First of all, if you haven’t seen Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s 99th episode, then STOP RIGHT NOW, there’s spoilers coming. It’s called ‘99‘. It features some major character development for your fave emotionally closed off detective. Go watch it on SBS On Demand right the hell now.
Okay, still here? Good. Because Stephanie Beatriz‘s character Rosa Diaz came out as bisexual and it’s just so freaking great.
The episode featured Rosa coming out as bisexual to Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), after he pressed her about her dating life post-Adrian Pimento (Jason Mantzoukas).
Charles catches her on the phone talking to a woman and asks who’s she’s talking to.
“I’m dating a woman,” she says. “I’m bi.”
Executive producer Dan Goor told Variety that it was inspired by the fact that Beatriz herself recently came out as bi.
Beatriz – who said she was involved in the storyline – said that she wanted to portray a positive bi character for young queer kids to identify with. Spoiler: there will be no “phase” or “picking a side” bullshit around here.
She said:
“I was so excited about it because as somebody who identifies as bi — queer — I just had nothing like that when I was growing up. The gay characters I can remember were most often stereotypes. Even a show like Friends, you watch back, and you’re like, ‘Ooh, I can’t believe that’s the choice they made.’ And as someone who’s bi, you have absolutely nothing — no representation at all. And to be able to try to do something like that on our show and have a character come out as bi was really important for me.”
“If a kid that’s bi is watching TV and doesn’t really see anyone that identifies as bi or queer that is in a happy, functioning relationship, that has a good job, that lives past a 3-episode guest star arc — or maybe the bi character is hypersexualised or possibly a villain, [which] happens a lot — what does that mean for a 12, 13-year-old watching television and consuming media, and thinking, ‘Well who am I then? I guess I’m not this thing because I’m not a villain, I don’t want to be hypersexualised, I want what everybody wants, to live happy and well.”
Just the fact that Rosa said the words “I’m bi” is freaking huge on television, where bisexuality has suffered from outdated stereotypes even as positive representations of other sexualities have moved forward.
People are crying happy tears over this new development, and for Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s commitment to telling stories in such a positive way.
https://twitter.com/beckiwittman/status/938239007074512897
@iamstephbeatz I LOVE YO U SO MUCH I’M GENUINELY CRYING. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU STEPH. I LOVE ROSA. #Brooklyn99
— hannah (@bisxualrosadiaz) December 6, 2017
The 99th episode of #Brooklyn99 was perfect
— hands, knees, please, tangerine (@empress_seulgi_) December 6, 2017
Tonight’s #Brooklyn99 is one of the best episode of the series.
— Cyclops Was Right (@Haunt1013) December 6, 2017
thank you guys for rosa saying the word bi, i mean it
— no mercy percy 🏴☠️ (@chaotic_rogue) December 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/amysantaigo/status/938242681632849922
https://twitter.com/amysantaigo/status/938238856905854976
Me: #Brooklyn99 can not get any better. Healthy relationships, no jokes that target marginalized communities, great POC & LGBT+ rep. How can they top that?
Rosa: I’m dating a woman. I’m bi.
Me: It got better.
— perco 🏳️⚧️ (@prettyboy_percy) December 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/lgbtdaniela/status/938238633848590337
the #brooklyn99 fandom right now: pic.twitter.com/pVi2UqVx2R
— hannah (@bisxualrosadiaz) December 6, 2017
YALL WE FOUND OUT ROSA IS BI ON THE BIRTHDAY OF THE BI PRIDE FLAG CAN YOU BELIEVE #Brooklyn99 pic.twitter.com/aBxMlaZDhD
— olivia (@lilac_howell) December 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/merae2888/status/938238966368792576
ROSA ACTUALLY SAID THE WORD “BI” ON PRIMETIME TELEVISION AND SHE’S DATING A WOMAN AND THAT WOMAN CALLS HER “BABE” AND I’M CRYING #Brooklyn99 pic.twitter.com/CqsX8zhjXK
— Rachel (@BendItLikeTobin) December 6, 2017
Okay, we’re WAITING over here for Stephanie Beatriz’s reaction to the fan reaction, but it looks like she’s pretty excited, too. Here’s what she said literally one day ago:
I just think maybe you should do this Tuesday because I selfishly would love to see your reactions #brooklyn99 https://t.co/fIinAmwE8d
— Stephanie Beatriz (@iamstephbeatz) December 3, 2017
After the episode aired, the official Brooklyn Nine-Nine Twitter account posted this:
Be proud. 🏳 🌈 #BiVisibility #Brooklyn99 pic.twitter.com/qwMCByvnst
— Brooklyn Nine-Nine (@brooklyn99) December 6, 2017
WE’RE NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING. Actually, screw it, we’re all crying. This is just so great.
UPDATE: Stephanie Beatriz has responded and it’s so damn cute.
Thank you all for loving this character so much. Thank you @djgoor for being an incredible boss. Thank you for 99 episodes with an incredible cast and crew. IM SO HAPPY AND GRATEFUL #RepresentationMatters https://t.co/uFrhTqersI
— Stephanie Beatriz (@iamstephbeatz) December 6, 2017
