#lgbtq+ love stories

[deep-in]

I just loved so much how coming-of-age Young Royals was. I can't stop thinking, and wrting, about.

Since the cinematography in the scenes, the close ups and the looks they exchange. It's amazingly tailored for the younghood. I wrote extensively about it in my Substack

[pebblegalaxy]

Blossoms and Boundaries: A Love Story Defying Tradition in Yokohama #OutandAboutBlogHop @MindRustic @sukaina1422

A Tale of Blossoms and Boundaries Walking down the alleyways of Yokohama, the scents of street food mingling with the soft fragrance of cherry blossoms, I feel the heavy weight of expectation pressing down on me, the invisible yet tangible force shaping my every move. The school uniform, a pleated skirt and crisp blouse, clings to my slender frame like a second skin, accentuating the newly…

[lezkissgifs]

American Horror Story: Delcate S12E08 (2024)

[daily-spooky]

[queer-africa]

Hello friends, first we appreciate your support for lgbtiqa refugees in Kenya. This is to keep you posted about how life is increasingly hard for queer people in Kenya( Kakuma camp)

We got attacked yesterday and three of our friends got injured on the head and others got minor injuries. We are seeking financial support so that our friends can get proper treatment. In the picture is a lesbian whose head was beaten with a stone and we need to help her urgently. We need to take her to an x-ray scan and findout whether she is ok.

The hospital requires us to pay $250 and so we please need you to help witj any amount you can. We slwo have other frienfs that got attavked but not as bad as this.

See gofundme below

See picture below

[xiaq]

No, but lets talk about this. I dug out my grad school notes and everything.

So my grandmother is acting a fool on FB (what else is new).

And I can't respond to her because I might actually give her a heart attack if I shared some of the images included below. But I wanted to rant to someone so here we are. First, yes, the drag bit at the Olympics was inspired by The Feast of the Gods, by Dutch artist Jan van Bijlert in the 1630's, not The Last Supper mural by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, in the 1490's. And yes, pearl-clutching Christians need to touch grass and tone down the victimization because it's getting embarrassing. I think we've established this now from multiple reputable sources.

But like. Even if the Olympics DID make a drag parody of the The Last Supper, it's SO funny that Christians are holding up that painting as some sort of ideal heterosexual conservative icon when plenty of historians (including my Renaissance art prof in grad school) are certain da Vinci was gay. The man had no documented female lovers but was arrested for sodomy with a male prostitute (though charges were later dropped). He had extremely close relationships with his secretary Salaì and pupil/friend Francesco Melzi who both traveled the world and lived with him for most of their lives and through the end of his. When he died, Melzi wrote in a letter that there was "a burning and passionate love" between them. And Salaì modeled for da Vinci all the time--let me tell you, there are some hella erotic drawings of him. Exibit A:

But maybe heterosexuals draw their bros erect all the time and label the drawings "Angel Incarnate." Maybe.

Also if Christians really want to clutch their peals, this drawing might look familiar because da Vinci created his well known John the Baptist painting based on this and other sketches of Salaì.

Well, hello. Also worth noting: there are lots of fun doodles in da Vinci's sketch books, including things like the below--two dicks with legs poking at a butthole labeled Salaì.

Do you REALLY think that this (likely queer) man would care if someone based a drag show off one of his paintings?

[aprikkaa]

I LOVE GREGORY RAAHHHH

+ bonus greg and evan!

[redysetdare]

I think queer stories would be better if people stopped assuming that queer representation hinges on if two characters are romantically involved at all. Like the moment you accept characters as being queer without needing romance to prove said queerness then i think we'd find ourselves with a lot more unique, nuanced, and interesting queer stories. but by limiting queerness to only romance you are stifling queer stories.

[lukedifferent]

It's wonderful to be someone's weakness - Luke -

[the-modern-typewriter]

Hey! I love your work and got into it in the beginning of highschool :) I was wondering if you have time to write about two people (MLM) who have been friends for a few years but always had a little tension? Like a taller boy teases a shorter fiery boy trope. Then wall pinning happens lol. Think it would be interesting if the taller boy was the more dominant and possessive one even if he's the chiller more reserved one. I imagine they're both drunk too lmao.

"You know, one of these days," Aiden said, "I'm going to punch you in the face if you don't shut your mouth."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't you have to be able to reach first?"

"I'm not that short!"

"I suppose I could get you a box," Jack mused, as they walked home.

"I don't need a box to reach your face!"

"Maybe a step ladder."

"I swear to god-"

"-You don't get vertigo, do you? It would be really embarrassing for you if you tried to punch me in the face and then immediately passed out because you weren't used to the altitude-"

Aiden shoved him, heat burning in his cheeks despite the chill of upcoming winter and the warming buzz of a couple beers. It just made Jack laugh softly in that aggravating gorgeous way of his, so Aiden shoved him again, harder, up against the wall.

He had wild notions of proving something - strength, perhaps, as he held Jack pinned up against the brick work - only to find himself caught off guard as he looked up Jack's expression. The lazy grin was there, sure, but something else too. His eyes simmering in the moonlight.

Jack's grin widened a notch. Teasing. Taunting, in a way he never seemed to do with anyone else.

"That's my chest, Aiden, that you have your hands on," he said in an oh so helpful tone of voice. "In the world of tall people who can actually reach the top shelf-"

Aiden kissed him.

It did shut Jack up, so there was that, and though he did admittedly have to go up on his toes he could definitely reach Jack's oh so cool stupid handsome face. Ha! His grip tightened on the front of Jack's shirt, trying to drag him down, closer, a soft sound escaping him as Jack kissed him back.

...Jack kissed him back. He was kissing Jack.

Aiden pulled back, panting, eyes wide.

Jack's head tilted, studying him. The simmering intent thing had entirely taken over the lazy grin.

Aiden swallowed, mouth abruptly dry. Scorched. A hundred small light bulbs pinged in his brain. Jack smiled, then.

Oh so easily, as if he'd merely been letting Aiden play at pinning him the whole time, Jack switched their positions. Aiden's breath caught. He was not that short, but he was rather aware of the way that Jack's body pressed flush against his own, bracketing him in, of the way he had to tilt his head back a fraction to hold Jack's gaze. Of how warm Jack was compared to the cool wall behind him.

"Interesting punching technique," Jack said. "Do you wanna try again?"

"Prick." Adrian craned up eagerly to kiss him again and...Jack rocked just out of reach. Teasing. Adrian glared at him, cheeks flushed further. He tugged at his wrists in Jack's hold, fully prepared to drag him down by force if necessary, but found no give.

Jack had him well and truly pinned.

Adrian's stomach swooped pleasantly.

Jack laughed again. Amused, fond, and just a little bit more velvet than before.

"You're so annoying," Adrian said.

"Mm. Is that the look on your face right now? Annoyed?"

"What would you call it?"

"Turned on."

The simple response made Aiden's brain blank. Mostly because it was true. Mostly because he wasn't supposed to just go and say that, in his oh so composed Jack voice, and make everything in Aiden squirm delicious and entirely too exposed.

The lazy grin returned. "I could come down a bit," Jack said. "If you asked nicely."

"I'm not that short!"

"Then kiss me."

Aiden managed to get their lips to brush that time, close enough for Jack to nip his mouth gently. It wasn't enough. It wasn't anywhere near enough.

"I hate you," Aiden huffed.

"I'm getting that."

"You really should shut up."

"If only someone was tall enough to kiss me, I would."

Aiden glared at him again. "Just you wait until we're in bed. Then you won't be vertically cheating!"

"Vertically cheating, huh?"

"It's what it's called when people are like you."

"I see. But when we're in bed together, as you suggest, you're totally not going to end up writhing beneath me?"

Well wasn't that a mental image.

"Please just bloody kiss me already!"

Jack leaned down, pressing a sweet kiss to his forehead.

"Oh, come on." Aiden tried to sound grumpy, livid, instead of utterly delighted. He didn't think it worked.

"Ask nicely," Jack sing-songed.

"You want to kiss me too just as badly, I can see it on your face."

"Yes. But I can kiss you all I like." Jack proved the point by leaning down, pressing a succession of kisses to Aiden's temple, his cheek, his jaw, his neck. He dodged with uncanny, teasing swiftness when Aiden tried to capture his mouth. "See."

"Please," Aiden said, after a beat, "kiss me."

And, oh so obligingly, Jack did.

They hurried the rest of the way home after that.

[heretherebedork]

Honestly, revisiting this show after The Time of Fever is fascinating because it really starts out feeling like Hotae was the one who left Donghee rather than the other way around. And seeing this line after the show just hits differently. And when an injured Hotae gets brought in and Donghee brings out his first aid kit?

This is agony knowing their backstory, knowing the love that was between them and who rejected who and how heartbroken they both were and the joy they used to bring to each other that they can't even approach right now. Ugh. My entire heart to them.

Hits so differently now. Ugh. I do love prequels. Though I wish we could get a happy ending sequel as well. They deserve joy, damnit.

Honestly, just everything about them is so much more painful with the new knowledge of who they were to each other and who they were together and how that all ended.

Absolutely feral over them now. Hotae finally pushing for what he's wanted for so long (because he's wanted this for so long) and the instant rejection from Donghee out of trauma and I love them so much more on a second viewing and with the new show in mind.

[amysilvas]

silvacre. <3

[joshunderthewaves]

Sharing my art for September. Take a look

[galina]

Anyone's Ghost, August Thompson – enjoyed this advance review copy way more than I expected, it broke through my cynical shell and turned me into a soft wobbly mess. An angsty cheesy beautiful queer love story that will be a perfect crying-on-holiday read, comes out in July.

[earthmoonz]

future! maxlena when they finally get their shit together!

[dresshistorynerd]

Roughly 10 Cool Historical Queer Figures More People Should Know About

Part 1 - From Ancient Era to Early Modern Era

In spirit of Pride Month here's some snippets of queer history I think are interesting.

I've been working on a series of deep dives into interesting historical queer figures, but I haven't had the time to continue my list after the first entry about Julie d'Aubigny. I do want to continue with it, but I came to the realization that I will never have to time to do all the cool and interesting figures in depth, since there's too many, so I decided to do a list with brief descriptions about some of my favorite figures who are not that well known. Some of them are more well-known than others but I think they all deserve more acknowledgement.

I was able to trim down the number of figures to (roughly) 20, which was still too many for one post, so it's two posts now. They are in chronological order, so this part is set mostly before Victorian Era and the second part will be from Victorian Era onward.

This list is centered around western history (but not exclusively) because that's the history I'm most familiar with, though it's definitely not all white, since western history is not all white. I will be avoiding using modern labels, since they are rarely exactly applicable to history, rather I will present whatever we know about these figures' gender, sexuality and relationships. If there's information about what language they used about themselves, I will use that. Often we don't know their own thoughts, so I will need to do some educated guess work, but I will lean towards ambiguity whenever evidence is particularly unclear. If you are the type of person who gets angry with the mere suggestion there's a possibility that a historical gnc person might not have been cis, I encourage you to read my answers to related asks (here and here) first before sending me another identical ask. Try to at least bring some new arguments if you decide to waste my time with your trans erasure.

1. Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum (latter half of 2400 BCE)

Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum were ancient Egyptian royal servants, and possibly the first recorded gay couple in history known by name. They shared the title of Overseer of the Manicurists in the Palace of King Nyuserre Ini. They both had a wife and children, but they (along with their families) were buried together in a tomb. The tomb decorations show them similarly as other afterlife couples.

2. Marinos the Monk (c. 5th-8th century)

Marinos the Monk was born as Marina somewhere in eastern parts of Byzantine Empire, likely in the Levant. He was from a wealthy Christian family, possibly Coptic. Assigned female at birth his widowed father planned to marry him off and go to a monastery himself, but he convinced his father to take him with him dressed as a boy named Marinos. His father agreed and they were accepted as monks. After his father died many years later, he continued his life as a male presenting monk. Later he was accused of fathering an illegitimate child with a daughter of an innkeeper, which was not possible, but he didn't revoke the accusations, instead he begged for the abbot's forgiveness for "his sins". Marinos was banished from the monastery and became a beggar. For 10 years he raised his alleged illegitimate child as a father, until he was allowed to return to the monastery and do penance. Only after his death the abbot and the monks discovered his genitals and his inability to father children and were distraught for punishing an innocent man for 10 long years. The real father was discovered and along with the innkeeper and his daughter they all came to honor Marinos' grave and ask his forgiveness. He was canonized as a saint for his sacrificial selflessness, modesty and humility and honored across the Mediterranean from Ethiopia to France.

3. Mubārak and Muẓaffar al-Saqlabi (c. 10th - 11th century)

Mubārak and Muẓaffar were co-rulers of Taifa of Valencia in Muslim Spain. Al-Saqlabi means literally "of the Slavs", which in Al-Andalus was a general term for enslaved northern Europeans, as the two had been enslaved as children. They were in the service of another al-Saqlabi, a chief of police, and they worked they way up as civil servants till a local military coup in 1010, which resulted in them becoming the emirs of Taifa of Valencia. English language sources often describe them as "brothers" and "eunuchs", which gives the "historical gal pals" trope a concerning twist, but contemporary Muslim sources wrote fawningly about their passionate love, trust based on equality and mutual devotion. There was a popular genre of homoerotic poetry in the Islamic world at the time and poems in that genre were written about celebrating Mubārak and Muẓaffar's relationship. In 1018 Mubārak was killed in a riding accident and Muẓaffar shortly after in an uprising.

4. Eleno de Céspedes (1545 – died after 1589)

CW: genital inspection

Eleno was born in Andalusia, Spain, to an enslaved black Muslim woman and to a free Castillian peasant. He was assigned female at birth, given name Elena, and branded as a mulatto born to a slave. She was freed as a child and married to a stonemason at 15-16 years old. When pregnant, her husband left her and died a while later. Later Eleno testified that his intersex condition became externally visible, while he gave birth, and he became a man. He left his son to be raised by a friend and traveled around Spain. After he stabbed a pimp and ended up in jail, he started presenting as a man and openly courting women. Eventually he taught himself to be a surgeon with the help of a surgeon friend.

When he married María del Caño, his maleness was questioned and he was subjected to genital inspection multiple times and it was agreed by doctors that he had definitely male genitals, possibly also female genitals. After a year of marriage the couple was accused of sodomy. Eleno was tried by the Spanish Inquisition and subjected to more genital inspections, during which no penis was found. He claimed that his penis had been amputated after an injury. He defended himself in the trial by arguing that his intersex condition was natural and he had become a man after his pregnancy, so his marriage was legal. He was sentenced only for bigamy, since he had not confirmed that his husband was dead and punished as a male bigamist with 200 lashes and 10 years of public service to care for the poor in a public hospital. His fame attracted a lot of people wanting to be healed by him, which which was very embarrasing for the hospital so he was sent away and eventually exonerated from his charges.

7. Chevaliére d'Éon (1728-1810)

Charles d'Éon de Beaumont was born to a poor French noble family. In their 20s they became a government official and at 28 they joined the secret spy network of the king, Secret du Roi. They became a diplomat first in Russia and later in Britain while they used their position to spy for the king. Rumors circulated in London that they were secretly a woman. While in London they had a falling out with the French ambassador, accused him of attempted murder and published secret diplomatic correspondence. They were instead accused of libel and went into hiding. After the death of Louis XV in 1774 and the abolishment of Secret du Roi, d'Éon negotiated with the French government of the end of their exile in exchange for the rest of the secret documents he possessed. D'Éon took the name Charlotte, claimed she was in fact a cis woman - she had pretended to be man since a child so she could get the inheritance - and demanded the government to recognize her as such. When the king agreed and included funds for women's wardrobe, she agreed and returned to France in 1777. After that she helped rebels in the American War of Indepence - was not allowed to ]go and fight too, ghostwrote her not super reliable memoir, offered to lead a division of female soldiers against the Hasburgs in 1792 - was for some reason denied, attended fencing tournaments till 65 years old and settled down for the rest of her years with a widow, Mrs. Cole. After her death a surgeon reported that she had male primary sex characteristics, but fairly feminine secondary sex characteristics, like round breasts, which might suggest she had hormonal difference/was intersex in some way.

8. Public Universal Friend (1752-1819)

Public Universal Friend, or The Friend or PUF, was born as Jemima Wilkinson to Quaker parents in Rhodes Island, USA. Jemima contracted a disease in 1776, gained intense fever and almost died. The Friend claimed that she did die and God sent the Friend to occupy her body. The Friend didn't identify as man or a woman, and when asked about the Friend's gender, the Friend said "I am that I am". The Friend didn't want any gendered pronouns or gendered language to be used about the Friend. The Friend's pronouns, according to the writings of the Friend's followers, were "the Friend", "PUF" and possibly he. First recorded neo-pronouns perhaps? The Friend also dressed in androgynous/masculine manner.

The Friend started a bit cultish religious society disavowed by mainstream Quakers, The Society of Universal Friends, which I can only describe as chaotic good. The Friend first predicted a Day of Judgement would come in 1780 and when 1780 came and went, the Friend decided it was New England's Dark Day in 1780 and they had survived survived the Judgement Day so all was good then. The Friend preached for gender equality, free will, universal salvation (Jesus saved everyone and no one will go to hell) and abolition of slavery. The Friend persuaded any followers to free their slaves, which is probably the most chaotic good thing a potential cult leader can do with their influence over their followers, and several freed black people followed the Friend too. The Friend advocated for celibacy and was unfavorable towards marriage, but didn't think celibacy or rejection of marriage were necessary for everyone else, so it feels more like a personal preference. Many young unmarried women followed the Friend and some of them formed Faithful Sisterhood and took leadership positions among the Society.

The Society of Universal Friends tried to form a town for themselves around mid-1780s, till in 1799 the Friend was accused of blasphemy. The Friend successfully escaped the law two times. First the Friend, a skilled rider (what's a gender neutral version of horse girl?), escaped with a horse, then after an officer and an assistant tried to arrest the Friend at home, women of the house drove the men away. Third time 30 men surrounded the Friend's home at night, but a doctor convinced them that the Friend was in too poor health to move but would agree to appear at court. The Friend was cleared for all charges and even allowed to preach at the court.

9. Mary Jones (early 1800s–1853)

Mary Jones' origin is unknown, but she was an adult in 1836 in New York, USA. She was a free Black person, who preferred to present as a woman. She was sex worker by trade and used a prosthetic vagina. As a side hustle she would steel her customer's wallets, and usually they wouldn't tell anyone because it was 1830s and inter-racial sex and prostitution were illegal and everyone was repressed. Smart. Get your coin, girl. However after one of her more shameless customers discovered his wallet with 99 dollars inside had been replaced with a different man's empty wallet and contacted the police, she was arrested. The police discovered she had male genitals and when they searched her room they found several more stolen wallets. She appeared in court in her female presentation and when asked about her dress, she said that prostitutes she had worked with encouraged her to dress in women's clothing and said she looked better in them. They were right and she had since presented as a woman in her evening profession and among other Black people. She was convicted for grand larceny and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Later she continued to present as a woman and practice sex work, for which she was arrested for two more times.

10. George Sand (1804-1876)

George Sand was pen name of Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil, a French Romantic writer. Amantine was high-born with a countess as a grandmother. George wrote about themself with alternating masculine and feminine language, using feminine language when talking about his childhood, but masculine language often other times. Their friends also used both masculine and feminine terms about them. Victor Hugo for example said about them: "George Sand cannot determine whether she is male or female. I entertain a high regard for all my colleagues, but it is not my place to decide whether she is my sister or my brother." George preferred men's clothing in public, which was illegal for those seen as women without a permit, but they didn't ask for permissions. They alternated between masculine and feminine presentations. They were outspoken feminist, critic of the institution of marriage, committed republican and supporter of worker's rights. They were married at age 18, had two children and left their husband in 1831, but legally separated from him in 1835. They had many affairs with men and some with women, at least with actress Marie Dorval. Their most notable relationship was with Frédéric Chopin, but they fell out before Chopin's death.