"Pose is so impactful because it is the first show to have a mostly trans cast, it represents the trans women of color who have always been in the frontlines of movements that deal with LGBTQ+ rights, and does not minimize the characters to only their struggles." - Judith Hernandez, 11th grade
The third and final season of Pose, a series on FX that has left a huge impact on what representation means and looks like in the film industry, has been announced to premiere on May 2nd. Pose takes place in the 1980’s in New York and follows the lives of transgender and queer people of color such as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangalista, one of the main characters played by Mj Rodriguez and many more. The show captures each of the characters different struggles and vibrant personalities as they experience underground “Ball Culture”, new relationships and the challenges of being trans, queer and people of color amid the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Pose focuses on the drama that goes on inside the Houses and the drama that occurs in ballroom drag and voguing competitions while simultaneously bringing light to parts of American history that too often get erased or pushed aside. One of the main Houses in Pose is the House of Evangelista led by Blanca Rodriguez-Evangalista, an Afro-Latina woman who, after being diagnosed with HIV, decides to make a name for herself in the ballroom and truly live. In episode one of season one, Blanca states, “I ain't never been certain of anything. It’s just been all one day at a time. Until now. I don’t want to die. I want to live.”
Pose focuses on the drama that goes on inside the Houses and the drama that occurs in ballroom drag and voguing competitions while simultaneously bringing light to parts of American history that too often get erased or pushed aside. One of the main Houses in Pose is the House of Evangelista led by Blanca Rodriguez-Evangalista, an Afro-Latina woman who, after being diagnosed with HIV, decides to make a name for herself in the ballroom and truly live. In episode one of season one, Blanca states, “I ain't never been certain of anything. It’s just been all one day at a time. Until now. I don’t want to die. I want to live.”
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In the 1960s-1980s, a house was more than just a space or a building. A House was a home, a family and safe place for Black and Latinx gay, gender-nonconforming and transgender youth who were often abandoned by their biological families. For example, one of the first people Blanca welcomes into her home is Damon. Damon gets kicked out by his family for being gay which pushes him to move to New York and become a dancer but struggles to do so until Blanca helps him. Although the House of Evangelista and the other houses in the show such as the House of Abundance, Ferocity, Pendavis and others aren’t real, they are inspired by actual Houses in history such as LaBeija, Omni, Blahnik, and Xtravaganza which were brought to light in Jennie Livingston’s, Paris is Burning documentary.
Pose is so impactful because it is the first show to have a mostly trans cast, it represents the trans women of color who have always been in the frontlines of movements that deal with LGBTQ+ rights, and does not minimize the characters to only their struggles. It shows how queer people of color have always existed and have learned to create spaces for themselves where they can celebrate who they are. When I first watched “Pose” on Netflix, it instantly became one of my favorite shows. I remember how good it felt to see each character fully embrace everything that they are. I was tired of seeing people who look like me or others in my community being used for comedic relief so that the directors could check off the diversity box.
Despite the amazing storyline, character development and plot, Pose isn’t perfect. It has been criticized for being colorist because of the way it portrays the dark skin women of the show. Colorism continues to plague the media we consume and our overall society. Pose demonstrates how far we’ve come in terms of representation in media and how the stories of queer and people of color get told but it also shows how far we still need to go.
Pose is not the only show that has moved media forward when it comes to representation. A few months before Pose was released, Love, Simon, the first gay rom-com premiered. The movie is about a closeted high school boy who tries to balance school, friends, and family while protecting himself from the bully who wants to out him. He is also on the search for the anonymous classmate he has fallen in love with online. Love, Simon was the first movie I watched with a gay main character and the first time I found myself relating to a character in ways I never got the chance to before. Nonetheless, in 2018 Love, Simon seemed a little too late. The story was one that should have already been told and appreciated long before. Coming to terms with their sexuality and dealing with the struggles of coming out, are not the only story queer people have to tell. Although it was a step forward, it again showed that we still had many steps to go.
Despite the amazing storyline, character development and plot, Pose isn’t perfect. It has been criticized for being colorist because of the way it portrays the dark skin women of the show. Colorism continues to plague the media we consume and our overall society. Pose demonstrates how far we’ve come in terms of representation in media and how the stories of queer and people of color get told but it also shows how far we still need to go.
Pose is not the only show that has moved media forward when it comes to representation. A few months before Pose was released, Love, Simon, the first gay rom-com premiered. The movie is about a closeted high school boy who tries to balance school, friends, and family while protecting himself from the bully who wants to out him. He is also on the search for the anonymous classmate he has fallen in love with online. Love, Simon was the first movie I watched with a gay main character and the first time I found myself relating to a character in ways I never got the chance to before. Nonetheless, in 2018 Love, Simon seemed a little too late. The story was one that should have already been told and appreciated long before. Coming to terms with their sexuality and dealing with the struggles of coming out, are not the only story queer people have to tell. Although it was a step forward, it again showed that we still had many steps to go.
Later in 2019, Moonlight directed by Barry Jenkins was released. Moonlight is a story about Black queerness and masculinity that focuses on the main character, Chiron, a quiet boy who is trying to survive as he struggles with his sexuality, complicated family and everyday life as he grows up. Juan, another character in the movie, takes Chiron under his wing after he sees him being chased by a group of boys and thinks about his past. Juan teaches Chiron to swim, to let go and trust, and to love. In the beginning of the movie, Juan tells Chiron, “At some point, you gotta decide for yourself who you’re going to be. Can’t let nobody make that decision for you.” Moonlight is the type of movie I want to watch over and over again.
There are many other shows and media that continue to highlight LGBTQ+ voices but Pose has to be one of my favorites by far. However, as I wait in excitement for the third season I can’t help but ask myself how much this representation actually matters. I do believe representation in all forms of media is important because being able to see ourselves reflected on TV, and knowing that there are other people like us can be very beneficial. But, none of this matters if queer people and people of color or not being fought for in real life. Activism can start with raising awareness and learning from the media that others create but it has to go far beyond that for actual change.
