Matters of Representation
Velma Dinkley in 'Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?' 1969-72. ©CBS
It is 2022. Your favorite character is gay and it is amazing. You finally feel represented in the media. This year has seen more representation than ever before. It seems as if everyday classic characters are being reinvented in multiple minority groups.
“Velma is officially a lesbian,” staff writer Ethan Shanfield said in an article for Variety Magazine.
The “Scooby-Doo” character Velma is following the recent trend of increasing representation and reinvention. Popular shows like “Atypical” and “Grand Army” include queer characters as the LGBTQ+ community becomes more supported and accepted by mainstream media. Older shows are including new queer characters and transforming old ones to reflect the changes in society. However, in the case of Velma, most believed she was already gay.
“In 2001, Velma was explicitly gay in my initial script,” James Gunn said.
James Gunn wrote the initial manuscript for the live-action “Scooby-Doo” movie in which he aimed for more diversity, but at the time it was less acceptable. This raises the question of whether being queer is more common now, or if people were more scared to come out in the past.
“A new report has found LGBT representation on US television is at a high, with nearly 12% of regular characters who are LGBT up 2.8% from last year,” according to BBC News.
The representation is growing as the number of LGBTQ+ identifying individuals is increasing and it is becoming more acceptable in mainstream culture.
“The percent of U.S. adults who identify as something other than heterosexual has doubled over the last 10 years, from 3.5 percent in 2012 to 7.1 percent,” reporter Jo Yorcuba said in an article for NBC News.
The past decade has been incredibly progressive toward minority groups, especially the LGBTQ+ community. This added support has allowed people to feel more confident and secure in their identity and sexuality, which translates to the media that we consume daily. That is why beloved characters like Velma can be openly gay; it was not possible before.
