Remember "Glee"? That gloriously over-the-top show that had us all singing in the shower and believing high school was one big musical number? Well, I firmly believe it paved the way for the teen LGBTQIA+ community back in the day. Seriously, it was like a rainbow-colored beacon of hope.
It was the first time I realized that figuring out your identity is a process, and it's okay not to have all the answers right now. It was also my first time seeing the journey of a loving and supportive group for misfits/minorities/outcasts, or whatever you want to call it. Plus, with those absolute banger musical numbers, Glee didn’t just steal my heart; it hijacked it with jazz hands.
Santana's journey of self-acceptance and her coming-out storyline gave so much hope to LGBTQIA+ youth struggling with their own identities. She transformed from a mean girl to a proud, badass queer Latina.
And then there was Santana and Brittany. Their love story was groundbreaking for LGBTQ+ representation on prime-time TV. They became the iconic queer romance.
Sadly, we lost Naya Rivera way too soon, but her portrayal of Santana left an indelible mark. Santana's legacy as an LGBTQ+ icon lives on and will continue to inspire fans for years to come.
