I kind of have some feelings on an author saying he interprets a mythological figure as aroace and then getting pushback from people saying she must be sapphic.

(I’m ace, lesbian and grey aro)

I know there’s a problem in fandom with aroace headcanons being attacked and called homophobic (ex Elsa)

And I feel like a lot of this stems from the idea that ace and aro are not queer or are at least “less important” than other identities.

And that a woman not interested in men is lesbian by default.

All of which is stuff an author not involved in the queer community would likely have no idea about

I also have feelings about “lesbian ace” being offered as a compromise because it tends to erase aro people.

Yes, there’s people who are all three (me) but that’s not what’s usually being referred to

Also I don’t like my identity being a “compromise”

I saw this happen too with Jughead btw. “Gay ace” was offered up as a compromise which erased aro identities

Let me be clear: with a mythological figure or ambiguous character like Elsa, there are many legit readings. I myself would be happy with more canon rep of any!

But what I don’t like is when someone says of an ambiguous character “I interpret X as aroace” and then is immediately jumped on

And general PSA that “woman with no interest in men” doesn’t automatically mean “lesbian”? I see that assumption a lot too.

Not liking one gender isn’t evidence of liking another.

(This is a general point, not on the specific situation)

A friend pointed this out—

In a complex, multilayered thing like mythology there are many variations and “canon” as a concept doesn’t really apply

And maybe this all even relates to how fictional depictions of queerness are so often framed through romantic relationships!

To the point where I’ve seen book with a lesbian protagonist and no romance be called “hardly lesbian”

And assuming romantic attraction and relationships for the basis of a queer character erases trans, aro and intersex people

That’s kind of getting off topic, although is relevant to how aro interpretations get so much pushback

The author’s initial tweet also focused on the importance of platonic relationships.

Platonic and romantic relationships are equally important. A romance isn’t “more than” friendship

Unfortunately prioritization of romance over platonic relationships is still a huge, widespread problem

And personally I really appreciate when stories make room for platonic relationships.

This has been my random, rambling thoughts! Now I’ve got to go feed the dogs

Just to clarify to those who don't follow YA Twitter, this is in reference to Rick Riordan, the Percy Jackson books, and Artemis.

It's probably common enough knowledge that I should have said it in the beginning.

And to clarify further -- I don't think RR did anything wrong here. He simply said that his interpretation of Artemis was as aroace and that for the huntresses the "focus is on platonic fellowship and camaraderie"

His interpretation isn't invalidating lesbian readings of Artemis. It is simply one author's interpretation of a mythological figure.

After receiving pushback on Artemis being sapphic, he made a follow up tweet. It was not an apology for his aroace interpretation, although it seems to be interpreted this way. https://twitter.com/rickriordan/status/1279927734664417281

The response I'm seeing to this tweet is framing it like it's an apology for not interpreting Artemis as lesbian or like its a "win" for the people arguing that Artemis *must* be sapphic.

What he's apologizing for is not *knowing* about some of the sapphic interpretations of Artemis. I don't see this as an apology for saying he interpreted Artemis as aroace or as a walkback on his previous tweets.

The issue here is more how it's being treated like he *did* erase lesbians/sapphics, when in fact he didn't.

Recognizing one queer group is not erasing another.

Oh and clarification is provided because someone @'ed the author onto this thread.

I didn't intend for this to be a direct address to the author but instead an unpacking of what I'm seeing happening.

I'm also someone whose not really in this specific fandom. I read the original series when I was in middle school but I haven't kept up with everything.

I'm more interested in how the reaction to this relates to in-community queer issues and not so much the particulars of the book series.

I think the dynamics of the reactions to his tweets are probably familiar to many aro and ace people, but is something probably not familiar to even other queer people, much less those outside the community.

Another general PSA:

Harassment, marginalization, and erasure is something often perpetuated by those within the queer community to others within the queer community.

Add to that exclusion and the belief that certain groups don't belong at all.

There's a dynamic where ace and aro people are called "not queer enough" or "not as queer as" other identities.

A lot of responses to ace/aro interpretations or headcanons come from the belief that a-specs are less important or deserving of rep than allo queer people.

Which is false. Ace/aro people are part of the queer community, and all queer identities are equally important and deserving of representation.

Acknowledging ace/aro people does not invalidate or erase other identities.

In particular, asexual and lesbian identities are often pitted against each other, with inclusion of ace people being framed as anti-lesbian.

As someone who is both ace and lesbian, this is frustrating to say the least.

I don't know that I have much more to say on this at the moment.

Just be aware that the reactions to these tweets are part of a larger dynamic that's often invisible to those outside the communities impacted.