When I meet gay kids and they know who we are, I remember that's amazing because literally every gay person in every gay story I knew growing up was doomed to die. There weren't any positive gay stories and it's incredible that has changed.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the significance of positive representation of gay stories for the LGBTQ+ youth.
Olly Alexander highlights the transformation in the portrayal of gay individuals in media over time. In the past, LGBTQ+ narratives were often tragic, denoting a sense of hopelessness for young gay people. However, the emergence of positive representations serves as a monumental shift, providing hope and affirmation to today's youth, showcasing that their stories can be filled with joy and triumph rather than tragedy.
In practice
In a speech at a pride event, I could use this quote to emphasize the importance of representation.
You got to fight them, Celie, she say. I can't do it for you. You got to fight them for yourself. I don't say nothing. I think bout Nettie, dead. She fight, she run away. What good it do? I don't fight, I stay where I'm told. But I'm alive.
We've had enough of exhortations to be silent! Cry out with a hundred thousand tongues. I see that the world is rotten because of silence.
Your fear is the most boring thing about you.
I think that little by little I'll be able to solve my problems and survive.
One cannot answer for his courage when he has never been in danger.
The world is full of cravens who pretended to be heroes.
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