”You know homophobia is so 2008, right? Totes passé” : A qualitative content analysis of the represention of LGBTQ-characters in teenageseries on Netflix.

A well rounded representation of identities in media has proven essential for the development of peoples identities in general but certainly in the case of young LGBTQ-adults since the media often act as their first source of information and identification. The popular culture found in media today is said to strive for universal appeal and plays an important role for the identities in subordinate groups, as the LGBTQ-community. Earlier studies of the representation of LGBTQ-people in the media has discovered not only a lack of representation but also a miseducated one, revolving around one dimensional stereotypes leading to discrimination, heterosexism, homo- and transphobia. The proven results could be deemed as alarming in general but especially with the undertaking of The Sustainable Development Goal of Reduced Inequalities in mind.With the recognition of the troublesome results of previous investigations of the representation of LGBTQ-identities aswell as the comprehended importance of well rounded LGBTQ-representation, this study aims to conduct a study of the prevailing representation of LGBTQ-characters in one of the most expanded platforms for streaming services online, Netflix. With the assistance of a qualitative content analysis and the perspectives of queer theory and representation theory this study examines four LGBTQ-characters in four seperate series for teenagers on Netflix.The results presented in the completed study show that tendencies according to the earlier critics still remain, but also register potential cases of more modern and well formed LGBTQ-representations. This implies that in a considerable number of instances a representation of the different LGBTQ-identities is defined by restricted stereotypes which leaves them with a restricted character development focused on their LGBTQ-identity. There are also signs of underrepresentation as well as the making invisible of LGBTQ-subgroups and overall upkeep of the heteronorm. In few cases characters can be registered to break free from the former established representations and evolve beyond them, offering a broader complexity and over all more well rounded representation of LGBTQ-identities