Film critics play an integral role in shaping our culture through the titles they celebrate and critique, champion and challenge. Individually, critics have immense responsibility and power over how we see ourselves and each other. They frame our understanding and fuel awareness of the movies and television around us. Critics’ expertise and their place in the industry is so important, because they facilitate conversations about how stories reflect or change our culture and collective consciousness.

Critics, much like the titles they review, shape our understanding of what is fair, accurate, and worthy of our attention. This is ever more true when marginalized groups are targeted by misinformation and misrepresentation.

Moderator Alex Schmider (Senior Director of Entertainment at GLAAD) was joined at SXSW for a conversation by LGBTQ+ critics and journalists who deeply understand their role as informed cultural framers: