Role of the Media in an Unequal World: LGBTQ Gender Identity and Portrayal

Abstract

The LGBTQ community has for long been stigmatised in various countries of the world, including India. While the community found acceptance in ancient times, the present society has been less inclusive. The far-reaching influence of the traditional and new media can be utilised to spread awareness about the issues of the minority LGBTQ community. Various efforts such as online campaigns, support groups, cinematic productions as well as coverage of offline initiatives by the media have helped raised awareness in recent times. This paper explores the trends related to gender portrayal of the LGBTQ community in the media and the role of the media in gender identity formation and acceptance.