Hello, and welcome to the end! I will admit, I am a lot sadder than I originally anticipated about this post being the last passion blog of the semester. This blog has easily been one of my favorite pieces I have ever worked on, and it means a lot to me even if it started as an assignment for RCL. Before I get to a grand, bravado conclusion for the blog, I wanted to give some quick shout-outs to some queer social media accounts that I adore. While social media isn’t inherently a facet of media we should be idolizing, these accounts have helped reinforce certain aspects of my identity by embracing their own queerness and sharing it with the world. If there is one message I want to get across in this blog, it is the importance of sharing and celebrating queer art, and these Instagram accounts are beautiful examples of that art.

First, we have @hellomynameiswednesday, or artist Wednesday Holmes, who is a queer and nonbinary artist who creates some of the most beautiful art. The main themes of their art are self-acceptance and self-love, as well as the importance of mental health. Their posts always bring a bit of light and happiness to my days not only because of how much I adore their funky art style, but also because the messages of the art often help redirect me towards a more optimistic path, which is truthfully something I struggle with.

Next we have an account that I am newer to which is Alok with @alokvmenon, who I heard about from an LGBTQ+ Schreyer alum through a career panel GSDS (Gender and Sexual Diversity in Schreyer) hosted at the end of March. Not only do they have incredibly swag style, but they also post a variety of material such as political advocacy for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, poetry and writing (they even have a book!), and interviews with other queer artists. Their account was recommended to me as a place where queerness is accepted and celebrated to the upmost degree and as a place that encourages taking breaks and letting yourself rest, which was the topic of conversation on hand. I followed them during the panel in that moment, and it has been a lovely decision.

Finally, we have my personal favorite young LGBTQ+ artist and media presence, Jojo Siwa @its jojosiwa. If Jojo has one fan, it is me. If Jojo has no fans, I have died. I was a slight fan of Jojo when she was on Dance Moms, but I became a big fan when she came out. Fun fact, I gave a speech on the impact her coming out has on LGBTQ+ about two weeks after she did, and I won $100 from the competition, so I am also grateful to her for that. Jojo has always been someone who has been her most authentic self, even through the hate she has received for doing just that. I deeply admire people who continually show and share their authentic selves even when it would be easier to not, so in many ways, I aspire to be just like her, and I think we all should. To have someone who is so popular and well liked with young children openly identifying within the LGBTQ+ community is so monumental. Even though she has lost some fans since coming out, she has made such an impact on young people whoa re questioning their identity. To conclude, I love Jojo.

I hope you check out these accounts and maybe give them a follow! Now, for the grand conclusion of the blog. I have talked about a ton of media and pockets of pop culture relating to the LGBTQ+ community and representation on here and I could probably write a hundred more if given the chance. But even with the extensive representation that does exist now, there are always more queer stories to be told. When people can see themselves represented in the media they consume, magic can occur. And when people can see identities, experiences, and stories other than their own identities, more magic, compassion, and understanding can occur. Ultimately, advocate for queer art and creators, and keep celebrating the media that means a lot to you. When we share the pieces of media and art that feel like a formative piece of us, we create connections and share more of ourselves with each other.