Dan Levy has a message for Hollywood: stop acting surprised when queer stories succeed.
The Schitt’s Creek creator was honored at the Critics Choice Association’s third annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television in Los Angeles, where he reflected on why queer creators still face an uphill battle when trying to get projects made (Hollywood Reporter).
Levy was recognized alongside fellow LGBTQ+ stars and creators including Hannah Einbinder, Noah Schnapp, Jane Lynch and Heated Rivalry creator Jacob Tierney.
During his speech, Levy spoke about a challenge many queer creators know all too well.
The feeling that every project must carry the weight of proving that LGBTQ+ stories deserve to exist.
“Imagine the bliss of making something,” Levy said, “knowing that there are so many queer stories being told that we can simply create for entertainment’s sake, or better yet, fail and be given a second chance.”
It was a powerful observation.
Mainstream Hollywood has become more willing to embrace LGBTQ+ stories in recent years, but queer projects are often still treated as exceptions rather than part of the normal entertainment landscape.
That means creators frequently feel pressure to succeed not only for themselves, but for everyone who comes after them.
Levy pointed to two recent examples that challenge the industry’s assumptions: Schitt’s Creek and Heated Rivalry.
Both became major successes.
Both built passionate fan communities.
And both, according to Levy, exist because Canadian companies saw their potential before Hollywood did.
“Those are two shows that only exist because Canada saw value in them first,” Levy said.
His point was not that Hollywood needs more shows exactly like those two.
It was that executives continue to underestimate the audience for queer stories until those stories become impossible to ignore.
Afterward, the same industry often rushes to replicate the success.
Levy argued that the real lesson is much simpler.
Invest in queer creators.
Trust queer storytellers.
Give LGBTQ+ projects the same opportunities that countless other creators receive every year.
The success of Schitt’s Creek offers a compelling example.
What began as a modest Canadian comedy became a global phenomenon and eventually swept the Emmy Awards.
Its portrayal of David and Patrick’s relationship was celebrated for showing queer love without making homophobia the central conflict.
More recently, Heated Rivalry has become one of the most talked-about queer television series of the year, proving once again that audiences are eager for authentic LGBTQ+ stories.
For Levy, these successes are not anomalies.
They are evidence.
Evidence that queer stories are not niche.
Evidence that LGBTQ+ audiences are hungry for representation.
And evidence that the entertainment industry still leaves money on the table when it overlooks queer voices.
As Pride Month begins, Levy’s message feels especially timely.
The question is no longer whether audiences want LGBTQ+ stories.
The question is how many more success stories Hollywood will need before it finally stops being surprised by them.
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