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hey, short thread about why queers tend to attach themselves to non-humanoid characters and why our culture manifests in lots of romantic and sexual work surrounding non-humanoid characters.
let's imagine it's 2003 again and you are going through THE CHANGES...
let's imagine it's 2003 again and you are going through THE CHANGES...
you have arrived home after school and hormones are flaring and for some inexplicable reason, when this smug powerful bastard is on screen, you kind of can't help but think dirty thoughts about him.
or well, maybe it's this other guy. or these two.
or well, maybe it's this other guy. or these two.
or maybe you weren't me and you had more normal non-humanoid crushes, like... I don't know, Balto or Simba or Pikachu.
while it might sound weird, this was and remains extremely common for folks going through development.
while it might sound weird, this was and remains extremely common for folks going through development.
at that age, suddenly having your identity hijacked by urges for stuff you never cared about before is really terrifying, and it feels like you're losing yourself.
and that's partly why these attractions develop.
and that's partly why these attractions develop.
there is a lot of representation for heterosexual characters, at least there is in 2003. a lot of heteromantic plots, crush episodes where like Kim and Ron kiss or some shit.
but for the young queer who has no idea what sex means for them, they had no one.
but for the young queer who has no idea what sex means for them, they had no one.
pokemon in particular were really popular for young queers to form attachments to. these were sentient, loving companions with no explicit sexuality who were protective, had personality, and they were cute.
these characters were safe to imagine in queer situations.
these characters were safe to imagine in queer situations.
cartoon characters, especially non-heterosexual coded characters, were often animals and often characters that a lot of us in 2003 already liked before we started feeling weird things.
and for lack of a lot of representation, the trend has continues.
and for lack of a lot of representation, the trend has continues.
i could've made this thread a lot shorter by saying "when you're an isolated queer kid during puberty you attach yourself to harmless, loveable characters and explore sexuality through them. yes, typhlosion can be both your daddy and your companion."
