The feeling of watching a TV show that you can relate to is indescribable; Seeing people who cry as you cry, laugh as you laugh, love as you love, and live as you live brings us a feeling of safety, security, and comfort by cultivating recognition, validation, and sheer acknowledgment that you may otherwise not receive in your daily lives. For queer-identifying individuals, these feelings are emotionally crucial, as they help foster a sense of community and belonging through an emotionally supportive representation, which can directly enhance one’s self-perceptions and confidence; a feeling of not being alone in their personal emotions.
The representation of “open” queer individuals and healthy queer relationships helps to eradicate dangerous social stigma or rejection by uplifting non-traditional social identities. When a show is created that centers LGBTQIA+ characters and narratives, it feels like an advancement towards social acceptance on an emotionally supportive level and even greater focus on providing resources for the queer community. However, these advancements are tirelessly set back time and time again, with many of these modern shows being canceled only moments after gaining social popularity.
In a recent setback to the LGBTQIA+ community, networks continuously cancel shows that center queer relationships and queer characters. On March 11th, the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) first queer dating show, I Kissed a Girl/I Kissed a Boy, was recently canceled due to “severe financial constraints,” as per the network, after only 2 seasons. A BBC representative told The Sun, “I am exceptionally proud of I Kissed a Boy/Girl, the UK’s first dating show for the LGBTQIA+ community. Unfortunately, we have to make difficult choices in light of our funding challenges, and there are no current plans for the show to return.” This was reported no less than 6 months after Netflix announced the cancellation of The Ultimatium: Queer Love for again, “funding reasons.” This announcement shocked and frustrated millions of LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals–these few shows displayed authentic queer people navigating marginalized identities and relationships.
This allowed its viewers to witness and experience queer heartbreak and love by seeing people who looked like them, acted like them, and loved like them. Additionally, a recent study conducted by GLAAD found that out of 489 LGBTQIA+ characters across all streaming platforms, 201 of them would not return to the series due to cancellations, limited series formatting, or the character leaving the show. That is 41% of the 489 characters being expunged from the media.
Seeing yourself in the media matters. Visibility offers affirmation through representation, role models to look up to, community building, a sense of belonging, and loud visibility that helps to drive social changes. Without it, LGBTQIA+ people, especially younger people, may feel as though their stories and lives are being silenced–that they do not matter. It promotes exclusivity, often in the form of erasure and invisibility. It also cultivates ignorance, as audiences have limited abilities and opportunities to learn about what it means to be a part of the queer community. Furthermore, the National Sexual Violence and Resource Center reports that over 50% of LGBTQIA+ adults feel as though they need to hide their personal and romantic relationships from people out of fear of hostility or discrimination.
The repetitive cancellation of LGBTQIA+ centered dating shows raises an important question: who actually gets a second season? The cancellation of these shows sends a message to queer individuals that their stories, their lives, and their love are disposable, unworthy of recognition and visibility. If networks express how they are accepting and inclusive of LGBTQIA+ identities and relationships, they need not only to create queer shows, but to keep them running long enough to truly make a difference.
–April 7, 2026–
