As anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation concerningly grows worldwide, community members must experience queer joy, and many are discovering it through online spaces.

Queer joy is the recognition that LGBTQ+ identities are not solely constructed by trauma, but also by happiness and togetherness. In other words, it highlights the delights and positive aspects of being LGBTQ+.

While one’s physical environment may not affirm their diverse identities, online spaces can offer a temporary means of escape from the real world. Furthermore, they can exist as a hub of information for LGBTQ+ issues, which is equally important.

This kind of engagement is necessary for the happiness of the community, and this online space is a great place to experience that joy. 

Pop Culture and Mainstream Media
The foundation for this corner of social media is ultimately queer pop culture, specifically in music, TV and film.

For a long time, queer narratives within pop culture were always routed in trauma and hurt. However, this is starting to shift with the rising popularity of films and TV series such as Bottoms and Heartstopper, where the main characters love and accept their queerness.

There is also a rise in the popularity of queer popstars who sing about the blissful parts of LGBTQ+ love, with artists such as Troye Sivan, Chappell Roan and MUNA flying the rainbow flag loud and proud. Although sad gay music will never go out of style, it is important to balance these out with some ‘get-up-and-dance’ tunes. 

This content gets translated into online queer joy as people interact and respond to it, making edits of these TV shows and films to queer pop songs. Users also react in the comments and ignite conversations and connections with others.  

@hrtneeko had to edit her to this song idc #isabel #isabelbottoms #bottomsmovie #bottoms #havanaroseliu #isabelbottomsedit #havanaroseliuedit #bottomsedit ♬ original sound – fawn 🦖

Safe Space for LGBTQ+ Expression
Online spaces can create a mostly safe environment for users to interact with one another and express their queerness freely.

Finding a space of comfort that allows for one to be unapologetically queer is extremely important for people who often don’t feel comfortable or safe expressing their identity otherwise. Having that hopeful space within a community that faces backlash for solely existing can be very uplifting.

This spike in positive queer energy online can be linked to the recent trend of ‘hopecore’. Hopecore is a feel-good trend where people on social media will edit together clips of happy and hopeful moments, whether that be a basketball team winning an important game or a parent seeing their kids after being away. 

Its goal is to inspire people and remind them that among all the negativity, there are touching moments. LGBTQ+ ‘hopecore’ videos continue to circulate online spaces and remind users that being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is a beautiful thing.

@loveland.frogman♬ Would That I (True that I saw her hair like the branch of a tree) – Hozier

Users commented on the post above saying, “I’m so proud to be queer” and “love our community so much”. This is an example of the hopeful pride shared in these online safe spaces. 

Why is this important?
Positive online queer spaces are especially important with the recent rise in transphobic and anti-LGBTQ+ narratives. Now more than ever, it is essential for the queer community to have support. 

In recent years, anti-trans hate has become more prevalent in politics, seen largely in countries like the US and the UK. People need a place to escape from the negativity and be reminded of the love and happiness that comes with being queer.

While fostering this positivity is essential, online spaces will similarly provide information on LGBTQ+ issues, which can sometimes be heavy. It is important that people find a balance between staying updated on the news and escaping to find queer joy. These two things can go hand in hand.

Although there are many alternative physical spaces filled with queer joy, online mediums can also be accessible and inclusive, and will hopefully exist for many years to come.