Queer people have always existed, but their visibility in the media is still a relatively recent development. In the past decade, we’ve seen great representation of diverse characters thriving in TV series and books. Heartstopper, Young Royals, Love, Victor, Good Omens, Call Me by Your Name, and most recently, the Crave original series Heated Rivalry are just a few examples. But one question remains: where are the lesbians?

Lesbians have been the backbone of the queer community throughout history, yet the media rarely gives them the representation they deserve. When shows do centre lesbians, they’re often underdeveloped – due to premature character deaths or show cancellations. TV shows like Warrior Nun, The Wilds, A League of Their Own and First Kill come to mind. Each of these shows, which boasted large audiences, were axed despite positive reception. These shows, like many MLM (men-loving-men) ones, were considered “cringe” or “tacky”, yet there are countless straight romances with unrealistic plots and dialogue that are allowed to exist. There’s a lot to be said about how queer media is more harshly criticised than those aimed at straight audiences.

This issue isn’t limited to just lesbian stories. Other identities, like asexuality, are also underrepresented. However in 2025, and with the amount of MLM romances out there, I expect more for all the sapphic women out there. This disparity likely stems from misogyny, as women’s stories in general are often sidelined. It’s incredibly disheartening to see how far behind we still are, even today. And even when sapphic representations do make it on screen, they never get a happy ending.

The term “Dead Lesbian Syndrome” has become all too familiar – a phrase that reflects the tragic fate of many lesbian characters in media, where they are either killed off or their storylines end in heartbreak. Just look at Clarke and Lexa in The 100, or Villanelle and Eve in Killing Eve. This year, Stranger Things finally addressed Will’s sexuality, partly through Robin’s character, who is a lesbian. While we see Will dealing with this, Robin’s sexuality feels more like a plot device. Her relationship with Vickie has barely been developed, and the last we saw, Vickie was dating a man. Don’t get me wrong – it’s great to see a character like Robin in such a major series. But while she does discuss her feelings and has been consistently open about her sexuality, it does bother me that we didn’t get to see her relationship develop from the ground up, or explore the struggles of being a lesbian teenager in the 80s. This experience is far more complex than a brief monologue in one episode, especially considering how Robin has been a prominent character since season 3.

Then there’s Heated Rivalry. Based on the popular book series, it’s one of the few shows that doesn’t seem to shy away from queer sexuality at all, showing us a relationship between two closeted hockey players that expands throughout many years of their professional careers. While there’s been a lot of discourse around the number of women consuming it and discussions about the fetishisation of MLM relationships, it’s important to note that women are the main consumers of romance in general. We are prone to consuming media that does not directly cater towards us. Men have controlled most media formats for years, and we’ve been consuming it regardless, open to different perspectives and voices, something many men seem less willing to do. The main reason women are drawn to this show, though, is our deep craving for queer representation, which we don’t get enough of our own. This is the key to its overall success alongside the portrayal of masculinity we might not be used to in TV.

Another clear reason for its success is the focus on conventionally attractive men, which appeals to audiences beyond the community. It’s striking how beauty standards differ for men and women across all media. Attractiveness often gives male characters a “pass” that female characters don’t get. For women, being pretty is a requirement, while for men, it’s just a bonus. Many straight women are tuning in simply because of the actors’ looks.

Every queer experience deserves space in the media, and sapphic stories should be allowed to thrive and evolve in the same way gay romance stories have. For some reason having lesbian representation makes shows more risky, making audiences have to beg for renewals and fair treatment of sapphic characters, meanwhile Heated Rivalry was renewed for a new season before season one was over. There’s a big audience for shows that present a relationship between two women, as seen with the success of shows like Arcane. So why do major platforms like Netflix continue to silence WLW (women-loving-women) stories? The answer, I believe, lies in misogyny and lesbophobia – a resistance to fully acknowledging the depth, complexity and richness of lesbian lives.