When it comes to diverse characters, there is always room for more, and who knew the next great addition to television royalty would come from a television series based on a movie franchise from the 80s. Despite being a horror fan when I heard the news "Child's Play" was rebooted as a television series, I was skeptical of its potential success. However, after the core four episodes, my faith in horror television is restored. From its inception, "Child's Play" has always had a way of resonating with queer viewers, with fans finally being rewarded with LGBT characters such as Glenda and Nica from the movie series. And now, thanks to the series, America is seeing one of the first portrayals of an adolescent Black LGBT character.
The series introduces the character Devon, portrayed by actor Bjorgvun Arnarson, as a potential love interest to the series protagonist. His introduction offers an authentic look into a struggle many LGBT youths face with realizing and accepting their sexuality. Many of us remember how difficult it was to navigate family expectations while also seeking to be our true selves. Unfortunately, there weren't many Black LGBT characters displayed on television twenty years ago, and it was rarer for a character to be under the age of 18. While the depiction of black male LGBTQ characters on television has grown over the years, a large majority of these characters are always adults who are either dealing with: hypersexuality, bisexuality, repressed sexuality, or family drama because of the character's sexuality with no further exploration beyond. Notable examples include the character Curtis from the CW series Arrow, the Black cisgender men from FX's Pose (Ricky, Pray to Tell, and Damon), and the character Ambrose from the Netflix series the Misadventures of Sabrina.
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Seeing a character who happens to be black, gay, and a fan of horror on television resonated with my inner child. The character positively sets a precedent on television as a first. Hopefully, this will help lead to a new wave of diverse characters and series. The series is certified 96% fresh by Rotten Tomatoes and is quickly gaining more fans with every new episode. Now that Halloween has passed, the true test of the show's creativity to keep viewers invested begins.
Who are some other Black LGBT characters that you feel have been presented authentically throughout the years?
