Piggybacking off this in relation to Heartstopper, I’m still pissed that Kit Connor had to come out to appease the asshats who thought he was “queerbaiting” for playing a bisexual character.
Heartstopper wasn’t a show just for people to gush over gay boys and trans girls and Stan over them. It was about the closeted experience and identity. The fact that people missed that mark hurts so much to me.
Especially given the literal plot of the damn show.
What representation are we really fighting for here at the end of the day?
[I.D. A series of tweets by AmandaWoody_ that reads: I don’t care if a “straight” actor plays a queer character, if a “straight” writer writes queer lit, if a “straight” musician sings about queerness, I don’t care. Chances are that most of them are doing it because it resonates with them in a way that isn’t our business. 🧵
“It’s appropriation of our community!” Why do you think that? Because they don’t wear a label? Why do you feel you can dictate who should be allowed to create/consume queer art? Do you think your public entitles you to interrogate and harrass people for their identities?
“If they wear queerness like a costume, they should expect backlash.” Is it a costume? Or are they exploring their identity? Why do YOU get to decide which one it is? Btw, did you know that many people discover they’re queer because they engage with queer art/characters/style?
“How will we know if we’re supporting authentic creators??” Nobody is stopping you from dedicating your support to openly queer artists. If you only want to support people who are “out” and fit your definition of “authentic”, do that and leave everyone else alone.
Those who draw rigid boundary lines on who they believe should be involved with the creation of queer content are actively harming the community’s most vulnerable members–those who can’t safely come out. Those who aren’t allowed to. Those who aren’t sure yet.
One of the biggest threats to queer creators, both out and closeted, comes from our own community. It’s tragic that they people who should be uplifting queer art are instead some of the cruelest gatekeepers, all in the name of icing out anyone they feel “doesn’t belong.”
I don’t care who’s producing queer art, whether they currently identify as straight, whether they’re private about those matters, etc. I wish we could just produce an environment for people to safely engage with queer art and explore their identities without fear of retribution.
I said I wouldn’t contribute to this conversation but fuck it. I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m disgusted that people in the queer community have made identity exploration so terrifying for artists. I hate that so many of us have been forced to out ourselves and still risk harrassment.
Aaaand this thread is already getting bigger. End I.D.]
I’ve heard so many things labelled as “queerbaiting” over the years. Turns out this is what it leads to.
