Always Quote by Lena Waithe

I personally always have a hard time relating to queer characters in media because I didn't really see myself in them. They were kind…

— Noelle Stevenson

For whatever reason, gay characters, or characters that deal with sexuality issues, who are black, in 'black films'... are typically not dealt with with…

— Justin Simien

I didn't always see someone that I could relate to, that would tell me that being Black and gay is okay.

— MNEK

A lot of times, gay characters are represented in unrealistic or stereotypical ways.

— Shannon Purser

Now, it's weird not to have gay characters on a show.

— Megan Mullally

It's incredibly important for the world to see a gay black character that's comfortable with themselves on screen.

— Ncuti Gatwa

I can remember when there were storylines with gay characters on shows like 'Family' and 'Dynasty' and thinking, I have something in common with…

— Greg Berlanti

As an actor, it was important to me to play gay characters because, growing up, it was something I never really saw done on…

— Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman

It's definitely my responsibility not to stereotype any character, but especially a gay character because of the misperceptions people still have about gays.

— Haaz Sleiman

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…

— Justin Simien

I had played many gay characters before, but they were finite - guest characters in TV shows or characters in plays.

— Eric McCormack

I love that I get to play a black character who's not a stereotype, who is not afraid to be vulnerable, who comes from…

— Ncuti Gatwa