At least one-third of the lesbian and bisexual female characters in major studio films last year appeared on-screen for under ten seconds, which is only one of many problems revealed by GLAAD’s 2016 Studio Responsibility Index.
This episode stays true to the rest of the series through storytelling without resorting to the tired tropes and stereotypes so commonly found in queer and POC characters that are created by white (and often male) writers. Denise is a thirty-something, masculine-of-center, black lesbian who exists in the Master Of None universe as a multidimensional human with dreams and a future and a past; as opposed to say, the lesbian character in Dear White People who serves only as a fuck toy and moral barometer for the straight male hero.
As someone who strongly identifies with Wapnick’s multipotentialite philosophy (and yet is riddled with anxiety that I’m supposed to “pick a thing and stick with it” and that maybe folks think I’m flaky because I get bored easily), I devoured her hard-won advice.
Be The Change: Totally Rocking Small Group Breakouts
Tips for Organizing Small Group Breakouts
- Designate a facilitator: Identify a facilitator to work with each breakout group. You can assign this role or have the group pick a facilitator. The facilitator’s job is to keep the discussion moving forward, not to dominate the discussion.
- Have a visual aid: Encourage people to take notes on chart paper or on a handout or encourage the group to complete a hands-on activity together.
