Building Trust While Telling Queer Stories

As a queer DP, it is hard to find the words to describe what it means to me to work on projects like Queer Sex Ed. As a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I grew up not being able to find myself represented in any form of art, music, literature and society in general until recently. We grew up not being able to put words to who we are, were not always accepted by our families, were afraid of being ourselves—not knowing what ‘being ourselves' even meant.

For me, being able to use my art and skills to create content like Queer Sex Ed that is accessible to anyone in the world, that educates, represents, and empowers… I know all too well it is not just entertainment, it is a matter of life and death. This type of content saves lives. Younger me needed this content so much. I am so happy that I can work on providing it for the next generation of queer youth.

I appreciate production companies like Cowboy Bear Ninja that understand the value of having representation on both sides of the camera. As a DP, I have noticed that when the people in front of the camera realize there is someone like them behind the camera, a sense of trust, understanding, and–hence–authenticity, is created. People feel secure and know that their images, stories, struggles, and humanity will be seen, understood and respected. And that is a win-win situation for everyone. The end product will be authentic and more powerful in many senses.

The best way to help the LGBTQ+ community is by hiring us! There are a lot of queer crew working in the industry–many more than people expect or imagine. I know people are proud to create projects about underrepresented or underserved communities in general because it provides a sense of doing something good. But to make it even better, make sure to hire queer crew. Give us a salary that makes us financially independent. Provide more work experience so that we grow as professionals, and so we can intentionally and surely close the inequality gap in this industry.

A huge thank you to the CBN team for the love, for hiring us, and for making sure projects like Queer Sex Ed are done with ethics, quality, and representation. Congrats on the two Webby Awards because they are very much deserved! Happy Pride to you all. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

-Charlotte Dupré
charlottedupre.com

‍