While scrolling on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, you’ve probably come across at least one person talking about the latest gay media or joking about the genre in a positive light. LGBTQ+ media has been banned and discriminated against through censorship in movies, books, comics, and much more; however, in the last couple of months, this genre is now celebrated and loved among many, even among straight people… so what could have driven its sudden rise in popularity?
Specifically, the popularity of gay representation through comics and animation has become more prominent within the last few months. Gay representation in the form of Japanese animation or comic media “yuri” and “yaoi” have gained the interest and attention of many, typically among those of members of the LGBTQ+ community or teenagers.
Yaoi follows gay romantic or sexual relationships, while yuri focuses on lesbian ones. These specific sub-genres can come off as rather perverse at times due to explicit content within some stories—one of the reasons why they have become popular. However, most yuri and yaoi don’t have to be perverse in order to appeal to its audience; they can instead be put into categories such as slow-burn, a slow yet sweet story between two people, or heartbreak, a plotline that follows a tragic end.
All yuri and yaoi stories are available for people to read online on sites such as Mangadex, thus increasing the availability of the sub-genre. The visual representation and style of these stories allowed for the genre itself to become more popularized; the fact that people are able to witness human relations with some sort of artistic flair draws readers to the story and its characters.
The variety of stories do not just cater to sexuality-based topics, but gender identity as well.
For example, the animated adaptation of manga artist Tatsuki Fujimoto’s “17-26,” which was released on Nov. 8, 2025 follows the one-chapter mangas he made from ages 17 to 26.
The episode “Turned into a Girl Syndrome” focuses on the main character Toshihide who, evidently, wakes up as a girl and cannot return back to his original gender no matter his attempts. The audience can witness his newfound experiences in girlhood, the new dynamics of the relationships with the people he knew, and the internal conflicts he goes through.
Toshihide’s journey to self-discovery is not a lonesome one, as he is accompanied by his friends who still perceive him as what he truly is: a man. His desire to be seen as a boy, despite the way he looks and sounds, is met and followed because of them.
The story parallels and encapsulates the experiences that transgender people endure: transphobia, harassment, and fetishization, but also other aspects such as acceptance and love. Transgender people (and those under the transgender umbrella) have to deal with the troubles of not being understood by others, thus leading to alienation.
Perhaps the most prominent reason for both LGBTQ+ and gender identity media’s sudden surge of popularity is due to the fact that they both empower and give voice to its audience; those who may have been affected by or have experienced homophobia or transphobia are able to have their stories told.
Gay media’s newfound prominence enables for people’s experiences to be represented, understood, and shared among its audiences. These stories allow for freedom of self-expression, the exploration of one’s identity, and a better comprehension of the social struggles that individuals experience.
