Happy Pride month! I also have a question for you all!

[yoboketto]

Happy Pride Month everyone!

Due to the nature of this month, and me having finished reading “Heartstopper”, I grew inspired and curious!

What do you wish to see more of in Webtoons, Novels, TV Shows, and Movies that include an LGBTQ relationship? And what do you want creators to stop including?

For me, I was amazed with the “Heartstopper” Webtoon! The relationship and characters felt so life like! Dealing with real world issues without the added drama. There’s no female side character that wants to ruin the boys relationship. There isn’t random people calling them a slur redundantly. And when important topics like mental illness, family issues, and accepting oneself comes up, the author goes about it in a way that also educates the reader! “Heartstopper” was a truly amazing read and I hope to find for more stories like it!

Tell me your thoughts!

[hakei]

For TV/Movies in the Western world, I'd like for more LGBT+ characters who are also of different ethnicities. Often times the queer characters are often of European descent. I can barely count the amount of LGBT+ Asian people I've seen on mainstream screen.

For TV/Movies in the East Asian world, for the producers to just acknowledge that LGBT+ people exist would be nice BL/GL is usually the only place where we can see ourselves, but being able to see ourselves casually existing in mainstream screens would be nice. I have high respects for Hong Seok-Cheon for being openly gay on variety shows, despite all the terrible stuff he went through when he was outed.

Anyway, you should also check out Kamatani Yuhki's Our Dreams at Dusk series! The story covers variety of LGBT identities, coming to accept oneself, and what it's like to be LGBT in Japanese society. The manga is visually beautiful and Kamatani's usage of camera angles and metaphors is really nice. There's four or five manga volumes, if I remember.

[bulgariansumo]

Seconded for Our Dreams at Dusk/Shimanami Tasogare! Phenomenal manga. I'm so glad it's getting more popular! Jumping off of that recommendation, this isn't so much of a "it's bad that other media does this" and more about my own personal tastes. It's very difficult for me to get interested in romance, so while I am happy that there's more media being made that focuses on LGBT+ romance, I'd like to see more media that focuses on other aspects of being LGBT+ like transitioning, finding community with other LGBT+ folk (which is part of the reason why I love Our Dreams at Dusk so much), stuff featuring already together couples (another reason I like Our Dreams at Dusk!), etc..

I don't know if it's been completed yet, but I also recommend the manga Kanojou ni Naritai Kimi to Boku. I feel like it has similar vibes to Our Dreams at Dusk. It's about two girls, one cis, one trans, childhood friends trying to navigate the issues that arise when the trans girl socially transitions at school. The cis girl also starts falling for her friend and tries to figure out that and other aspects of her identity. It's very sweet and over the course of the manga there's a wide variety of other LGBT+ characters.

[NickRowler]

I would like to see more LGBTQ characters in shows and movies and in plots that aren't around coming out or transitioning. I felt a bit underwhelmed by Heartstopper show because I wish there was another plot going on.

I would also like to see more older queer characters, not just teens or college kids. And more queer parents that aren't just background characters. I see people will praise a kids show for having a character have two moms or dads, but the parents don't really do anything and only appear in like one or two scene.

[bulgariansumo]

I see people will praise a kids show for having a character have two moms or dads, but the parents don't really do anything and only appear in like one or two scene.

I notice that too. Like it's cool, but when they only show up in a scene or two, it feels more like window dressing.

[histo-shizuka]

I love seeing LGBTQ characters in stories you would see any heterosexual character in. I love when it's normalized. Yeah, I like a good coming out story, or one of struggles and hardship, but as a queer person myself, I enjoy seeing it normalized. I'll take a story about a queer doctor falling in love with their same-sex coworker without it being a big deal that they're gay. Of course, this is only my opinion.

Also, more diversity is always a plus.

Happy pride month!

[Aleksei]

Just come to say along with @hakei and @bulgariansumo that Our Dreams at Dusk/Shimanami Tasogare! is a great manga. Absolutely indispensable in any collection. n_n

[BoomerZ]

More stories where the characters personality is not "gay". I know professionals that are gay and they are interesting people with hobbies, interests, friends and the like. Their entire world does not revolve around being gay, they never go to gay bars, don't dress in ways to single them out as part of the culture. They just happen to like the same sex. They ride motorcycles, fish, hunt, etc. Oh and as a straight man, I have never been hit on by them, not once. They are friends. My point is if you have a straight friend that their entire life revolved around being straight and they announced it all the time, you would call them boring. I want the same curtesy extended to all characters.

[NickRowler]

So more leather daddies, got it.

[AmandaJ-art]

I would love it if shows didn't make their sexualities their whole personality. As if we aren't normal people...

Not to mention it would be awesome if we could get a show where they just don't get together in the end. Like in Alice Oseman's book - Loveless.

[Stargazer31]

I'd like to see more fantasy/action novels where the characters just happen to be LGBTQ+. Like, it's not the main plot point, it's just something that they are, and it's treated as being normal. I'd also like to see more historical or paranormal stories.

[GumshoeComix]

I prefer stories where it's not About them being lgbt but rather they just happen to be lgbt
like I know there's an audience for coming out stories, it's probably cathartic for some people especially since the characters are usually teens or in college, a wish-fulfillment I guess?
but we can't just have a hard sci-fi story where the main character is a buff gay dude with clouds buster sword or just some old guy that lives in nowheresville and dresses like a redneck but lives happily with his husband ad two dogs. (< I realized I just described my uncle)

They're almost always romance stories or coming out stories with the other characters still treating it as if it were alien to be lgbt, and unless you're writing a period piece before 2010ish or the side characters are asses I think it's better to normalize it in media cause media affects peoples perception of reality

Also a story where there's two gay dudes/gals who are just pals and have never ever thought of each other romantically would be cool. Again just my issue with media always portraying lgbt in a weird sexual way, when we're just people
I'm bi almost all my friends are lgbt and I don't think I could ever think of them like that.

[liaroger]

Hmmm some of the things I'd like to see are things I'm already seeing, so I'd say we're moving in a pretty good direction with webcomics - or at least a lot of LGBTQ+ creators are. I especially like that there are a lot more LGBTQ+ characters that just ARE, and their identity isn't a huge part of the story. Obviously stories about their specific struggles are important too, it's just that I like having some variety because stories with a different focus will do different things.

What I'd definitely like to see more of is more portrayals of LGBTQ+ characters beyond the L, G, B and binary T, and more varied portrayals of those identities. Not all nonbinary people look androgynous and use they/them pronouns for instance, or at least that's what I've heard a lot of NB people say, and it'd be nice to have some more varied representation.

And being on the aro spectrum and nonmonogamous, of course I feel particularly strongly strongly about this one, but more diverse relationships would be nice. (Lol big surprise that this is coming from me). Aro characters that aren't also ace, ace characters that aren't also aro, characters on the aro and/or ace spectrum that aren't innocent sweet little summer children, stoic and emotionless or completely disinterested in relationships and maybe even experience romantic or sexual attraction but differently. Because I can tell you it can be very different from how an allo person experiences it. But also aroace characters that are completely disinterested in this stuff, romance- and or sex-repulsed characters who don't just sit by and smile when they have to hear about someone's romance for too long, aplatonic characters, loveless characters that aren't evil psychopathic villains. Stories where romantic love doesn't make you good and doesn't save the day. Ambiguous, unlabeled relationships, partnership-like friendships, QPRs. Just ... Relationships that aren't a clearly defined socially acceptable romance or friendships, and stories that break down the amatonormative rules about what is and isn't acceptable in a friendship or romance and do away with the idea that all relationships need a label and need to fit into a certain box. I don't know, I don't really like it when a story goes "if you feel x then you must be feeling y, x always means y." It's not like that in real life and when it happens irl it can actually do a lot of harm.
Oh, and more nonmonogamous queer characters would also be nice.

And then obviously relationships don't have to be the main focus of the story all the time. The majority of LGBTQ+ stories are still either feel-good lesbian romance stories (which, admittedly, I do love so I probably contribute to there being a market for that) or somewhat sexualising BL stories (which I'm sure have been discussed a lot alread so I'll refrain from that because a nuanced discussion would make this post even more obnoxiously long). But I already feel like we're moving in the right direction with that already. And like i said, I also really enjoy relationship arcs, I'd just prefer it if they weren't forced into boxes so much. Even alloromantic characters shouldn't be pushed by others to admit that they're in love. That's not a cute thing for anyone.

[bulgariansumo]

I don't know, I don't really like it when a story goes "if you feel x then you must be feeling y, x always means y." It's not like that in real life and when it happens irl it can actually do a lot of harm.

So many things you've said in your post are how I feel, but this trope is a pet peeve of mine and something I'm dying to cover in my own work. And I agree that things that cover topics related to relationship-anarchy (is that the right term?) would be very interesting and refreshing to see.

[VibrantFox]

have to second points made about more racially diverse queer characters and stories without the struggle or at least struggles not tied to identity (like we live in a world full of it we're allowed to want a break)

also wholeheartedly agree on the point about having queer characters in more various genres. gimme fantasy, historical, science fiction, horror and so on like we want cool stories too (and this doubles for poc characters)

also more queer platonic relationships or platonic relationships in general! people/characters can be lgbtqia+ and still not be sexually or romantically attracted to one another so like qprs or just normal friendships would be cool and like mixed friend groups but that like make sense (people will find their people so instances of like one queer person in a group of het friends unless its like relevant to where they're living is kinda off and same for other stuff too)

and expanding just a bit i have to second a lot of @liaroger 's points because whoof yes!

and sorry sorry for long winded reply but yeah we're getting there but theres more to do and that can be done its just getting it out there and one of the reasons im fighting like heck to get to working on and putting out my own stories especially since they have those things i crave

[NickRowler]

I guess this take is less for creators and more for fandom and social media...

I really want transgender and genderqueer (especially AMABs) people to exist in mainstream media without it always turning into a political culture war on social media. Honey, just let us have our transgender Barbie and Pizza Hut drag queen books. This stuff shouldn't be a big deal, they aren't hurting anyone. I hate how people have turned my body and identity and people like me into a battlefield.

[liaroger]

@bulgariansumo Oh I absolutely love that! I can't wait to read it. And yeah it's relationship anarchy. Or well, some people like to use that term (myself included) - to me it just means building a relationship base only on the wishes, needs and boundaries of the people involve and completely discarding societal norms and expectations and the relationship escalator (the idea that a relationship has to follow a certain trajectory and meet certain milestones). Which can still result in a fairly 'typical' relationship for some and even a labeled one if everyone involved wants that. It's just that relationships that don't just happen to look fairly normative are also allowed to exist just as they are and not treated like a transitional stage to a more normative relationship or like they're somehow lacking something or there's something wrong with them.

@VibrantFox I absolutely second the part about more racially diverse queer characters (and also keeping in mind that there are more than two ethnicities :D) ... Actually I agree with all of your points. Queer characters can also be friends and not attracted to each other - yes! So much yes! I guess part of it probably has to do with how romance is put on a pedestal and often forced in both queer and non-queer stories, just because it's assumed that's what everyone wants to read or that a story isn't complete without a romantic arc.

[UrMom]

Weird to say, but generally I don't really care about rep. I can't attach myself to fictional characters like most people can so I never see me, or people like me, when seeing one represent me in some compacity. I can only see them as tools to tell the story, which I feel bad about (And like a part of my brain is missing.), but there's nothing I can do about it.

Hot Take™

Honestly I'd rather just see less in-fighting, and for the genocidal "think of the children" christians to fuck off with making being queer illegal. Having good rep in fiction don't mean dick if we're being pushed out of existence irl.

That being said I'm with @liaroger regarding relationships. Media in general is so overly saturated with monogamy and dating, it's sooo boring and generic, I'm done seeing it. Why does someone always gotta be dating someone else? Why do they always have to make-out? Why love triangles? It would be great to see romantic friendships, or non-standard expressions of affection, poly relationships, platonic stuff. Some kind of intimate character exploration that's different. That's one of the reasons why my comic explores platonic relationships, and the only main dating type of partnership is a bad one (Not saying these types of relationships are bad, I just want to explore this specific thing.), it's also why my title is so tongue in cheek. I'm kinda salty.

[Stargazer31]

I'd also like to see more representation of different indigenous gender identities (is that the term?) around the world, like Two-Spirit people.

[authorvicomara]

I enjoyed “Heartstopper” comic as well, precisely because it felt so close to reality.

I would really really love to see more stories where gay characters get to enjoy their lives and feel happy... for a longer period of time. 🧡
There's often so much focus on the part of the story where there's conflict/sadness/tragedy and in comparison so little 'air time' where the characters enjoy themselves... Conflict/etc is okay, but I feel so sad when the "happily ever after" part gets just one chapter or two.
I want to see the guys I grew to love live happily, as well as witness scenes they get to enjoy throughout the story as well... (That's one of the reasons why I wrote my novel, which I'm posting here on Tapas. )

I often wish there would be less added drama in stories, and less artificial cliffhangers. And less artificial reactions from irrelevant people or artificial scenes to draw the drama/conflict out, especially if it is a short story (short for me is less than ~100K words ). Added drama may work for long stories if paced well, but if a lot of dramatic aspects are crammed in short stories - it's too much.