So let's talk about love and LGBTQ identity for a moment.

I'm not so new to the internet that when I posted gay Ducktales ladies this morning I didn't expect some degree of whinging and insults.

But what surprises me are seeing people who follow me, who have interacted with me positively in the past posting subtly and overtly condescending reactions.

Things along the line of "Well, actually you're just a fan and don't get to tell the writers what to do" or "Sex has no place in a children's show." Both of which I totally agree with? My point was just "Hey I had a fun fan idea, I drew it, here's my thought process!"

I didn't tag people who work on the show, I didn't post a petition or intend to kick off a movement to force my will upon other professionals OR fans. As it is I'm an introvert who is generally loathe to put myself out there, so forcing my content on others is NOT my jam.

No, what I posted wasn't much different from the same content I post every single day between 10 and 11 am; fun stuff that strikes my fancy and I create from a place of love. Fan and professional art from properties that I enjoy and admire.

But, of course, I don't post specifically LGBT content every day. I don't get push back on a duck parody of the VERY adult film The Lighthouse. I don't get accused of having an agenda for drawing Fluttershy as Iron Man or Rarity as a Roman Soldier or Big Mac as murder guy Jason

Two ducks standing side by side isn't any more out there or provocative than my normal content, at least not to me. Sure, it's bound to stir the lizard brain of reactionaries, but I think most of them have long-since moved on from following me.

So, like I said I was perplexed at some of the tsk-tsking. "You should let the people who work on the show make their own decisions" Of course! I would never think so highly of myself that I would tell others what they should do with their property in their job.

Do you think the art I create in other circumstances is forcing my will upon the showrunners, writers or artists? Is the act of being a fan deigned to be passive in any other circumstance? "Wait patiently for content, extrapolate only what is offered?"

"Sex has no place in a children's show" Aside from the implication that I'm somehow not aware of that fact, why is a gay romance any more inherently sexual than,a character who has had children? Or a straight couple dating? Or a straight couple engaging in flirtatious romance?

And, again, I need to stress, this isn't coming from reactionaries. This is from normal folks who I interact with in a friendly manner on many occasions. Why does the idea of LGBT people existing in the exact same context as straight people make it okay to be rude or hurtful?

And I've had this happen before. And it's a pile of guano every single time. People want to frame it in all sorts of morally righteous ways, all sorts of claims to ally-ship. But you can't believe love is equally patient and kind if you don't follow through in word and deed.

And I'm not saying you are forced to like or approve of everything you see or that others support. But I'm tired of trying to understand or reason with homophobia or transphobia. I'm weary of it. I know, as good leftists we can work with logic and reason to win hearts and minds.

I'm weary of explaining to people why a two moms in a cartoon is no more sexually explicit than a mom and a dad. Or that LGBT relationships want the same things hetero ones do- love, respect, kindness, nurturing, support and honesty.

I'm tired of being seen as pushy and "everything wrong with fans" because of a drawing that's no more profane than your parent's wedding photo. I'm tired of well-meaning people being well-meaning right up to the point of implying you want pornography in children's programming.

Most of all, I'm tired of being the forgiving one. The bigger person. The patient educator. It's not a very rewarding job and the pay is shit. I've been making the same points to "reasonable people" long enough to realize that hatred isn't a bludgeon, it's a poison.

Educate yourself. Think before you speak or tweet. And practice empathy over reaction. And if you use the word "degenerate" to describe someone in my twitter feed I WILL block you.