--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you have to see the thing to…" description: "\"Sometimes you have to see the thing to know that it exists. Maybe there's a queer person in a town, but they don't feel comfortable or safe coming out,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/asia-kate-dillon-8147_connection_sometimes-you-have-to-see-the-thing-to-k_940753.jpg" --- # Sometimes you have to see the thing to know that it… ![“Sometimes you have to see the thing to know that it exists. Maybe there's a queer person in a town, but they don't feel comfortable or safe coming out, frankly, and the only representation they feel that they have or connection they have is on television or in a movie, and that's really powerful.” quote by Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/asia-kate-dillon-8147_connection_sometimes-you-have-to-see-the-thing-to-k_940753.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/asia-kate-dillon-8147_connection_sometimes-you-have-to-see-the-thing-to-k_940753.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/asia-kate-dillon-8147_connection_sometimes-you-have-to-see-the-thing-to-k_940753.jpg) > “Sometimes you have to see the thing to know that it exists. Maybe there's a queer person in a town, but they don't feel comfortable or safe coming out, frankly, and the only representation they feel that they have or connection they have is on television or in a movie, and that's really powerful.” [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing representation validates identity and offers safety for marginalized individuals. **In simple terms:** Representation validates identity. Key Takeaway Seek authentic representation. Themes identity visibility media LGBTQ+ safety Mood hopeful empowering Type inspirational social When to use this quote - activism - media production - community building Key Concepts social validation psychological safety Questions to Reflect On - How does media representation affect personal confidence? - What other forms of support are needed? A Different Perspective Representation alone cannot replace lived experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Queer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queer/) ## Related quotes > [The most accurate representation of how I feel is that I'm incredibly lucky to be working in this structure where people get paid millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/the-most-accurate-representation-of-how-i-feel-is-that-i-m-incredibly/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [I do think that for a queer person to speak truthfully without shame about their own experiences is political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-bruce/i-do-think-that-for-a-queer-person-to-speak-truthfully-without-shame/) [Liv Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-bruce/) > [Drag, at its core, is about honoring yourself and your own unique way of being a gendered, queer person. Your own unique way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-velour/drag-at-its-core-is-about-honoring-yourself-and-your-own-unique-way/) [Sasha Velour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-velour/) > [I care more about a 15-year-old queer kid in Iowa who wants to know that there's anything out there that resembles their experience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-bruce/i-care-more-about-a-15-year-old-queer-kid-in-iowa-who-wants-to-know/) [Liv Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-bruce/) > [Off the top of my head, Alan Cumming was probably my biggest inspiration, as an actor and as a queer person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/off-the-top-of-my-head-alan-cumming-was-probably-my-biggest/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [There's a difference between representation and perspective. People don't want a show from a queer person or a person of color unless the show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-escola/there-s-a-difference-between-representation-and-perspective-people/) [Cole Escola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-escola/) > [When you're a queer person put in the spotlight, you're supposed to have all the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hopkins/when-you-re-a-queer-person-put-in-the-spotlight-you-re-supposed-to/) [Ben Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hopkins/) > [A lot of artists I like end up being queer. Or maybe it's a subconscious thing that you can identify of, like, 'Oh this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/a-lot-of-artists-i-like-end-up-being-queer-or-maybe-it-s-a/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [My mother went through a phase in her life where she... stopped being queer for religious reasons. I remember, my mother rebuking her sexuality...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-the-drag-queen/my-mother-went-through-a-phase-in-her-life-where-she-stopped-being/) [Bob the Drag Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-the-drag-queen/) > [I think that there's a lot of different factors that played into the coming out process I've had with the public. You know, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/i-think-that-there-s-a-lot-of-different-factors-that-played-into-the/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [Especially when you're queer and you're a person of color, you're so used to being the token on set. Inevitably you have to answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-santos/especially-when-you-re-queer-and-you-re-a-person-of-color-you-re-so/) [Nico Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-santos/) > [The way I see queerness now is that, best case scenario, another queer person reflects it back at you. Worst case scenario, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowen-yang/the-way-i-see-queerness-now-is-that-best-case-scenario-another-queer/) [Bowen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bowen-yang/) > [I think that there's not always been queer person of color representation in pop and so I'm making the most of it because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-think-that-there-s-not-always-been-queer-person-of-color/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [I feel like as a queer person, we've all gone through a summer where you've fallen in love with someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-flip/i-feel-like-as-a-queer-person-we-ve-all-gone-through-a-summer-where/) [G Flip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-flip/) > [The stories I grew up with, whether it came to queer representation or representation of anyone that was different, it was always a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/the-stories-i-grew-up-with-whether-it-came-to-queer-representation-or/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) ## More by Asia Kate Dillon > [If you don't meet luck halfway with really hard work, luck won't get you all the way there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/if-you-don-t-meet-luck-halfway-with-really-hard-work-luck-won-t-get/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [We've been socialised and told that there is a way to describe people, and that way is by their gender or their sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/we-ve-been-socialised-and-told-that-there-is-a-way-to-describe-people/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I was assigned female at birth. My gender identify is non-binary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-was-assigned-female-at-birth-my-gender-identify-is-non-binary/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [What we need to do is get rid of 'men's' and 'women's' sections and make sections that are, like, 'dresses for tall people,' 'pants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/what-we-need-to-do-is-get-rid-of-men-s-and-women-s-sections-and-make/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [Honestly, from a very young age, before I had the language, really - anywhere that I encountered binary, whether it was in clothing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/honestly-from-a-very-young-age-before-i-had-the-language-really/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I'm really interested in going back in to the history of non-binary people and seeing how many people in history were non-binary but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-m-really-interested-in-going-back-in-to-the-history-of-non-binary/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that only gender non-conforming, non-binary, or trans people have a gender identity. But the truth is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-think-one-of-the-biggest-misconceptions-is-that-only-gender-non/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > ['Actor' and 'actress' don't have to be gendered or sexed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/actor-and-actress-don-t-have-to-be-gendered-or-sexed/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I love that although the world is a dangerous place, I still find it to be beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-love-that-although-the-world-is-a-dangerous-place-i-still-find-it/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [When you are not working in TV and primarily doing film, you're working with one director for a long period of time, so getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/when-you-are-not-working-in-tv-and-primarily-doing-film-you-re/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I moved to New York at 17 to go to school. At 24, I moved back to Ithaca, then moved back to New York at 28.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-moved-to-new-york-at-17-to-go-to-school-at-24-i-moved-back-to/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [Creating more characters that represent historically marginalized and historically disenfranchised people in television and film is certainly important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/creating-more-characters-that-represent-historically-marginalized-and/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I spent so many years not understanding my own gender identity and not having the language for it, and not having those conversations, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-spent-so-many-years-not-understanding-my-own-gender-identity-and/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I'm very careful with my media intake. I try and monitor it pretty carefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-m-very-careful-with-my-media-intake-i-try-and-monitor-it-pretty/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) > [I spent so many years not understanding my own gender identity, not having the language to talk about it, and not feeling safe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asia-kate-dillon/i-spent-so-many-years-not-understanding-my-own-gender-identity-not/) [Asia Kate Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) [Explore all 83 Asia Kate Dillon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asia-kate-dillon/) ## More Connection quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [I believe that we have a huge problem with the water in America. We don't want to make that connection that these chemicals, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/i-believe-that-we-have-a-huge-problem-with-the-water-in-america-we/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [“Your passion is your connection to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/your-passion-is-your-connection-to-god/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [Religion is no longer a connection point for most people. Our communities were built on coming together in physical locations once a week or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-mckelvey/religion-is-no-longer-a-connection-point-for-most-people-our/) [Miguel McKelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-mckelvey/) > [“A man becomes creative, whether he is an artist or a scientist, when he finds a new unity in the variety of nature. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/a-man-becomes-creative-whether-he-is-an-artist-or-a-scientist-when-he/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“If you cannot wait for time to unearth roots, you must dig.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelou-keramati/if-you-cannot-wait-for-time-to-unearth-roots-you-must-dig/) Nelou Keramati > [“As a species, we are hardwired for connection. We are our best selves when we are sharing and communicating with others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-henry/as-a-species-we-are-hardwired-for-connection-we-are-our-best-selves/) [Tyler Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-henry/) > [“If you feel you don’t know the right people, turn to the next person you see on the street and introduce yourself—that connection could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-davis-jr/if-you-feel-you-don-t-know-the-right-people-turn-to-the-next-person/) [Raoul Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-davis-jr/) > [I'm uninterested in superheroes. I am only interested in real stories, real people, real connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-m-uninterested-in-superheroes-i-am-only-interested-in-real-stories/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [There's a spectrum of those moments of connection and the moments we fail to connect, going from super-large successes to failures. Success would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/there-s-a-spectrum-of-those-moments-of-connection-and-the-moments-we/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [I think my work comes out of both an intense desire for connection and what it means to feel isolated. There's always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-my-work-comes-out-of-both-an-intense-desire-for-connection/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I always have this sense of food as triangular, in that one point is nourishment, one point is connection, and one point is pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crescent-dragonwagon/i-always-have-this-sense-of-food-as-triangular-in-that-one-point-is/) [Crescent Dragonwagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crescent-dragonwagon/) > [I don't mind writing so I didn't find that difficult, it's just a question of finding the time to do it. I kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/i-don-t-mind-writing-so-i-didn-t-find-that-difficult-it-s-just-a/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) [Browse all 1,649 Connection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes you have to see the thing to know that it exists. 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