About the Author: Tanya Sharda is a Student of the OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat.
INTRODUCTION
Indian LGBTQ+ visibility, community building, and advocacy have drastically transformed within the last few decades because of social media. The past ten years have certainly seen changing circumstances in the world of activism, yet one thing has been evident since then: social media has transformed the way that people and communities support LGBTQ+ rights. Traditionally, legal battles and grassroots movements, like the campaign against Section 377, which criminalized homosexuality, have shaped the Indian LGBTQ+ movement. Social media expansion helped create awareness, build support, and reach more people to cause the change in law. It allows LGBTQ+ individuals to connect with other people, share their experiences, and plan activities on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, among other social media sites. This digital space has been essential in creating safe communities, especially for people who are isolated because of social shame. In general, social media has helped advance the cause of LGBTQ+ people, enabling the joining of their voices with other marginalized communities. It has turned around LGBTQ+ activism since. In social media, members can find such visibility, community, and advocacy. Stereotypes have been dispelled, and people have gained a haven for connection in the process.
BUILDING LGBTQ+ COMMUNITIES AND SAFE SPACES ONLINE
Social media has, in a big way, contributed to the raising of public awareness about and normalization of consciousness around LGBTQ+ identities. Traditionally, LGBTQ+ people were often portrayed stereotypically or marginally through mainstream media. Now, with the introduction and expansion of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, others can relay their stories of experiences and struggles. This transformation allows a greater and deeper appreciation of the LGBTQ+ community. This would help to encourage people to have sympathy for one another, challenge stereotypes, and allow more open-minded acceptance. The activist can share the cause of the movement across the globe, even mobilize a global army for their causes with just one click. RuPaul, Laverne Cox, Elliot Page, and other social media influencers create education, advocacy, and experiences with millions of followers. #LoveIsLove, #TransRightsAreHumanRights, #QueerVisibility: They help create a global voice of awareness on behalf of the cause. Another thing is that information is more easily spread through social media, allowing for easier organization of protests, marches, and campaigns.[1] This example of the use of social media in changing the face of activism is in coming out on YouTube among queer youth. This has illustrated how digital environments have become an essential component of the way narrative is framed about LGBTQ+ identities and visibility.
THE POWER OF COMING-OUT VIDEOS IN AMPLIFYING LGBTQ+ VOICES
Coming out on YouTube is an important part of LGBTQ+ activism through social media. The commodification of coming-out videos, where platforms benefit from the visibility and interactions they generate, is a clear indication of the evolving digital landscape. Creators gain ‘celebrity capital’ through increased recognition and followers, which not only fosters public awareness but also contributes to greater representation of LGBTQ+ individuals. The ‘live’ coming-out videos belong to a genre that adds an element of authenticity and drama, further propelling their popularity. Emotional labour in the form of sharing personal stories of pain and trauma plays a crucial role in the success of these videos, requiring creators to make an emotional investment that ultimately rewards them in terms of views and followers. This dynamic has much to do with the larger cultural context of social media, wherein self-promotion and branding are becoming increasingly common among youth. As LGBTQ+ persons share their coming out stories, they are thereby able to craft an online identity and also gain social connectedness. Moreover, since YouTube is a commercial website, these coming-out stories provide both personal expression and content that is commercially viable as traffic, creating value for content creators and the social media industries alike. In this sense, YouTube has become a space in which queer youth can connect, share experiences, and publicly negotiate their identities, all driving the ongoing movement for LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance further.[2]
Not only has visibility put social media at the forefront of the creation of an LGBTQ+ community, but that too has proved to be a blessing for many people, especially those with less of a support system or who happen to exist in a much more hostile world. These online venues provide guidance and support and give a sense of belonging to people who may feel that they have been shunned by their local community. [3] Also, communities like the LGBTQ+ subreddits of Reddit, Facebook Groups, and Discord channels facilitate continuous communities that facilitate discussions and mutual support. To them, in areas where being LGBTQIA+ is stigmatized and, in some instances, illegal, the existence of these virtual communities provides critical resource networks that cross geographical boundaries. A lot of social media platforms have also created a sense of global interdependence for people across the globe, including the LGBTQ+ community.[4]
SOCIAL MEDIA AS A TOOL FOR LGBTQ+ EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
Social media has acted as a good tool for the informative sensitization of the general public about everything about LGBTQ+. Influencers and activists can share voice and video messages, spreading educational information regarding the many social problems people from the LGBTQ+ community have faced, their history, their struggles, and their victories. The social media levels are a great method of challenging others’ biased viewpoints and change about a community. Social media has further helped people achieve a sense of belonging and being part of the community, and it helps defeat isolation and stigma. The same sense of community helps individuals build resilience and strength in the face of personal and societal challenges. Social media has proved itself to be a vital tool for the struggle in the pursuit of LGBTQ+ rights, equality, and visibility over time. [5]
Thus, a significant expression of the transformation of LGBTQ+ activism through social media is in how it provides platforms for connection, amplifies voices, and promotes global advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Through social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, a type of global network has been created to conquer isolation and create a sense of community. Activism on social media has become more efficient because campaigns and hashtags like #LoveIsLove and #TransRightsMatter showed that the discourse there leads to proper societal change. Furthermore, these platforms play a major role in public education on the issues surrounding LGBTQ+ issues, thereby breaking harmful stereotypes and cultivating understanding. Social media has also become a battleground against homophobia and transphobia, confronting hate and cultivating empathy. Through these channels, LGBTQ+ people and activists were able to drive policy change and legal reform toward their rights. In essence, social media has become an indispensable tool in the fight for equality and visibility in a world that could be more welcoming and accepting of LGBTQ+ people.[6]
Through media such as social networks, one of the most powerful tools for education and awareness, LGBTQ+ history, struggles, and accomplishments are available for people, which these influencers and activists appropriate as a tool to understand, deconstruct bias, and raise public consciousness. Social media has also been able to offer opportunities for connection between LGBTQ+ individuals who have been isolated or stigmatized because of their identity. These developing online communities have created room for self-expression, support, and guidance; this breeds the backbone of a strong, resilient sense of community.[7]
CONCLUSION
Therefore, social media has undeniably altered the face of LGBTQ+ activism in terms of platforms for the promotion of rights, awareness creation, and relationships. Whether viral campaigns, online communities, or coming-out videos, social media has been a great catalyst for the amplification of the voices of LGBTQ+, the challenge of societal norms, and the creation of safe spaces for self-expression. It empowered individuals to share their stories, fight stigmas, and create support networks that transcend geographical boundaries. Social media, therefore, remains an indispensable tool in the evolution of future LGBTQ+ activism and toward an inclusive world as we keep evolving in the digital age.
References:
[1] ‘How Has the Internet and Social Media Affected LGBTI Activism and Community-Building?’ (The Inner Note, 16 December 2023) <https://theinnernote.com/how-has-the-internet-and-social-media-affected-lgbti-activism-and-community-building/> accessed 13 January 2025
[2] Sander De Ridder and Frederik Dhaenens, ‘Coming out as Popular Media Practice: The Politics of Queer Youth Coming out on YouTube’ (2019) 6 DiGeSt. Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies 43
[3] ‘The Role of Social Media in LGBTQ Activism: A Comprehensive Guide Table of Contents’ (Toxigon, 29 January 2025) <https://toxigon.com/the-role-of-social-media-in-lgbtq-activism> accessed 30 January 2025
[4] ‘The Impact of Social Media on LGBTQIA+ Visibility and Activism’ (AIQA, 12 September 2024) <https://allindiaqueerassociation.com/the-impact-of-social-media-on-lgbtqia-visibility-and-activism/> accessed 12 January 2025
[5] How Has the Internet and Social Media Affected LGBTI Activism and Community-Building (n 1)
[6] ‘What Is the Impact of Social Media on LGBTI Visibility and Activism?’ (The Inner Note, 16 December 2023) <https://theinnernote.com/what-is-the-impact-of-social-media-on-lgbti-visibility-and-activism/> accessed 10 January 2025
[7] The Impact of Social Media on LGBTQIA+ Visibility and Activism (n 4)