Everyday our world takes one more step forward to becoming a more diverse and accepting society. The depiction of queer stories in media was once very negative, often featuring homosexual characters in TV and film as the “butt of the joke”. It was rare that genuine struggles of homosexual and queer lifestyles received accurate representation, and many individuals within the LGBTQ+ community vocalized their frustrations with how they were being depicted in the media.
Contemporary media looks to strive for better representation within the community as it delves into the many facets and nuances of queer narratives. It looks as if queer representation is beginning to seep into the world of theatre. Shows like The View Upstairs and RENT will be gracing the big stage in 2026 as they feature stories that center around the hardships surrounding queer life in society.
RENT is a musical that addresses the struggles of LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those that struggle from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It follows the bohemian lifestyle of Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, and his friends, also musicians and artists, who look to navigate the world while being young and queer. The musical emphasizes the several struggles that the friends face as they stick together in order to survive in a brutal and unrelenting society.
RENT looks to represent the ugly truths of not only being LGBTQ+ in the the 20th century, but also being poor. AIDS was a huge crisis during the late 1990s killing a significant amount of the population while also allowing people to find more of a reason to criticize homosexual individuals. The story tackles the fear of the epidemic mixed with the financial struggles that the aspiring artists look to overcome.
The View Upstairs also documents the struggles of queer life as it emphasizes the tragedy surrounding hate and resentment towards the members of the community. Fashion designer, Wes, finds himself taking a blast to the past during his struggles of promoting his brand and social media, being forced to adjust to the values and sentiments that were widely accepted in the 70s. The film also revisits the tragedy of a gay bar in New Orleans that was set on fire in 1973.
Once again, the conflicts of queer individuals are addressed and shown to summon compassion from the audience towards the members of these marginalized communities. The View Upstairs shows the evolution of social acceptance and how these sentiments have changed over the course of time. It reinforces the idea of love in a society filled with hatred towards people that are perceived as different.
Musicals are going a long way to offer deeper understanding into the perspectives of LGBTQ+ people. The struggles that they face and the hatred that they are forced to endure allow the world to view their lifestyles in a much different light. It is important for the media to be the catalysts in uniting our people through featuring stories that display the brutal nature of homophobia and discrimination. As the world aims to become a more inclusive land for everyone, these stories can potentially shift the perspectives of people who may not understand just how difficult these issues are to navigate.
