As A First Nations Queer Woman, Brooke Blurton As The Bachelorette Hits Different For Me

Brooke Blurton
Contributor: Allira Potter

Let me begin by screaming a big fat “fuck yes” at Channel Ten for leading the way and being (somewhat) progressive. Finally, we have the representation we need to see. I say “we” as a collective because I fall into two categories, one being a First Nations woman and secondly being a queer woman. When Brooke Blurton got announced as this year’s Bachelorette yesterday, I think both minority groups lost it. Lost it in a really positive, wholesome way, knowing that she is really leading the way for us.

Brooke is doing that by being a representation for the Aboriginal community, because when was the last time we saw — oh wait, there has never been a last time, because we really never see people of colour on our reality TV screens and if we do, it’s for a hot min.

The most exciting part of The Bachelorette this year is the fact that Brooke identifies as pansexual which means she’s pretty open to energy rather than a gender-based relationship. So heck yes, we will see men and women vie for B’s heart this season.

It’s all amazing, but it makes you think “dude, why has it taken so long?” It’s a great question, and I really haven’t got the answer. But I do think a shitty pandemic which made us slow right down and be a touch more present with our TVs (who didn’t spend most of 2020 bingeing something?) and the Blak Lives Matter movement really got the conversation going around: Why isn’t there diversity and inclusion on our screens?

https://www.instagram.com/p/COTm6vBDaXD/

Year after year, we have seen the same rotation of humans on The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise and look, I am here for some of it. But as a First Nations queer woman, I need to see more realness on our screens rather than the stock-standard blonde-haired beauties and hot washboard honeys they keep throwing at us.

Channel Ten has made a bold move, a pretty progressive move, and one that I think the public have been wanting for for a really long time. Let’s not forget the backlash when Brooke Blurton wasn’t cast last year.

It’s a really important role Channel Ten are playing in showing us that diversity is 100% needed and wanted on TV, but we need far more inclusion than what we already have at the moment. It’s been years too long that our screens have been filled with whiteness, but times are changing.

As a queer woman myself, my social media has come alive with a sea of rainbow flags and praise over Brooke Blurton being the queer community representation we wanted to see.

I think having a queer narrative anchoring the show is a game changer, as it will open up the conversation for our LGBTQIA++ community — no doubt we are going to see a vast range of beautiful queer womxn who will all have really unique stories that will be shared on national TV.

I just want to scream that finally we are seeing small changes for bigger impacts, and those bigger impacts are going to be the ones that sit firm with our younger generations to show that its okay to look a certain way, have different skin colour and be open about your sexuality without having to potentially question if its “normal” or not.

So while we’re on a roll, Love Island 2021 producers: hit me up?

Allira Potter is a proud Yorta Yorta woman, energetic healer, psychic and spiritual coach who also writes, models and ~manifests~. You can follow her on Instagram HERE

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