Out on Campus: Queer individuals deserve to take up space

By Cal Sutton

Media representation of diverse identities is extremely important because it fosters understanding, solidarity and a sense of belonging for queer individuals.

While some media representations are approached in a way that make queerness seem like a novelty, or perhaps, too obnoxiously portrayed, there are a multitude of actors who identify themselves as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community and break that stereotype.

One of my favorites, Jim Parsons, is a gay actor, well-known for his roles as Sheldon on the show “The Big Bang Theory” and as Oh in the movie “Home.” Parsons has won and been nominated for many awards throughout his time as an actor, alongside being out to the public since the early 2010s — shining light on the fact that LGBTQIA+ individuals can be, and are, very successful.

Ben Platt is an actor who came out as gay in 2019 and married his husband in 2024. He is well-known for his broadway and film roles as Evan Hansen in “Dear Evan Hansen.” He has also successfully made music; my favorite song of his being “Share Your Address.”

Jack Haven is another openly queer actor, with my favorite of any film or television show they starred in being, “I Saw the TV Glow.” This movie changed my life in more ways than one. They have also acted in “Atypical,” playing the role of Casey Gardner. Being an openly transgender individual, using they/them pronouns, they have given themself much room to grow over their time in the acting world. In an interview about starring in “I Saw The TV Glow,” Haven said, “I’m excited to give myself the gift of being an out trans person.”

LGBTQIA+ identities can be, and are, found in many spaces. From film and television to politics, these individuals make queerness more accepted and acknowledged in public spaces.

Sarah McBride is a Democratic State Congresswoman representing the state of Delaware. McBride is a transgender woman — the first openly trans individual to be elected to Congress. Transgender representation in United States politics and government is very important to constituents who identify as LGBTQIA+, as representation gives diverse individuals a voice.

Harvey Milk was also the first openly gay elected official in the state of California, starting his term in January 1978, serving until November of that same year. He was open about his homosexuality for his entire life; running for office while the AIDS epidemic was beginning to spread, but prior to the “true” first case of the disease being diagnosed. He was assassinated by a man who was opposed to a bill he sponsored, proposing a ban to discrimination against queer individuals. Milk is regarded as a trailblazer and a martyr in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Some of the most popular, and some of my favorite, musicians also happen to identify as LGBTQIA+. Freddie Mercury, a bisexual man and rock icon, was the lead singer of the band “Queen.” Cavetown is a newer-generation musician who came out as transgender in 2020; previously writing songs such as “Dysphoric” and “This is Home,” both commonly regarded as “anthems” by transgender individuals today.

Queer people deserve to take up space. They deserve to hold seats in government, be in star-studded films and television shows, have spots on the Billboard charts and simply exist.

The openness and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals in many facets of typical life is imperative to spread awareness and make queerness less stigmatized.

Cal Sutton is a junior journalism major

This article is part of the Out on Campus column by Cal Sutton to spread awareness and shine light on LGBTQIA+ identities.