There's plenty to critique about the Queen's Gambit, but the idea that a bunch of men she's trounced and/or slept with wouldn't be gathered to cheer her on during the biggest bout anyone of them will ever see? That's not it.

Anytime I see hot takes that suggest it's unrealistic for a woman's ex lovers to be publicly, unreservedly invested in her success or happiness, I just wonder who the hell are y'all sleeping with?

I'm reminded of a woman who critiqued Magic Mike XXL, saying there was no way that men who looked like that would ever want to treat her like a queen, even if it was for money. When I told her my husband was a sex worker who very much was a man like that she called me a liar.

I realize that most of us make shitty relationship choices at some point in our lives; I certainly have. But I'd like to think that it's a pretty low bar that the people you once slept with want your success and happiness and are unafraid to show it and help you achieve it.

I get it there's plenty of room for cynicism, particularly against cis men. But expecting that any period piece would just be wall to wall sexism, or a movie about male sex workers should see them mocking the women that they serve... That's a degree of cynicism I can't get behind

We need to allow stories to show non-toxic masculinity, supportive gentle masculinity, respectful competitive masculinity, cooperative loving masculinity, and all the other positive forms of masculinity in this world. Because it exists, and we need it represented and honored.