Discovering Thai GL: A Game-Changer for Queer Representation in Media

Curiosity led me down the Thai GL rabbit hole, and what I discovered changed my perspective on queer media.

As a queer Filipina living in Spain, my cultural influences have been shaped by a mix of perspectives. Though I studied in the Philippines, our education system follows a U.S. curriculum, which means much of the media I consumed growing up—movies, TV shows, and pop culture—was deeply rooted in Western narratives.

I’ve always been drawn to representation in media, especially as a queer woman. Western content like The L Word, Dickinson, and various Netflix lesbian films offered glimpses of queer love, but many of these stories revolved around coming out struggles or tragic endings. I craved more diverse and hopeful narratives.

One night in 2023, I was scrolling through YouTube, searching for “lesbian series Asian.” At the time, I wasn’t familiar with terms like WLW (Women Loving Women) or GL (Girls Love). I kept seeing recommendations for “FreenBecky” but had no idea who they were. Curiosity led me down the Thai GL rabbit hole, and what I discovered changed my perspective on queer media.

FreenBecky—short for Freen Sarocha and Becky Armstrong—are the first major Thai GL couple, rising to fame through GAP: The Series, which is based on a novel by Chao Planoy. Unlike many queer love stories I had seen before, GAP gave its protagonists a happy ending—they got married despite the challenges they faced. Seeing Southeast Asian representation of two women openly loving each other on-screen felt groundbreaking.

The success of GAP opened doors for more Thai GL productions. Major networks like GMMTV took notice and launched their first high school GL series, 23.5. Unlike Western media, where WLW representation is often niche or sidelined, Thai GL normalizes queer relationships. These series not only center women in love but also include a range of identities, from masc-presenting characters to trans representation—though lead roles are still predominantly femme-femme pairings.

This made me wonder and so I went to look into it and found this interesting paper written by Eva Cheuk-Yin Li & Ka-Wei Pang (29 Nov 2024): Queer Media from the Global South: The Emerging Girls Love (GL) Media Industry of Southeast Asia, Feminist.

In this paper they argued that

For years, Thai BL (Boys’ Love) dominated the LGBTQ+ media scene in Thailand, with over 200 BL series produced by mid-2024. Meanwhile, the first full-length Thai GL series, GAP, only premiered in 2022 .

So, why did it take so long for Thai GL to emerge? The answer lies in market demand and gender inequality in media production. Unlike BL, which is primarily created for and consumed by heterosexual women, Thai GL has an audience predominantly made up of queer women (around 80%) . This difference in audience means GL content has historically been overlooked by major studios, as its commercial viability was uncertain.

However, the success of GAP changed everything. Freen Sarocha and Becky Armstrong, the stars of GAP, became the first major Thai GL pairing, drawing a massive fanbase across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and beyond. Their on-screen romance—which had a happy ending (they got married!)—was groundbreaking for Southeast Asian queer representation .

What makes Thai GL so refreshing is how it normalizes queer relationships, unlike many Western WLW films and shows that focus on trauma, struggle, or tragic endings. In fact, every Thai GL series so far has featured a happy ending—something rare in mainstream queer media .

These stories also avoid the stereotypical butch/femme dynamic that many Western WLW films rely on. However, there is still a gap in butch and non-binary representation, as Thai GL predominantly features femme-femme couples.

Following the BL Model: A Smart Marketing Strategy

Because the Thai BL industry is so well-established, the emerging GL industry has borrowed some of its marketing strategies. Just like BL actors, GL actresses are “shipped” as real-life couples and appear together in TV shows, brand endorsements, and fan events .

Even major networks like GMMTV only started investing in GL after seeing the success of GAP, proving that the industry still faces hurdles in gaining mainstream support .

Source: Eva Cheuk-Yin Li & Ka-Wei Pang (29 Nov 2024): Queer Media from the Global South: The Emerging Girls Love (GL) Media Industry of Southeast Asia, Feminist Media Studies, DOI: 10.1080/14680777.2024.2433564

The growing popularity of Thai GL shows how much representation matters. Fans from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, and even Latin America have flocked to these series because they provide something that was missing—WLW stories where we exist, thrive, and love freely .

Beyond entertainment, the rise of Thai GL is also a political, cultural and economic force. The Thai government has even begun recognizing GL (alongside BL) as a valuable cultural export, incorporating it into Thailand’s global soft power strategy

Thai GL is still in its early stages, and there’s a need for more investment, diverse representation, and visibility. However, its rapid growth is a sign that change is happening. It’s not just about entertainment—it’s about seeing ourselves in media, feeling validated, and knowing that queer love stories deserve to be told in full, without tragedy or erasure.

I hope the success of Thai GL encourages other countries to embrace queer storytelling, not just as a niche genre, but as a powerful cultural and economic force. Because when we show up in media, we show up in the world. 🌈

Cheers,
thebrownmuffin 🧁