— Exactly Why Westallen Are NOT Siblings because racists like to use this to discredit them, a thread! :))

Let’s start with the definition of the legal action known as ‘adoption’

“the action or fact of legally taking another's child and bringing it up as one's own, or the fact of being adopted.”

This refers to legal documents naming the guardian as a PARENT, without blood relations.

Now let’s move onto the definition of ‘fostering’.

“to take care of a child, usually for a limited time, without being the child's legal parent.”

This refers to the legal guardianship, again, without being named as a PARENT and without blood relations.

And the final definition, ‘guardianship’.

“the position of being legally responsible for the care of someone who is unable to manage their own affairs.”

When a parent signs their child’s GUARDIANSHIP over, that does NOT always mean they relinquish their parental rights.

Now, what is Westallen? When Barry Allen was eleven years old, his mother was murdered and his father was charged with her murder. However, Barry witnessed part of the crime and believed his father was innocent. Yet no one believed him - including Joe West, his future guardian.

When Joe arrived on the scene, during the first episode, it was already established that Joe knew Barry and his daughter, Iris, were best friends and he even told one of his partners.

Barry and Iris had been best friends BEFORE he moved in with them and Barry has had a crush on Iris since BEFORE he moved in with them as well. When Barry did move in with them, Joe only had GUARDIANSHIP. Joe never adopted Barry nor did he ever foster Barry.

Another clip often used to discredit Westallen and state they are siblings is one of Iris’ lines from the first episode. However, listen to her ENTIRE line. Not the cut off version racists like to use :)

Now let’s move onto the meaning of a father FIGURE.

“an older man who is respected for his paternal qualities and may be an emotional substitute for a father.”

Nowhere in the definition is anything LEGAL brought up. Why? Because there is nothing LEGAL about the term.

And comparing father FIGURE to the definition of father?

“Father is defined as a man who has impregnated a woman and had a child.”

Now, does a father always have BLOOD relations? No. However, Joe NEVER legally adopted Barry to become his father. He was always a father FIGURE.

Let’s also talk about how his father was still in his life. Barry believed in his father’s innocence since the first episode and constantly worked the case to get him free. Barry would even run away from Joe’s house multiple times to visit Henry in prison.

And lastly, let’s talk about the definition of ‘siblings’.

“each of two or more children or offspring having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister.”

This commonly refers to siblings with BLOOD relations. However, adopted or fostered, they’re still siblings.

Yet, Barry and Iris were NEVER considered siblings. They didn’t grow up as siblings. Barry was never legally adopted or fostered by Joe. Barry and Iris didn’t even consider themselves as siblings.

In conclusion, Barry and Iris are NOT siblings whatsoever. Joe is NOT Barry’s father, just as Francine is not Barry’s mother - Nora was not Iris’ mother nor was Henry her dad. There is no reason to say they’re siblings unless you’re racist and want to discredit them. Stan them