It’s Sunday so let’s talk about Claiagate, pineapples, and representation. I don’t often to this but the shit I’ve been reading is just too much. I’m a 20-something degree-educated performing arts booker and stage manager. I’m bisexual, bipolar and biracial. And I’m a #Clexa fan!

Being a Clexa fan means I ship Clarke with Lexa and nobody else. Do I want Clarke to be happy? Yes, with Lexa. “Lexa may not be coming back.” Clarke also may not be happy, same difference. And can we please drop the misogynist notion that a woman needs a partner to be happy?

I care about representation, deeply. For me that means I care about the quality of representation, not quantity. Y’all keep saying, rightly so, that having other #LGBTQ chars on the show doesn’t make it less homophobic for the way it perpetuates the #BuryYourGays trope...

But then you turn around and say you’re fine with whatever endgame they throw together for Clarke in the absence of Lexa as long as it’s a woman? Hold up! 1) If you can wish for Clarke to have any endgame, you can wish for it to be with Lexa, especially if you’re a Clexa fan.

2) What happened to “but Clarke is still bi”? While not ideal and still perpetuating approx 1-2 tropes, why can’t she be with a man? Except for Bellamy, because what a clusterfuck! You know, since y’all found a way around caring about the #BuryYourGays trope anyways...

3) Now, Claia. Starting off by saying that a “personal” moment doesn’t mean shit and y’all jumping in the first bandwagon that comes along instead of standing by your ship, your Heda, your hero as you claim. I don’t care about Gaia one way or the other.

I don’t care about this show, which I haven’t watched since they slapped me in the face telling me my love is weakness, other than getting a positive resolution out of it. A positive resolution that might help me and others heal and ease some of the negative impact on #LGBTQ rep.

Why wouldn’t Claia be good for our rep? Because, in this particular context, an ignorant, bigoted, egomanic showrunner is looking for an easy way out. Because he’d simply be replacing an #LGBTQ character with another and you’d let him because y’all care more about a label...

What happened to Lexa is irreplaceable? What happened to Lexa is more than just a character? And let me tell you, Lexa’s not just a symbol, either. She represents you and me and every other person who identified with her. Are you replaceable? Are you an object, a plot device?

No, and neither is an important character such as Lexa. Y’all say that Bellarke wouldn’t make sense (I agree) to be put together in the final season? Then why is a new love interest for Clarke any better? Don’t be a hypocrite just because you want to win. That’s not winning!

So I’m a pineapple for wanting Lexa alive, for her to be respected, for her to get justice, her someday? I’m a pineapple for wanting my ship, both parties on board, to be endgame? I’m a pineapple for respecting Alycia’s work and acknowledging that she gave us our Lexa?

I’m a pineapple for asking creators to be responsible, for asking for a positive resolution to a shock twist that hurt people and established a harmful message? I’m a pineapple for trying, for offering solutions rather than just complaining, for challenging the status quo?

I’m a pineapple because I prefer the individual value and impact of an #LGBTQ character over a soulless label and plot device? I’m a pineapple because I speak my mind and don’t try to act all edgy by shipping Titus with Lexa (hilarious, not) or posting death jokes?

I’m a pineapple because I believe this fandom to be inclusive and diverse and that means that sometimes your have to work out your differences without generalizing and subtweeting? Well then I’m a f*cking honest to God pineapple, but I’ll tell you what pineapples are not:

Toxic, delusional children who don’t care about representation, who are no better than Blorkes. You know, I could say the same about anyone who calls me a pineapple after posting a death joke and cheering Jason on for treating us as plot devices once more.

Here’s a suggestion: Why don’t y’all stop with the name-calling and take responsibility for your own actions instead? How about we focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us? Pretty sure that’s what Lexa did so maybe remember that the next time you call me toxic

Finally, please remember that we’re taking about fiction and fictional representation, and context matters. Shoutout to @kattaloop, my invaluable soundboard and thought-processor. I owe you #LexaMatters