Represented

The Prompt

In honor of National Coming Out Day on October 11th, we’re spotlighting the role representation plays in the journey toward self-acceptance and visibility. For many, seeing positive queer representation can provide the courage and affirmation to embrace their true selves.

Representation can be a powerful mirror that helps us see ourselves more clearly. For the LGBTQ+ community, finding authentic depictions in media, pop culture, or literature can be transformative. Whether it’s a character in a TV show, a scene in a movie, a figure in history, or a moment in literature, share how seeing someone like you made you feel seen and validated. How did this representation influence your identity or how you navigate the world?

For allies and non-queer creators, please reflect on a moment when you witnessed queer representation that helped you better understand or empathize with the LGBTQ+ experience. How did this shape your perspective, change your beliefs, or inspire you to be more supportive of queer people in your life?

This challenge aims to highlight the importance of diverse, authentic representation and its profound impact on identity and understanding. To honor the diversity of this experience, you may use any written form (poetry, prose, etc.).

In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:

• Submitted to Pride community. Choosing a community is a final step in the submission process. Your poem may be rejected for word count requirements if it is submitted to any other community.

The Prizes

• Grand Prize: $500
• Second Place: $200
• 10 Runners-Up: $20

Special shout-out to Savannah K. Wilson, Oneg in the Arctic, J. Delaney-Howe, and Queer Vocal Voices for inspiring this challenge idea in Share Your Ideas to Shape the Future of Vocal Challenges.

For your poem to be eligible, it should adhere to our Community Guidelines. Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until 11:59 PM ET on October 11, 2024 will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Represented Challenge is open to all Vocal members.

To be eligible to win the grand prize, second place, or runners-up prizes, you must be over the age of 13 and residing in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need to have a Stripe account created and connected in order to receive the prizes. For this reason, entrants located outside of any of these countries will not be eligible to win.

Any content that is determined to be generated by artificial intelligence will be disqualified and will not be eligible to place in any challenge. Read more on our stance here.