Comic-Con 2020: LGBTQ+ panel leaves fans in tears as J August Richards talks about coming out
In a path-breaking move, Comic-Con 2020 had an LGBTQ+ panel where the discussion involved stars who played LGBTQ+ characters on television. The panelists included Jamie Chung ('Once Upon A Time'), Jamie Clayton ('Roswell: New Mexico'), Wilson Cruz ('Star Trek: Discovery'), Tatiana Maslany ('Perry Mason'), Anthony Rapp ('Star Trek: Discovery'), J August Richards ('Council of Dads'), Harry Shum Jr ('Shadowhunters') and Brian Michael Smith ('9-1-1: Lone Star').
It was an empowering discussion and many actors emphasized on how they wanted the storylines to be taken seriously and not something to be just kept at the periphery. Harry Shum Jr from 'Shadowhunters' talked about Magnus and Alec's relationship from the show and said, "What was important for a lot of people was the relationship for my character, Magnus, and Alec, and making sure that that is not watered down, that it's not taken to a place where it's just TV friendly."
Meanwhile, J August Richards from 'Council Of Dads' said that he wanted to resist the constant and systemic oppression. "I want to fight oppression with my work... I feel like my work is this conversation about Black male humanity," he noted. He also added how coming out this year was a part of really living in his own humanity and truth and how it empowered him to do the work of combating oppression. Chung, who played Mulan in 'Once Upon A Time', said that her relationship with Aurora felt "light and fluid". Jamie Clayton talked about how she feels alone and isolated and she wants to see trans-characters in more non-binary roles, rather than just talking about their gender.
However, others felt uncertain of portraying such characters on screen. Jamie Clayton who played Noma on 'Sense8' confessed she was afraid people would be turned off of Sense8 because she played a trans lesbian with a WOC girlfriend.
Fans are in tears after watching this panel and hailed it as a powerful and relevant discussion. "Just finished watching the Panel. It was amazing and REALLY IMPORTANT," one noted. "That was an amazing and awesome discussion about #LGBTQ representation on television," tweeted another.
Some tweeted to August Richards and wrote, "@jaugustrichardsI'm watching the 'LGBTQ Characters on Television' panel, I've just 'met' you for the first time, and I burst into tears when you talked about coming out because of your role on Council Of Dads - you make me feel so proud, and I am so grateful to you #SDCCAtHome2020," a fan tweeted. "'It's really hard to legislate against someone you relate to' - Brian Michael Smith on the importance of 'mainstream' lgbtq representation #RepresentationMatters #SDCCAtHome20," tweeted another.