Queer Creativity

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reativity

NU alum Lindz Amer ’14 on queer representation in children’s media

Written by Haley Fuller / Designed by Jacob Fulton

During their time at Northwestern, Lindz Amer (Communication ’14) was not a vided the background for “Queer Kid Stuff.” For the practical part of the thesis, Amer directed Purple Crayon Players’ perschool on the tour, and the school canceled the show. Despite the disappointment and frustration that came with the cancelation of Amer completed a Master’s in performance studies in the U.K. They watched YouTube when they got homesick, and determined that the platform “StuCo hotshot.” formance of “The Transition a performance, students at could be the perfect place for

They weren’t cast in shows, of Doodle Pequeño,” a chil- an Evanston middle school an educational show. After didn’t get into the playwrit- dren’s play that delves into did see the performance, filming the pilot, the show ing sequence and didn’t have gender identity, homophobia Amer said. The administra- gained popularity and went a reputation for being one and immigration, as well as tors there were supportive on to span over 50 episodes. of the stars of the theater friendship and individuality. and told students that paying The show was then turned department. The play opened in Nor- attention to the play was into a live performance that Seven years later, the non- ris University Center and important. Although it was toured around the country. binary alum is coming off of was later performed at an a difficult experience and After reaching stasis on a four-season run of “Queer Evanston elementary school. required a lot of resilience, it YouTube and co-filing a law-

Kid Stuff,” a webseries for After doing a workshop with lit a fire under Amer. suit against the platform for kids centered around queer the students in the audience “It discriminanarratives that became a 2018 to prepare them for the ideas was really tion against

Webby honoree. Episodes in the show, the principal interest- LGBTQ+ cretouch on topics from what rushed down the aisle toward ing to ators, Amer it means to be gay to mental Amer. come into has started health, privilege and pride. “We were in full view of contact to move Amer’s senior thesis work the audience, and she was with that toward other at Northwestern, asking me if we were promot- controver- platforms. centered on queer ing cross dressing and all this sy at the They’ve representation stuff. And I was just like, ‘can very start been working in children’s we pause this conversation of my ca- on creating theatre, until after the show is over?’” reer, and I educational pro- they said. had a very resources and The principal backed intense a family podoff and let them finish, but emotional cast called afterward she had a tense reaction “Activist, conversation with when You!” that Amer. Afterwards, that was explains the principal happening,” they said. “ It was different social justice movecalled the this work that I was trying to ments through interviews next understand and starting to with youth activists. Still in embark upon for the rest of the works are a book proposal my career.” based on Amer’s 2019 TED “Queer Kid Stuff” started Talk on the importance of exjust a couple years later, after posing children to LGBTQ+

narratives at a young age, a full-length screenplay and a few pilots of a live-action show for preschoolers inspired by characters from the original web series.

“I’ve been working on getting back to craft, trying to break into more mainstream work and try and make more queer, trans, nonbinary narratives in children’s media through the big guys,” they said. “I’ve also been trying to figure out what the larger business of it is because we still have an audience that’s not being served.”

Communication Prof. David Catlin was Amer’s theater professor for a few years and saw them grow throughout college. He still remembers their ability to transport the entire class to Denmark while they performed the ghost scene in “Hamlet.” Catlin said he always knew that Amer’s work would make the world better and challenge the status quo.

“What I admire about Lindz is that they found a way to take something that is deeply important to who they are and they have taken the idea of stories and storytelling, and they have put their energy and their heart into making something that makes the world better, that helps people identify who they are, and destigmatizes and centers queer narratives, but does so at that really important early age,” he said.

Kyra Jones, the assistant director of sexual violence response services and advocacy at CARE, appeared on an episode of “Queer Kid Stuff” that focused on race,. She said she loved contributing to social justice education for kids, especially on topics that even give some adults trouble.

Jones met Amer in their freshman year and took TYA courses together. Jones said they have only gotten closer since graduation, Jones said. She said it’s been inspiring to see Amer continuously pushing for queer representation in children’s media over the past seven years, even when it’s been tough.

Jones appeared on an episode of “Queer Kid Stuff” that focused on race, and said she loved contributing to social justice education for kids, especially on topics that even give some adults trouble. She said it’s been inspiring to see Amer continuously pushing for queer representation in children’s media over the past seven years, even when it’s been tough.

Amer is determined to continue their work, especially as children’s media is slow to evolve and take up new topics, especially those surrounding representation and diversity.

“I think people are generally excited, but wary,” they said. “Things are definitely moving forward, so it’s exciting to see that all happen, but it’s also kind of like, ‘Let’s go, I’ve been doing this for a little while.’” ◊