Queer Kids are Not Alone: Searching for 2S-LGBTQIA+ Representation in Children’s Animated Television

Within the last 10 years, there has been an increase of 2S-LGBTQIA+ representation within animated television shows for children aged 7-11 (Townsend, Deerwater, Adams & Trasandes, 2021; Loudon, 2020; Mihailova, 2019; Perlmutter, 2014). Simultaneously, animated stories often closely follow the experience of being othered, and discovering found family in like-minded individuals, similar to the experiences and development of 2S-LGBTQIA+ individuals (Loudon, 2020, Perea, 2018; Jane 2015; Halberstam 2011). This research study attempted to investigate if there was explicit 2S-LGBTQIA+ representation in children’s animated television shows for children aged 7-11 and what that representation looked like. This research paper was able to provide a snapshot of the current landscape of children’s animated television accessible in Canada, in relation to 2S-LGBTQIA+ representation, race, species gender and leadership.