#i would also like to suggest that them being gay has an impact on the plot

[dreambaited]

the fanfic writers need to work quicker i need a hunger games au NEOW

[nerdygaymormon]

Bishops Council

In my stake, twice a quarter the bishops get together with the stake presidency. I typically do not attend this meeting, but stake president invited me to come since one of the bishops had added "counsel with LGBT youth" as an agenda item.

The stake president has a gay son and is fully capable of speaking to this, but I appreciate that he wanted to include the point of view of someone who is queer.

When we got to this topic, the stake president shared a few slides I had sent him earlier based on some research done at Utah State University.

The stake president then spoke about things he has learned as the dad of a gay child. Primarily that it is his job to love, and his son is going to have his own journey. The things he has learned as the parent of a queer child has helped him be a better stake president.

One of the bishops shared that when he was newly called three years ago that I sent him an email with 10 suggestions. He keeps that email bookmarked and has referred to it several times over the years. It helped him understand his role and that he could be confident in meeting with queer individuals and help them feel seen, loved, and valued. Then he read the list while wiping away tears, and I also was moved to tears to hear him share how impactful these suggestions were for him

David's list of 10 suggestions for bishops

All LGBT members need a trusted adult in their life who loves, supports and sustains them, no matter which path they choose.

When someone “comes out” they should be greeted with love, validation and hope, not a lecture on repentance or reminder of the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage  

Create a safe culture for the LGBT person. This could include speaking to youth and YSA about what sort of conversation their bishop would have with them if they come out, that it’s okay if now is not the right time to come out, and there is no shame to the person or their family if they are gay/trans. There's a good chance there's some LGBT people in your ward, even if you don't know who they are.

Don’t use words like “struggling” or say they’ll be “fixed” in the resurrection

Our Heavenly Parents love their LGBT children, we should give them unconditional love and support and recognize they will bless the lives of others

LGBT individuals are more likely to be the victims of bullying and violence than any other minority group in the USA. Be on the lookout for youth or young adults who may be doing & saying unkind things.  

Know the signs of suicide and depression. LGBT people are at much higher risk. It’d be a good idea for youth leaders to have some training in this.

Encourage them to pray and ask if God loves them as they are 

Especially before or after lessons about marriage, say something like “I know there are people in this ward who cannot be married because of same-sex attraction or other reasons. I love you, and the Lord has a plan for you.”

Know that studies show that being active in the LDS church is often detrimental to the mental health and quality of life for LGBT people. For a person’s well-being, they may decide they need a break. Make sure they know they’re welcome to come back.

I then blurted out, "I'm gay, just in case anyone didn't know." A counselor in the stake presidency said, "Duh, we all know you're a happy guy."

Another bishop shared that he has a child who recently came out as trans and is in their first semester of college. This child hasn't fully discussed this with the family but is using this time away to experiment with what feels right to them. He loves this child and wants them to be their best and to be comfortable with themselves and it's taking some adjustments for him to understand and change his dreams for them.

Then my bishop shared that I had given him the same 10 suggestions when he was first called and he feels it has helped him be successful as a bishop to queer youth. He shared an incident that happened recently which involved a young women leader overhearing part of a conversation between two teens. He didn't share the specifics of the discussion other than it was about being gay. The leader was uncomfortable with what she heard and spoke about it at ward council.

Another bishop commented, "Oh yes, ward council, that's the right place to discuss that" as he rolled his eyes.

The stake president said a better approach would've been for the leader to ask the girls to share more with her, to be open to a conversation with them, rather than run to the ward council to share how shocked and uncomfortable she was.

I thought it was a good discussion even though I wound up saying very little. I had prepared some thoughts ahead of time that I could use as reference, and I sent them by email to the bishops (see below).

————————————————————

There are queer individuals who attend our congregations, many of whom aren't out to everyone, and so you speak to queer people even if you don't know who they are.

We are children of God, we deserve to hear good news, to have hope, to feel loved. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen often enough in church settings. People who interacted with Christ left feeling uplifted and that would be a good goal for us.

In 2019, the former stake president said this in Bishops' Council: LGBT individuals are some of the most patient people you’ll ever meet. They’ve heard more hurtful words than most any of us will hear in our entire lifetime. That doesn’t mean they’re immune to the words. There are LGBT members who come to church and they deserve to hear good words, to be welcomed and loved and be strengthened in the gospel.

Handbook 38.6.15 The Church encourages families and members to reach out with sensitivity, love, and respect to persons who are attracted to others of the same sex. The Church also promotes understanding in society at large that reflects its teachings about kindness, inclusiveness, love for others, and respect for all human beings.

Handbook 38.6.23 Transgender individuals face complex challenges. Members and nonmembers who identify as transgender—and their family and friends—should be treated with sensitivity, kindness, compassion, and an abundance of Christlike love. All are welcome to attend sacrament meeting, other Sunday meetings, and social events of the Church

When my bishop was first called, a member of the ward asked me if I thought the new bishop would be safe to meet with and share his orientation. I sent the bishop an email to find out and received this beautiful response:

David, Thank you for sharing this with me. I hope that the Spirit can guide me to treat LBGTQ members and investigators with love and respect. I’m not sure what your journey has been, but I would guess that it has included anguish, heartbreak and innumerable unintentional and even some intentional wounds. As far as I am aware, I am the only person called to be a judge in the ward, and I believe that office is to help everyone come to Christ, not send any away. I may not fully appreciate how or which traditions and traditional phrases may carry messages of exclusion, but I am open to learning a better way. I hope that I can “make the pathway bright” for LBGTQ members and friends. In hope, Bishop

One of the scariest parts of coming out is not knowing how the other person will respond. The previous stake president at a youth fireside shared how he would react if a person met with him and shared that they are LGBTQ.

I would thank you for trusting me enough to share this with me.

If you're willing, I'd like for you to share with me some about your journey up to this point.

I would offer to give you a blessing.

Regardless of whether you accepted or declined the offer of a blessing, I'm a hugger so I'd ask if I can give you a hug.

I'd invite you to come see me again when you want to talk some more.

Questions many LGBTQ+ members would welcome from their church leaders (these come from the fourth option)

What does being LGBTQIA+ mean for you at this time?

What has been difficult about being an LGBTQIA+ member of the church? What's been fulfilling?

What do you want your future to look like?

What do you believe or want to believe?

What revelation have you received, if any, about your path in life?

What's on your mind related to your sexuality or gender identity and faith?

How has being queer influenced your relationship with Christ?

How can we best support you?

Do you feel safe in our congregation? What can we do to make it safer?

Has anyone said or done anything to make you feel unwanted in the ward?

From what you've observed so far, how can we improve as a ward?

How would you like to be involved in the ward?

What callings would you feel comfortable with?

What skills would you like to use to contribute to our ward? 

What else would you like me to know?

Things ward & stake leaders can do (also from the fourth option)

Pray for guidance on how to make your ward safer and more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ members (out or not)

Call LGBTQIA+ members to callings in a range of auxiliaries

Invite LGBTQIA+ members to share their experiences in fifth Sunday lessons, firesides, ward councils meetings, etc

Encourage your stake to call an LGBTQ fellowship coordinator

Speak to LGBTQIA+ members over the pulpit and in lessons (move away from the "use vs. them" mentality; show that we're part of every ward, out or not)

Include LGBTQIA+ members in discussions about ministering and and outreach

Regularly check in with us to see if anyone is making us feel unsafe

Get to know us personally

Wear a rainbow pin or similar thing to indicate that you're an ally

Speak in support of LGBTQIA+ people and help others remember that we are children of God

Ask your ward or stake to start a support group for LGBTQIA+ members, families, and allies (volunteer to help if possible)

Pray for guidance on how to best minister to LGBTQIA+ individuals in your ward

Pray for God to reveal more about His plan for His LGBTQIA+ children

Correct people when they say uninformed or hateful things

Listen to our stories, sit in our pain, celebrate our joy

Studies show that on average gay men (and I suspect this is true of queer people in general) are more creative, have higher IQ’s and higher emotional intelligence, have more compassion and are more cooperative and have less hostility. Of course someone with these qualities is going to bless the lives around them.

We have a stake group for LGBTQ members, and their family, friends and allies, which meets about every other month. For more information, contact me.

[denimbex1986]

'It should come as no surprise that Russell T Davies, the man behind Queer As Folk, the one who first made Doctor Who tangibly gay, has returned to the franchise with what might be its queerest outing yet. But even we were surprised by quite how integral LGBTQ+ themes would be to the story this time around.

Much has been made of David Tennant and Catherine Tate's return, yet it's Yasmin Finney's brand-new character Rose who's at the heart of this Star Beast special.

Donna's daughter befriends The Meep first, and she's also the one who saves London when The Meep reveals itself to be evil. What's special about this is that it's Rose's trans identity specifically that proves key to her victory.

When we last saw her mother, Donna had absorbed some of the Doctor's energy, creating a 'metacrisis' that would have killed her if the Doctor had not erased her memories. But when she's reminded again of the Time Lord's existence in this latest episode, Donna survives intact, and that's because when she gave birth to Rose, she unknowingly split that energy between them, halving their potentially devastating impact.

As Donna's memories return, Rose's innate Timelord energy is then activated too, enabling her to stop Meep with newfound knowledge and abilities from her position on the ground.

Rose's non-binary identity stems from The Doctor's. (The show finally acknowledges them to be gender-fluid after they presented as both male and female over the course of the franchise). That means the source of Rose's power comes directly from her nature as a non-binary individual, positioning her as a hero because of her gender identity and not despite of it.

That's not to say Doctor Who shies away from the difficulties trans people face in real life. Earlier on in the same episode, bullies deadname Rose in the street and soon after, Donna's own mother, Sylvia, accidentally misgenders Rose as well, despite her good intentions.

Donna's response to all this? "I would burn down the world for you, darling," and honestly, that's how we feel after seeing some of the negative feedback these scenes have received online.

Despite scoring strong reviews from critics and the majority of fans, it seems not everyone is celebrating Doctor Who's much-lauded return.

On Rotten Tomatoes, trolls are review-bombing the episode, bringing the audience score down to 41%, which is a huge contrast from the critics rating of 89%. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and the episode won't be to everyone's tastes, but when comments suggest the show 'needs to stop pushing talk of pronouns onto kids', it's safe to say most of these opinions are grounded in hate and ignorance.

Imagine being shocked that a show about an alien who regularly changes their body and gender would dare acknowledge such concepts?

In the days following the special, a hashtag named #RIPDoctorWho continued this backlash on X/Twitter, to which Doctor Who casting director Andy Pryor said the following:

"Just stopped by to say that on @bbcdoctor who (or any of our work) we don't work hard to cast inclusively for publicity. We do it because we like stories. & stories should speak to all of us & include all of us. And if one person feels a little less alone, then."

With more queer cast members on the way, including Neil Patrick Harris as the villainous Toymaker and Ncuti Gatwa as the new face of The Doctor himself, the future of Doctor Who is looking queerer by the day.

But it's not just the future that's queer.

To those who baulk at more inclusivity in future seasons, we can't help but wonder: What show have you been watching this whole time? Because Doctor Who is super queer — and it always has been.

Yes, even before Jack Harkness slapped a guy's arse or Bill Potts fell for a puddle named Heather, the Classic era channeled queerness with how it defied the establishment and stood up for those who need it most. It's hard to exaggerate how much stories like this resonated with LGBTQ+ people at a time when positive representation was almost non-existent on screen.

It's no wonder then that a sizeable chunk of Doctor Who's fandom identifies as queer, even if the show wasn't able to address LGBTQ+ fans directly until (queer lifelong fan) Russell T Davies regenerated the franchise in 2005.

But now, all these years later, The Star Beast ushers in a new chapter for Doctor Who where the show can finally live up to the inclusive ethos it's always striven for.

That's not to diminish the positive steps other showrunners have taken in the interim. 2015's 'Sleep No More' featured Doctor Who's first trans actress, Bethany Black, and season twelve's 'Praxeus' successfully flipped the 'Bury Your Gays' trope, although the less said about how season 13 handled #Thasmin the better.

And it's not like everything is suddenly perfect now. Rose's metacrisis abilities could feed into sci-fi tropes around trans/non-binary identities being considered "alien", plus the inclusion of Rose's deadname has garnered a mixed response from the trans community online.

While some argue this has given trolls the opportunity to use that name venomously against her character, others point out that transphobia is a reality the show shouldn't shy away from.

The moment when Rose calls the Doctor out for assuming Meep's pronouns might feel a bit-on-the-nose for some too, although if this kind of talk immediately heralds the end of the franchise for you, you might want to cast your mind back a few decades to 1972's 'The Curse of Peladon' where the Doctor and Jo discussed Alpha Centauri's pronouns at length.

But still, seeing trans and non-binary identities celebrated to this degree is very much welcome regardless, especially in a family show with such a huge fanbase like Doctor Who. This is the kind of storytelling that saves lives, trolls be damned.

And now, with the impending arrival of more trans actors and characters in Yasmin Finney's wake — including Jinkx Monsoon, Mary Malone and Pete MacHale — Doctor Who's next season promises to be more inclusive than ever before.

If you have a problem with that, remember that your hero, the good Doctor, would never discriminate against trans people, or any other marginalised group for that matter either. So why would you?'

[educatingmerlin]

Hi and thank you if you answer this one!

Is it just me or does any content with Gwen/Elyan/both of them gets so much less attention from fandom?

ArWen is much less popular than Merthur, despite it being canon. As an artist, who loves drawing Gwen, it's sad to say that Gwen/ArWen arts don't get as much likes and reblogs than Merlin/Arthur. I don't even want to start on Elyan.

And I wanted to know what if it's about art quality? I tried many different stuff with Gwen. Fast and lively sketches, full rendered arts I spent hours and hours of my life, etc etc. Many experimental things to see if there's any difference. But a simple sketch with Merthur gets much more attention in just minutes :/

I can't understand if that's racism towards the character? Or people in fandom just generally love gay characters, absolutely ignoring one of the main characters who IS a female? ://

It really is frustrating to see. As an artist I, of course, love attention (there aren't much who doesn't). But I also don't want to be stuck drawing two same white dudes just to get more likes&reblogs, considering that I myself AM NOT a white man and I do want more diversity in art.

And there's this dilemma in what should I draw to satisfy fandom's needs or should I draw for myself only and suffer from no attention

Thank you for your submission and for sharing your experience.

I am sorry that you have had to go through this, especially with working countless hours making artwork only for it to go unappreciated.

First of all, it is important to know that this is not due to you personally or the quality of your artwork, but it is an issue with the fandom and how they interact with certain content. So please do not blame yourself!

What you have said is right. The fandom is largely dominated by fans of the white characters or non-canon ships (who are mostly white themselves). Whilst there are fans of Arwen/Gwen/Elyan, there are not nearly as many fans for characters such as Merlin, Arthur or Morgana.

Of course the racism has affected the situation too.

It is likely a mix of both things. As there are more fans for the white characters, they are only interested in seeing content of the people they love. This is not a bad thing, but it does impact the way they interact with content. And with racism they usually do not want to see any content of the Black characters.

With the fandom being majority Merlin/Arthur/Merthur fans it is pretty easy for them to gain a lot of interactions with their content and it has often led to certain posts becoming viral (or at least semi viral with thousands and thousands of reblogs).

It is a really difficult situation to be in when you are constantly trying to get your work out there and appreciated. The fandom needs to be a lot more welcoming to content which celebrates a wider part of the show and the characters.

I have a post about this planned which I will share soon but I am striving to do this within this page. It is so important to support creators and artists of color in the Merlin fandom.

For now, there are a few things that I would suggest:

Try to follow and interact with artists who also focus on Gwen/Elyan. Finding a circle where you are on the same page as other fans may be helpful in building up your page and interactions.

No doubt you are doing this already but make sure that you are tagging correctly. For example on Gwen artwork, do not solely tag Gwen related things. Often the hashtags for Black Merlin characters get bombarded with non-Gwen related posts. Many fans follow Gwen tags to see Gwen content but end up unfollowing as posts about her are usually lost in a sea of white Merlin characters.

Make sure you are on different social media platforms. I have spoken about this before but on each site, the fandom is different. One site may be more welcoming and supportive of your artwork than another.

I know this is difficult as this is something which is out of our control and we have to rely on others to support us. It would not surprise me if you have already tried these things, but if you have not, I hope that they do help.

I also hope that other artists share their own tips about this!

My future post will be asking artists what this page can do to help other artists (of color) in supporting them so please look out for it or feel free to submit something here.

[midnightsun-if]

I’ve gotten a couple more asks in my inbox since the previous one last night that caused everything— I hesitate to call any of this discourse because I don’t want to sound dramatic— but I’d like to make this all-in-one post, that’ll be going in the FAQ, to settle this. Hopefully, I won’t get too harsh, and I apologize in advance if I do, or if I sound angry/annoyed, I’m just trying to stand firm, as I’ve previously mentioned, when it comes to this topic.

I’ll put the entirety of this underneath the cut— as I don’t wish to subject people who don’t wish to read it to the long post.

(I’ve shared screenshots beneath the cut… So, warning to anyone who may not like to see those when regarding this topic.)

I’d like to begin this by stating that I’m only annoyed, or somewhat vexed rather, with the ones that actually sent me these asks— I’m well aware a good majority of them are trolls, at least I hope, but I still felt like this would be a good time to simply collect them, make a one-and-done post, and then (hopefully) move on from this subject. As I’m, and I’m sure all of you, are tired of this topic— especially since it seems like a fairly cut and dry one to understand in the grand scheme of things.

Now I’d also like to say if you’d like to send me questions about expanding on Scarlett and/or Koda’s sexuality— what it means to them, why I decided to go that route, etc— you absolutely can! I’m more than happy answering them (though I may not be able to answer everything given spoilers). I’m not barring anyone from sending me anything, not that I truly could as free will doesn’t work like that, but I do hope this makes at least a couple people get the answers they need before sending in something. (And even if you do and need something explained a bit more? That’s completely fine!)

Onto the more gritty stuff…

Scarlett, and I’m mainly going to be mentioning her as this has been directed solely at her, but it also applies to Koda as well, is not a character simply for you all to romance, to have sex with, to be arm candy, etc. I’m well aware that’s not how the majority of people view her, but I thought I’d specify that regardless. She’s a character because of her own impact within the world, because of her own nuances, because of who she is… She works just as well as an RO as she does anything else. Am I excited about exploring her romance route? Absolutely. But, I’m even more excited about exploring Scarlett herself— backstory, personality, motivations, etc.

At the end of the day?

She’s Scarlett first before she’s the MCs anything.

Below are a couple of asks that I’ve received on this topic (older):

I saved these when I first got them because I was truly baffled by them and wanted to show my friend to see if I should do anything about it (just decided to delete them)…

Again, I’m aware these are more than likely nothing more than trolls, but I’ve gotten at least a dozen of asks ranging around this topic, that I’ve deleted because I didn’t think it’d become this much of an issue that I’d have to address in this manner, and I’d like to say to anyone that may think you can do this: No, you can’t.

Scarlett is a lesbian. I get that may disappoint some people, but there are seven other characters to choose from when it comes to romance. As I’ve mentioned before— Scarlett wouldn’t be Scarlett anymore if I decided to just make her romanceable for everyone. At that point there would’ve been no point to change her from the original character I had designed to fill her “slot” in the RO Cast.

Again, this isn’t everyone and I bet this isn’t even the vast majority of the individuals that are actually disappointed by Scarlett not being for everyone.

As for making Koda for F!MCs instead? Why would I do that? Barring the fact that he’s gay? Why do your potential problems with not being able to romance Scarlett suddenly outweigh the problems that F!MCs would go through by suddenly having that option torn away? It’s gross to even suggest doing something like that.

Below is one of the most recent asks that I’ve screenshotted to showcase what I mean in general:

I’m aware that I’d probably get some more readers if Scarlett would be accessible to everyone, but I truly don’t get this notion that Scarlett is somehow the supreme RO above all the others. I adore her, adore her route and character, but the others offer things too! They have their own special nuances that Scarlett doesn’t (just like it’s the same for her too). Not even going to comment on the interesting RO comment, as I feel like that’s intentional baiting (more so than the rest of this message).

I also wouldn’t want to cheapen my own characters, as well as the experiences you all can get with them, for more attention— I’m happy with the readers that I have right now. If I get more? Great! If I don’t? That’s also completely fine too. Because, at the end of the day, I know that I’m making the story and characters that I know I’ll enjoy making and that you all would enjoy reading.

Why not just let them?

Probably because Scarlett’s sexuality actually means something? More than simply keeping her from all of you? Like a lot of individuals seem to assume (a lot referring to the ones that sent these types of asks in)… Again, Scarlett isn’t a character just for you to get your rocks off. If you can’t respect that, how the hell would you ever actually respect her? And if you can’t even garner that basic amount, why would I ever let you romance her? (Not that I’d ever change my mind. Scarlett is staying exactly as she’s meant to be.)

I apologize if I’ve turned off readers from Midnight Sun because of this post, but I’ve been wanting to get this off my chest as this all started building up. I truly do appreciate all of you— and I can sympathize with the people that get a bit disappointed at finding out Scarlett isn’t for them: I.E. me with Miranda Lawson— but that doesn’t mean I’m going to change an integral part of who Scarlett is, pretty much taking out a chunk of what makes her Scarlett to begin with…

I’m sorry if I come off as overly harsh in this, but I hope I’ve been able to make my points firm and clear. Scarlett, and Koda, are staying as they’re designed right now— nothing, and no one, is going to change that.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[acethatlovesdinos]

The Seven Deadly Sins of Helluva Boss, Named.

My friend and I just made a discovery.

Or perhaps an observation.

In Helluva Boss we know that Stolas is a prince of hell. This is discussed, this is spoken, we all know it.

But we kept asking, what exactly is he the prince of?

And I think we found the answer.

This is a chart of all of Hell's royal sigils, according to Google image search. And as you can see, the names are as follows:

Lucifer, Satan, Belzebub, Mammon, Asmodeus, Leviathan, Belphegor, Stolas.

But that's 8.

Now we can make a list, from what is already confirmed in the show,

Lucifer: pride

Satan: ???

Belzebub: gluttony

Mammon: greed

Asmodeus: lust

Leviathan: ???

Belphegor: ???

Stolas: gay? Probably??

That's all we got so far. Satan, Leviathan, Belphegor, and Stolas are all left unanswered.

But a simple Google search provided us with one of them:

And with that found we move on.

Wrath and Sloth are all that we have left.

Considering the biblical implications, it seemed that Satan would best fit the title of Wrath, but there was little evidence for it, and google only took us to christian articles that were largely unhelpful.

So I looked up Belphegor, to see if we could find anything on their character.

The way I interpreted it, at least, suggested that this being tells others what they want done, and refuse to take action on their own. Seems like Sloth if you ask me.

Plus, Bee's side comment in episode 8 about "Belphegor's party drugs" lends to the idea that Bel might be a total stoner, which is also fitting for the title i think.

And that leaves us with Stolas.

What could he possibly be?

What sin might he represent?

In our confusion, my friend found an article (which she didn't tell me the name of or link to I'm so sorry) and sent me this screenshot:

Despond.

The literal definition is, as a verb, "to become dejected and lose confidence." The noun is described as "a state of unhappiness and low spirits."

Stolas is seen taking antidepressants every morning when he wakes up. He is constantly pushed into places and situations in which he has no choice. He is berated on a near daily basis by the wife he did not choose.

If that's not proof I'm not sure what is.

(Mini theory time)

He was pushed into his title, his whole life was set up for him, and perhaps he is seen as a "disgrace" not just because he is a royal who had an affair, but a Sin who rejected their title.

When Blitzø came along he felt, for the first time, that he had a choice. That he was able to do something different, to be something different.

We saw the impact that it had on Asmodeus when he came out about him and Fizz, and the potential damage it may do to his reputation because he, as a Sin, doesn't fully embody what he represents.

Perhaps Stolas, by refusing to nihilistically accept the life he was forced into, truly is a "disgrace" like Stella had said, but not for the affair. A disgrace for refusing fate. For choosing a new path. For wanting to be happy.

Anyway sorry that was long thanks for coming to my Ted talk

[fox-steward]

hi, your blog is incredibly interesting- i genuinely didn't realise there was a not conservative side of the gender critical sphere. i've been on testosterone for about 7 months now, so far this has been making me feel more like myself. personally I am not thinking about 'gender' but rather what i want to look and sound like- this has been working better than the whole 'gender is a feeling' thing..which is definitely a theory! If its okay to ask, what are your thoughts on medical transition?

i think medical transition is, broadly, very harmful.

it harms the individual: disrupts natural hormone cycles, negatively impacts cardiovascular health, negatively impacts reproductive functioning, creates an artifice which the individual comes to rely on to "feel like themself," thereby severing that person from true authenticity, necessitating the person remain a lifelong medical patient to keep all effects of hormones, subjecting the person to unnecessary risk of surgery, including death. it costs a lot of money and time that you don't actually have to spend. there is no evidence it correlates with mental health improvement, and it is my opinion that by focusing on transition, people do not attend to the areas of their lives that actually need and would benefit from attention and intervention.

it harms the group: gays and lesbians are disproportionately impacted by medical transition; gender non-conformity (which homosexuality is a form of) has become pathologized; now young lesbians and gays are not only growing up in a culture dominated by heterosexuality and rife with homophobia, they also have to navigate the pervasive message that they might benefit from transition. when i was a kid i was told by adults that i was "trying to be a man," that real women are not lesbians, and eventually i agreed with them. that gender non-conformity is seen as a precursor to "trans identification" only makes this worse--it's like, you get the "what, are you trying to be a man >:( ??!!" but also, "what, are you trying to be a man <=D ??!!" messaging. and what chance do we stand against attacks from all sides?

it is harmful to all women: look around at misogyny--devaluing women's opinions as vapid or lesser, assuming women are weak and fickle, dismissing women's perspectives and ideas, preying on women and girls sexually, seeing women as one-dimensional vessels for the transformation of the men around them--of COURSE girls don't "feel like a woman" these days, who would? instead of looking at the way society treats women and the disidentification it is producing among youth as the blazing alarm that it is, trans culture has wedged itself between women and liberation with the suggestion that "maybe you're not a woman if you don't feel like one?" never minding that "feeling like one" generally means liking being objectified, belittled, seen as weak, ignored, simultaneously not being taken seriously but being blamed for things. not only does this derail the actually important conversation about misogyny, but it leaves women and girls vulnerable to the predation of medical transition, which as i mentioned above, is harmful physically, emotionally, socially, and financially.

also, i would argue there are actually no conservative "gender critical" people. conservatives tend to reject gender non-conformity and embrace traditional gender roles; ain't no way to be critical of gender while holding central traditional gender roles. conservatives may be "trans critical," but they're not actually "gender critical." trans ideology has a lot in common with conservatives when it comes to gender, actually. both reinforce traditional gender stereotypes; how different is "i'm masculine and fit in more with boys than girls, so i must really be a man" from "i'm not a man, so i can't act masculinely, i must act femininely" really? they are threads of the same rope and that rope holds us prisoner, it doesn't free us. true gender non-conformity is being female but realizing that your masculine nature doesn't change anything about you (trans ideology), nor does it need to change itself (conservative ideology).

i know you didn't ask for this part, but you're here in my inbox, so here you go: doesn't it strike you as strange that it's taking synthetic medical intervention to make you "feel like yourself?" is the route to authenticity really via the path of cosmetic surgery and synthetic hormones?

it's either intellectually dishonest or intellectually lazy to stop at you're just "thinking about...how you want to look and sound." WHY do you want to look masculinized and have a deeper voice? there is a zero-percent chance the answer to that question is entirely separate from how those traits get you treated in society. and that's the impact of misogyny. and please don't misunderstand this as me suggesting you should not be masculine--i just don't think you have to subject yourself to the harms of medical transition in order to BE masculine.

and i say this as someone who took these steps, who masculinized with a mastectomy and many years of testosterone. i get that there are certain advantages to appearing as a man in society despite being a woman, but largely these are individual advantages for ME that come at the expense of WOMEN. thinking i'm a man, men take me more seriously; this impacts women by reinforcing the idea that men deserve consideration when women's voices don't, and it means that i don't have to advocate for women to be taken seriously because I don't personally need it; it runs the risk of making me complacent to this phenomenon, convincing me that surely women are exaggerating when they share their experiences because i don't have such a hard time of things, all the men are nice to me. see how pernicious it is?

because i'm 5'10", skinny, and with a flat chest, many people think i'm a man when i'm running. this means i can run at night, with headphones in, in new places--all basically without fear. the stories other women tell me make it clear this isn't the case for them. some women i know don't run outside anymore at all because of how men treat them, sexualize them, harass them, prey on them. so i get that it is a clear advantage to appear as a man sometimes; this is one thing i'm actually really grateful for. but it is not worth the damage i did to my body, it isn't worth the sense of alienation i sometimes feel from women, a sense i also felt with men, even when i was pretending to be "one of them," it isn't worth the money and time and effort i spent trying to convincingly imitate men that i could have spent on things that would actually nurture me and my life.

"gender is a feeling" certainly is a theory, but so is "transition makes me more myself," and one is about as good as the other.

we are not alive to simply take our thoughts and feelings at face value! interrogate your feelings and your ideas! we live in a culture and none of us are immune to that. something something unexamined life.

best of luck, i'm rooting for you.

[cursedvibes]

for the headcanons: takaba and uro

Thank you for the ask and interesting character suggestion!

Takaba

Sexuality Headcanon:

I think if he really likes someone, he doesn't care about gender (like he would like Kenjaku no matter what gender or sex they currently have), but he generally prefers men. In his everyday life he essentially lives and is treated like a gay men, so that's what he mostly identifies as. Like how despite what his partners say he shows no interest or plans to ever marry and have children, it seems to be entirely out of the question for him. You could say that he wants to dedicate himself to comedy fully, but most successful comedians are married, so that's not really an argument. And while having unstable income while you are still relatively unknown is a factor, the reason he is so driven to make it isn't so he can support the typical heterosexual family. Same with his classmate in university, who teases him for being unpopular with girls, which Takaba doesn't care about at all. So he definitely seems used to being seen as some flavour of queer.

I also have this headcanon that Centerman not only made him laugh for the first time, but was also his gay awakening. I mean if you look at the constume and some of the sketches...young Takaba saw Centerman spread his ass cheeks on TV and suddenly felt very funny.

Gender Headcanon:

I think he's mostly cis, but likes to dabble in gender non-conformity by wearing some make-up or dresses both for sketches and privately. I mean, he clearly likes dressing up and had no problem playing around with gender with Kenjaku. I don't think it would've bothered him much if Kenjaku had temporarily given him some boobs. He'd just play along and have fun.

A ship I have with said character:

Pinchan or TakaKen (very surprising answer I know). I didn't expect it at all when the fight started, but those two have become so perfect together in such a short period of time, it's insane. One of the few Kenjaku ships, where I can say that they are actually making each other better. Kenjaku had an immensily good impact on Takaba's mental health. Helped him out of a crisis, encouraged his comedy style and made him reconnect with aspects of himself he tried to suppress. I'm curious how this will develop when Takaba wakes up again and finds out his new partner is dead.

A BROTP I have with said character:

Hazenoki. We've only seen a little bit of them, but I love their interactions. Somehow Takaba is very good at buddying up with mass murderers. Hazenoki is throwing his body parts around and tries to kill Takaba and he's like "friends? 🥺"

A NOTP I have with said character:

Megumi. It's one of those ships where I genuinely don't even want to look at it. I just can't stand it at all. Thankfully the main shipper of it here on tumblr has me blocked and it's not that popular on twt either, so I rarely have to see it.

A random headcanon:

Takaba has connections to the drag scene and sometimes performs with them. That's how he gets some of his costumes, make-up and dresses. They also showed him how to tuck (like the original Centerman), but most of the time he doesn't bother to. Understandable because doing that for most of the Culling Game would be very painful and unhealthy.

General Opinion over said character:

I used to think he was a bit annoying and I didn't see much point in him (although his first introduction was very intriguing), but he's really grown on me and unexpectantly become one of my faves.

Takako

Sexuality Headcanon:

Hmm, hard to really pin down. I think she also hasn't had much time to really explore her sexuality like many aspects of her identity, but I'd say she prefers girls. The men she's been surrounded with don't make anything else very tempting. I think she could use a break from them for a while.

Gender Headcanon:

Woman, but unlike with your regular cis person this has actually been a choice for her to some degree and something she discovered about herself. Of course she has always faced sexism, but due to being robbed of her identity when serving the Fujiwara, she had to redefine or discover womanhood for herself. She does it for example by highlighting her body and not hiding it anymore. Being naked and confident in the body she has is freedom for her and shows her individuality. Her CT can be used to hide herself, which I think she did a lot while working for the Fujiwara, the entire idea was for her to essentially not exist, but she has turned it into something liberating for her.

A ship I have with said character:

Yorozu. They lived at the same time in the same location, but with wildly different experiences. I've talked before a bunch about how I think Yorozu with her nakedness and brash attitude might've been an inspiration for Takako. She was in a similar position to Yorozu, but Yorozu was able to spin it to her advantage and actually gain power and status from it, while Takako was only exploited. I hope that whenever we get another Heian flashback that we will see these two again.

btw, I got this wonderful Uro x Yorozu comic when participating in an exchange event. It's fantastic, you should check it out! Made me love the two all the more.

A BROTP I have with said character:

Kenjaku I guess? Unfortunately, there aren't that many characters she's close to. I think it's interesting that she doesn't see them as solely manipulative and has a kind of positive attitude towards them. I could see them talking politics together and also Kenjaku riling her up to accept a second life shortly before she will be executed.

A NOTP I have with said character:

Yuuta...I don't think I need to say much about that. I already hated their interactions in Sendai. The fact this is even a thing and mostly seems to consist of Yuuta objectifying her or "putting her in her place" already makes me want to bleach my brain...

A random headcanon:

I think she used to wear something similar to shinobi wear while working for the Fujiwara. She can conceal herself with her CT, but she would also cover up her body from top to bottom except for maybe the eyes, so there would be nothing anyone could identify her by.

General Opinion over said character:

Always loved her. I hope she survives the Culling Game and is able to start a new life. Out of all the reincarnated sorcerers she deserves it the most. I mean, she doesn't kill people if she doesn't have to, so there's no danger coming from her. Wishful thinking, but maybe she'll make it out by staying low...

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Parker Molloy at The Present Age:

In recent weeks, Elon Musk's comments about his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, have reignited debates about gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Musk claimed he was "tricked" into supporting his child's transition and that the "woke mind virus" had effectively killed his “son.” However, Wilson's own words and experiences tell a starkly different story — one that underscores the life-changing benefits of gender-affirming care and the importance of listening to transgender individuals themselves.

Musk's high-profile statements come at a time when several U.S. states and entire countries are pushing to criminalize gender-affirming treatments for minors, and some political commentators are suggesting that adopting anti-transgender stances could be electorally advantageous. Yet these positions fly in the face of established medical consensus and the lived experiences of transgender individuals like Wilson. In this article, I’ll examine why Elon Musk is wrong about his daughter and gender-affirming care, drawing on Wilson's own statements, scientific research, and expert medical opinions. I'll explore how Wilson's story actually provides compelling evidence for the positive outcomes of gender-affirming care, and why political efforts to restrict such care are not only cruel but fundamentally misguided. Ultimately, I'll make the case that medical decisions — whether regarding gender-affirming treatments or other personal health matters, such as abortion — are best left to patients, their doctors, and in the case of minors, their parents, rather than being dictated by government legislation or political expediency.

Vivian Jenna Wilson's Experience: Living Proof of Positive Outcomes

Wilson's story provides a powerful counterpoint to her father's claims. Far from being "killed" by gender-affirming care, Wilson is a 20-year-old college student who has found the strength to speak out against misinformation about her own life. In her first public interview, Wilson directly challenged Musk's narrative. "I think he was under the assumption that I wasn't going to say anything and I would just let this go unchallenged," she stated. "Which I'm not going to do, because if you're going to lie about me, like, blatantly to an audience of millions, I'm not just gonna let that slide."

Wilson's account of her relationship with Musk starkly contrasts with his public statements. She described him as an absent father, stating, "He was there, I want to say, maybe 10% of the time. That's generous." When he was present, Vivian recalls him as "cold," "very quick to anger," and "uncaring and narcissistic." She recounts incidents of Musk berating her for exhibiting feminine traits, including an instance in fourth grade where he "was constantly yelling at me viciously because my voice was too high." Contrary to Musk's claim of being tricked into authorizing her treatment, Wilson asserts that he was fully informed when he consented to her gender-affirming care at age 16. She states, "He was not by any means tricked. He knew the full side effects," explaining that Musk read the medical forms at least twice before signing them.

Her journey also illuminates the typical timeline of gender identity realization and disclosure. She came out twice: first as gay in eighth grade, and then as transgender at 16. This aligns with research showing that many transgender individuals realize their identity years before disclosing it to others, countering notions of sudden or externally influenced gender identity changes. The positive impact of gender-affirming care is evident in Wilson's ability to live authentically. She emphasizes her autonomy and self-determination, stating, "I am an adult. I am 20 years old. I am not a child. My life should be defined by my own choices." This sentiment echoes the goals of gender-affirming care: to allow individuals to live as their true selves and make informed decisions about their bodies and identities.

Wilson's experience also highlights the crucial role of family support. While her relationship with Musk is strained, she speaks positively about her mother's support: "She's very supportive. I love her a lot." This underscores the importance of accepting and affirming parents in the well-being of transgender youth, a factor consistently emphasized in research on outcomes for transgender individuals. Moreover, Wilson's ability to pursue higher education and advocate for herself demonstrates resilience and personal growth. Her willingness to challenge misinformation about her own experiences, even in the face of her father's global platform, shows strength of character and a clear sense of self.

[...]

Science vs. Ideology in Transgender Healthcare Policy

The current political climate surrounding gender-affirming care for transgender youth is fraught with tension, as evidenced by the recent Supreme Court decision to hear a case on state bans of such care. This legal battle represents a broader conflict between scientific consensus and political ideology, with potentially far-reaching consequences for transgender individuals across the United States. As of July 2024, 25 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors. These laws have been passed despite the fact that such treatments have been available in the United States for over a decade and are endorsed by major medical associations. The disconnect between medical expertise and legislative action is stark and concerning.

In this context, it's particularly troubling to see suggestions like that made in the New York Times's The Morning newsletter. Writer David Leonhardt urged presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris to adopt a position on healthcare for trans minors that would restrict the type of access that Vivian Jenna Wilson received.  [...] The Yale white paper discussed earlier directly contradicts Leonhardt's characterization of the European medical consensus. It points out that while some European countries have recently reviewed their policies, there isn't a uniform European medical consensus against gender-affirming care for youth. Many European medical bodies continue to support such care when appropriate. [...]

Embracing Evidence-Based Care and Individual Rights

Throughout this examination of gender-affirming care for transgender youth, several critical themes have emerged. Wilson's personal journey stands as a powerful testament to the positive outcomes of such care. Her ability to live authentically and advocate for herself directly contradicts her father's claims about the harm of these treatments. Importantly, her experience aligns with the broader scientific evidence supporting gender-affirming care. This scientific consensus, as detailed in the Yale white paper and numerous studies, provides a strong foundation for the benefits of gender-affirming care. Improved mental health outcomes, enhanced quality of life, and remarkably low rates of regret are consistently reported. It's no wonder that major medical associations, including the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Endocrine Society, all endorse gender-affirming care based on this robust evidence.

Yet, we've seen how this evidence can be misrepresented. Claims that gender-affirming care is harmful or lacks scientific backing often distort the true scientific consensus. The critique of the Cass Review in the Yale white paper illustrates how selective interpretation of data can lead to misleading conclusions, underscoring the importance of comprehensive and unbiased analysis. The current wave of legislative restrictions on gender-affirming care represents a troubling intrusion of political ideology into medical practice. These laws not only contradict medical expertise but also risk causing significant harm to transgender youth who rely on these treatments for their well-being. Even more concerning are suggestions that political figures should adopt anti-transgender stances for electoral gain, as proposed in the New York Times newsletter. Such proposals prioritize political strategy over the health and rights of a vulnerable population, raising serious ethical concerns.

As we look to the future, it's imperative that we prioritize evidence-based care and individual rights. Medical decisions, whether about gender-affirming care or any other health matter, should remain in the hands of patients, their doctors, and in the case of minors, their parents. Government interference in these personal decisions, especially when it contradicts medical consensus, sets a dangerous precedent that extends beyond transgender healthcare. The upcoming Supreme Court case on state bans of gender-affirming care underscores the national significance of this issue. As this legal battle unfolds, we must continue to amplify the voices and experiences of transgender individuals like Wilson, whose firsthand knowledge of the benefits of this care is invaluable. Musk's statements about his daughter and gender-affirming care not only cause personal hurt but also fly in the face of scientific evidence and the lived experiences of many transgender individuals. The political efforts to criminalize this care are both cruel and misguided, potentially denying life-saving treatments to those who need them most.

Parker Molloy with yet another insightful column on gender-affirming care and Elon Musk’s trans daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson.

[g0ldgauntlet]

Being a Genshin Impact Fan is Embarrassing.

First, CW for grooming. This is about Diluc's English voice actor.

If you still would like to read further, proceed below. (Image description is in alt text)

So, more people are finding out about Sean Chiplock having tried to groom a minor. His victim also spoke out against him yesterday (at the time of making this post). Sean has not denied any of these claims when attempting to talk to the victim.

Am I surprised about Sean being a weirdo? No, not in the slightest. He has always been weird about minors and unprofessional around them, and it's frustrating that people constantly kept giving him passes because he's "trying to get a reaction out of people."

No, Sean doesn't get a pass for making a sexual joke about Sayu.

Sean does not get a pass for telling a kid to "send proof of ID" with suggestive intentions behind that response just because they insulted him online.

Sean does not get a pass for constantly arguing with kids on the internet just because they don't like him.

Sean, you are a grown ass man. You can block and ignore these people at any time. Clearly they must have struck a nerve if you were willing to double down on this behavior for so long until you finally got caught for what you did to Casper.

Again, though, I'm not surprised. This is the same person who shamed the victims of Tighnari's ex-voice actor because Sean deemed them to be attention-seekers.

Birds of a feather flock together. (He backpedaled and deleted this tweet later, likely because he knew how poorly this reflected on him.)

This fandom's priorities with protecting weird white/lightskinned influencers and creators until it's too late to take that back - all the while bullying brown/other marginalized people at the same time - has infuriated me since day 1 of when I played Genshin. I watched creators and influencers of color in this fandom be harassed, driven off of platforms, and sent threats because they made a joke in relation to an artwork (Layla's VA),

sided with their gay friend who voiced their opinions about BL content (Candace's VA), or said negative opinions about two characters who the fandom knows are controversial (ttunaartt), yet Sean can get a pass.

Do not defend Sean Chiplock. Please send your support to Casper, his victim.

[6okuto]

hii! if ur requests are open, can i request a cove holden x gn reader that doesn’t express themselves that well? like to everybody they seem very.. emotionless, when in reality they have a lot of thoughts and definitely feel emotions, they just have difficulties expressing them.

COVE WITH AN INEXPRESSIVE READER

gn!reader | You're Real and so so valid. i get like this a bit actually

after knowing you for years, he's one of the best people to guess what you're feeling accurately. he's had time to figure out emotional cues

^ seriously knows all the ins and outs—the difference between you replying with "that's fine" or "yes please," how you go quiet when you're thinking about what to say or something has upset you, etc

it's a learning curve for step 1 cove—he probably asks outright about it the first time he takes notice, you know how it is o(-( so it takes time but he does his best

^ i can imagine him nonchalantly pointing something out about how he knows you're happy because of so-and-so, and your families being pleasantly surprised :') he takes pride in knowing you well

cove can be,, very visibly emotional himself,, so sometimes your families talk about how you guys are so different, yet seem to understand each other better than anyone else

and like, let's be honest, cove can struggle with a similar thing!! sometimes he can't find the words to express his feelings and he knows how frustrating it can be, as a personal barrier and as something people comment on.

if you ever feel guilty for not being expressive, he frowns and reminds you that you don't have to be; he wants you to be comfortable and yourself, whatever that means for you !!

but if you want to be more expressive and it helps, he'll suggest different things for you to build on—like starting the conversation you know? asking how you feel about the situation, if something's made you upset, how long you've been looking forward to do something, etc etc

^ he takes the time to look up different ways to help and his search history is a bit wonky for a while (like that step 3 dlc moment o)-( )

never takes it personally if you don't react super strong to a gift or compliment. he does it because he wants to make you happy and to let you know he loves you !! he'd actually be more upset if you tried to force a reaction

if something upsetting has happened, it's not uncommon for people to underestimate the impact on you. cove finds the time to talk to you alone to see how you're doing and will do whatever you'd like to feel better (like the step 3 moment where you're split up at the market sort of deal)

the second anyone wants to rudely comments on your "emotionless" attitude cove is there. he won't make a huge scene, especially if you say it's fine, but he will remember and at least tell them that they shouldn't just assume things

cove is happy the times you're expressive because he knows that means you trust and feel comfortable around him !! he'll also take note of what exactly makes you super happy so he can do it in the future

when it's something where your opinion is super important he always takes the extra time to talk with you about it. you can show up late or take a few minutes to think things through—your feelings are the most important thing at the end of the day

all in all he doesn't mind as long as you don't! you're his world and endearing in your own ways. cove would never make you change just to please other people and he'll always remind you of that

@dreamtydraw @lordbugs @xfangirl-trashx @fifteenshadesofpinkk @lotus-sukimono @bakugosgrenade @vhenis @anime-ships-gay

[nieves-de-sugui]

The Yaoi Ronso and Akiko Mizoguchi

here the original post this one stems from. I advice reading that one first if you haven't. Please note I am no expert on this, and this is a post to give an overview of the different topics treated. There might be some inaccuracies.

The Yaoi Debates - 1992

In 1992, a “confrontation between women yaoi fans and gay men about the relation between the representation of homosexual love and society’s prejudice against gay men in real life” that happened in the japanese feminist magazine Bessatsu CHOISIR. 

The Yaoi Ronso (or Yaoi Debates) were a series of letters published in the magazine between Masaki Sato (a gay activist), who criticized the genre, and the female readers, who defended it. Masaki Sato criticized yaoi for showing examples of homosexual life that could negatively impact young gay men who read them. Meanwhile female readers argued back that shonen ai/yaoi was not meant to depict reality, or real men. This exchange of letters ended with Masaki Sato and some of the female readers agreeing in some points, and Sato suggesting that instead of escaping from reality these stories should make reality easier to live in. 

Up to that point, in most of the 20 years of academic studies regarding the subject, it has been argued that the men depicted in these stories chould be thought as a third gender free of societal expectations, object of love in a pure form. A means for female sexual liberation and exploration, made possible thanks to its detachement to reality. Lots of theories at the time said that women used these “boys” to avoid having to become “women”, and the expectations that came with the title. Maintaing the “boyhood” from childhood that is lost as they become women. 

After the Debates, female academics started evaluating the power of the symbol of male homosexual love fantasies. And so started a discussion about the difference between reality and fantasy, getting to question topics such as depictions of rape being easily allowed. All of this as part of gender studies and manga studies.

One of the more discussed things in academic studies regarding shoujo and BL is its heterosexual female public. The shonen-ai/yaoi/BL has served as a medium for homosexuals to find each other but also for heterosexual women to flee society’s heteronormative and gender pressures, heavily associated with fantasy. One example of this is the magazine Barazoku (meaning Rose tribe, bara is a term highly associated with gay content). Which featured a column where letters of female readers would be published. At first these letters expressed the desires of these women to marry gay men, or become gay men themselves to enjoy a freedom they believed gay men enjoyed (they would usually be referred to as okoge or fag hags). Despite its problematic nature, the chief editor of the magazine went against advice and requests to stop publishing such letters. From there on started to appear letters from lesbian women (which ended up being the only kind of letters that woul d be featured) who, interested in depictions of homosexual love would realize their own desire for the same sex. This column was then changed to the name Yurizoku (the Lily Tribe, yuri is a term highly associated with lesbian content). 

The 1990s were also when there was a “gay boom” in japan (lgbt movie festivals and other things started happening). Many of the manga magazines that published BL would feature articles that introduced the japanese gay lifestyle to its women readers. Like, gay bars, Shinjuku Ni-Choume (the gay district of Tokyo), or art popular among gays or even foreign gay communities. Gay men and women has been learned from each other in this way for a number of years now. 

Academics noticed the impact of the Yaoi Ronso on BL as they started to observe gay characters who reached a happy ending emerging. The Yaoi Ronso had a definite impact on the evolution of the gerne as it started to take into account that (having meant to or not) they had a power of influence that affected real people. 

sources Kayo Takeuchi James Welker Wim Lunsing

However, Wim Lunsing brings an important point to the table:

“Gay manga are not essentially different from BLB manga.”

It is true that BL is the most popular form in which we find gay stories in Japan. However, gay comics had existed for almost the same amount of time as yaoi. 

Short introduction to Male Love (ML)

ML, Gei Komi and Bara are the terms with which gay content made by and for gay men are refered to. Gengoroh Tagame is one of the most prominent figures of it. Before he started publishing his very sexual BDSM comics, the beauty ideal that was pursued was the bishonen aesthetic. However, Tagame’s characters where big, muscle-y, fat, hairy men, with a clear influence by Tom of Finland, and its popularity changed the tastes of japanese gay men.

Gengoroh Tagame also started writing slice of life manga in an effort to educate japanese society about gay life and LGBT issues. He is the author of the manga My Brother’s Husband (which was later turned into a 4 episode series).

Another notable manga is Until I Met my Husband, based on an autobiographic essay by Ryousuke Nanansaki.

Akiko Mizoguchi, the Rape Fantasy Expert - An Extra

Akiko Mizoguchi is a notable researcher of BL studies. She is the expert in regards to the analysis of depictions of rape, however she writes mostly in japanese, and my comprehesion of it is very limited for academic readings. 

She has wrote an extensive book: Theorizing BL As a Transformative Genre: Male-Male Fictions by and for Women - which is currently being translated to english.

Summary:

Identifying Mari Mori's 1961 short novel as the origin of the genre and the 1970's-1980's "Beautiful Boy" manga within the girls' (shojo) manga as the precursor, Dr. Akiko Mizoguchi discusses how the commercial BL genre has transformed into an unprecedented genre with feminist and queer activist potential. Recent commercial BL genre has produced stories that portray strong female characters and gay-identified characters who come out and engage in other realistic negotations. Mizoguchi argues that while BL represents beautiful male characters at the center, for veteran women fans and authors, it functions as a female sexualized discursive space in which they exchange pleasure to the extent that these women can be called "virtual gay men" and "virtual lesbians."

source

Mizoguchi is a lesbian woman trying to bring a new type of analysis of BL taking lesbianism into account. 

Other academic authors with a lot on yaoi manga/BL are Mark McLelland and Thomas Baudinette. 

Conclusion (of sorts)

Even though The Yaoi Debates ended, it is still being had up to these days. Both in academics and within the BL fandom. If we change the exhange of letters in magazines for the internet, we find ourselves in a similar situation. I hope that through this post the Debates have become clearer and easier to understand for those who didn’t know about it. 

I close with this quote from one of the text I read for this post:

“The implication that gay sex is objectified for the purpose of the sexual liberation of women surely is a queer use of male homosexuality par excellence.”

Together with a longer version of the previous quote:

“It rather seems that gay men like Satō have difficulty with the idea that women may look at them as sex objects. Gay manga are not essentially different from BLB manga.”

Make with it what you will, but it is indeed food for thought.

Closing Remarks

For those curious ones, wanting to look into how the gay community of Japan was in the 70′s, check out Funeral Parade of Roses. And if anyone is interested in male prostitution in Japan, check out Boys for Sale (if you can, if not here’s an interview).

If you’ve made it to this point, I hope you found this post interesting or helpful in whichever way it may be needed. I have mainly summarized what little I know on the topic but if anybody is curious about the big details in an academic way, here is the best article on it I have been able to find: The Yaoi Ronso (by Wim Lunsing).

Edit: this post has been updated to correct some mistakes. If you happen to see any more please do point them out

[violamonty]

putting this under a readmore because it ended up getting REALLY long-winded BUT. thoughts on tybalt vs. tank in terms of characterization. similarities, differences, yada yada yada. also some thoughts on the capp family as a whole.

(warning for discussion of internalized homophobia and toxic masculinity, but that's kind of par for the course when it comes to talking about tank in particular.)

tybalt and tank are really interesting because like. on the surface they seem really similar (like i mentioned before — gay eldest brothers of three who are deeply, deeply maladjusted from being used as a pawn in their families’ respective Problems). and i think that because of that, it’s easy to fall into the pitfall of just making them Essentially The Same Guy. (i don’t blame people for doing that! as i just said, they’re pretty similar guys.)

i know a lot of people (myself included) characterize tank as being a very repressed gay guy with a lot of internalized homophobia. that guilt compounds with his desire to make his dad happy by being, you know, A Tough Guy. buzz has already given up on ripp, and i honestly think he forgets buck exists sometimes. (the PSP game sure did.) tank is buzz’s last chance to have a “normal” son who follows in his footsteps by getting a wife and kids and idk, dying in a war or something? so there’s an immense amount of pressure for tank to be buzz 2.0 (AKA world’s straightest nuclear family having man).

except, obviously, tank isn’t built for that. he’s gay. he likes getting creative with his facepaint (or at least he did before buzz told him off for it). he wants to do ballet. he has five nice points, whereas buzz only has two.

tybalt, on the other hand, is not operating on NEARLY as many layers of internalized homophobia and toxic masculinity as tank is. what he IS operating on, however, is capp emotional repression. there’s a lot in game to suggest that most (if not all) of the capp marriages were arranged — goneril and regan aren’t in love with their respective spouses (nor are their respective spouses in love with them), and regan specifically never has been. the way the capp family is structured makes the concept of… courtship, i guess? into more of a transaction of status than anything emotional.

even if the concept of arranged marriages isn’t something that applies to tybalt specifically (and it may not be — kent is our only example of an adult male capp descendant, and he’s not married either), i feel like the concept of swallowing your true feelings for the sake of your family’s status is something that’s pretty pervasive among the capps. that’s part of what makes juliette’s relationship with romeo so scandalous. it’s not JUST because he’s a monty (although that is the primary reason) — it’s also expected that she marries someone who would bolster her own reputation, not just A Guy She’s In Love With.

anyways. tybalt is emotionally repressed, but that's less because he's gay and more because he's a capp. he isn't normal about the fact that he's gay, but that's just because he isn't normal about anything. he feels guilty about pursuing his own relationships because he feels like his whole life should be focused on his allegiance to the capp family (and, by extension, the capp-monty feud). he's invested so much time and energy into upholding his family's ideals (he maxed out his fucking body skill before even becoming an adult, for one. this guy's got problems) that it's become his whole identity.

why does tybalt care so much? memories between the three capp siblings are, as always, inconsistent, but i'm of the opinion that tybalt was the only one old enough to really Remember the fire that killed their parents. the capp siblings subsequently being taken in and raised by consort (who is arguably the most invested in the capp-monty feud) had a profoundly negative impact on tybalt's development, similarly to how the loss of lyla as a voice of reason had a profoundly negative impact on tank's. consort believed that the monty family was somehow responsible for the fire that killed cordelia and caliban, an idea he ended up passing on to his grandchildren.

juliette and hermia, being too young to fully remember the fire and therefore less blinded by a need for revenge, were able to see past that and see that it was kind of bullshit — the capp manor is an old house (so old that it doesn't even have showers), so the fire was almost certainly an accident. tybalt, on the other hand, is very reliant on authority figures to tell him what to believe (another trait he shares with tank), and all of a sudden consort is the only authority figure in his life. if cordelia (who was implied to be against the capp-monty feud by way of contessa's bio) had lived and remained a voice of reason in tybalt's life, he may have turned out differently... at least in terms of his opinion on the capp-monty feud. (i think that, unlike tank, he's kind of an angry dude no matter what. he has two nice points.)

back to tank. unlike tybalt, a lot of his guilt DOES stem specifically from the fact that he's gay — and, of course, that guilt ends up feeding into his anger and some sort of inferiority complex. he wants to be the perfect son so bad, but the fact that he's gay is (in both his eyes and his dad's) something that stands in the way of that. if he just Stops Being Gay, maybe everything else in his life will fall into place. (it won't, but he doesn't know that.) i think that in order to unlearn that internalized homophobia and self-hatred, he has to distance himself from buzz first. i'd like to think that he ends up doing that eventually, but i'm also not sure if it's realistic — he gets his camouflage facepaint tattooed sometime between the PC and DS versions, and that particular facepaint design is something buzz approved of. (i'm looping back to the "creativity with his facepaint" secret because it makes me sad.)

tank being shitty to ripp is an extension of his need for his father's approval (although that's less 'my interpretation' and more just. actually canon, i think). part of it is him mimicking what he's seen buzz do, but part of it is a subconscious jealousy that ripp is brave enough to rebel against their shitty dad. the ever-present toxic masculinity in tank's brain tells him that he has to be a brave person, but on at least some level he knows that ripp is braver than him — ripp, who paints his nails and wears smudged dollar-store eyeliner, is being a hell of a lot more courageous than tank, who is decked out in camouflage from head to toe because it makes his dad happy. and that's something that won't leave tank's mind, no matter how much he would never admit it.

anyways. tank and tybalt. if they ever met (which i think is unlikely — tybalt lives somewhere italy-adjacent and tank is in like. new mexico), i'm not sure if they would be friends. it really depends on what stage of their lives they were at (i think they'd hate each other as teenagers because they're so similar). i think there would be something else there, though. some sort of acknowledgement. a recognition of the self through the other.

[uncanny-tranny]

Hi, I'm just wondering, as a transmasc gay guy, how do l help ppl respect me better? I would love to get on T and have top surgery (it was banned in my state for everyone on medicaid, so l can't). If you have any suggestions I would love to hear about it.

I'll be honest, I think it really depends on different factors and what you want from each relationship.

Some things that can help is to ask yourself:

What would I want a stranger to know and respect? An acquaintance? A friend? A close friend?

What does respecting me look like, and what would I be most comfortable with? Is this impacted by how close I am with somebody?

When I answered these questions myself, it became a lot clearer to me about my own comfort levels and how I felt best respected. So, for instance, a stranger isn't going to be told by me about my sexuality because I'm not comfortable with that (and, hell, even really close friends aren't given that level of intimacy often). I use sexuality as my example because I am more sensitive about it than being a guy.

Sometimes, the most respect will come from people who don't know your entire life story, and I think many queer people are so caught up in almost "proving" that they deserve to be respected that they tend to overcompensate. I don't fault anybody for this, but ultimately... You can only do so much "for" other people when it comes to respect that you can't be blamed if somebody sees that you want to be respected and they choose not to do that. It hurts, and it's scary, but it also isn't your fault.

I think it also depends on who you are trying to help in terms of understanding you, your comfort, and your needs. Some people will need to have a level of trust in order to relate, and some won't need your whole life's story in order to understand. When it comes to social exchanges like this, I think it's best to try understanding the other person, too, because their own experiences will impact their own threshold for understanding others.

I don't have a ton of those social scripts because this is highly interpersonal and impacted heavily on your own cultures, norms, and the overall attitudes or stereotypes that may (or may not) have about queer people. I do genuinely want to guide others, but I want to do so in a way where you can easily and without guilt discard what won't work for you. I seek to inspire, not to dictate.

I tend to see the most success from doing the above, so to simplify:

Understand your own comfort levels

Differentiate those comfort levels based on your relationship with others

Understand that you are not responsible for how other people ultimately do or don't respect you

Have strong, clear boundaries whenever possible. In the event that somebody doesn't respect you, have a plan for either addressing it or not engaging with them

Remember that you have inherent worth and deserve to be treated well

I really hope that maybe this gives you some ideas. Again, I don't want to tell you what to do, just inspire you to think about your own comfort and sense of safety. If anyone has ideas, feel free to share<3

[moonfurthetemmie]

Imagine real quick. You have spent one hundred years trying to make the world a better place. Some people say your methods aren't...ideal, but you're confident you're making a positive impact.

You have created so many new branches since you first founded your organization. There's medical research. An exceptional hospital. An orphanage. Apartments. Rehab for criminals and addicts.

Most everyone you know is here. Your friends. Maybe a few you'd think of as family, though after all this time you can't really bring yourself to get too close to anyone. Especially after them. But still.

This is your home. Your life's work. You've poured your heart and soul into this.

And now imagine, one day, somehow, it was all destroyed.

No warning. The castle that had served as your base of operations--you're home--has been turned to dust.

You know there were no survivors. Their emotions burned so brightly, and now there was an empty void. The only ones who'd survived were you, and maybe a few of the teams you sent out earlier that day.

In an instant, everything you had was ripped away. Everything.

And you know exactly who did it.

This is how Lucidity ended up losing his goddamn mind.

I was just going to have one big essay with some vaguely defined sections, but then I realized it was so ungodly long it'd probably take three years to read, so i'm going to cut it into three or four (or. maybe five?) pieces. This is part 1.

The Catalyst

It started with the resistance in JMV finding Dreamswap.

At this point in time, Nightshade and Dark have unofficially moved into the manor. Nightshade has decided helping Shale would be entertaining (also they’re gay), and Dark is trying to quietly and gently get Jade out of there (with little success, presently). The resistance is not having a good time with Jet now being part of the team.

So, after hearing a lot about JR, Peridot decided to ask Lucidity for help. Some details still need to be ironed out on my end, but she had a whole plan. Their request, a partial solution to suggest, and some way to repay him for his help.

Their potential solution was a weapon they had been working on for a while. An explosive device powered by positivity, which takes the little bit of positivity it’s given and very quickly produces more, before exploding. The explosion would be partly your typical bomb explosion, and partly a violent boom of highly concentrated positivity. A corrupt that survives the initial explosion would more than likely be killed by the positivity.

But they hadn’t been able to test it yet.

Because the only two people in the multiverse left with the Tree’s positive magic are Jade, who’s stuck in the manor, and Quartz, who’s constantly on the run and would probably rather chew her own arm off than give that away.

They may, with an incredible amount of effort on Peridot’s part, have been able to simulate a very small-scale version of it.

But, either because Peridot (a spirit) didn’t come to DreamSwap herself and saw how much magic was just sitting in the air around JR, or they didn’t realize how sensitive the prototype was, they brought it to show Lucidity, and it reacted to the ambient positivity in the area.

This ambience was a result of both Lucidity’s radiant ass living there for about a hundred years, and the positive emotions of the hundreds if not thousands of people who staff and/or live in the castle.

No human or monster can feel it, but any spirit who doesn’t live there (literally anyone except Lucidity) would notice. Immediately.

And it turned out, the weapon didn’t store a certain amount of energy before exploding. It exponentially increased the amount of positivity that it’s given. The strength and concentration of the positivity also affects the size and strength of the less magical part of the explosion.

And there was far more positivity in the air than they could’ve ever hoped to acquire in their home MV.

So…they pretty much brought a radiance nuke to JR and it went off because the air was too magical. There’s a lot of lingering positivity in the area. There will likely be severe consequences in the environment and any life in the area that wasn’t killed by the initial explosion.

It was an accident.

But they would never be able to make it right. Not in their own eyes, and especially not Lucidity’s.

Lucidity was not in JR. But he was in the same universe. He was taking Champion out. He hasn’t been able to get out much with Champ, so he’s taken the whooole day off to both relax and to spend time with his dog.

They’re close enough to the castle that they can see it. And while they’re not close enough to get hurt, they’re close enough that they can feel the shockwave from the explosion. 

Lucidity sees JR start to crumble before the shockwave reaches them. 

Lucidity is losing his shit. He’s very, very not okay. He’s in shock, grieving the loss of damn near everyone he knows, his home, and his lifelong work, and he’s fucking furious.

Lucidity doesn’t know who these people were, but he does know that they were part of an organization. The idiots who brought the weapon noticed it had been activated, and managed to run far enough that they hadn’t been vaporized in the blast. He found their clothes, several meters away from the rubble, and each had an unusual pin with a logo he’d never seen before.

There must’ve been more of them.

And this is the official start of his descent into (relatively) minor madness. 

[mars-ipan]

I'll be honest I was just compiling the list in a Starbucks drive thru. So all that was from memory.

I was mostly thinking of things that are through a possessiveness perspective. You are totally someone that would find (theoretical) jealousy hot. So that's why alot of it had something to do with leaving a mark.

For example I said impact play as a broad term. Something to cover not just spanking but whips and paddles too. Something so it's less about the pain it brings and more about how in the aftermath there would be lasting marks. Like a mark from a paddle that says "Property of x".

Also I KNEW I should've added face-fucking you oral maniac(pos). I just stopped myself cause I was convinced that I was just projecting there. Now I feel that if you were in a subby mood you'd be pretty into the idea of someone having their head just grasped and manhandled to get the other off.

And finally to explain the piercings thing cause I was pretty proud of that. It was mainly inspired by this oneshot manga I had read. It was about a guy(A for convenience) falling for this other guy(B for convenience) who had multiple piercings. As they hook up and get closer A gets more into B's piercings, eventually getting a tongue piercing of his own out of interest. They start dating and then it's eventually revealed why B has so many. It's revealed that B had let himself get pierced by each one of his exes as a form of possession. A is taken aback but B offers him to do something similar. B offers the idea that A "rewrites" the piercings by making them wider, and adds one more to truely claim him. B does this and by A's suggestion, gives him a Prince Albert piercing.

So with that explanation I can see you being into piercings as like a more lasting version of collaring. Anyways this was fun, hope you enjoy(ed) your yaoi(dnd) time. I'll add my anon tag as a surprise reveal since I frequent your confession blog.

=hypno anon

HYPNO OMG HIIIII . HELLO :3 you read me pretty well!!!

yeahhhh fantasy pretend jealousy is hottt. you got me. ough to have a partner and do or say something that has them dragging you away and growling in your ear that you're theirs, not anyone else's. and then proving it.... dreamy sigh <3

paddles aren't really my thing (too "corporal punishment" for me) but the idea of a mark that says "property of x..." yes that is hot. scratch it into someone's skin with the nails :] yeaghsgh

"oral maniac" is one of the funniest things i've ever been called and i will wear it like a badge of honor. if i'm not meant to put my mouth on everything then WHY is the mouth a home to so many senses. hm. taste smell AND touch. just saying. also i will chew on Anything idgaf. i actually have a really bad gag reflex so the idea of actually participating in facefucking is. um. not great for me. i don't like throwing up lmao. BUT ! i do love to read a good facefucking. i have read some INCREDIBLE fanfiction with facefucking. OUGH that shit goes hard

that piercing story is nuts. crazy. Hello !!! a prince albert of all things to choose is crazyyyyy. owie. but also woagh what a fucking symbol. symbols of possession.... grraggh

and yes i am enjoying my yaoi time. currently still in yaoi time actually ^-^ the rest of my party has been kidnapped but fortune got lucky and got to... erm... get lucky. instead. gay sex #win. oh i think they're cutting back to me soon gtg :3