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this is probably a terrible take and I'm about to be kicked off the internet, but: I'm happy when I see LGBT representation for kids, but it doesn't feel like it's for me? I want LGBT representation for people of all ages, I don't want to have to watch kids' shows to get it
I'm not mad that cartoons with LGBT characters and stories exist, I'm thrilled about LGBT YA fiction, it's just, I'm not the target demographic for those things? like, if I ask for representation and someone says, "how about this kids' show?" that's...not helpful?
and I guess the reason I'm thinking about this is that most *positive* LGBT representation that doesn't involve a bunch of torture porn tends to be for younger audiences, which makes sense, but I would also like light and fluffy LGBT stories for grownups!
I don't want *exclusively* light and fluffy stories but I'm also a bit tired of LGBT media created for my age group being about trauma and suffering, which frankly I get enough of irl and don't need to read about or see everywhere all the time
I think one reason I enjoy @benjanun_s' work so much is that the characters might suffer or experience hardship but it's not *because* they're LGBT and she doesn't do the thing where she creates a whole fantastical universe and then feels the need to include societal homophobia
like, not every story has to have a happy ending, that's fine! I just want interesting stories where characters are LGBT and the story isn't always about how much oppression sucks
also, as an LGBT person, stories about LGBT oppression just aren't super interesting to me? this is my life, it's not anything *new*, and those stories always feel like they're written for the straight gaze, like a mile-in-my-shoes thing, which is useful I guess? maybe?
I think I want cishets to read about LGBT oppression because I want them to educate themselves, and if they do that via fiction that's fine, but for me personally, I don't need to be educated on my own struggle, I just want to consume interesting media for and about LGBT adults
and it's not even that I *never* want to read about The Struggle™, just that it's not *all* I want to read about, certainly not the majority
give me lesbian warlords or trans time travellers or, idk, non-binary romcoms where nobody is ever misgendered, stuff that's *fun*
give me lesbian warlords or trans time travellers or, idk, non-binary romcoms where nobody is ever misgendered, stuff that's *fun*
