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#BehindTheFursona Do I have fursona? I don't really know.
What I do know is that I'm a mixed east Asian - Japanese/Hong Kong Chinese queer dude living in Canada who draws a whole bunch of sci-fi stuff.
Today though I wanna talk about the fandom, though.
What I do know is that I'm a mixed east Asian - Japanese/Hong Kong Chinese queer dude living in Canada who draws a whole bunch of sci-fi stuff.
Today though I wanna talk about the fandom, though.
I want to talk about an uncomfortable reality of the fandom you can sort of only truly understand being simultaneously queer and POC, and that's how there appears to be a mixed double standard.
I'm a queer furry, I identify as mixture of pansexual and grey-ace. It's complicated. You can ask about it in personal messaging if you want.
Furries love that.
Furries love that.
Furries looooove to boast about their LGBT demographic. The phrase "gay furry" is comically redundant, the expectation is that, by default, being a furry means folks will assume you have some affiliation with being queer.
Furries love their pride flags, they love pride month, they love queer porn as well as art of queer romance and fluff. Even "straight" furries are typically not heteronormative, open for platonic cuddles and engaging in polycules.
Now, let me be clear, this is good.
I'm happy that I'm in a space where this part of my identity is accepted and celebrated, and I'm sure my fellow transgender, intersex, fluid, etc furry peers feel the same.
I'm happy that I'm in a space where this part of my identity is accepted and celebrated, and I'm sure my fellow transgender, intersex, fluid, etc furry peers feel the same.
But that's just one part of my minority identity.
If queer representation is not just supported but openly celebrated and seen as a DEFINING characteristic of the diversity of the fandom, why isn't the same be said about being not white?
If queer representation is not just supported but openly celebrated and seen as a DEFINING characteristic of the diversity of the fandom, why isn't the same be said about being not white?
How have we managed to build a community where my pansexuality is something that is basically assumed of me, yet when people see my almond eyes they express shock and surprise?
Why do we have a community where the sanctity of a queer- or trans/nb-only safe space is respected with utmost reverance (which, it should be, btw), but our POC safe spaces including this very hashtag #BehindTheFursona are exclusionary for not accomodating white furries too?
Why do we (rightfully) call out furries for appropriating queer and trans symbolism for personal monetary gain, yet every fucking time a Native American asks you to stop drawing your sonas with headdresses and saying "spirit animal", it's an overreaction?
Why do fursuiters and panel hosts and DJs get to be open about about their sexuality and identity when they promote themselves (which they should), yet the moment they want to use their blackness or latin-ness to market themselves it's controversial?
Why, when someone uses who use the word "f****t" or "t****y", do we remind them that those words should not be used under any circumstances (which they rightfully shouldn't), but the word "c**n" is still up for debate because folks who use it "aren't using it /like that/"?
Why am I and my peers asked, practically begged to talk about my experience coming to terms with being ace (and possibly nonbinary in the future), but my experiences of being blamed for a pandemic and "eating bat soup" fall on deaf ears?
Why did you read the last tweet and are now so eager to ask if you want to use they/them pronouns with me (which would be fine), but you are uncomfortable with asking me if I am "Asian" or "East Asian" or "Japanese" or "Chinese" or an "honourary Canadian", whatever that means?
Why is one part of my identity 
prescribed as being foundational and beautiful and fundamental to me being a furry, and I am actively encouraged to "be loud" and "unmarketable" through it,
yet the other part
is something I must ask permission to reveal?
prescribed as being foundational and beautiful and fundamental to me being a furry, and I am actively encouraged to "be loud" and "unmarketable" through it,yet the other part
is something I must ask permission to reveal?
If you're a white furry, why are you only interested in celebrating and amplifying only part of my identity?
Do you only openly celebrate queerness because celebrating black-ness, native-ness, latin-ness, asian-ness, etc confronts you with questions you are uncomfortable with?
Do you only openly celebrate queerness because celebrating black-ness, native-ness, latin-ness, asian-ness, etc confronts you with questions you are uncomfortable with?
This is who I am #BehindTheFursona. This is how a lot of us are #BehindTheFursona.
Until we realise that demand that every aspect of one's identity can be openly and blatantly respected and promoted, the notion that the fandom "celebrates diversity" is but a weak half-truth.
Until we realise that demand that every aspect of one's identity can be openly and blatantly respected and promoted, the notion that the fandom "celebrates diversity" is but a weak half-truth.
