While some genres continue to rely on outdated tropes like female submission, others provide a beacon of hope for queer female audiences as they portray women as strong, independent leads.

L.R. Staples, Sarah Lawrence College

In comparison to the first season, the show’s second season really lets viewers see a more vulnerable side of Mae.

McKenna Uzelac, Columbia University

While the lyrics and sonic presence of his latest remix album, ‘Crush: The Remixes,’ speak to the LGBT+ experience, you don’t have to be queer to enjoy the music.

Yasmeen Ludy, University of Michigan

Kenny Ortega, the mind behind the hit Disney Channel film series, recently opened up about the sexuality of one of the characters. But why 14 years after the fact?

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.

Audrey Bowers, Ball State University

Here are some worth-while reads if ‘Love, Simon’ has left you craving more LGBTQ representation.