Dan Levy is getting some major recognition from the LGBTQ rights advocacy organization, Human Rights Campaign.
Levy is set to receive the 2020 HRC Visibility Award for the work he’s done with Schitt’s Creek, both on and off the show.
There’s no doubt that Levy deserves this honor. Not only has he helped create a show that is currently up to six seasons (a major feat in itself), but he’s also created a world in which diversity and love in all of its forms are celebrated.
The fictional setting of Schitt’s Creek is purposely one that is devoid of prejudices, one where pansexual, bisexual, and gay characters are received with warmth and acceptance. In this world, we see same-sex couples like Patrick and David kiss and share affection just as openly as we would with any straight couple on TV. It’s this kind of representation that has actually helped stop homophobia in its tracks, according to Schitt’s Creek co-creator and star (and Dan’s father!), Eugene Levy.
And Dan Levy knows just how important it is to portray this kind of acceptance on television. He previously told Pride,
“As humans, we learn through osmosis. The more we see, the more we learn. By depicting a world where love between two people can only result in more love, I’m hoping to help change the conversation in people’s homes surrounding queer love.”
While a television comedy may not seem revolutionary at first glance, media studies have shown the importance of positive queer representation in actively changing people’s minds about LGBTQ rights. TV and related media have been proven to increase a viewer’s emotional intelligence by expanding their sense of empathy when they see stories about lives and experiences outside of their own.
Like other popular queer shows, Schitt’s Creek gives straight audiences a genuine reflection of the LGBTQ+ community, allowing them to engage in queer characters’ lives and romantic stories on an intimate basis.
Dan Levy is certainly a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community and it’s a pleasure to know that he will be honored for his advocacy work in media.
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