“Iz,” Alec said tiredly. “It’s not like it’s one big bad thing. It’s a lot of little invisible things. …When I get up to talk in Clave meetings, no one listens, and I don’t know if that’s because I’m young or if it’s because of something else…” He shrugged and looked toward Magnus, who took a hand off the wheel for a moment to place it on Alec’s. “It’s not like a stab wound you can protect me from. It’s a million little papercuts every day.” – City of Lost Souls, Cassandra Clare.
The simplicity of a papercut: a skin wound caused by a thin, sharp material, such as paper. Between the fragility of both the human skin and the paper, it’s the paper that comes out on top. A seemingly harmless piece of paper.
Alec’s description accurately fits how many on the LGBTQ+ spectrum feel: there is always an underlying pain haunting their lives. A painful reminder that, at times, the world is closed off from you, where you are unable to experience the most human of emotions without judgment. Unable to have your first kiss because it would make you a pariah. From misconstrued ideologies to misunderstood intentions, to malicious remarks, the thoughtless words or actions of a few can affect the lives of so many.
The growing LGBTQ+ presence in mainstream media – particularly in fiction – has emerged as a useful tool in enlightening and educating the rest of the world to the realities often faced by many of these individuals. In the case of fiction, while some characters are only used as the ‘gay best friend,’ the disposable default or the silent, unexplored token ticked-box Hollywood often commends itself for, Shadowhunters does things a little differently by breaking stereotypes and boundaries, and respecting the strength of these people for who they are, instead of having them exist solely for who they love.
The LGBTQ+ characters in Shadowhunters have never been hidden, stereotyped, or glossed over. They are heroes with their own stories. They take center stage and they do not back down from a fight. The inclusion of characters like these inspire. Too often in media, gay characters are usually only ever known as the gay character, and more often than not, they’re crafted from stereotypes and forged into comedy tropes, never to be taken seriously. Alec Lightwood, however, doesn’t adhere to the traveled path. A dependable authority figure in and outside of family duty, who is strong, but stuck between society’s pressure of masculinity and the kind of man he wants to be, Alec is relatable to many – both LGBTQ+ and not – which makes him the perfect gateway character communities. And Shadowhunters doesn’t stop with him.
There’s the powerful, compassionate immortal warlock Magnus Bane, whose very existence defies the harmful stereotypes regularly placed upon bisexual people. There’s Raphael Santiago, a Latino man, devout Catholic, and a vampire – sci-fi’s notorious creatures of seduction – who happens to be asexual. There’s lesbian Aline Penhallow, a Shadowhunter who is comfortable, for now, in keeping her sexuality from prying eyes; as well as Ollie, Luke’s assigned detective partner; and her girlfriend, Sam. These characters are real people and their sexuality is just a part of who they are, not their defining trait. It’s not something being written over or even around – it’s equality. They’re valid, to the world and to the storyline.
Shadowhunters goes above and beyond in disregarding tropes set by society. Each of these relationships and characters gets screen time. Their relationships don’t play second fiddle to others in the show. They get the kind of attention to detail as other characters and other relationships. They get to have dates and discussions about life and physical affection. They get to have arguments, and apologies, and “I love you’s.” They get to have their hero moments, they get to make mistakes and learn along the way. These base underlying emotions that every single human being feels make these characters relatable. And if we can relate, then regardless of orientation, we can emotionally invest in their story. Shadowhunters paves the way for acceptance by stripping away the usual industry treatment of LGBTQ+ characters and presenting them as LGBTQ+ people are – human, just like you.
The concept of Magnus Bane, an immortal who remains proud and loud in all aspects of who he is despite centuries of oppression, is oddly beautiful. It’s a liberating idea that despite the world often being against you, being who you truly are is worth more and will get you further. Standing up for what you believe in is courageous. Standing as you are is even more so.
Shadowhunters is a welcome reprieve in promoting this, and that being who you are will always be worth striving for, despite the world’s prejudices. The battle for these characters is continuous and never easy, but the small victories along the way make them stronger, wiser, and more absolute in their acceptance of themselves. Film and television can provide vicarious living through the trials and tribulations experienced by the characters we watch. In the case of Shadowhunters, getting to see LGBTQ+ characters accept themselves and find happiness helps. Seeing LGBTQ+ characters being treated equally helps. Seeing LGBTQ+ characters go through and experience the same kind of papercuts as real people helps. In this, the show offers a catharsis of sorts. Kinship. Healing. Strength. The ability to change lives.
Despite being firmly cemented in a fantasy synopsis, the show often parallels the real world and the current issues within our society. To be faced with a million little papercuts each day is a daunting prospect. Shows that understand these papercuts, like Shadowhunters, work to make us feel less alone and show their audience that there is not only a way to find strength in the pain of the now, but happiness to be found beyond it. With this, it reflects the message of Spirit Day, which is all about leaving behind what hurts you – your little papercuts – embracing a world united against bullying and making sure those papercuts happen less for everybody.
No one should have to face a million little papercuts each day, at least not alone. The message of being strong and united in oneself and with others is one of the many things Shadowhunters stands for. The way it does this prominently through its LGBTQ+ characters has the power to change the way we perceive this particular aspect of the world and the people in it. Seeing someone with their own painful reminders, some papercuts, just like yours, helps remind us that we’re all human and we’re all in this together. Today, on Spirit Day, like Alec, Magnus, Raphael, Aline, Ollie, and Sam – be you. Be unapologetically you. You could be the change someone else needs to see in the world.
Shadowhunters is available for streaming via Freeform for U.S. residents and internationally on Netflix. Shadowhunters returns with Season 3 on April 3rd, 2018.
