Sup! It's time for a Jenni thread, though this one is a little different than my others.

I wanna talk about something that is always a hot topic of discussion.

The topic? Idols, their sexualities, and "ships", and whether it's O.K. to talk about them in conjunction. +

To preface, if you know the thread I'm kinda "responding" to here, there's no need to make mention of it. I absolutely understand where the OP is coming from and I wholly respect their opinion. People are allowed to have different opinions, and I just want to share mine. +

I also don't mean to suggest that the original thread was targeted at me. I honestly have no idea. It doesn't matter either way.

That said, the original thread spoke about how people should not assume any of the boys' sexualities, relationship statuses, etc.

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Now obviously, unless you're new here, you'd know that one of the main things I talk about on this acct is
JM and JK, and my perception of their relationship (and by extension, their sexualities).

This is not because I'm projecting onto them. This is not because of +

wishful thinking. It's not because I'm a shipper.

It's because these two particular members have shared things with us time and time again. They've left so many signs over the years +

that I personally perceive as them leaving little hints--breadcrumbs, if you will. JK in particular is ESPECIALLY guilty of this, which is why I have an entire thread dedicated to it.

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One of the reasons I talk about them and my perception of their bond and individual persons is because I find the 'breadcrumbs' so interesting. Coming from the POV of a queer individual around the same age, it's super interesting to see a pair of super-idols seemingly +

sneakily leave so many little hints about themselves for people to find.

If I were assuming their sexualities based SOLELY off of interactions with other members, their personalities, etc, I would absolutely understand the outrage.

But I'm not. +

In the case of these two particular members, we have a plethora of "breadcrumbs": Music suggestions, lyrical choice and placement in GCFs, visual art, mentions of personal presentation and gender-norms, on top of COUNTLESS moments that go far beyond regular skinship +

and/or fanservice.

I think, as a fan, it's not by any means rude or disrespectful to acknowledge the hints they've left for us over the years. On the flipside, I like to think that in acknowledging the hints, I AM respecting them, by showing that I am listening closely +

to what they say, and paying attention to what they do, even if it turns out that my personal perception is wrong.

Ultimately, that last bit is what it all boils down to: Perception. Based on what I've seen of these two members over time, I personally +

perceive them as being a queer couple. That is my opinion, and nothing more. It happens to be an opinion that many people share, but that doesn't change the fact that it was my own perception of their actions and interactions that led me to believing +

what I do about them.

If the majority of the fandom (and the world, frankly) can just assume that all of the members are straight and will some day end up with girls, then I (and many others) have every right to assume that they're queer, instead.

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Heteronormativity is a disease, and unfortunately it's internalized in so many people. Whenever the topic of LGBT comes up, half of the fandom shies away.

I've said this before: People are not "straight until proven queer" in the "innocent until proven guilty" fashion. +

Some people are straight. Some people are queer. It's a simple fact of life.

Acknowledging hints and signs that have been seemingly intentionally left around by the members and discussing them in a forum is not disrespectful or violating the boys' privacy. +

There's nothing wrong with speculation. There's nothing wrong with saying "I think these members are queer and in a relationship for reasons x, y, and z". Clearly stating your opinion is not going to damage the boys in any way. +

Now, I will absolutely agree that stating something as fact when there's been no outward proof of it, as a fan, IS out of line.

But as long as you openly acknowledge that it is just your own speculation based on various signs, then there's no reason someone shouldn't +

be allowed to discuss it.

I understand that one of the reasons many people within the fandom want to avoid discussing the possibility of any members being LGBT is because, as a whole, we do live in a rather homophobic world. SK is no exception, unfortunately. +

Queer people all around the globe are forced to be quiet due to societal norms/expectations and to keep themselves safe.

As a queer person myself, that is the EXACT reason why I like to acknowledge the signs I see so openly. It's my way of saying, +

"I hear you. I see what you're doing. I know what you're trying to tell us. You're not alone. We're here for you".

I've said this many times recently: If it turns out I'm wrong, then it's no big deal. No skin off my back. I love the boys no matter what. +

But until we find out for sure, assuming we ever do, there's no harm in playing "connect the dots" with the hints that the boys have left behind for us to read. You can't reach a destination without following signs or landmarks. We aren't just making things up. +

There's a difference between projecting and acknowledging, and I think it's important to recognize when someone is wrongfully projecting their own wishes or expectations on their idol, versus when they're responding to actual, verifiable signs and moments. +

Refusal to acknowledge that an idol MIGHT be queer based on signs of queerness is the exact sort of behavior that drives people further into the closet and keeps them from expressing themselves further, and it encourages the heteronormative hegemony that already plagues +

society enough as it is.

You shouldn't be afraid to acknowledge or discuss signs that are intentionally left out in the open for people to see. You also shouldn't fault LGBTQ+ fans for picking up on certain similarities between them and their idol, and wanting to +

discuss them with other people that might have a different perspective.

I am queer, and with that in mind, I enjoy sharing my perspective on the signs left by these two particular members, and discussing these signs with others... and that is O.K. +

If you disagree, the block button isn't hard to find.

That is all!