The following post contains spoilers for the fifth season of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."
This is a thank you letter to Rosa Diaz and the writers of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." This show has been toted as a benchmark show for many reasons. The cast of this show is highly diverse, something that is still rare in television. Two of the leading ladies are Latino, the Captain is a black gay man that doesn't stick to stereotypes, the Sergeant is another black man that is ripped, but isn't afraid to show his softness. But this is not an article about the diversity of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," but is about one character.
Rosa Diaz is played by actress Stephanie Beatriz, who is openly bisexual and has been since 2016. Earlier this month, the character, Rosa Diaz, came out as bisexual to her coworker Boyle. It wasn't, however, until the next week that Rosa came out to the rest of her coworkers and her parents. This episode is one that almost every bisexual woman can relate to.
Rosa came out to her parents at dinner one night, much to their distaste. Later in the week, she and her friend went to game night with her parents. While playing Pictionary, Rosa pulls the card "wedding." She proceeds to draw two girls holding hands with multiple hearts above their heads. Her mother, who is guessing, guesses "sisters," "friends," "co-owners of a chocolate shop," and eve "George Clooney" before Rosa finally breaks and tells her that it was a wedding, with two brides.
This is the first time I have seen an accurate representation of my own sexuality on television. Being bisexual is not who Rosa is, but a part of her. Her sexuality is not oversexualized or used to put her in overly explicit scenes.
This episode also covers how hard it is for parents, and other people, to understand that someone is bisexual. Many people think that it is a phase or that it is more acceptable than being gay because there is still the chance of you "getting married to a man and having children." She refuses to roll over and take the easy way out and instead, fights back and defends her sexuality to her parents.
I cannot stress how important it is to have accurate representation, especially for younger viewers who are still struggling with their sexuality. Shows like "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" that show how someone can be part of the LGBT community without it being the only part of them are important shows that need to be recognized and that other shows need to take notes from.
So, this is for you Rosa Diaz, Stephanie Beatriz, and all the writers that made it possible, thank you, form a young bisexual girl.
