forum "As a person of the LGBTQA+ community, what stories do you wish you saw more of?": LGBTQA+/ SAGA advice and support forum.

Started April 18, 2018 by @Twitchy

tune

I want a story where LGBTQ+ characters aren't just that, I want them to be in-depth, I want them to be normal because that is what they are. Sometimes they are treated like a different species but they are human. I want to see them in different genres, where they aren't focused on finding a partner. I want to get rid of stereotypes, why can't the gay guy be really good at football? why can't the gender fluid person have interests that are stereotypes as gendered hobbies, but they still enjoy those things? Why can't the asexual be in a relationship? why do they have to be a lone wolf? anyways, that's my view on these things

^^^ that. Also, I just want a story with an LGBTQ+ MC where the story isn't about that at all. Like, they're just a regular, deep, fantastic character, and they're also hot for both girls & guys on the side. But it isn't a big deal or a part of the main storyline or even a subplot—it just is. As on of many facets of the character.

Also, if there could be a story where the proportion of sexualities & genders was correct, that would be amazing. Sure, that would mean there would be more straight & cis characters than there would be LGBTQ+, but it would be more accurate to the real world. I think that would be representation in its purest form, because things would be represented, and also represented in the amount that they occur. I feel like too often things are either way on one side of the spectrum, or way on the other; all straight characters, or all LGBTQ+ characters. But the thing is, not everyone is straight. Not everyone is LBGTQ+ either. I think a mix would be cool.

I totally agree

A healthy amount of representation done correctly, with FKESHED OUT CHARACTER'S that aren't there for "diversity points".

We need more aro-ace, abd genderfluid characters.

YES

Thank gods someone agrees!

I agree too!

Ooh! You know whst we need more of?
Demi rep!!!!

YAS!
I have a handful of demi characters in my stories!

Also just wanna mention there's an #ownvoices book with a nonbinary protag coming out this summer called I Wish You All The Best!

I WANNA READ IT.

Everyone should look up ProblemsOfABookNerd on YouTube, she does LGBTQA+ recs!!!

Wait what? Gaydar is scientifically confirmed?

YES IT IS
I end having to explain it a lot bc… Everyone is straight here lol

Wait what? Gaydar is scientifically confirmed?

YES IT IS
I end having to explain it a lot bc… Everyone is straight here lol

In addition to Gaydar, I saw someone on Pinterest say that bi people also have Bi-Fi and I think that's also AMAZING!

PAN SCAN!!!!!!!

ACE SPACE DETECTOR!

ACE SPACE DETECTOR!

I was thinking about that too!

Also, if there could be a story where the proportion of sexualities & genders was correct, that would be amazing. Sure, that would mean there would be more straight & cis characters than there would be LGBTQ+, but it would be more accurate to the real world. I think that would be representation in its purest form, because things would be represented, and also represented in the amount that they occur. I feel like too often things are either way on one side of the spectrum, or way on the other; all straight characters, or all LGBTQ+ characters. But the thing is, not everyone is straight. Not everyone is LBGTQ+ either. I think a mix would be cool.

I agree, but I would like to point just one thing out. LGBTQ+ people always tend to find each other, even if they don't know that they're queer, yet. We just kinda find each other. Like, literally all but two of my main friends are LGBT and I was the first to come out as anything. So yeah, I think it just kinda depends, when it comes to proper proportions.

That's true. A lot of my friends are LGBTQ+ like me, and we've been friends ever since we were really little. I think when I wrote that I was thinking about something with a larger cast, comprised of multiple groups/friend groups. While I was talking about stories, in my mind I was being irritated by every tv show and movie ever set in high school. (Of course, you couldn't have known that, because I didn't say it, so that's my bad). I think you're right, that in stories with smaller casts there is likely to be less variation because a) le gays LGBTQ+ people tend to gravitate towards each other and b) it's just a smaller sample size.

That's actually science! Our pheromones are similar, and everyone gravitates towards people with similar pheromones, so subconsciously we know the other person is some shade of lgbtq+, even when neither of us know cognitively.

holy shit

Also, if there could be a story where the proportion of sexualities & genders was correct, that would be amazing. Sure, that would mean there would be more straight & cis characters than there would be LGBTQ+, but it would be more accurate to the real world. I think that would be representation in its purest form, because things would be represented, and also represented in the amount that they occur. I feel like too often things are either way on one side of the spectrum, or way on the other; all straight characters, or all LGBTQ+ characters. But the thing is, not everyone is straight. Not everyone is LBGTQ+ either. I think a mix would be cool.

I agree, but I would like to point just one thing out. LGBTQ+ people always tend to find each other, even if they don't know that they're queer, yet. We just kinda find each other. Like, literally all but two of my main friends are LGBT and I was the first to come out as anything. So yeah, I think it just kinda depends, when it comes to proper proportions.

That's true. A lot of my friends are LGBTQ+ like me, and we've been friends ever since we were really little. I think when I wrote that I was thinking about something with a larger cast, comprised of multiple groups/friend groups. While I was talking about stories, in my mind I was being irritated by every tv show and movie ever set in high school. (Of course, you couldn't have known that, because I didn't say it, so that's my bad). I think you're right, that in stories with smaller casts there is likely to be less variation because a) le gays LGBTQ+ people tend to gravitate towards each other and b) it's just a smaller sample size.

That's actually science! Our pheromones are similar, and everyone gravitates towards people with similar pheromones, so subconsciously we know the other person is some shade of lgbtq+, even when neither of us know cognitively.

I think I've heard of that, but I haven't looked it up so I don't know how credible it is. One of my friends once told me very excitedly that lesbians could have their own biological children with each other because women have sperm in their bone marrow, which, no. This doesn't sound nearly as crazy as that though, so it might actually be true XD

Edit: I looked it up and I can't find anything on it from a credible source (a .org or .edu site). I can find things on related topics—that gaydar is real but has to do with sensitivity to facial features (from a NYT article), or how sexual orientation impacts people's reactions to pheromones (from something called thinkprogress.org), but the only articles I could find on gaydar having to do with pheromones were from .com sites, and I have no idea how accurate those are. Of course, I only did a quick web search, so there could be something I'm missing.

I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if it was real.
A lot of the people I got a 'gay' vibe from (I don't even know how I got that vibe, they just never seemed straight?) have come out as LGBTQA+.

I don't doubt that gaydar is real, I'm just not sure if it has to do with pheromones.

Yeah, I do think that the gaydar probably exists but I'm not sure what causes it.

I'd like to see more non-binary characters. Not just the they/them type, also the people who are flux or are fluid or are demigirls and demiboys.

I think a big thing about the LGBT+ representation is in when your stories are set. Representation has grown massively over the past few years for every aspect so I'd say that most of the my (Gen Z/Millennial) generation have grown up knowing nothing else, although this will depend on the community too. For example, most of my friends identify themselves as part of LGBT, some have changed their labels over time as well, for example from Bi to Pan or gender fluid to transgender. I identify as bisexual although I don't date much. Most talk about it with each other freely but have yet to come out to their (older) family members.
I also think that coming out is an important show of trust- who do they come out to first? I know a lot of people who are closeted to their family but have told me, and it feels (although massively difficult to think of how they don't trust their own family to support them) relieving and amazing to know that they trust me. For background information, I am generally seen as a non-judgy "mum-friend" and have spoken openly a lot about LGBT representation. I also always talk about what pronouns/names they want me to call them and often they are different for if we're alone or with others.
I would say that for the most part, there isn't as much homophobia for popular or friendly people, although I definitely see it when the LGBT+ person is disliked for other characteristics. I have also seen homophobia/ transphobia that people only say when said person isn't in the room, because "it's only homophobic if a LGBT person hears it".
Another important thing to remember is in alternate/fantasy universes, how does the LGBT+ message get around? The media is massively important. Explore not only how "acceptable" certain sexualities are, but also how common they are. I once wrote a story set in a dystopian future where overpopulation caused laws restricting who was allowed children, resulting in a massive surge in LGBT relationships to the point of heterosexuality being considered irritating. The media cannot influence your sexuality, but it definitely influences how people present/ hide it.

Hey so I have a trans ftm character in my story and he's a pretty major character, I'm wondering if you guys have any advice for me as a cis female on how to write him?
For reference this story takes place in a mostly medieval setting with a hint of steampunk-ish vibes (I'm not quite sure yet, haven't finished fully developing the world)(it's hard for me to describe but like think Six of Crows but without magic)
My biggest question would be how he would handle the transition? Would it be realistic to have hormone supplements or should I think of some other medium?
So far I'm just going to write him like I would any other male character, I don't plan to make a big deal out of it - he might mention it offhandedly for whatever reason, in a sort of "yeah I went to an all-girls school once", it's not the most important thing about his character (although the mention would probably be related to the plot somehow, but I didn't know what other example to think of at the moment).
He's also transitioned before the book, so no one really knows he's trans except for the other two MCs and he doesn't just go around telling people unless there's a good reason

If there's no magic, and no advanced tech, there doesn't seem to be a very viable way for him to medically transition.
But in this case, clothes, new name, pronouns, vocal training, etc are going to go a long way, and you can show him fully socially transitioned.
I also have a trans man in a medieval setting, no magic, and he is basically as fully transitioned as he can be in such a setting.
But overall, a little more info about the technology of your world would definitely help us answer this question better.

Yeah that makes a lot of sense. I know for a fact that binders are a thing that would exist (at least where he lives) so there's that as well. As for more information on technology, it's pretty much your typical medieval setting technology. So yeah, a medical transition probably wouldn't be very realistic.