LGBTQIA+ Representation As It Should Be: Normalised
Vampire Academy features two openly gay couples: one is part of the main cast ensemble and is formed of Mia, a Moroi, and Meredith, a dhampir. It therefore also overlaps with the question of social class and of interracial relationships. The second couple also features important intersectionality as it is composed of Victor, a main character with a complex personality and important political power as a Royal, and Robert, a secondary character who also happens to be non-royal. Not only are these two politicians married, but they are also the adopted parents of two daughters, Sonya and Mia. Another lesbian couple is also mentioned in passing during the show, with no fuss.
The show does not grandstand. Vampire Academy makes a poignant point by normalizing lgbtqia relationships. It includes these relationships as they should be — as representations of the world in which we live. It shows them as they are in a way that represents the world, and its people, as they are in real life.
The beauty of the representation of LGBTQIA+ couples and people in Vampire Academy is how utterly normalized they are. There is never a discussion about their sexualities or a coming-out (not that there is anything wrong with that, but it is refreshing for someone’s sexual identity to not be their entire personality in media). Their homosexuality is not an obstacle in their social relationships, political endeavors, or professional opportunities. They are embraced and welcomed by their peers. There is much more of a focus on their difference in class than on their sexual orientation.
The show allows also for a wide variety of headcanons; coding Rose, the main character, as potentially bisexual (as she is seen very enthusiastically dancing with a girl in episode 7), using bisexual colours repeatedly around the main couple, and leaving the sexual orientation of many characters up to people’s imagination. This, in particular, has led to many a fun headcanon by the fandom, such as RoseMere (Rose and Meredith), EddiSon (Eddie and Mason) or Yasmine and Alberta which in turn has allowed for a plethora of queer fan content.
The presence of so many prominent queer characters and relationships in the show and of many openly queer cast members has fostered a warm & welcoming LGBTQIA+ community within the fandom and has been a support for many of its members to be more outspoken regarding their identities and the issues and challenges surrounding this topic. We were also proud to have our Mermia cast members, Rhian Blundell and Mia Mckenna-Bruce, win together the Reader’s Choice “Performer of the month” award by SpoilerTV in September 2022 thanks to fandom efforts to ensure a tie, and then nominated for the Reader’s Choice “Performer of the year” award for 2022 overall.
We now hope that a second season of the show will allow the established relationships and characters to be explored more deeply, enable the introduction of a wider range of LGBTQIA+ characters, and reach a wider audience so they can, too, enjoy the support of the online queer community that has gathered around Vampire Academy.
Written by Lena Mauveaux, Campaign Manager for Save Vampire Academy. Lena lives in France where she works as a translator. She’s part of the LGBTQIA+ community and a long-time fan of the Vampire Academy universe.