--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shows like 'Empire'... one of the most…" description: "\"Shows like 'Empire'... one of the most profound powerful things is that there's a gay male character who is loved. That character is going to save a lo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/justin-simien-4140_character_shows-like-empire-one-of-the-most-profou_1451665.jpg" --- # Shows like 'Empire'... one of the most profound powerful… ![“Shows like 'Empire'... one of the most profound powerful things is that there's a gay male character who is loved. That character is going to save a lot of people's lives. Black families are confronting the idea that a gay black character can be human.” quote by Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/justin-simien-4140_character_shows-like-empire-one-of-the-most-profou_1451665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/justin-simien-4140_character_shows-like-empire-one-of-the-most-profou_1451665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/justin-simien-4140_character_shows-like-empire-one-of-the-most-profou_1451665.jpg) > “Shows like 'Empire'... one of the most profound powerful things is that there's a gay male character who is loved. That character is going to save a lot of people's lives. Black families are confronting the idea that a gay black character can be human.” [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A gay black male character in media can humanize LGBTQ+ lives and inspire hope within marginalized communities. **In simple terms:** Representation saves lives by showing humanity. Key Takeaway Support diverse characters to empower audiences. Themes representation LGBTQ+ race media Mood hopeful empowering Type cultural social When to use this quote - film criticism - activism - education - community building Key Concepts Intersectionality cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing yourself on screen affect you? - What stories remain untold? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on a single character may overlook broader systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) ## Related quotes > [I'm left on a lot of things. If two gay guys want to get married, I could care less. If a nut case from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/i-m-left-on-a-lot-of-things-if-two-gay-guys-want-to-get-married-i/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/marriage-is-almost-as-old-as-dirt-and-it-was-defined-in-the-garden/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [We hope we are moving toward a world where sexual orientation is not an issue, because we hate the idea of a gay ghetto.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-tennant/we-hope-we-are-moving-toward-a-world-where-sexual-orientation-is-not/) [Neil Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-tennant/) > [Part of my struggle with being gay was that a lot of my homophobia was internalized because of the cues that I was -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/part-of-my-struggle-with-being-gay-was-that-a-lot-of-my-homophobia/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [Self-doubt is a constant companion for a chubby, gay, black boy born in the South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/self-doubt-is-a-constant-companion-for-a-chubby-gay-black-boy-born-in/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I'm a gay black guy. If I can't ask questions without caring what people think of me, who can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-m-a-gay-black-guy-if-i-can-t-ask-questions-without-caring-what/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I said those things about gay rights and abortion on opposite day. I cannot BELIEVE you don't have opposite day in North Carolina!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-said-those-things-about-gay-rights-and-abortion-on-opposite-day-i/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [One of the great things about being gay and out is that the papers couldn't care less about your love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/one-of-the-great-things-about-being-gay-and-out-is-that-the-papers/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [They were regular in being gay, they learned little things that are things in being gay, they learned many little things that are things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/they-were-regular-in-being-gay-they-learned-little-things-that-are/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [If you want to come out, thats awesome. Well totally support that. And then he went away, thought about it, and came back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-knight-2/if-you-want-to-come-out-thats-awesome-well-totally-support-that-and/) [T R Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-knight-2/) > [You still don't like the idea of gay marriage? Then, as my friend the economist Julianne Malveaux says: Don't marry a gay person. Case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/you-still-don-t-like-the-idea-of-gay-marriage-then-as-my-friend-the/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [We have such a rigid idea of what heterosexuality is and that's problematic. We have such a rigid idea of what gay is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-act/we-have-such-a-rigid-idea-of-what-heterosexuality-is-and-that-s/) [Courtney Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-act/) > [If the creators of cartoons are intentionally or unintentionally giving children the idea that gay people are part of the big, happy human family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/if-the-creators-of-cartoons-are-intentionally-or-unintentionally/) [Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/) > [Do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/do-i-support-the-idea-of-gay-marriage-no-i-don-t/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [I spent a lot of time denying the idea that I could be gay or trans to myself. From the ages of 14 to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-denying-the-idea-that-i-could-be-gay-or-trans/) [Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/) ## More by Justin Simien > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I thought I was depressed because I wasn't a writer/director. I moved into a space where I'm a writer/director, my movie is a hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-thought-i-was-depressed-because-i-wasn-t-a-writer-director-i-moved/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I saw 'Beauty and the Beast' at eight years old in theatres and spent hours trying to recreate the majestic imagery of that story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-saw-beauty-and-the-beast-at-eight-years-old-in-theatres-and-spent/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I'm very interested in clans and the way people group together, and there's a lot of group shots. There's a lot of people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-m-very-interested-in-clans-and-the-way-people-group-together-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [One of the things that I love about Robert Altman's movies is that, really, a Robert Altman movie is just a bunch of short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/one-of-the-things-that-i-love-about-robert-altman-s-movies-is-that/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I am more than a black guy. I am a person, I'm storyteller, I'm a son, I'm a friend, so I am all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-am-more-than-a-black-guy-i-am-a-person-i-m-storyteller-i-m-a-son-i/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [There are a plethora of ways of being black, just like there's many ways to being white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/there-are-a-plethora-of-ways-of-being-black-just-like-there-s-many/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [The way Hollywood and TV is, black people don't have any choice but to see ourselves in white-dominated television shows and stories and movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/the-way-hollywood-and-tv-is-black-people-don-t-have-any-choice-but-to/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [Everybody else was quoting 2Pac, and I was running around with Green Day in my Walkman. Racially speaking, I wasn't cool or appropriate for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/everybody-else-was-quoting-2pac-and-i-was-running-around-with-green/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [Self-doubt is a constant companion for a chubby, gay, black boy born in the South.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/self-doubt-is-a-constant-companion-for-a-chubby-gay-black-boy-born-in/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [In the press, there's this desire for the black audience to be this monolithic thing that always responds to the same stars. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/in-the-press-there-s-this-desire-for-the-black-audience-to-be-this/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [It is a fine line between making fun of the right thing and making fun of the wrong thing. And the language oftentimes is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/it-is-a-fine-line-between-making-fun-of-the-right-thing-and-making/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [Hip-hop isn't dead by any means, but it's not something I define my black identity with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/hip-hop-isn-t-dead-by-any-means-but-it-s-not-something-i-define-my/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I took an internship at Focus Features while I was in film school. I was really interested in how specialty movies were marketed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-took-an-internship-at-focus-features-while-i-was-in-film-school-i/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [Racism is wrong, racism is very dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/racism-is-wrong-racism-is-very-dangerous/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) [Explore all 115 Justin Simien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Shows like 'Empire'... one of the most profound powerful things is that there's a gay male character who is loved. 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