Should I put a "BL" label on my comic?

[Chocolate]

... Should I? I feel obligated to put a BL warning on my comic since not everybody will like the content in it and treating it as another romance. Another thing is that I don't want people to treat my warnings as a "bait" to get more views. However, on the other end, I feel that it cheapen my comic simply because it is boys love. I don't emphasize or highlight the "BL"', rather my main focus is about the struggle and the challenges the character face simply for being in a homosexual relationship. Idk, am I reading too much into this? Should I or shouldn't I put a label on my comic? What are you guys opinion on this matter? Thank you for the feedback!

[joannekwan]

The same thoughts crossed my mind when I created my series Heavy Horns.
Reasons I decided against it: I do feel the label cheapens a series, and some people I'm sure use it as "bait". When I see a series marked as such thoughts of countless terrible yaoi and bl inundate my head, equivalents of those cheap Harlequin romance novels. And I hate a lot of tropes that I see in much of those stories. Another reason is my characters are adult men, even though I affectionately refer to them as my boys on occasion. To me, couples in "bl" are teenaged boys with either one or both just discovering their sexuality. Just my thoughts.

[infectedbloodcomics]

I don't put a GL label on my comic, because I find it rather funny, but to each their own. If you use the BL tag you will likely get more readers, though, if I'm getting how things go in most comic hosting sites.

[Kura]

Personaly it's not something I would do. Not going to lie it is something I've considered because it IS click bait and would increase readership (and you do what you can to try and promote your work), but I decided that it wouldn't fit my story because it does not revolve around a BL theme. Although it has same sex relationships and themes, a lot of it is more focused on the main characters awkward self discovery of trying to figure out who they are. It's more-so a theme related to growing up and developing than it is as a theme to trigger romance (even though the relationship aspects are still there)

I also don't like it when people use it for the sake of a 'warning' I understand why, but I personally don't like it.

Also I tend to avoid stuff with BL in the title, as it is most of the time cheesy meaningless smut. Which I am really not into.

[Caelestie]

hmmm I read a study somewhere where they said that readers that did not know that they character was homosexual when they started reading tended to identify with them more and treated it as something secondary to the character. They had a overall better impression of the character. So they would not identify stereotypes to the character since they did not know who they are! You but the bl marker if you want to attract a certain type of readership and it is a really popular genre so you can attract a lot of people by doing so. But if you don't care about that and you just want a general readership I suggest against it!

[shazzbaa]

Here's what I'd ask you -- if you saw a comic that looked kinda like the sort of comic you're making, and it was labelled "BL," would you, personally, be more or less likely to click on it? Would it appeal to you? If more, I think there's nothing wrong with adding it -- it's clear that there's something about that kind of story that appeals to you, and there will be plenty of other people that feel the same! ;u; But if you'd find a "BL" label off-putting, then don't add the label -- that's obviously not the kind of feel you're going for and it would be disingenuous to present as such.

If you wouldn't care one way or another, then why bother! I don't think you are OBLIGATED to warn readers anymore than you would for a heterosexual relationship -- a lot of people are starting to move away from the idea that HOMOSEXUAL CONTENT must be kept separate from "normal" romance in our media, especially in independent media like webcomics, so it's less and less reasonable for audiences to expect a warning for that sort of thing anymore.
If you really want to make sure your audience knows the direction you're going in, though, you don't need "WARNING: CONTAINS BOY LOVE" on prominent display; just mention in the description that it's about this character coming to terms with his feelings for another guy.

[carloswebcomic]

I think you should put the 'BL" label, not because you should warn people but because you'll be tapping on a huge demographic, and what's more, add a Pokémon in there somewhere. 1 BILLION VIEWS A DAY!

[Vikiro_Hop]

Eh for me I wouldn't just because labels like that annoy me, kinda like a parental advisory sticker. If you want to appeal to a specific group then go for it. I just don't like adding warning labels, I like the story to do the talking and if the readers don't like how certain relationships pan out then well in the most polite way I can put it, fuck 'em.