Which Genre Label Should I be Using LGBT+ or BL?

[Geek_Aflame]

If the main relationship in my story is MxM, which label should I use?

Ever since three genres were introduced for novels, I've been conflicted about which genre label I should be using between LGBT+ and BL. One of my novels The Small Town Horror is a fantasy/paranormal mystery with a romantic subplot. If I could give this work, a fourth label it would be romance.

The MC is in a relationship with another man from the beginning of the novel. There is a strong focus on that relationship because it's between the two main characters of the novel. While there are other LGBT+ characters in the novel that aspect of the characters isn't a major focus of the plot. I really wanted to write a story with an established relationship growing stronger rather than writing another 'get together' story. I've consumed far too much fiction that acts like the aftermath of the couple getting their happy ending is boring.

I guess my biggest hesitation about using the BL label is being settled with the baggage of the past toxic tropes of the genre. As an LGBT+ writer, I feel like the LGBT+ genre is a lot more inclusive and far less littered with toxic tropes. On the other hand, how can the BL genre get better if people moving past these tropes don't want to associate with it? As someone who reads BL I feel like a suck up jerk for not wanting to assoiate my writing with the genre.

[Bree_Mana]

As an LGBT person myself I understand the hesitance to use BL lable, I tend to avoid reading anything in that genre because of the association it holds. Where as 'm mush more ready to jump on something with the LGBT label

I guess the biggest difference from what I understand is that in BL the romance IS the entire plot (And often includes smut), with no focus on anything else, where as I find things posted in the LGBT genre tend to have more rounded out stories even if there is plenty of focus on the relationships.... IDK if that helps any?

[Inspector_Spinda]

well i guess it really depends on what your audience is? I've only explored the LGBT stories on this site personally, partly due to the stigma, but also partly because some of the BL stories do look a bit anime hentai-ish? Is that right to say? Anyway, I feel like the LGBT stories, at least the ones I've started to read of more of that clean, indie feel. I guess it has to do with your artstyle and general vibes.

[Geek_Aflame]

I guess it has to do with your artstyle and general vibes.

It's definitely not anime hentai-ish, lol. The romance is fluffy and there are no explicit sex scenes. I like to joke that the story is a dark paranormal fantasy glued together with corn syrup because the main relationship is so fluffy and sweet.

[Inspector_Spinda]

cotton candy comic lol

[kmlangleyauthor]

I honestly had the same question of my story. Now that @Bree_Mana has clarified what each one constitutes, I’m wondering if I should switch mine to LGBTQ+ as my main genre because there is an overarching plot other than the romance through the whole story.

With the ability to have multiple genres tagged, does it matter anyway? I have my story listed as BL, LGBTQ+, and Slice of Life.

[nostalgicroxas]

Go with whichever you're most comfortable with.

In my experience from just skimming genre's: Romance is all smut, BL is all smut, and LBGT+ is just "coming out of the closet to my family/loved ones" clichés.

None of them fit well when boiled down to their historic bad tropes. I've been so annoyed by LBGT+ stories all being along the same vein in general, not this site specifically, that I kind of eye roll when I see the genre listed because I just expect it to be nothing but the "coming out!" stories and nothing past that. It's like Hallmark christmas movies cringes

Eye other genres too, like Genre and Fantasy if they apply, or Slice of Life.

[Inspector_Spinda]

not this site specifically, that I kind of eye roll when I see the genre listed because I just expect it to be nothing but the "coming out!" stories

nothing wrong with a good coming out story in my option, but i definitely know what you mean. haha. a few years ago i was in a fandom with lots of young children. i assume most of them were not LGBT, but they were very supportive of the community. 99% of the LGBT stories were copy paste, but you can't really fault them. they're young and they're trying. when i was that age my imagination was even more limited x'D

Eye other genres too, like Genre and Fantasy if they apply, or Slice of Life.

For sure they do! like fantasy. the cliche would be farm boy gets village destroy and must then set out on a journey to defeat the dark lord with the help of a magic sword and a strong warrior woman who ultimately must be saved so there will be a romance subplot.

[nostalgicroxas]

Tableflips all up and down the woman must be saved when she starts off strong. that is the most annoying plot. right up there with the "depressed / introvert / smart person is the butt of every joke and yelled at to shut up" or "depression is funny ha ha". But that's usually more of a sitcom/movie thing. I have seen it in a few books here and there regarding LBGT+ where the person depressed or concerned about their "coming out" is worried about people's reactions, either justified or not, and that's made to be ha-ha lighthearted "don't worry" and I'm like, have you never Psych 101 class before?~

[foxnflames]

I had the same hesitation with my story. My story will ultimately have my main character end up with another man, but like yours, romance is a subplot and if i could, romance would be a 4th label. My story will involve some other LGBT+ characters but the reason why i chose to go with BL or LGBTQ+ was because the romance between the two characters is a huge part of the flow of the story and one of the takeaways. VVBG did a twitch stream for Fujocon and Michi made a good distinction between the two. BL does come with the tropes (good and bad) and is more so focused on the relationship between two male main characters (whether quintessential romance or not) and LGBTQ+ doesn't necessarily have to have romance. It better serves as a scope for representation of people within that community. So BL falls under the umbrella of LGBTQ+ but it still has its own little niche. (just the gist of it, she said it way better than that lol(

That being said, i think that with what you described about your story, it may be better to go with the LGBTQ+ label. When you add tags to your story, you can always add "boys love", "BL", "MxM", etc. I stuck with BL and put LGBTQ+ in the tags. And because your story already has them as an established couple, you can have more leeway so to speak that you might not get if it was just BL.

[Inspector_Spinda]

With the ability to have multiple genres tagged, does it matter anyway? I have my story listed as BL, LGBTQ+, and Romance.

I was about to say the same. My hesitancy comes here: will the BL label make people who don't like it less likely to click on the story even if it also has the LGBT label? How much do the BL and LGBT interests demographics overlap? That's the key here

[nostalgicroxas]

As a reader, I find more joy in reading M/M stories which is the only reason I go to the BL tag since I know it's male's. If I go to the LBGT+ I might be reading F/F, which just isn't usually my cup of tea. I have read a few trans that have been fine. So it'll depend on what the readers are filtering for, and why.
And again, are they filtering for smut/sex - which should not be a question on Tapas specifically since their rules state it should not be focus or graphic.

[Inspector_Spinda]

My story will involve some other LGBT+ characters but the reason why i chose to go with BL or LGBTQ+ was because the romance between the two characters is a huge part of the flow of the story and one of the takeaways.

point well made. suppose LGBT doesn't have to mean romance. Theoretically, a story could just be a LGBT culture story devoid of romance. Did not actually think of that because most stories here have some element of romance.

[Geek_Aflame]

For sure they do! like fantasy. the cliche would be farm boy gets village destroy and must then set out on a journey to defeat the dark lord with the help of a magic sword and a strong warrior woman who ultimately must be saved so there will be a romance subplot.

This is why I've edged towards using paranormal before fantasy when describing my genres. While my story is modern fantasy due to the hard magic system I feel overshadowed by the high/quest fantasy within the genre. My story is more the Dresden Files, Rivers of London, The Southern Vampire Mysteries/True Blood, Alex Verus, The Magicians, Supernatural or Shadowhunters type of fantasy.

[Inspector_Spinda]

This is why I've edged towards using paranormal before fantasy when describing my genres.

now if only tap had a paranormal genre. i need it badly

[nostalgicroxas]

Agreed. I'd say Supernatural is more Paranormal than Fantasy, when really it could encompass both. The problem is that, especially US readers, are geared to think of Fantasy as European fantasy of knights, castles, dragons, damsels in distress, or flat out magic of gods like The Lord of the Rings/Narnia. And there's no anything else in between, when ghosts/afterlife can be entirely fantasy.
It's also why High Fantasy does not equal Fantasy.

[Geek_Aflame]

VVBG did a twitch stream for Fujocon and Michi made a good distinction between the two.

I'd like to watch this if you still have a link, it sounds interesting.

[foxnflames]

I’ll have to find it. I’m thinking it’s still up

[foxnflames]

Most do and some have more intricate relationships that may take darker turns or not end with a neatly wrapped relationship. You can go a lot of places with BL

[Geek_Aflame]

100%. I recently swapped my main genre on another site to Paranormal because I feel like there's more of a place for the story I'm writing.

Even my second novel would work better under Paranormal as it's an urban fantasy focusing on Vampires. I used the Vampire genre on the other site for that story but had to place it under Fantasy here.