So I've pretty much decided to do a Vito Russo on this whole thing. I've been trawling book lists on the intenet, and I have over 100 starting in 1962 (well, it's a dystopia). That's only for gay major characters, though. Many other books have a small queer presence that you don't notice unless you're twleve years old and desperately searching for some confirmation of your identity. Most of the following I read before I was out, and I (somewhat subconsciously) kept a mental checklist of every gay character and incident that I read about.
A Brief Timeline of Queer Content in Fantasy Literature
The 70's
1977 - The Farthest Shore, by Ursula K. LeGuin
From everything I know about LeGuin, there's a lot of queer stuff in her books. I've only read The Left Hand of Darkness (gender-bending aliens) and the Earthsea trilogy (wizards 'n' shit). The third book in the Earthsea trilogy, The Farthest Shore, has a very strange relationship between Arren, the teenage prince, and Ged, the Archmage who is...I'm not sure how old. Fiftyish? The text says quite clearly that Arren is "in love" with Ged. This is the 70's, so I'm assuming it passed under the radar because people didn't take it literally and nothing sexual happens or is implied. But it seems to be somewhat reciprocated, as when Arren is captured by slavers, Ged whips out the big magics in a "You don't fuck with my prince" gesture.
The 80's
1983 was a big year. Diane Duane published So You Want To Be A Wizard, though I never realized the Advisory wizards were a gay couple until I read about it on Tropes. It was a big "Oh! So that's why they live together!" revelatory moment. We also have McCaffery's Pern novel, Moreta, where the implications that riders of green dragons are gay are more or less confirmed. And finally, Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, a feminist retelling of the King Arthur legends (it wasn't that bad, if I recall), has a scene where Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinivere have a threesome, and Lancelot gets a bit preoccupied with Arthur. Kind of a Big-Lipped Alligator Moment, as it doesn't really add anything to the plot, or develop into a subplot. And, while I'm at it, I may as well throw in Alanna, by Tamora Pierce. I need to reread those, but apparently the main character's brother has a thing with the villain (and subsequently turns evil), which got toned down when the publisher decided to market the book For The Children.
1987 - Arrows of the Queen, by Mercedes Lackey
"Look! Lesbians!" is about all that happens, with regards to the queer content. Oh, there's some subplot in the end where the one lover dies, and they hook up the survivor with the random girl who had an unrequited crush on her. Like, right after the first lover dies, and the survivor is in telepathic shock. There is also a moment when the lesbian character is talking to the main character, and is like "You're chill that we're lesbians, right?" and the main character's reaction is "Oh yeah, I'm from a patriarchal polygamist society. We had lots of lesbianism going on behind the men's backs." So...progressive? They are out of the closet, at least.
The 90's
1990 - The Eye of the World (Book 1 of The Wheel of Time), by Robert Jordan
These you have to do a close reading for, and I don't think I have time. A few times, he mentions some of the (all-female) magic users are "pillow friends." Apparently, that means lesbians. I don't even remember which ones were, though; no one important. They're just kind of there.
1993 - Hexwood, by Diana Wynne Jones
Very, very minor, but it's Jones and I love her and I just have to mention it. There are two "gay boys who run the wine shop" in the town. And they have an annoying dog. That's all that's said about them. They're never given names. But hey, now we're using the word gay. And they're not evil or tragic or closeted. Or important...
1996 - Stone of Tears (Book 2 of The Sword of Truth), by Terry Goodkind
"Look! Lesbians!" even more than Lackey. One spends a chapter giving the main character her life story, including a page dedicated to her relationship with another female character (whose backstory is not given, and she subsequently dies tragically in her lover's arms during the Plague Episode). Considering that in Book 1, the one homosexual character was a muderous pedophile, I think this is progress.
1997 - Harry Potter and the Sorceror's/Philosopher's Stone, by J.K. Rowling
Yeah, remember? Dumbledore is gay. So, so closeted, though. You can tell there's subtext in book 7, with Grindelwald. I thought I was just slashing, but Word of Gay confirmed in '07. We may have just taken a step back; however, this is a children's book series, and hugely popular, so any presence at all is not to be scorned.
1997 - Sandry's Book (Book 1 of the Circle of Magic), by Tamora Pierce
More closeted children's book characters! Same with So You Want To Be A Wizard. I forget if I read about it on Tropes or found out through The Will of the Empress. I think it was Tropes. Rereading those books now, there's sort of contradictory subtext. In Book 1, Lark calls Rosethorn "Rosie" and in Book 2, it's explicity stated that they sleep in separate rooms. If I had been ten and allowed the possibility that I could grow up and marry a woman, high school would have been a lot less stressful. And if I had figured this out when I was writing my paper on LGBT content in children's literature my freshman year of college, I could probably have added another page.
The 21st Century
2000 - Storm Front (Book 1 of the Dresden Files), by Jim Butcher
There's a random bisexual hooker in Book 1, and random references to the fact that homosexuality exists throughout the series, though no important characters are actually gay. Except maybe the vampires. Still, I appreciate a straight writer acknowledging that homosexuality exists in his universe (our universe), instead of either having a straight universe or a token queer.
2002 - Abarat, by Clive Barker
Clive Barker is the queer Stephen King. I don't mean gay (though he is), I mean queer. Stephen King writes staight horror; vampires in Maine, psychic powers at the prom, etc. Barker writes queer horror, which basically means he's about ten times weirder than King. A vampire that feeds on time instead of blood, or, as in Abarat, a high-schooler who is whisked away to a bizarre archipelago. One of the side characters has a male partner and a bunch of dogs. Probably supposed to be an author avatar, except Barker and his partner broke up while he was writing the third book. Incidentally, he also had health problems that resulted in a brief coma. No wonder it took him 9 years to finish book 3.
2003 - Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5), by Stephen King
And speaking of Stephen King...Father Callahan (of Salem's Lot) is gay! Ish. He had an awkward man-crush in his backstory/interimstory. Interpret that how you will.
2006 - The Book of Lost Things, by John Connelly
I just had to include this right after Dark Tower. It's a sort of grown-up fractured fairy tale, where a kid (it's not a kid's book) gets whisked into a world of fairy tales and classic literature. One of the people his meets is Childe Roland of the poem (was it Browning?). The same Roland that King's Dark Tower series is based on. And this Roland is gay; he had a thing with a fellow knight who died and so now he's on a quest for...redemption or something. But gay Roland just makes me lol.
2009 - Best Served Cold, by Joe Abercrombie
I suspect there might be more in his trilogy, but in this stand-alone novel, one of the...villains, I guess...is gay. Which seems likes a step back, but every character in the book is morally suspect - the protagonist is a mercenary on a vengeance quest. The villains are all quite well fleshed-out, and no correlation is drawn between the one character's sexuality and his villainness. In fact, I believe he is a general, so he's a big important gay, which is positive in a way.
2010 - The Last Hunt, by Bruce Coville
Yeah, this one is kind of cheating because no one is actually gay. There is a beautiful bromance, which I don't count as queer, but since it borders on ho yay, one of the characters actually asks if they are a couple (in a non-homophobic, just curious way). He gives a "No - not that there's anything wrong with that" answer. Coville directly addresses the homoeroticism of a bromance...in a children's book! So which is better? Having gay characters without saying that they're gay, or having characters who aren't gay explicitly support homosexuality?
Conclusion: Over the past forty or so years, representations of gay characters in fantasy have become more open. Even if they are not outed in-universe (and that's mostly just in children's books), the authors have no problem saying their intent. I would hesitate to claim that representations have become more postitive. I would say, just from this sample, that they have grown less positive but more realistic. Not all gay people are morally sound staunch sidekicks, after all.
It occurred to me the other day that people complain the gay characters always die, but - in fantasy, at least - that might have a closer correlation with the fact that gay characters are always minor supporting characters, who have a higher mortality rate than the main cast or heroes. The solution, then, would not be to help gay characters live longer, happier lives, but to give them more important roles so that they can have longer, happier lives. Or have more than just the one token gay. But, long hours of research and many, many books stand between me and any solid conclusions.
Showing posts with label Gay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gay. Show all posts
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Top 13 (14) Queer Fantasy Novels
As I was going back over my list, and recounting, I realized something. I was perplexed as to why, even at midnight hopped up on insomnia, I had decided to wedge "The Sword of Truth" onto that list as an afterthought. I mean, it has the random lesbians, but they're not really important. Then I realized I had actually written "The Skull of Truth," which is a chapter book by Bruce Coville about a kid who finds a magic skull that forces people to tell the truth. Leaving it too close to the family dinner table brings a number of shocking family secrets to life, including that his grandmother used to be a stripper and that his uncle is gay. And as soon as his uncle outs, he realizes he has to get that skull the hell away from there, and so flees the dinner table, making his uncle think that he's really that freaked out, but it's all okay in the end. And this was written in 1999. For a gay character - in a kids book no less! - to be out and not have AIDS and be a nice guy who is happily settled with his patner, I give it an A. It's hard to find books with that good of gay characters nowadays!
Now to continue my original list.
7. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent (2008) - Galen Beckett
Character: Eldyn the gay mage tertiary viewpoint character, who isn't really connected to main plot.
Queer Context: The whole idea of having "male magic" and "female magic" isn't anything new, but Beckett is (as far as I know) the first to also have "gay male magic." Lesbians, I assume, just count as women. It is unclear whether all gay men are sons of witches and have illusion magic, or all illusionists are gay men. In any case, the theaters are run by gay male illusionists.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: B-. Yes, Eldyn's a positive character, but he doesn't really do anything; he's just kind of there because the author wanted a gay character. Also, there are the unfortunate implications of all gay men work in the theater. Plus, Eldyn is just kind of stupid, which is endearing in a Woobie Destroyer of Worlds hero, but makes him an annoying dope as an ordinary (ish) person.
6. The Steel Remains (2008) - Richard K. Morgan
Characters: Ringil the ex-hero anti-hero, and Lady Archeth, the half-human magical person tertiary viewpoint character.
Queer Context: In at least one country (Ringil's) you get killed for being gay, unless, like Ringil, you're too important for them to dare. Archeth's lesbianism isn't addressed in the context of society, but some king tries to bribe her with a slave girl. Also, she's half human, so I don't count her as a discount nonhuman lesbian. The creepy fairy beings, one of which Ringil has a fling with, don't count as gay; I think they are universally pansexual.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: C+. Ringil is supposed to be a dark deconstruction of fantasy tropes, and the author (who is straight) made him gay to add something off about him. However, he does give a solid queer context for society, and includes a lesbian as well, and I don't know why he decided to make her gay.
5. Fire Logic (2002) - Laurie J. Marks
Characters: Everyone, except the token straight couple.
Queer Context: Universal pansexuality. Despite this, most of the main characters end up in same-sex relationships. To the point where one wonders how the human race manages to reproduce in this world. Also implied polyamory in some cases, which is just fine in-universe.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: B. The "everyone is gay" aspect gets a little overwhelming, but this book is notable in that same-sex couples will refer to their partner as their "husband" or "wife" (presumeably opposite-sex couples or groups do this as well). There isn't any sort of ceremony that goes along with it, but the fact that Marks actually uses the words is remarkable. Even Lackey and Pierce, who try to deal with issues of gay acceptance vs. homophobia, never get into the legal aspects of same-sex relationships.
4. Swordspoint (1987) - Ellen Kushner
Characters: Everyone but the villain is bi. The main protagonist, Richard, has a male lover, and the secondary viewpoint character, Michael Godwin, sleeps around with everybody.
Queer Context: No sexual categories. The villain mentions at one point that he personally isn't in to having sex with men, but it's not a homophobic thing, it's just a personal preference.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: B-. Taking advantage of the genre to create a world without sexual categories is nice, but not really helpful. Also, even the "good" guys aren't nice people. But gay characters not being defined by their sexual orientation is nice, even if Kushner takes that idea to extremes.
3. Melusine (2005) - Sarah Monette
Character: Felix, the crazy asshole wizard.
Queer Context: So it's okay if Monette doesn't say "gay" but not for Lackey? Well, yeah. "Molly" is an actual 18th-Century word for gay people, not a Scrabble-bag cop-out. Also, "Janus" is the two-faced Roman god, or in the Melusine world, a bisexual. Very few fantasy authors address bisexuality as distinct from homosexuality, if they address it at all (outside of universal pansexuality). Different countries have different views on homosexuality. In Marathat it is frowned upon, but tolerated. In Troia everyone's chill with it - they're ginger fantasyland Greeks. In Kekropia they kill, torture, or imprison you - they're the hates-everything people. In Caloxa it's taboo, but not a death sentence.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: B+. Felix is a wonderful jerkass. There are enoughgay molly characters throughout that it doesn't come across as "all gays are jerkasses," but he is the main protagonist. To be fair, both the protagonists are very well-rounded (not all gays are nice people, after all; sucks to the helpful minority) and it is clear that Felix's abusive tendencies have nothing to do with his sexual orientation.
2. Eon (2008) - Alison Goodman
Character: Lady Dela, a male-to-female transgender who acts as a mentor to the crossdresser protagonist.
Queer Context: Lately it's started to bother me that all the plucky crossdressing princesses are heterosexual. Historically speaking, if you were a lesbian, you were statistically more likely to be a crossdresser. Also, the issue of actually being transgender is never mentioned. The inclusion of a transgender character - male to female, no less! - fleshes out the issues of gender, gender identity, and gender roles in society that the book raises. Not to mention that Dela's role as a transwoman in her society is seen as something special and awesome by her people, and even though she is currently abroad, she's too important for anyone to give her crap about it.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: A. There are so many books about princesses in pants, but no one thinks to put a penis in a dress. She is just an awesome strong female character.
1. Beyond the Pale (1999) - Mark Anthony
Character: Lots. Namely, the male lead and hero, Travis, is implied to be bisexual, but rather than hooking up with the female protagonist as every other novel would have him do, he ends up with the knightly sidekick.
Queer Context: Half(ish) the story is set in our world, the rest is in a typical medieval fantasyland, where homosexuality is frowned upon unless you belong to a certain order of knights where it's almost required. The gay subtext is very low-key in the first book, but this is the late nineties, so I think Anthony was waiting until he had a contract and no one could do anything about it. Besides the gay knights, there are also a gay cowboy couple, a gay Brit in the Wild West (during the time-travel episode), a transwoman seeress, an implied bisexual who has a thing with a fairy (part-human; and there are other hints) but ends up with a man, and numerous minor references scattered throughout.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: A. Yes, I'm biased because this is my favorite book series ever. But Travis is the archetypal dopey hero, and he ends up with a guy, plus a lot of other queerness happening throughout, mostly among the "good guys". I should have made a separate category for queer presence. Hm.
Coming up next (I'm not done with gay fantasy yet!): Incidental homosexuality in fantasy literature. Those minor characters are not to be discounted!
Now to continue my original list.
7. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent (2008) - Galen Beckett
Character: Eldyn the gay mage tertiary viewpoint character, who isn't really connected to main plot.
Queer Context: The whole idea of having "male magic" and "female magic" isn't anything new, but Beckett is (as far as I know) the first to also have "gay male magic." Lesbians, I assume, just count as women. It is unclear whether all gay men are sons of witches and have illusion magic, or all illusionists are gay men. In any case, the theaters are run by gay male illusionists.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: B-. Yes, Eldyn's a positive character, but he doesn't really do anything; he's just kind of there because the author wanted a gay character. Also, there are the unfortunate implications of all gay men work in the theater. Plus, Eldyn is just kind of stupid, which is endearing in a Woobie Destroyer of Worlds hero, but makes him an annoying dope as an ordinary (ish) person.
6. The Steel Remains (2008) - Richard K. Morgan
Characters: Ringil the ex-hero anti-hero, and Lady Archeth, the half-human magical person tertiary viewpoint character.
Queer Context: In at least one country (Ringil's) you get killed for being gay, unless, like Ringil, you're too important for them to dare. Archeth's lesbianism isn't addressed in the context of society, but some king tries to bribe her with a slave girl. Also, she's half human, so I don't count her as a discount nonhuman lesbian. The creepy fairy beings, one of which Ringil has a fling with, don't count as gay; I think they are universally pansexual.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: C+. Ringil is supposed to be a dark deconstruction of fantasy tropes, and the author (who is straight) made him gay to add something off about him. However, he does give a solid queer context for society, and includes a lesbian as well, and I don't know why he decided to make her gay.
5. Fire Logic (2002) - Laurie J. Marks
Characters: Everyone, except the token straight couple.
Queer Context: Universal pansexuality. Despite this, most of the main characters end up in same-sex relationships. To the point where one wonders how the human race manages to reproduce in this world. Also implied polyamory in some cases, which is just fine in-universe.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: B. The "everyone is gay" aspect gets a little overwhelming, but this book is notable in that same-sex couples will refer to their partner as their "husband" or "wife" (presumeably opposite-sex couples or groups do this as well). There isn't any sort of ceremony that goes along with it, but the fact that Marks actually uses the words is remarkable. Even Lackey and Pierce, who try to deal with issues of gay acceptance vs. homophobia, never get into the legal aspects of same-sex relationships.
4. Swordspoint (1987) - Ellen Kushner
Characters: Everyone but the villain is bi. The main protagonist, Richard, has a male lover, and the secondary viewpoint character, Michael Godwin, sleeps around with everybody.
Queer Context: No sexual categories. The villain mentions at one point that he personally isn't in to having sex with men, but it's not a homophobic thing, it's just a personal preference.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: B-. Taking advantage of the genre to create a world without sexual categories is nice, but not really helpful. Also, even the "good" guys aren't nice people. But gay characters not being defined by their sexual orientation is nice, even if Kushner takes that idea to extremes.
3. Melusine (2005) - Sarah Monette
Character: Felix, the crazy asshole wizard.
Queer Context: So it's okay if Monette doesn't say "gay" but not for Lackey? Well, yeah. "Molly" is an actual 18th-Century word for gay people, not a Scrabble-bag cop-out. Also, "Janus" is the two-faced Roman god, or in the Melusine world, a bisexual. Very few fantasy authors address bisexuality as distinct from homosexuality, if they address it at all (outside of universal pansexuality). Different countries have different views on homosexuality. In Marathat it is frowned upon, but tolerated. In Troia everyone's chill with it - they're ginger fantasyland Greeks. In Kekropia they kill, torture, or imprison you - they're the hates-everything people. In Caloxa it's taboo, but not a death sentence.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: B+. Felix is a wonderful jerkass. There are enough
2. Eon (2008) - Alison Goodman
Character: Lady Dela, a male-to-female transgender who acts as a mentor to the crossdresser protagonist.
Queer Context: Lately it's started to bother me that all the plucky crossdressing princesses are heterosexual. Historically speaking, if you were a lesbian, you were statistically more likely to be a crossdresser. Also, the issue of actually being transgender is never mentioned. The inclusion of a transgender character - male to female, no less! - fleshes out the issues of gender, gender identity, and gender roles in society that the book raises. Not to mention that Dela's role as a transwoman in her society is seen as something special and awesome by her people, and even though she is currently abroad, she's too important for anyone to give her crap about it.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: A. There are so many books about princesses in pants, but no one thinks to put a penis in a dress. She is just an awesome strong female character.
1. Beyond the Pale (1999) - Mark Anthony
Character: Lots. Namely, the male lead and hero, Travis, is implied to be bisexual, but rather than hooking up with the female protagonist as every other novel would have him do, he ends up with the knightly sidekick.
Queer Context: Half(ish) the story is set in our world, the rest is in a typical medieval fantasyland, where homosexuality is frowned upon unless you belong to a certain order of knights where it's almost required. The gay subtext is very low-key in the first book, but this is the late nineties, so I think Anthony was waiting until he had a contract and no one could do anything about it. Besides the gay knights, there are also a gay cowboy couple, a gay Brit in the Wild West (during the time-travel episode), a transwoman seeress, an implied bisexual who has a thing with a fairy (part-human; and there are other hints) but ends up with a man, and numerous minor references scattered throughout.
LGBTQ-friendliness rating: A. Yes, I'm biased because this is my favorite book series ever. But Travis is the archetypal dopey hero, and he ends up with a guy, plus a lot of other queerness happening throughout, mostly among the "good guys". I should have made a separate category for queer presence. Hm.
Coming up next (I'm not done with gay fantasy yet!): Incidental homosexuality in fantasy literature. Those minor characters are not to be discounted!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
(Bottom) Top 13 Queer Fantasy Novels - Part 1
I can't believe I haven't done one of these before. Then I started putting together a top ten, and realized that I only had 13 to choose from. So I decided to just include them all
This list consists only of books I have read. I have not read Fleweling's Lark on the Wing or Hambly's Darkmage, or Duane's Door Into Fire, so I can't judge where to put them on the list. At some point, if I want to be the fantasy lit Vito Russo, I might track down the rest of the books, but for now, this is what is in my repertoire.
Criteria for "Queer Fantasy": Must have a queer protagonist or major character. Queer character must be out in-universe - no Dumbledore. Also, must be human. Vampire lesbians are cheating.
13. City of Bones (2007) - Cassandra Clare
Character: Alec, the gay sidekick.
Queer Context: Real world-ish. There’s an underground clique of demon-hunters, and it’s implied that they would be very not happy if they knew Alec was gay. He’s kind of a straight gay, and hooks up with the one other gay character in the story, who is a flaming glittery gay mage, after minimal off-page courtship. They have nothing in common except being the only two gay characters in the story. Also, the story begins with him having a crush on his stepbrother, the male lead Jace, who gives Alec a pep talk and tells Alec that he isn’t really in love with him, he just likes to torture himself by falling in love with unattainable people. And the main cast seems to be chill that Alec is gay, but no one overtly supports him, they just see it as a nonissue. I’d be upset with the way the gay romance subplot was handled, except that the main romance subplot was just as bad; there’s an incest scare, but it turns out it was all a misunderstanding. That’s the best obstacle you could give their relationship? That’s totally relatable.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: B-. Clare at least tries, and Alec is a positive character, if not actually an accurate representation of anything.
12. Ash (2009) - Malinda Lo
Character: Ash, a lesbian Cinderella.
Queer Context: Queer retelling of Cinderella. Only I feel cheated because I was expecting her to hook up with a princess, and instead she hooks up with the Huntress, which is a completely created role and not really kosher. And then she breaks a curse by sleeping with a (male?) fairy thing, which is really not feminist. I mean, gaining independence from the male presence by submitting to it? Solving problems with prostitution.
I don’t remember how people react to their relationship; I think it’s one of those worlds where homosexuality in society is not talked about, and so I have no idea if Ash had any context for understanding her desires.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: C+. There's no context for the lesbian relationship, which makes it hard to relate to. Also, the end with the fairy.
11. Wolfcry (2006) - Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Character: Oliza, the shapeshifter princess. Has some really scary genetics, but conveniently ends up in a non-procreative relationship with a woman. Each book in the series has a different viewpoint character, and this one is hers.
Queer Context: Not given in the previous three books or even foreshadowed in this one. Just all of a sudden the princess is gay, and mostly everyone’s fine with it. Do they allow gay marriage? What are the social stigmas? No other characters are gay, and no word for gay is given. I assume the author knows more than was revealed in the books; she has a wife, and I usually like to know the queer context of anything I write. Granted, I usually end up with queer characters.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: B. Oliza isn't tokenized at all, and it's obvious she was a character first and became queer in the writing. It's just a little sudden and lacking in context.
10. Tithe (2002) - Holly Black
Character: Corny, the gay sidekick. In later books, his boyfriend Luis, and lesbian sidekick Ruth.
Queer Context: Real world. With fairies. Black is one of those authors who makes sure some of her characters are gay, because some people are gay. Always the unwaveringly supportive sidekicks, though. Yay for helpful minorities.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: B. Corny was based on Black's gay friends, who are geek-gays and not flaming queens, and he's a fairly well-fleshed out character.
9. Magic’s Pawn (1989) - Mercedes Lackey
Character: Vanyel, the only gay Herald who actually does anything interesting.
Queer Context: Lackey always tries to include a random queer in every book. Someone once called her out on having way more gay men than lesbians. She counted them up and said they were actually about even. However, only two of her queer characters achieve major character status, and both are gay men. Homosexuality is severely stigmatized by wider society, but any named character who is “good” is fine with it. Nor are the parameters for the stigma clearly defined; vaguely religious, but considering it’s a massive fantasyland pantheon, you’d think there would be some variation. Also, this is one of Lackey’s few stories where the protagonist dies at the end, and it’s the gay one. However, I find her tragedies are at least slightly better than her happy endings. Oh, and there are the random forest people who seem to be universally pansexual, and a gay couple of the forest people serve a sort of mentor function for Vanyel. And the other gay major character, Firesong (in later books) is also of the forest people. The people in “bad” countries are more homophobic than in the “good” countries.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: C. Because it's 80's, and preachy. In the context of the 80's, I would give it an A for effort, though. And the other major gay is a flaming queen.
8. The Will of the Empress (2005) - Tamora Pierce
Character: Daja, the lady blacksmith mage, has a sexual revelation when she is kissed by a woman.
Queer Context: The first series was originally published in the 90’s. The characters were ten, but they were being raised by a lesbian couple, who I did not realize was a lesbian couple until I read this book and they directly referenced it. I wish they had been more out in the earlier books, that I read when I was ten; it would have made my life a lot simpler. One thing I do like about it is that it includes a queer protagonist by retcon in a children’s book; me reading those books as a child and then reading the later one after coming out was a rather validating experience. Even though the queer character is like “I had no idea I was gay” and you’d think being raised by a lesbian couple she’d have enough context to figure herself out. Really, it’s the author deciding to make her gay a decade later when society has progressed enough and it’s in a YA novel. Because Pierce is another who makes sure to include gay minor characters all the time.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: B+. Lark and Rosethorn spent the 90's in the closet, and I resent them for that. Also, because since the author obviously decided "They've hit puberty! Let's make one gay!" she decided the butch blacksmith should be a dyke, and not the feisty seamstress or the grouchy bookworm. I will say, though, I really appreciate the character existing in a non-queer context first; so many gay characters (in fantasy and out) are introduced at puberty when they are struggling with sqhishy hormonal feelings. Yes, we were once kids too.
Coming soon: 1-7. What are my favorite gay fantasy novels?
This list consists only of books I have read. I have not read Fleweling's Lark on the Wing or Hambly's Darkmage, or Duane's Door Into Fire, so I can't judge where to put them on the list. At some point, if I want to be the fantasy lit Vito Russo, I might track down the rest of the books, but for now, this is what is in my repertoire.
Criteria for "Queer Fantasy": Must have a queer protagonist or major character. Queer character must be out in-universe - no Dumbledore. Also, must be human. Vampire lesbians are cheating.
13. City of Bones (2007) - Cassandra Clare
Character: Alec, the gay sidekick.
Queer Context: Real world-ish. There’s an underground clique of demon-hunters, and it’s implied that they would be very not happy if they knew Alec was gay. He’s kind of a straight gay, and hooks up with the one other gay character in the story, who is a flaming glittery gay mage, after minimal off-page courtship. They have nothing in common except being the only two gay characters in the story. Also, the story begins with him having a crush on his stepbrother, the male lead Jace, who gives Alec a pep talk and tells Alec that he isn’t really in love with him, he just likes to torture himself by falling in love with unattainable people. And the main cast seems to be chill that Alec is gay, but no one overtly supports him, they just see it as a nonissue. I’d be upset with the way the gay romance subplot was handled, except that the main romance subplot was just as bad; there’s an incest scare, but it turns out it was all a misunderstanding. That’s the best obstacle you could give their relationship? That’s totally relatable.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: B-. Clare at least tries, and Alec is a positive character, if not actually an accurate representation of anything.
12. Ash (2009) - Malinda Lo
Character: Ash, a lesbian Cinderella.
Queer Context: Queer retelling of Cinderella. Only I feel cheated because I was expecting her to hook up with a princess, and instead she hooks up with the Huntress, which is a completely created role and not really kosher. And then she breaks a curse by sleeping with a (male?) fairy thing, which is really not feminist. I mean, gaining independence from the male presence by submitting to it? Solving problems with prostitution.
I don’t remember how people react to their relationship; I think it’s one of those worlds where homosexuality in society is not talked about, and so I have no idea if Ash had any context for understanding her desires.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: C+. There's no context for the lesbian relationship, which makes it hard to relate to. Also, the end with the fairy.
11. Wolfcry (2006) - Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Character: Oliza, the shapeshifter princess. Has some really scary genetics, but conveniently ends up in a non-procreative relationship with a woman. Each book in the series has a different viewpoint character, and this one is hers.
Queer Context: Not given in the previous three books or even foreshadowed in this one. Just all of a sudden the princess is gay, and mostly everyone’s fine with it. Do they allow gay marriage? What are the social stigmas? No other characters are gay, and no word for gay is given. I assume the author knows more than was revealed in the books; she has a wife, and I usually like to know the queer context of anything I write. Granted, I usually end up with queer characters.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: B. Oliza isn't tokenized at all, and it's obvious she was a character first and became queer in the writing. It's just a little sudden and lacking in context.
10. Tithe (2002) - Holly Black
Character: Corny, the gay sidekick. In later books, his boyfriend Luis, and lesbian sidekick Ruth.
Queer Context: Real world. With fairies. Black is one of those authors who makes sure some of her characters are gay, because some people are gay. Always the unwaveringly supportive sidekicks, though. Yay for helpful minorities.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: B. Corny was based on Black's gay friends, who are geek-gays and not flaming queens, and he's a fairly well-fleshed out character.
9. Magic’s Pawn (1989) - Mercedes Lackey
Character: Vanyel, the only gay Herald who actually does anything interesting.
Queer Context: Lackey always tries to include a random queer in every book. Someone once called her out on having way more gay men than lesbians. She counted them up and said they were actually about even. However, only two of her queer characters achieve major character status, and both are gay men. Homosexuality is severely stigmatized by wider society, but any named character who is “good” is fine with it. Nor are the parameters for the stigma clearly defined; vaguely religious, but considering it’s a massive fantasyland pantheon, you’d think there would be some variation. Also, this is one of Lackey’s few stories where the protagonist dies at the end, and it’s the gay one. However, I find her tragedies are at least slightly better than her happy endings. Oh, and there are the random forest people who seem to be universally pansexual, and a gay couple of the forest people serve a sort of mentor function for Vanyel. And the other gay major character, Firesong (in later books) is also of the forest people. The people in “bad” countries are more homophobic than in the “good” countries.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: C. Because it's 80's, and preachy. In the context of the 80's, I would give it an A for effort, though. And the other major gay is a flaming queen.
8. The Will of the Empress (2005) - Tamora Pierce
Character: Daja, the lady blacksmith mage, has a sexual revelation when she is kissed by a woman.
Queer Context: The first series was originally published in the 90’s. The characters were ten, but they were being raised by a lesbian couple, who I did not realize was a lesbian couple until I read this book and they directly referenced it. I wish they had been more out in the earlier books, that I read when I was ten; it would have made my life a lot simpler. One thing I do like about it is that it includes a queer protagonist by retcon in a children’s book; me reading those books as a child and then reading the later one after coming out was a rather validating experience. Even though the queer character is like “I had no idea I was gay” and you’d think being raised by a lesbian couple she’d have enough context to figure herself out. Really, it’s the author deciding to make her gay a decade later when society has progressed enough and it’s in a YA novel. Because Pierce is another who makes sure to include gay minor characters all the time.
LGBTQ-friendly rating: B+. Lark and Rosethorn spent the 90's in the closet, and I resent them for that. Also, because since the author obviously decided "They've hit puberty! Let's make one gay!" she decided the butch blacksmith should be a dyke, and not the feisty seamstress or the grouchy bookworm. I will say, though, I really appreciate the character existing in a non-queer context first; so many gay characters (in fantasy and out) are introduced at puberty when they are struggling with sqhishy hormonal feelings. Yes, we were once kids too.
Coming soon: 1-7. What are my favorite gay fantasy novels?
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
San Francisco - Final Days
Yeah, I've lost count of how many days I was there. 13, according to the calendar.
Movies:
"Children of Srikandi" - a bold experimental documentary about queer women (lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc.) in Indonesia. An interesting concept, but poorly executed. Eight different women told eight different stories eight different ways without any sort of explanation of what was going on. It was also scripted. A good documentary, but no "Kuchu."
"Unforgiveable" - a French movie set in Venice about some very tangled relationships between an older man, his younger wife, her ex-girlfriend, and the ex-girlfriend's teenage son. Quirky and fun until the dog gets killed.
"Transgender Tuesdays" - an amateur but well-made documentary about the first public clinic to offer health care and hormones for transgender people. The most enthusiastic audience ever. I think most of them had some connection to the clinic, as it was/is in San Francisco. Lots of good historical background on the trans community as well.
"Wordly Women" - a shorts program featuring lesbian films from all over the world. They were all about sex, or were weird. Or both. I did not feel represented.
"Let My People Go!" - Jewish comedy + French comedy + gay comedy + dysfunctional family comedy = the funniest movie I have ever seen.
"Cloudburst" - an elderly lesbian couple breaks out of a nursing home, aiming for the Canadian border so they can finally get married. A hysterical romp with a bittersweet ending. See, everyone loves crazy old ladies; these ones just happen to be a couple.
Best moment:
I really really wanted a Frameline t-shirt, partly for the memories and partly because the slogan was "Find your story," and I thought that was really appropriate. By the time I actually got around to buying one, though, they were out of smalls and mediums. "Are you a filmmaker?" the woman selling them asked me. I looked down at my camera bag, which I carried with me everywhere.
"Kind of," I answered. "I'm from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire..."
The woman thrust a Large t-shirt at me. "Take it," she said. "Don't pay for it. We love you guys, and we really appreciate you coming all the way out here."
So what could I do but take the shirt and thank her as many times as I could?
Pride:
Because this is still a class, our professors told us to think about the concept of power while we were at Pride. I didn't actually make it to the PrideFest, but I was in the Trans March and the Dyke March, and saw the Pride Parade.
The Trans March:
I was shocked at how many people were there. I mean, I care about transpeople, but I didn't realize that so many other people did. And then when the march started, I was completely overwhelmed by the sense of solidarity and activism and pride. It was glorious, even if I did get overstimulated from the crowd.
The Dyke March:
If the Trans March was so wonderful, then the Dyke March should be even better, because these are actually my people, right? No. That was the biggest disappointment the trip. See, I love my gay male friends, and I love my pansexual female friends, but sometimes I feel like I'm the only lesbian in the world. And then when I do encounter lesbians, in books or film or at the Dyke March, I feel no connection. Am I still a lesbian if I don't go to bars and pick up chicks for one-night stands and dance in the street without a shirt? I have not found a single lesbian image that I can connect with, which might be why I sometimes act bisexual; because even though that's not what I identify as, it's who I identify with. Maybe I'm bisexual-sexual.
This is all very confusing.
The Pride March:
In addition to Pride, there is also a group called Gay Shame, and I'm starting to agree with their stance even if I think they really need a new name. OccuPride is another similar group that seems to be doing better, though. Both these groups are against the corporatization of Pride.
Pride disgusts me a little. It's just a big gay block party. And yes, it's great that we can celebrate out identity, and sexuality is inherently sexual, but...let's think about power for a minute. Why do so many corporations have floats in the parade? It's because even though we are a minority and a marginalized population, we have power. Not only buying power ourselves, but we have enough allies that it is for the most part no longer socially acceptable to be a homophobe. It's no coincidence Obama voices support for gay marriage just before election season. He said he supported it the first time he got elected; is he really giving us more than empty words, and are we content to accept them because he says them in his beautiful black Morgan Freeman voice? (I have a joke theory that Morgan Freeman was a catalyst for Obama being elected, because he taught our generation love the sound of a black man's voice).
Now let's go back to gay power. We've come a long way since Stonewall, since reclaiming the streets, since the rage of ACT UP and the AIDS epidemic. It's illegal to kill us and legal for us to have sex, and most of us our content with that. We're complacent. We have some rights, we have our annual party, and we've lost the will to fight for more. We have forgotten that we have power, and we've forgotten how to use it. We used to march for rights, to save our lives and our jobs and our friends, to spur the government to action against AIDS (the political history of AIDS is actually very interesting). Now we march because we can, because we want to get drunk and take our clothes off.
See, what really disgusts me about Pride is not how wildly everyone parties; it's because this is the one time a year people can feel comfortable celebrating being gay, and most of them feel like it is enough. It is because this day manifests 364 days of repression, and what if we could be gay every day? I don't think Pride is enough; I think it's mainstream America trying to appease us. I think it's time we take back our power and use it for marriage reform, immigration reform, global rights, am I forgetting anything? Am I still coherent? I'm not all the way finished with this think, so I might not end up where I intended. I'm not trying to say that you should stop your annual party (though personally I'd be happy with that, but I'm not a partier and I try to respect people who are), but I don't think you should be content with that. That party is a symbol of power, and I don't think you should let that power go during the rest of the year.
Movies:
"Children of Srikandi" - a bold experimental documentary about queer women (lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc.) in Indonesia. An interesting concept, but poorly executed. Eight different women told eight different stories eight different ways without any sort of explanation of what was going on. It was also scripted. A good documentary, but no "Kuchu."
"Unforgiveable" - a French movie set in Venice about some very tangled relationships between an older man, his younger wife, her ex-girlfriend, and the ex-girlfriend's teenage son. Quirky and fun until the dog gets killed.
"Transgender Tuesdays" - an amateur but well-made documentary about the first public clinic to offer health care and hormones for transgender people. The most enthusiastic audience ever. I think most of them had some connection to the clinic, as it was/is in San Francisco. Lots of good historical background on the trans community as well.
"Wordly Women" - a shorts program featuring lesbian films from all over the world. They were all about sex, or were weird. Or both. I did not feel represented.
"Let My People Go!" - Jewish comedy + French comedy + gay comedy + dysfunctional family comedy = the funniest movie I have ever seen.
"Cloudburst" - an elderly lesbian couple breaks out of a nursing home, aiming for the Canadian border so they can finally get married. A hysterical romp with a bittersweet ending. See, everyone loves crazy old ladies; these ones just happen to be a couple.
Best moment:
I really really wanted a Frameline t-shirt, partly for the memories and partly because the slogan was "Find your story," and I thought that was really appropriate. By the time I actually got around to buying one, though, they were out of smalls and mediums. "Are you a filmmaker?" the woman selling them asked me. I looked down at my camera bag, which I carried with me everywhere.
"Kind of," I answered. "I'm from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire..."
The woman thrust a Large t-shirt at me. "Take it," she said. "Don't pay for it. We love you guys, and we really appreciate you coming all the way out here."
So what could I do but take the shirt and thank her as many times as I could?
Pride:
Because this is still a class, our professors told us to think about the concept of power while we were at Pride. I didn't actually make it to the PrideFest, but I was in the Trans March and the Dyke March, and saw the Pride Parade.
The Trans March:
I was shocked at how many people were there. I mean, I care about transpeople, but I didn't realize that so many other people did. And then when the march started, I was completely overwhelmed by the sense of solidarity and activism and pride. It was glorious, even if I did get overstimulated from the crowd.
The Dyke March:
If the Trans March was so wonderful, then the Dyke March should be even better, because these are actually my people, right? No. That was the biggest disappointment the trip. See, I love my gay male friends, and I love my pansexual female friends, but sometimes I feel like I'm the only lesbian in the world. And then when I do encounter lesbians, in books or film or at the Dyke March, I feel no connection. Am I still a lesbian if I don't go to bars and pick up chicks for one-night stands and dance in the street without a shirt? I have not found a single lesbian image that I can connect with, which might be why I sometimes act bisexual; because even though that's not what I identify as, it's who I identify with. Maybe I'm bisexual-sexual.
This is all very confusing.
The Pride March:
In addition to Pride, there is also a group called Gay Shame, and I'm starting to agree with their stance even if I think they really need a new name. OccuPride is another similar group that seems to be doing better, though. Both these groups are against the corporatization of Pride.
Pride disgusts me a little. It's just a big gay block party. And yes, it's great that we can celebrate out identity, and sexuality is inherently sexual, but...let's think about power for a minute. Why do so many corporations have floats in the parade? It's because even though we are a minority and a marginalized population, we have power. Not only buying power ourselves, but we have enough allies that it is for the most part no longer socially acceptable to be a homophobe. It's no coincidence Obama voices support for gay marriage just before election season. He said he supported it the first time he got elected; is he really giving us more than empty words, and are we content to accept them because he says them in his beautiful black Morgan Freeman voice? (I have a joke theory that Morgan Freeman was a catalyst for Obama being elected, because he taught our generation love the sound of a black man's voice).
Now let's go back to gay power. We've come a long way since Stonewall, since reclaiming the streets, since the rage of ACT UP and the AIDS epidemic. It's illegal to kill us and legal for us to have sex, and most of us our content with that. We're complacent. We have some rights, we have our annual party, and we've lost the will to fight for more. We have forgotten that we have power, and we've forgotten how to use it. We used to march for rights, to save our lives and our jobs and our friends, to spur the government to action against AIDS (the political history of AIDS is actually very interesting). Now we march because we can, because we want to get drunk and take our clothes off.
See, what really disgusts me about Pride is not how wildly everyone parties; it's because this is the one time a year people can feel comfortable celebrating being gay, and most of them feel like it is enough. It is because this day manifests 364 days of repression, and what if we could be gay every day? I don't think Pride is enough; I think it's mainstream America trying to appease us. I think it's time we take back our power and use it for marriage reform, immigration reform, global rights, am I forgetting anything? Am I still coherent? I'm not all the way finished with this think, so I might not end up where I intended. I'm not trying to say that you should stop your annual party (though personally I'd be happy with that, but I'm not a partier and I try to respect people who are), but I don't think you should be content with that. That party is a symbol of power, and I don't think you should let that power go during the rest of the year.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
San Francisco -Days 0 and 1
As I may have mentioned, I am taking a trip to SAN FRANCISCO as part of a summer course. What kind of course, you ask? Well, technically it's in the Women's Studies department, but really it's gay (Ah, you say, That makes sense now.) and movies. We get to attend the Frameline Film Festival and write critiques of the films, as well as film our own documentay. My group's assigned topic is activist filmmakers, which we kind of morphed into film festivals as sites of social change.
We are staying in a condo owned by a fantastic Australian man and his partner. In the back there is a lovely bamboo garden that is going to be a refuge for many of us during the hectic coming weeks. I had a picture, but my computer is being weird and won't let me show you.
That first night after we unpacked, half the class went out with the professors for sushi. Have you ever had sushi with a professor? It's intereresting. Especially when they drink sake. It was only sometime that night that I realized I was actually IN FREAKING SAN FRANCISCO, and it made me a little loopy. I'm still a little loopy.
Because today I got to see the HRC building that used to be Harvey Milk's camera shop, and the Harvey Milk Memorial Elementary school (seriously, everything's named after that guy here. He's like L.E. Phillips is in Eau Claire.) And THE Pride Flag (which I don't think is as big as the, what, 20x30 one we have in EC? But it was actually flying, so who could tell), and I wandered through the Haight (which I learned is not spelled "Hate," which makes a lot more sense, since it's where all the peace and love hippies hang out).
But if you go to San Francisco, and you're queer, the Castro Theater is the gay mecca. Harvey Milk appears on the screen, and the whole place bursts into cheers and applause - because everyon knows who he is, everyone worships him, and they're not afraid to show it.
It's not like a janky old movie theater. Think of a fancy opera house - like the Ordway in Minneapolis, though I was put more in mind of the Semperoper in Dresden. I was seated on the end of our group, next to a nice stranger who explained the references in the old Frameline trailers that they always play on opening night, and I told him about us being a student group from Wisconsin.
This year the opening movie was "Vito," a documentary about the life of activist Vito Russo. If you don't know about him, you should, and a good way to learn about him is through that documentary. First the guy spent ten years writing a book on Hollywood portrayal of gay characters while running an activist group, and then in the eighties he got big into AIDS activism - even before he himself was diagnosed with AIDS. Around that point in the film, you could hear the entire theater sniffling. I was literally handing out tissues left and right - one to my classmate and one to the nice stranger next to me. Seriously, they say Minnesota nice, but we're also reserved - we don't talk to strangers in the theater.
I love this city. I thought going to college and befriending other gays was a mind-blowing moment for me, but coming here, and seeing the gay everywhere - it's changing my worldview. But since I am a cynical bitch (and proud!) I realize I cannot live on a gay island for the rest of my life. And it makes me think of what kind of narrative I want to create. The worlds where sexual orientation doesn't matter and everyone is effectively bisexual - those are nice fantasy and commentary, but that's not what we aspire to. Gays and straights are always going to be different, the way men and women are always going to be different. But that doesn't mean we can't get along. What we need is more peaceful crossover between the gay and straight worlds.
Looking at the odd little shorts I've jotted down since I started this course and have had queer theory coming out of my ears, I realize that is something of a recurring theme: a gay jock rooming with a straight nerd, a sibling too young to understand what her brother means when he says he's gay, a straight-identified girl whose attempts to find her lesbian friend a date cause her to question her own sexuality. Crossover. Communication. And with increased presence and visibility, I believe that we can show straight people they have no reason to fear us, and gay people they have no reason to fear straights.
But I do love this city. I have decided, with the help of one of my professors who has lived just about everywhere, that I would much rather go to Monterey than New York. I have a plan for my life! I know what I'm going to do when I graduate! And I'm no longer panicking! San Francisco has done wonderful things for me.
We are staying in a condo owned by a fantastic Australian man and his partner. In the back there is a lovely bamboo garden that is going to be a refuge for many of us during the hectic coming weeks. I had a picture, but my computer is being weird and won't let me show you.
That first night after we unpacked, half the class went out with the professors for sushi. Have you ever had sushi with a professor? It's intereresting. Especially when they drink sake. It was only sometime that night that I realized I was actually IN FREAKING SAN FRANCISCO, and it made me a little loopy. I'm still a little loopy.
Because today I got to see the HRC building that used to be Harvey Milk's camera shop, and the Harvey Milk Memorial Elementary school (seriously, everything's named after that guy here. He's like L.E. Phillips is in Eau Claire.) And THE Pride Flag (which I don't think is as big as the, what, 20x30 one we have in EC? But it was actually flying, so who could tell), and I wandered through the Haight (which I learned is not spelled "Hate," which makes a lot more sense, since it's where all the peace and love hippies hang out).
But if you go to San Francisco, and you're queer, the Castro Theater is the gay mecca. Harvey Milk appears on the screen, and the whole place bursts into cheers and applause - because everyon knows who he is, everyone worships him, and they're not afraid to show it.
It's not like a janky old movie theater. Think of a fancy opera house - like the Ordway in Minneapolis, though I was put more in mind of the Semperoper in Dresden. I was seated on the end of our group, next to a nice stranger who explained the references in the old Frameline trailers that they always play on opening night, and I told him about us being a student group from Wisconsin.
This year the opening movie was "Vito," a documentary about the life of activist Vito Russo. If you don't know about him, you should, and a good way to learn about him is through that documentary. First the guy spent ten years writing a book on Hollywood portrayal of gay characters while running an activist group, and then in the eighties he got big into AIDS activism - even before he himself was diagnosed with AIDS. Around that point in the film, you could hear the entire theater sniffling. I was literally handing out tissues left and right - one to my classmate and one to the nice stranger next to me. Seriously, they say Minnesota nice, but we're also reserved - we don't talk to strangers in the theater.
I love this city. I thought going to college and befriending other gays was a mind-blowing moment for me, but coming here, and seeing the gay everywhere - it's changing my worldview. But since I am a cynical bitch (and proud!) I realize I cannot live on a gay island for the rest of my life. And it makes me think of what kind of narrative I want to create. The worlds where sexual orientation doesn't matter and everyone is effectively bisexual - those are nice fantasy and commentary, but that's not what we aspire to. Gays and straights are always going to be different, the way men and women are always going to be different. But that doesn't mean we can't get along. What we need is more peaceful crossover between the gay and straight worlds.
Looking at the odd little shorts I've jotted down since I started this course and have had queer theory coming out of my ears, I realize that is something of a recurring theme: a gay jock rooming with a straight nerd, a sibling too young to understand what her brother means when he says he's gay, a straight-identified girl whose attempts to find her lesbian friend a date cause her to question her own sexuality. Crossover. Communication. And with increased presence and visibility, I believe that we can show straight people they have no reason to fear us, and gay people they have no reason to fear straights.
But I do love this city. I have decided, with the help of one of my professors who has lived just about everywhere, that I would much rather go to Monterey than New York. I have a plan for my life! I know what I'm going to do when I graduate! And I'm no longer panicking! San Francisco has done wonderful things for me.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Filler Post
My reader has been clamoring for a new post. Yes, I only have one reader. I can see how many times my posts have been viewed. I'm thinking about starting a new blog. One that has more of a theme, i.e. ranting about books/movies/TV shows and generally being a pretentious hipster.
Am I still a hipster if I admit I am one? Because I do like some things just because they are obscure. Granted, you need a critical mass of fandom for it to be fun, but things that everyone likes just aren't the same. So yeah, I'm a tea-drinking,Mumford and Sons (they're actually on the radio) Frank Turner listening, Galen Beckett reading (I liked him better when he was publishing under Mark Anthony, though I get why he went to a pseudonym), German speaking hipster.
That wasn't what I was going to post about.
Well, it was, I think. One of the things. Summer is a time of idleness and reflection, a time of setting goals you never achieve, but at least you have enough time to do them if you wanted to. Usually.
This summer I am taking two summer classes. One is an online class about language development and its for my minor. The other is an upper-level queer theory class that involves two weeks in San Francisco and making a documentary film. And lots and lots of angry readings about the heteropatriarchy.
(My reader knows this already, but since it's on the internet I feel like I have to make this coherent to the general public.)
This summer I am also living off-campus, on my own (i.e. not under adult supervision, because I am an adult, or so I've been told).
This summer I need to start seriously looking in to grad school applications. It's not just a distant dream to get me through a depressed phase - it's my actual future that I hold in my own hands, and I'm terrified I might drop it.
This summer I hope to start an etsy shop and sell crocheted My Little Ponies (no, seriously, those things go for $20-$40, and you know what? Yarn is cheap) in lieu of getting a real job.
See, my original goal for this summer was to get a real job and my driver's license. Then San Francisco happened, and I put growing up on hold.
So maybe this post is about growing up, and how it's not happening, only it is happening. I'm not reaching milestones, but I'm learning more about myself - not changing, but becoming more who I am (coughhipstercough yeah, what of it?it's true). I'm a hipster. I'm a brony (that's for another post). I'm queer not a lesbian, and I don't give a damn about dismantling the heteropatriarchy, I'm going to change the world in my own small way by writing books. If I ever finish the damn things. At least I'm writing again.
I stopped writing. And then I started again. And then I stopped. It's like when I used to get depressed (used to?) - so depressed that I felt like I would never be happy again. I went through so many cycles, eventually I realized that I would always feel happy again. And I would always feel sad again. And maybe that was the first step in my growing up and leaving behind the adolescent woes, because once I stopped fearing my depression it had less power over me. Until extenuating circumstances, but even that passed.
I'm going to stop before this gets any more rambly.
So, my dear reader, I hope this was enough to break the monotony of your North Dakota wasteland for a little while, and I will be sure to keep you posted on my future activities in the blogosphere.
Am I still a hipster if I admit I am one? Because I do like some things just because they are obscure. Granted, you need a critical mass of fandom for it to be fun, but things that everyone likes just aren't the same. So yeah, I'm a tea-drinking,
That wasn't what I was going to post about.
Well, it was, I think. One of the things. Summer is a time of idleness and reflection, a time of setting goals you never achieve, but at least you have enough time to do them if you wanted to. Usually.
This summer I am taking two summer classes. One is an online class about language development and its for my minor. The other is an upper-level queer theory class that involves two weeks in San Francisco and making a documentary film. And lots and lots of angry readings about the heteropatriarchy.
(My reader knows this already, but since it's on the internet I feel like I have to make this coherent to the general public.)
This summer I am also living off-campus, on my own (i.e. not under adult supervision, because I am an adult, or so I've been told).
This summer I need to start seriously looking in to grad school applications. It's not just a distant dream to get me through a depressed phase - it's my actual future that I hold in my own hands, and I'm terrified I might drop it.
This summer I hope to start an etsy shop and sell crocheted My Little Ponies (no, seriously, those things go for $20-$40, and you know what? Yarn is cheap) in lieu of getting a real job.
See, my original goal for this summer was to get a real job and my driver's license. Then San Francisco happened, and I put growing up on hold.
So maybe this post is about growing up, and how it's not happening, only it is happening. I'm not reaching milestones, but I'm learning more about myself - not changing, but becoming more who I am (coughhipstercough yeah, what of it?it's true). I'm a hipster. I'm a brony (that's for another post). I'm queer not a lesbian, and I don't give a damn about dismantling the heteropatriarchy, I'm going to change the world in my own small way by writing books. If I ever finish the damn things. At least I'm writing again.
I stopped writing. And then I started again. And then I stopped. It's like when I used to get depressed (used to?) - so depressed that I felt like I would never be happy again. I went through so many cycles, eventually I realized that I would always feel happy again. And I would always feel sad again. And maybe that was the first step in my growing up and leaving behind the adolescent woes, because once I stopped fearing my depression it had less power over me. Until extenuating circumstances, but even that passed.
I'm going to stop before this gets any more rambly.
So, my dear reader, I hope this was enough to break the monotony of your North Dakota wasteland for a little while, and I will be sure to keep you posted on my future activities in the blogosphere.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
In Defense of the Fantastic
Here's the thing: My Creative Writing professor assigned us a short story to write. It can be "about anything you want. Except elves." I had mised thoughts on that. On one hand, I was thinking "I know, right? I f***ing hate elves." And on the other: "Sure, elves are stupid, but they don't have to be. You could write an elf detective story if you wanted to."
Hmm. I'll have to get back to you on that.
The point is, fantasy is what you make it. That is what it used to mean to "fantasize" - to come up with something completely new. Not to blindly follow the Tolkien-Eddings paradigm. Tolkien knew what he was doing when he wrote and epic quest, drawing on all sorts of mythology stuff. That is why the only thing resembling epic fantasy I can read anymore is The Last Rune series by Mark Anthony; because he, like Tolkien, pays attention to the epic myth, so that even though he tropes up the wazoo, he still manages to convey a sense of awesome.
That and I have two-inch thick nostalgia goggles.
So what if you don't like myths? They're silly, outdated, nonsensical, boring. Guess what? You can still write fantasy. Set it in modern day? Urban fantasy! Set it in a world with technology analogous to our own but they have MAGIC? Go right ahead! That is the whole point of fantasy. You can do whatever the heck you want.
Take Sarah Monette's Doctrine of Labyrinths series. Sure, it has its fair share of traipsing across the countryside, but there are saints and churches and random French and factories - and that's just background details she throws in to mess with your head. Monette also throws out your expectations. You think the wizard is the hero, but he goes insane and has to be dragged across the countryside by his half-brother, and once he gets better you think they're going to be all buddy-buddy, but the wizard is a complete douchebag in the second book, and the one character who is pure evil does not have any dastardly plots to take over the world. There are no epic battles. Felix and Mildmay have enough on their hands just trying to save themselves, without saving the world.
In the same vein Sarah Micklem's Firethorn has nothing whatsoever to do with traditional fantasy. She does all her own worldbuilding, the characters are mostly jerks, and even the ones that are a bit nicer are very not okay by modern standards - but it works in-universe. The magic is so subtly done you sometimes forget it is there - about all there is is that the main character can see in the dark - and the religion is so intricate I need to start a new sentence. There are two main types of religion in fantasy. The pantheon that doesn't do anything, and the annoyingly meddlesome pantheon. Firethorn has both. Seriously. The characters attribute events to divine intervention appropriately, but the reader can still shake her head and say "You silly pagan," if so desired.
And now for the counterexample.
Havemercy.
It is essentially Doctrine of Labyrinths fanfic. Sure, they made their own world, but they wanted to do esactly what Sarah Monette did. There's the gay wizard, but he doesn't go insane, and his love affair reads like a slash. There are the long-lost brothers, who have nothing at stake in their relationship. All the authors really made up was mechanical dragons, and that is not enough to support the overlarge cast of underdeveloped characters.
Now, what did they do wrong? They did not write fantasy. They wrote paradigm, only instead of Tolkien-Eddings, they just used Sarah Monette. But they completely missed the point. In copying the elements, they neglected to copy the style. Tolkien wrote travelogues, so he knew how to write traipsing across the country (your milage may vary). Monette knows everything there is about the Elizabethan era, and she reads nonfiction everything for fun. Micklem read army survival handbooks and memoirs - her whole first book is an army waiting for a war. Not one to save the world. And the war does not even start until the next book. The problem with Havemercy is that the authors did not know what they were writing; they just blindly followed what they though they should be writing. Take the gay character. Did any of your gay friends hook up because they were thrown into awkward physical situations by the writer? It sounds like an oxymoron, but fantasy needs to be realistic.
Sure, you make up a few rules, but humanity remains the same, and that is the strength of fantasy. Fiction deals mostly in the realm of what is. Yes, there is a certain amount of imagination in coming up with it, and you do actually face many of the same issues with worldbuilding, but in fantasy, you don't have to match the real world. It is more than just laziness; you can escape the usual explanations and arrive at deeper truths. Anything is possible. Anything.
Take advantage of it.
Hmm. I'll have to get back to you on that.
The point is, fantasy is what you make it. That is what it used to mean to "fantasize" - to come up with something completely new. Not to blindly follow the Tolkien-Eddings paradigm. Tolkien knew what he was doing when he wrote and epic quest, drawing on all sorts of mythology stuff. That is why the only thing resembling epic fantasy I can read anymore is The Last Rune series by Mark Anthony; because he, like Tolkien, pays attention to the epic myth, so that even though he tropes up the wazoo, he still manages to convey a sense of awesome.
That and I have two-inch thick nostalgia goggles.
So what if you don't like myths? They're silly, outdated, nonsensical, boring. Guess what? You can still write fantasy. Set it in modern day? Urban fantasy! Set it in a world with technology analogous to our own but they have MAGIC? Go right ahead! That is the whole point of fantasy. You can do whatever the heck you want.
Take Sarah Monette's Doctrine of Labyrinths series. Sure, it has its fair share of traipsing across the countryside, but there are saints and churches and random French and factories - and that's just background details she throws in to mess with your head. Monette also throws out your expectations. You think the wizard is the hero, but he goes insane and has to be dragged across the countryside by his half-brother, and once he gets better you think they're going to be all buddy-buddy, but the wizard is a complete douchebag in the second book, and the one character who is pure evil does not have any dastardly plots to take over the world. There are no epic battles. Felix and Mildmay have enough on their hands just trying to save themselves, without saving the world.
In the same vein Sarah Micklem's Firethorn has nothing whatsoever to do with traditional fantasy. She does all her own worldbuilding, the characters are mostly jerks, and even the ones that are a bit nicer are very not okay by modern standards - but it works in-universe. The magic is so subtly done you sometimes forget it is there - about all there is is that the main character can see in the dark - and the religion is so intricate I need to start a new sentence. There are two main types of religion in fantasy. The pantheon that doesn't do anything, and the annoyingly meddlesome pantheon. Firethorn has both. Seriously. The characters attribute events to divine intervention appropriately, but the reader can still shake her head and say "You silly pagan," if so desired.
And now for the counterexample.
Havemercy.
It is essentially Doctrine of Labyrinths fanfic. Sure, they made their own world, but they wanted to do esactly what Sarah Monette did. There's the gay wizard, but he doesn't go insane, and his love affair reads like a slash. There are the long-lost brothers, who have nothing at stake in their relationship. All the authors really made up was mechanical dragons, and that is not enough to support the overlarge cast of underdeveloped characters.
Now, what did they do wrong? They did not write fantasy. They wrote paradigm, only instead of Tolkien-Eddings, they just used Sarah Monette. But they completely missed the point. In copying the elements, they neglected to copy the style. Tolkien wrote travelogues, so he knew how to write traipsing across the country (your milage may vary). Monette knows everything there is about the Elizabethan era, and she reads nonfiction everything for fun. Micklem read army survival handbooks and memoirs - her whole first book is an army waiting for a war. Not one to save the world. And the war does not even start until the next book. The problem with Havemercy is that the authors did not know what they were writing; they just blindly followed what they though they should be writing. Take the gay character. Did any of your gay friends hook up because they were thrown into awkward physical situations by the writer? It sounds like an oxymoron, but fantasy needs to be realistic.
Sure, you make up a few rules, but humanity remains the same, and that is the strength of fantasy. Fiction deals mostly in the realm of what is. Yes, there is a certain amount of imagination in coming up with it, and you do actually face many of the same issues with worldbuilding, but in fantasy, you don't have to match the real world. It is more than just laziness; you can escape the usual explanations and arrive at deeper truths. Anything is possible. Anything.
Take advantage of it.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
What Should Theater Look Like and What Should Theater Be About?
Above are the two driving questions for my Theater History class that I am currently taking for a fine arts GE. It's not that bad of a class, even though the professor has a tendency to analyze things for us and not encourage discussion and argument against her; I'm bored, but that's why I crochet. No, the problem arises when we do three plays in a row about race relations, and that is the sum total of our look at American theater. See, apparently "being American" means what race you are and how you're being oppressed.
There is a quote from August Wilson which I would like to paraphrase and dispute. He argued against colorblind casting, claiming that it was devaluing African-American identity, and that instead there should be more plays written by blacks about blacks. That way, black people would learn to respect their black identity.
While I respect the sentiment, and can agree it was probably appropriate for the times, I would like to bring up one point - namely, myself. Am I even going to see the German-Chinese lesbian identity validated on the stage or in print? Probably not. The bigger question for me, though, is that if I did find a story that was not my own about a German-Chinese lesbian in America, would it mean anything to me? Would that character really have anything to do with me? Would this hypothetical character be obsessed with languages? Would she be a ruthless literary critic? A laconic feminist? Would she have struggles with identity and independence that have nothing to do with her race or sexuality?
I don't think so. I think that I am more than my race, ethnicity, and sexuality.
It bothers me when people try to portray themselves and their characters solely as representations of their race. Yes, more racial and cultural awareness is good, but the whole purpose of racial inclusion is to show that people who aren't white Christian heterosexual able-bodied males are people too. That does not happen if your black character is a cardboard cutout of a black person, and not a fully developed person with dark skin and African heritage.
Compare the last two plays we had to read: "Zoot Suit" and "Cloud Nine." "Zoot Suit" bored and frustrated me. It is a whiny minority play, about Mexican-Americans in the 1940's bitching about how they're being oppressed and thrown in jail just because they're Mexican. There is one line that goes something like "You just don't understand the Chicano people." To which I reply "No, I don't, because I haven't seen any of your culture or personality, I'm just hearing how you're discriminated against. I don't understand you any better than I did before."
Now, "Cloud Nine" focuses more on gender and sexuality than race, though there is a small racial component. What "Cloud Nine" does is crossgender casting - Betty is played by a man, Edward is played by a woman; also, the black servant is played by a white man. This shows how gender (and race) roles are just that - roles that we play. It questions the very institutions. That is so much more interesting and thought-provoking than "Look at us! We're being oppressed!" Is it not?
There is a quote from August Wilson which I would like to paraphrase and dispute. He argued against colorblind casting, claiming that it was devaluing African-American identity, and that instead there should be more plays written by blacks about blacks. That way, black people would learn to respect their black identity.
While I respect the sentiment, and can agree it was probably appropriate for the times, I would like to bring up one point - namely, myself. Am I even going to see the German-Chinese lesbian identity validated on the stage or in print? Probably not. The bigger question for me, though, is that if I did find a story that was not my own about a German-Chinese lesbian in America, would it mean anything to me? Would that character really have anything to do with me? Would this hypothetical character be obsessed with languages? Would she be a ruthless literary critic? A laconic feminist? Would she have struggles with identity and independence that have nothing to do with her race or sexuality?
I don't think so. I think that I am more than my race, ethnicity, and sexuality.
It bothers me when people try to portray themselves and their characters solely as representations of their race. Yes, more racial and cultural awareness is good, but the whole purpose of racial inclusion is to show that people who aren't white Christian heterosexual able-bodied males are people too. That does not happen if your black character is a cardboard cutout of a black person, and not a fully developed person with dark skin and African heritage.
Compare the last two plays we had to read: "Zoot Suit" and "Cloud Nine." "Zoot Suit" bored and frustrated me. It is a whiny minority play, about Mexican-Americans in the 1940's bitching about how they're being oppressed and thrown in jail just because they're Mexican. There is one line that goes something like "You just don't understand the Chicano people." To which I reply "No, I don't, because I haven't seen any of your culture or personality, I'm just hearing how you're discriminated against. I don't understand you any better than I did before."
Now, "Cloud Nine" focuses more on gender and sexuality than race, though there is a small racial component. What "Cloud Nine" does is crossgender casting - Betty is played by a man, Edward is played by a woman; also, the black servant is played by a white man. This shows how gender (and race) roles are just that - roles that we play. It questions the very institutions. That is so much more interesting and thought-provoking than "Look at us! We're being oppressed!" Is it not?
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Bisexuals in Literature
This post was inspired by reading Libba Bray's novel Beauty Queens, which is awesome and hilarious and the good kind of feminism, even if it does have diversity issues. Like the fact that the only characters with distinct personalities are the white ones; the supporting cast the Black Girl, the Indian Girl (who become besties based on the fact they are both not white, which is actually played straight rather well), the Tomboyish Lesbian, the Transgender Girl, the Deaf Girl, etc. Whereas the white characters that the story spends a (admittedly slight) majority of the time with include the Friendless Intellectual, the Psychopathic Perfectionist, the Wild Girl, and the Dumb Blond With A Heart Of Gold. Y'know, actual personality types instead of just Issues.
But today's rant is about the Bisexual Girl, who in Beauty Queens doubles as the Deaf Girl.
What happens in the book is that a plane full of beauty pageant queens crashes on a deserted island (think Lord of the Flies with girls). At one point, the Lesbian is wandering through the jungle, when she rescues the Deaf Bisexual Girl from being eaten by a snake, and falls in love. Before she has any inkling that this girl might not be straight.
Problems so far:
1. The cardinal rule of being gay is DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH A STRAIGHT PERSON. For us, the question "Are they gay?" has to come before "Do I like them?" Granted, this might just be a me-thing, but it always irks me when I read a book where a girl falls in love with a girl before she has reason to thinks he might not be straight. It just doesn't work like that. To put it simply, heterosexuality is a real turn-off.
2. If I were wandering through the jungle and ran across someone being eaten by a snake and had to rescue them, what are the chances we would have compatible sexualities? If it were me, it would turn out to be a gay man. Seriously.
Anyway, the Lesbian falls for the Bisexual Deaf Girl, who, as she is also a dancer, incites some oddly homoerotic moments with the Lesbian, who draws a fantasy comic with her as a superhero rescuing her love, when the BDG walks in on her, sees the comic, and they make out after only a brief: "Are you gay?" "Are you?"
3. I'm not going to knock the coincidence. The entire premise of the book is ridiculous, and it only gets wackier from their, with government conspiracies and insane third-world dictators. But since BDG is established as bi, she really should have realized that asking the Lesbian to dance with her is rather flirtatious. And since the Lesbian is sort ofdykish tomboyish, BDG ought to have suspected her of not being straight, even if the Lesbian could not ping on her because you can't tell with bi girls.
There are about two paragraphs dedicated to the fact that the Deaf Girl is bi. And when hot male pirates show up on the island, she doesn't seem to get the slightest bit of enjoyment from the sight of all that man-candy. Sure, she's dating the token Lesbian, but she can still look, can't she?
4. Here we get into the problems extant in the wider literature. YA authors who are big on diversity will throw in a token bi character to date their token gay character, so they can be super-extra representative. The problems arise when bi characters are simply treated as gay characters. Exhibit A, Alex Sanchez's masterpiece of the 90's, Rainbow Boys. The Token Bi here actually dumps his girlfriend to be with the gay main character. Bisexual, sure. Bisexual training wheels maybe. A later book mentions him grinning at the sight of a naked girl, but that's about all we get.
Exhibit B: David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy, and if you ever want to gag on a rainbow made of pure sugar, read that book. Anyway, the bi guy there serves absolutely no function with regards to the plot, and has a backstory of making out with the main character and then claiming he was taken advantage of and really likes girls. This is supposed to be in a fantastical super-tolerant queer utopia. He can't be like "Oh, I'm bi, I guess that's okay"?
Exhibit C: Brent Hartinger's Geography Club. This one is a girl. Who is dating a lesbian. I believe in later books she crushes on a girl. But she keeps referencing the fact that she is bi, and talks about hot guys with her gay bestie.
The root of the problem, I hypothesize, is that it is difficult to realistically portray a character who is attracted to both guys and girls without making them a slut. A character gets only one designated love interest per story, after all, and a love triangle would be tricky because resolving it would make it seem like the author were favoring one orientation over another.
Solutions?
1. Spend time talking about the bisexual character's emotions and development and coming out. Bisexuals never come out! Why is that? Is it somehow not necessary? Are they not a "real" queer unless they are dating a member of the same gender? Is it because bisexual has the word "sex" in it? I don't know. But think about your heterosexual characters, and how they react to characters of the opposite gender who are not their designated love interest. There can be sexual tension without a romantic subplot.
2. A bi girl can date a guy, and still be active in queer rights stuff. Trust me, I know people personally. They don't lose their gay if they start dating someone of the opposite gender. In fact, in brings up interesting plot points. How does the boyfriend feel? Is he weirded out, or chill?
3. Heck, you could have two bisexuals of any gender combination date each other. That would be an interesting relationship dynamic.
4. Back to Beauty Queens: When I saw the two token queers were going to hook up, I groaned and came up with an alternative subplot involving a token bi and a token lesbian. Suppose it is a bitchy lipstick lesbian. In fact, she might be the Psychotic Perfectionist. Then, there's also a bi girl, one of the quiet ones who silently hates the lesbian's guts. *Gasp!* No token queer solidarity/romance? Unthinkable! If this were to happen, I would not even mind if the bi girl were crushing on a straight girl, as long as she eventually got over her. Maybe hooked up with one of the hot pirates. And then the lesbian can date some chick in the epilogue after she becomes a nice person, to prove that homosexual relationships are okay too.
Seriously, not all gays like each other. You can't put a pair of us on a deserted island and expect us to automatically mate, any more than you could put a heterosexual guy and girl on an island and expect them to.
(On the plus side, they don't hookup ever after; they break up amicably and the bi girl is dating a guy in the epilogue, while the lesbian is married. So it ended up not being too bad.)
But today's rant is about the Bisexual Girl, who in Beauty Queens doubles as the Deaf Girl.
What happens in the book is that a plane full of beauty pageant queens crashes on a deserted island (think Lord of the Flies with girls). At one point, the Lesbian is wandering through the jungle, when she rescues the Deaf Bisexual Girl from being eaten by a snake, and falls in love. Before she has any inkling that this girl might not be straight.
Problems so far:
1. The cardinal rule of being gay is DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH A STRAIGHT PERSON. For us, the question "Are they gay?" has to come before "Do I like them?" Granted, this might just be a me-thing, but it always irks me when I read a book where a girl falls in love with a girl before she has reason to thinks he might not be straight. It just doesn't work like that. To put it simply, heterosexuality is a real turn-off.
2. If I were wandering through the jungle and ran across someone being eaten by a snake and had to rescue them, what are the chances we would have compatible sexualities? If it were me, it would turn out to be a gay man. Seriously.
Anyway, the Lesbian falls for the Bisexual Deaf Girl, who, as she is also a dancer, incites some oddly homoerotic moments with the Lesbian, who draws a fantasy comic with her as a superhero rescuing her love, when the BDG walks in on her, sees the comic, and they make out after only a brief: "Are you gay?" "Are you?"
3. I'm not going to knock the coincidence. The entire premise of the book is ridiculous, and it only gets wackier from their, with government conspiracies and insane third-world dictators. But since BDG is established as bi, she really should have realized that asking the Lesbian to dance with her is rather flirtatious. And since the Lesbian is sort of
There are about two paragraphs dedicated to the fact that the Deaf Girl is bi. And when hot male pirates show up on the island, she doesn't seem to get the slightest bit of enjoyment from the sight of all that man-candy. Sure, she's dating the token Lesbian, but she can still look, can't she?
4. Here we get into the problems extant in the wider literature. YA authors who are big on diversity will throw in a token bi character to date their token gay character, so they can be super-extra representative. The problems arise when bi characters are simply treated as gay characters. Exhibit A, Alex Sanchez's masterpiece of the 90's, Rainbow Boys. The Token Bi here actually dumps his girlfriend to be with the gay main character. Bisexual, sure. Bisexual training wheels maybe. A later book mentions him grinning at the sight of a naked girl, but that's about all we get.
Exhibit B: David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy, and if you ever want to gag on a rainbow made of pure sugar, read that book. Anyway, the bi guy there serves absolutely no function with regards to the plot, and has a backstory of making out with the main character and then claiming he was taken advantage of and really likes girls. This is supposed to be in a fantastical super-tolerant queer utopia. He can't be like "Oh, I'm bi, I guess that's okay"?
Exhibit C: Brent Hartinger's Geography Club. This one is a girl. Who is dating a lesbian. I believe in later books she crushes on a girl. But she keeps referencing the fact that she is bi, and talks about hot guys with her gay bestie.
The root of the problem, I hypothesize, is that it is difficult to realistically portray a character who is attracted to both guys and girls without making them a slut. A character gets only one designated love interest per story, after all, and a love triangle would be tricky because resolving it would make it seem like the author were favoring one orientation over another.
Solutions?
1. Spend time talking about the bisexual character's emotions and development and coming out. Bisexuals never come out! Why is that? Is it somehow not necessary? Are they not a "real" queer unless they are dating a member of the same gender? Is it because bisexual has the word "sex" in it? I don't know. But think about your heterosexual characters, and how they react to characters of the opposite gender who are not their designated love interest. There can be sexual tension without a romantic subplot.
2. A bi girl can date a guy, and still be active in queer rights stuff. Trust me, I know people personally. They don't lose their gay if they start dating someone of the opposite gender. In fact, in brings up interesting plot points. How does the boyfriend feel? Is he weirded out, or chill?
3. Heck, you could have two bisexuals of any gender combination date each other. That would be an interesting relationship dynamic.
4. Back to Beauty Queens: When I saw the two token queers were going to hook up, I groaned and came up with an alternative subplot involving a token bi and a token lesbian. Suppose it is a bitchy lipstick lesbian. In fact, she might be the Psychotic Perfectionist. Then, there's also a bi girl, one of the quiet ones who silently hates the lesbian's guts. *Gasp!* No token queer solidarity/romance? Unthinkable! If this were to happen, I would not even mind if the bi girl were crushing on a straight girl, as long as she eventually got over her. Maybe hooked up with one of the hot pirates. And then the lesbian can date some chick in the epilogue after she becomes a nice person, to prove that homosexual relationships are okay too.
Seriously, not all gays like each other. You can't put a pair of us on a deserted island and expect us to automatically mate, any more than you could put a heterosexual guy and girl on an island and expect them to.
(On the plus side, they don't hookup ever after; they break up amicably and the bi girl is dating a guy in the epilogue, while the lesbian is married. So it ended up not being too bad.)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
I'm Proud To Be Minnesotan
On Sunday I went to Twin Cities Gay Pride. (Or LGBTQA...whatever). This is the first time in my life I have attended a gay event of this magnitude, and the first time in my hometown.
My brother's reaction: "Yeah, I think I'll sit out."
My dad's reaction: "Just don't go running off to the Gay 90's (local gay bar)."
My mom's reaction: "Sounds fun. Maybe I'll come too."
Here I have to add a little tangent about books (because it's me, after all). One of my biggest frustrations with gay-themed teen books from the nineties is that they are all coming out stories (or staying in stories, but those seem to be a fading trend), and very few of them offer any sort of picture of what it is actually like to be out and gay to your family. In other words, I'm sailing blind.
So to my brother I can say, It's okay, I don't blame you for trying to retain your heterosexual male dignity, to my dad, Umm, I'm not of age and you know I don't like to drink anyway, and to my mom...well.
I had agreed to meet with a friend from college at Pride, and I like to keep my college life and home life separate. It's just so weird when they intersect. I was also in my independent teenager mode, and did not want my mom in my life any more than was absolutely necessary.
But.
How many gay people do you know whose parents are not only willing but actually want to go to Pride with them? At least among my immediate circle of friends, the answer is depressingly few. The world is changing, but it has not changed so much that I can take my family's unconditional love and acceptance for granted. I know too many people in too many situations.
So in the end, I did go with my mom (I needed her to drive me anyway). Because it is not just the gays that we are celebrating at Pride. It is our place in the world, a place where we can be free to be who we are, and the people who make that world possible - not just gay people, but our neighbors and friends and families who love us.
It gets better.
Not even in the course of your individual life, but the enitre course of the world is getting better. Let's stick around and see just how good it can get.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Die Welt ist Schwul
"Die Welt ist Schwul" ("The World is Gay"), from German rap artist Blumio and featuring Jessica Jean:
I don't have the best ability to comprehend lyrics, especially rap lyrics, even in English, but as near as I can tell, the German text goes something like this:
I don't have the best ability to comprehend lyrics, especially rap lyrics, even in English, but as near as I can tell, the German text goes something like this:
Ich bin ein durchschnittlicher männlicher Bürger
Ich bin ein gesunder Geist in dem menschlichen Körper
Hab’ ein ganz normaler Junge, der auf Hip-Hop steht
Ich bin tolerant, doch Schwulen find’ ich nicht ok
Immerhin hat der liebe Gott Adam und Eve erschaffen
Und es liegt nicht in Seine Natur, Fehler zu machen, naja
Ist dann meine Meinung, aber nun, genuger Quatsch
Ich gehe jetzt in Bett schon, Leute. Also Gute Nacht!
Schlaf, Schlaf, Schlaf, Schlaf Schlaf
Was, schon so früh? (… …) aufgestanden
Um zehn Uhr treffe ich mit meine Liebe (vor … …en)
Ich gehe vor die Tur – ah, da steht sie ja schon
Hi Schatz – ja, dann gehen wir mal los
(…) scheint auch die Sonne, die letzen Tagen waren sehr dürftig
Aber Baby, warte mal, irgendwas ist merkwürdig
Viele Schwule Paare heute im Park unterwegs
Muss auf achten,nicht zu ihm mit dem Arschen zu weg!
Verstehst du doch mal im ernst, aber ist ‘ne komische Frage
Aber ist dann heute irgendso eine Romaparade?
Hm, naja, egal, Ich küss meine Frau auf die Wacke
Ein Opa schreit Du Schweine konnte zu Hause machen!
Was? Ist doch voll normal!
Was soll denn dieser Scheisse?
Ist doch schön wenn ich meine Lieb’ zu meiner Liebe zeigen
Ich frage mich hin, was für eine Gegen ich bin
Alter, wo zum Teufel (… …) all die Heteros sind?
Die Welt ist schwul. Nananananaaaa
Die Leute zeigen auf mich und die sagen, ist eigentlich normal
Verdammt, die Welt ist schwul. Nananananananaaaa
Ich werde diskriminiert doch die meisten … ist das egal
Was ist hier los, man? Ich (…) (den mächtigen Körper?)
Wo ich auch hinschaue sehe ich schwule und lesbische Paare
Viele schauen schräg an – was wollen diese (verflixten)?
Auf in drüben stehen Jugendliche die über uns Witze machen
He, heute schon Pimmel in die Scheide gesteckt?
Oder als Mann bei der Frau zwischen den Beinen gelegt?
Warum fragen sie so sinnlosen, schmutzigen (…)
Wie (be…) Hetero als Schimpfwort benutzen
Oh, mein Chef ist voller Asi-Mann (der ist voll) hetero
Guck mal die (weiden kommen auf, auf ein) ‘etero
Ich bin verwirrt. Wie ist das voll zum (achsen an)
Ich muss weg. Ich geh zum Haus
Und mach erstmal die Gloze an
(… … …)
Die meinen dass man in andere Länder sogar Heteros (…)
(…) soll ich mein Leben verbringen?
Der Papst sagt, dass ich in die Hölle kommen wenn ich Hetero bin
Die Welt is schwul. Nananananananaaaa…
Die Leute zeigen auf mich und die sagen, ist eigentlich normal
Verdammt, die Welt ist schwul. Nananananananaaaa
Ich werde diskriminiert doch die meisten … ist das egal
Ich wollte mich nächste Woche mit meine Frau Irena verloben
Aber in Deutschland ist die Hetero-Ehe verboten
Jeder hat ne gleich berechtliche Stimme - so eine Lüge!
Was kann ich dafür, dass ich mich zu Frauen hingezogen fühle?
Dabei ist es doch Liebe – es sind die gleichen Gefühle
Wenn ich gleich auch meine Partnerin auf andere Weise verfügen!
Es ist trotz allerdem dieselbe Kribbe in die Lagen gehen
A(…) diese Liebe, die schimmernde Hoffnung in der Leben(…)
Doch Komplett auf anderen Leute sind echt ‘ne Realiität
Man (… …) reduziert auf die sexualität
Ich bin ein Kerl, esse gern Pizza und die Strand (…)
Doch weil ich Frauen mag, weigern manche an mich zu (reichen)
So unter Hitler waren die Heteros gejagdt
Ich gehe raus und ich hefte die Regenbogen Flagge
Warum hasst die uns? Nichts wird daraus besser!
Dann lieg ich in meinem Bett, und ich hör mal die Wecker
Es war alles nur ein Traum, doch es hat sich in mein Kopf verbrannt
Ich geh ins Wohnzimmer und mache die Glotze an
Ich sehe ein Komedien, wie er Witze über Schwule weiss
Ich denke mir, dass kann doch eigentlich nicht gutes sein
Nie wieder schwulfrei!
Die Welt ist schwul...
The English approximation:
I’m your average male citizen
I’m a healthy spirit in a human body
Have a completely normal son that likes hip-hop
I’m tolerant, but I don’t think the gays are okay
Anyway, the Lord God, made Adam and Eve
And it’s not in His nature to make mistakes
That’s my opinion, but enough nonsense
I’m going to bed, folks, so goodnight!
Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep
What, already that early? I get up (…)
At ten I meet with my lover for (…)
I go to the door – ah, she’s already there
Hi, darling - now let’s go!
It’s good to see the sun, the last few days were pretty poor
But baby, wait a moment – something is strange here.
A lot of gay couples walking around in the park
Got to be careful not to let let them look at my ass
No, but seriously, it’s an odd question
But is there some kind of a gypsy parade today?
Hm, oh well. I kiss my girl on the cheek
A grandpa yells “You pigs can do that at home!”
What? But it’s completely normal?
What is this shit?
It’s nice when I show my love to my love!
I ask myself, what kind of a weirdo am I?
Old man, where the hell are all the have all the straight people gone?
The world is gay. Nanananananaaaa.
People point at me and say that’s completely normal.
Dammit, the world is gay. Nanananananaaaaa.
I’m discrimated against, and most people don’t really care.
What’s going on, man? I (… … ….)
Wherever I look are gay and lesbian pairs.
People look at me weird – what, are they trying to (…)?
Over there some kids are making jokes about us.
“Hey, have you put dick in a vagina today?
Or laid between her legs like a man with a woman?”
Why are they asking such dirty, pointless (…)?
And everywhere I hear hetero used as an insult!
“Oh, my boss is a jerk, he’s so hetero.”
“Look at (… … …) hetero!”
I’m confused. What is this (…)?
I have to get away, I go home, and turn the TV on
“(…)”
They say that in other countries, heteros even get killed!
And how am I supposed to spend my life?
The Pope says that I’m going to Hell if I’m straight!
The world is gay. Nanananananaaaa…
I wanted to marry my girlfriend Irena next week
But in Germany, gay marriage is illegal!
Everyone has an equally counted voice – what a lie!
How can I help it if I’m attracted to women?
It’s still love – it’s the same feelings
When I, like my partner, am attracted to opposite gender
Despite all that, it’s the same tingling in the same place
This love that is a shimmering hope in the life (…)
But to other people, it’s a harsh reality,
(… … …) the sexuality?
I’m just a guy, I like pizza and the beach,
But because I like women, people refuse to serve me.
Like how straight people were hunted down by Hitler!
I go outside and wave a rainbow flag
Why do they hate us? It won’t make anything better!
And then I lie in my bed and hear my alarm clock again
It was all just a dream, but it burned in my head
I go to the living room and turn the TV on
I see a comedian, and how he knows jokes about gay people
I think to myself, that can’t be anything good…
Never again gay-free!
The world is gay. Nanananananaaaa…
Friday, May 13, 2011
The Post in Which I Talk About Gay Marriage
So right now Minnesota's government is discussing a ban on gay marriage.
I, unfortunately, am not registered to vote in Minnesota, and so have confined my activities to getting entangled in a comment war on Facebook. At least my friend who originally posted this is an ally. A good ally.
See, a recurring motif of the people who commented was "I have gay friends, but I don't think gay people should get married because the Bible says no." I am not going to argue the religious aspect. I do not care what you do in the privacy of your own home - and honestly, people with those opinions aren't going to change them unless they want to. What bothers me is the hypocrisy.
If you can look someone in the eye and tell them that you never want them to get married, are you truly their friend? If you tell your friends that it's okay that they are gay, but you are trying to "change yourself for God," do you think they really believe that you are okay with the gay? And if you say it's okay for people to be gay, as long as they don't get married, then are you really approving of the gay?
It also bugs me how people think they can just say anything, as long as they follow it with "But I have gay friends, so I'm not homophobic." Do you think your gay friends approve of your favorite complaint being "That's so gay!" Do you think a piece of their souls does not quietly wilt every time they hear that phrase?
Back to marriage.
I think our society has progressed to the point where homophobia is for the most part frowned upon. Most people will say they don't mind gay people in theory; what other people do in the privacy of their home is their own business. But being gay is not confined to the privacy of one's own home. You take it with you to school, to work, to parties, to the grocery store, to the dentist, to the voting booth.
Being married is not confined to the privacy of your own home. You display the ring for the world to see. Women go from Miss to Mrs. In casual conversation, the second question after "How are you?" is "How is your significant other/family?" You go together to neighborhood get-togethers and family obligations. When you fill out forms and surveys, you check the box labelled "Married."
That is why gay marriage is frowned upon by apparent non-homophobes. Gay is okay, as long as no one sees it. Marriage is far too in your face. Let's just go back to the subculture of the 1950's.
The problem with people who do not use logic to back up their arguments is that it is impossible to use logic to counter them.
And so now that I have a proverbial bruise from proverbially banging my head against the wall, I leave you with the reason more people should know German:
I, unfortunately, am not registered to vote in Minnesota, and so have confined my activities to getting entangled in a comment war on Facebook. At least my friend who originally posted this is an ally. A good ally.
See, a recurring motif of the people who commented was "I have gay friends, but I don't think gay people should get married because the Bible says no." I am not going to argue the religious aspect. I do not care what you do in the privacy of your own home - and honestly, people with those opinions aren't going to change them unless they want to. What bothers me is the hypocrisy.
If you can look someone in the eye and tell them that you never want them to get married, are you truly their friend? If you tell your friends that it's okay that they are gay, but you are trying to "change yourself for God," do you think they really believe that you are okay with the gay? And if you say it's okay for people to be gay, as long as they don't get married, then are you really approving of the gay?
It also bugs me how people think they can just say anything, as long as they follow it with "But I have gay friends, so I'm not homophobic." Do you think your gay friends approve of your favorite complaint being "That's so gay!" Do you think a piece of their souls does not quietly wilt every time they hear that phrase?
Back to marriage.
I think our society has progressed to the point where homophobia is for the most part frowned upon. Most people will say they don't mind gay people in theory; what other people do in the privacy of their home is their own business. But being gay is not confined to the privacy of one's own home. You take it with you to school, to work, to parties, to the grocery store, to the dentist, to the voting booth.
Being married is not confined to the privacy of your own home. You display the ring for the world to see. Women go from Miss to Mrs. In casual conversation, the second question after "How are you?" is "How is your significant other/family?" You go together to neighborhood get-togethers and family obligations. When you fill out forms and surveys, you check the box labelled "Married."
That is why gay marriage is frowned upon by apparent non-homophobes. Gay is okay, as long as no one sees it. Marriage is far too in your face. Let's just go back to the subculture of the 1950's.
The problem with people who do not use logic to back up their arguments is that it is impossible to use logic to counter them.
And so now that I have a proverbial bruise from proverbially banging my head against the wall, I leave you with the reason more people should know German:
Lyrics and translation to follow in next post.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
I Got Gaynst, But I'm Not a Gayngster*
*Terms are defined here and here
When people think of homophobia, they think of gay-bashing and bullies and suicidal teenagers and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but in reality, homophobia does not come from laws. It doesn't matter that I can get married in Iowa, or that I can be in the military and talk about my sex life (had I one) at the same time. Homophobia comes from homework and television commercials. It comes from a girl complaining "That's so gay!" and being called on it, explains that she isn't homophobic because she has a (token) gay friend. Being systematically ignored, outlawed, and laughed at is better than being burned at the stake**, but far from an equal existence.
Another incident: "'Schwuel', that means humid, right? Not 'schwul.' That means...like when a man is very feminine. (Giggle)." Well, no, it means when a man is sexually attracted to another man, but that's all details. Every single one of my complaints here is a tiny little detail, and perhaps it could seem like I am blowing this out of proportion and making too big a deal out of this. But it adds up. Always being the butt of a joke. Always finding out that people you thought you respected consider you to be the butt of a joke, even if they wouldn't dream of applying it to you specifically. And most importantly, the media that are not screened for political correctness and just go off general knowledge - those are the most dangerous. Like worksheets for German as Second Language students.
So please. Have some consideration, world. Know we are out there. Realize that 10% is not an insignificant amount in a class of 20 people.
-----
**The word "faggot" comes from an old English word meaning "kindling," back in the days when homosexuals were burned as witches. So every time you call someone a fag, you are threatening to burn them at the stake. Chew on that.
I suppose I’m one of the lucky ones. I grew up in a large city in a country where I am at least legally allowed to exist, was never picked on, have accepting parents without religious fervor, and a large circle of like-minded friends. All I need is a lover, and I could make my own “It Gets Better” video. Or maybe not, considering that it was never all that bad in the first place. Except for maybe the uncertainty and self-loathing, but that came from a lot of sources.
Dear Dan Savage, it’s great to know that I'm going to have a great life with my partner and sperm-donr baby when I'm, like, 40, but that doesn’t make being nineteen today any better.
For instance, today in my German class, the theme was divorce. We had a lovely sheet of statistics telling us that couples who live in a city have a 44% greater chance of separating. Or if the woman works full-time, a 25% increase. Or if the woman has more education, a 45% increase.
Looking at those numbers, it occurred to me that they had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. I am never going to have to deal with being more educated than a husband. But according to this worksheet, I don’t exist. In a marriage, there is “the woman” and “the man.” No other option. In fact, it is essentially illegal for me to get married (in my home state/most places in the world). So I simultaneously do not exist and am illegal.
Now imagine discussing this topic in a room of 20 people who all are just treating it like another worksheet and are not having their existence violated.
Do you:
a) out yourself, make a scene, and complain to the management about implied homophobia in the curriculum material?
b) keep silent and do not take part in this discussion, all the while hating yoursef for a coward?
c) mention the existence of homosexuality while not directly connecting the issue to yourself and test the waters, seeing what the rest of the class really does think about homosexuality, while at the same time wondering how many of them are now suspicious?
d) Turn into a raging feminist and ask why can’t the man stay at home why the woman works, and why is manly pride socially acceptable but one can’t have female pride without turning into a raging lesbian feminist?
When people think of homophobia, they think of gay-bashing and bullies and suicidal teenagers and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but in reality, homophobia does not come from laws. It doesn't matter that I can get married in Iowa, or that I can be in the military and talk about my sex life (had I one) at the same time. Homophobia comes from homework and television commercials. It comes from a girl complaining "That's so gay!" and being called on it, explains that she isn't homophobic because she has a (token) gay friend. Being systematically ignored, outlawed, and laughed at is better than being burned at the stake**, but far from an equal existence.
Another incident: "'Schwuel', that means humid, right? Not 'schwul.' That means...like when a man is very feminine. (Giggle)." Well, no, it means when a man is sexually attracted to another man, but that's all details. Every single one of my complaints here is a tiny little detail, and perhaps it could seem like I am blowing this out of proportion and making too big a deal out of this. But it adds up. Always being the butt of a joke. Always finding out that people you thought you respected consider you to be the butt of a joke, even if they wouldn't dream of applying it to you specifically. And most importantly, the media that are not screened for political correctness and just go off general knowledge - those are the most dangerous. Like worksheets for German as Second Language students.
So please. Have some consideration, world. Know we are out there. Realize that 10% is not an insignificant amount in a class of 20 people.
-----
**The word "faggot" comes from an old English word meaning "kindling," back in the days when homosexuals were burned as witches. So every time you call someone a fag, you are threatening to burn them at the stake. Chew on that.
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