I saw a book on Amazon where the MC is questioning but has a crush on a pan girl, but the title escapes me. I have to be cautious with LGBT books in case my parents find me reading them, so I haven't read too many. I read the new Doctor Aphra though and she and Tolvan are so cute where they're on the same side? Like when they were in a firefight and Aphra is coming up with a plan and Tolvan just goes "I like your hat" out of nowhere.
^^ I have to be careful too
So on that note
LGBT books that are inconspicuous? At least cover wise
-Doctor Aphra Comic compilations (Aphra, The Enormous Prophet, and Remastered) Individual comics for one issue of Remastered have Tolvan and Aphra very close together as if about to kiss
-Reign of the Fallen, but a hardcover may have reviews praising the bi protagonist
-Magnus Chase books 2 and 3, while I personally dislike how Rick introduced and characterized Alex, but Book 2 may have a stonewall award sticker
I'll add more if I find more.
They Both Die at the End is really good!
And The Summer of Us is on my tbr list I think, and I know Six of Crows is
I know this has already been stated, but I do want to see more well-written, YA, Lesbian, fluffy sappy stuff.
I don't know if anyone said this already, but I like to read LGBTQA+ stories where the characters aren't pushed away by parents or close friends. While the sad truth is that many LGBTQA+ people loose touch with family after coming out, it doesn't happen to everyone. Let people enjoy some happiness!
I want more books and shows where the character isn't sure, and didn't 'always know'. I know that when people figure out that they are gay, bi, pan, ace etc. They realise that they have had these feelings for a long time, and that they did always know, but I want to see them scared and confused too. Shit I didn't know I was Bi for sure until a few weeks ago, even thought I've been questioning for the past year, and before that I'd had female crushes but since it's not the same as having a male crush, I just ignored it. I didn't know that most of the time it's different, like, you look at a guy that's your type and it's like, "ooh!" while with girls it's like, "Ahh!" for me. Jeez, it sounds like I stare at my crushes like they're bloody fireworks.
Anyway, it wasn't until I watched Shane Dawson's coming out video that I sat there like, "THAT'S ME! THAT'S WHY I- OH MY GOD!" I cried like a baby watching it, because there was a word for what I was feeling. But, it wasn't exactly it, so I was still super confused. Then I was on pinterest and found the word Biromantic, and shit it's nice having a word for this.
I want characters that hate labels, then love labels, then hate em again. I want bi and pan characters that like somebody and think, "Wait, does this mean I'm straight/gay? Oh god have I come out and it turns out I was lying?" then they see somebody else and question themselves all over again. I didn't know that, that was a thing that a lot of people did! I want awareness for these feelings and thoughts so that people don't feel alone and scared.
I want characters that get outed, and even though they are in a safe place where they won't get hurt for being who they are, they still feel scared and hurt but they hate it because they 'don't care' about being gay/bi/pan/ace etc. I want characters whose friends are furious when they find out, who help them to realise that their pain is valid because being outed just sucks so much.
I want characters who talk about their crushes after coming out, showing each other pictures, and talking about the girls/boys in school that they liked and didn't like (love this with two bi, pan etc. characters mainly).
I want characters with no types, they just can't narrow their crushes down to a few common characteristics. I want characters with abnormal types that aren't usual in books or shows. Teens that love older people (but for the love of god, don't act on this type until they are of age at least. Mainly with 20 aged characters to play it safe in your story). Boys that love black girls, but only brown haired boys of any skin colour. Girls that love bright eyed boys, but dark eyed girls.
In most shows, token characters are so stereotypical. I think that Mortal instruments (tv show) is ok with it, but by god, Sense 8 runs this world with how LGBTQA+ people should be represented. I love that shit so much. It also helped to teach my Mum a lot.
Sorry, just something I wanted to shoot out into here.
I also love the idea of making LGBTQA+ stories with inconspicuous covers, and I want to add that the blurb should also not refer to it blatantly. A lot of us have internet access, and we can google this shit while keeping people who can't safely read these books safer.
YES! I AGREE ABOUT THE COVERS/BLURBS, @Twitchy!!
I want more books and shows where the character isn't sure, and didn't 'always know'. I know that when people figure out that they are gay, bi, pan, ace etc. They realise that they have had these feelings for a long time, and that they did always know, but I want to see them scared and confused too. Shit I didn't know I was Bi for sure until a few weeks ago, even thought I've been questioning for the past year, and before that I'd had female crushes but since it's not the same as having a male crush, I just ignored it. I didn't know that most of the time it's different, like, you look at a guy that's your type and it's like, "ooh!" while with girls it's like, "Ahh!" for me. Jeez, it sounds like I stare at my crushes like they're bloody fireworks.
Anyway, it wasn't until I watched Shane Dawson's coming out video that I sat there like, "THAT'S ME! THAT'S WHY I- OH MY GOD!" I cried like a baby watching it, because there was a word for what I was feeling. But, it wasn't exactly it, so I was still super confused. Then I was on pinterest and found the word Biromantic, and shit it's nice having a word for this.
I want characters that hate labels, then love labels, then hate em again. I want bi and pan characters that like somebody and think, "Wait, does this mean I'm straight/gay? Oh god have I come out and it turns out I was lying?" then they see somebody else and question themselves all over again. I didn't know that, that was a thing that a lot of people did! I want awareness for these feelings and thoughts so that people don't feel alone and scared.
I want characters that get outed, and even though they are in a safe place where they won't get hurt for being who they are, they still feel scared and hurt but they hate it because they 'don't care' about being gay/bi/pan/ace etc. I want characters whose friends are furious when they find out, who help them to realise that their pain is valid because being outed just sucks so much.
I want characters who talk about their crushes after coming out, showing each other pictures, and talking about the girls/boys in school that they liked and didn't like (love this with two bi, pan etc. characters mainly).
I want characters with no types, they just can't narrow their crushes down to a few common characteristics. I want characters with abnormal types that aren't usual in books or shows. Teens that love older people (but for the love of god, don't act on this type until they are of age at least. Mainly with 20 aged characters to play it safe in your story). Boys that love black girls, but only brown haired boys of any skin colour. Girls that love bright eyed boys, but dark eyed girls.
In most shows, token characters are so stereotypical. I think that Mortal instruments (tv show) is ok with it, but by god, Sense 8 runs this world with how LGBTQA+ people should be represented. I love that shit so much. It also helped to teach my Mum a lot.
Sorry, just something I wanted to shoot out into here.
Reading this was so relatable???? This is what I need in a book??
Sorry, got super emotional about it all reading through this earlier and I just needed to write it down, and I thought it'd be best if I put it here than just a word document because, this is what I really needed, and pretty much what I need now haha, and it's really nice to know that other people need that too. Let's be the ones to bring that to the table.
This is off topic, but goes along with the part about blurbs. I cannot stand when there's swearing in the dustcover for a book! It bothers me sooo much!
I understand what you mean, but you're right it is off topic… I'd make a forum specifically for it if you want to have a good discussion about it :P
I would love to read a story with maybe a LGBTQA+ christian, who has very strong faith, yet is still comfortable with their sexuality
Also, lots of Ace, Aro, and Demi representation would be VERY cool. Nonbinary would be amazing, as would Genderfluid and all that jazz :)
I think there should be more ace, bi, pan, and all the romantics in books. Same for gender queer, trans and non-binary. ^ And a book with a christian who is confident in both religion and sexuality? That would be awesome.
YES!! PLEASE YES!!! I want Christians who aren't straight and don't hate themselves.
Hey guys, I think it would be very helpful for writers if you all introduced yourselves. I'm only asking this because this is a very active forum, and it could be very useful and nice to do. By this I mean, what you identify as (sexuality, romantically, gender etc.) and talk about any experiences that you've had concerning these that you think are both relevant and informative for writers, that you would like to see more in stories, or experiences similar. If you don't, then that's absolutely okay I don't want anybody here to feel uncomfortable, and we've already shared a lot of very helpful comments, thanks for all of your input. Really love turning my computer on and seeing that somebody has added more to the board.
Ooh okay I'll type something quick about myself hold on a sec…
Oh sweet that was quick haha.
Also, I really love the idea of making more religious LGBTQA+ characters, especially people that are not self-hating or even god-hating. I want to note that I'm not religious myself, but I do love the idea of these characters to help represent those who are.
I'm PuffPoff, a pansexual female that has not come out yet. A few months ago I read a book called The Art of Being Normal that I think is a great example of a well written LGBTQA+ book. I agree with what most of the other people here are saying about wanting more pansexual and asexual characters, but I would also love for there to be a book with a demisexual character or any character that is panromatic, aromantic, etc. I feel like biromantic, panromantic, aromantic (and etc.) community isn't really shown in LGBTQA+ books. I also love the idea of more religious LGBTQA+ characters. I myself am a Christian and have no troubles concerning my religion and sexual orientation. My church actually has a LGBTQA+ support group. Anyway, that's my little introduction.
I'm a biromantic asexual who's only out to 3 ppl irl. I'm Christian, and while I'm mostly okay, sometimes I do have a faith struggle.
sorry mine was really short lol
Outside of this, my name is Antonia and I'm 18. I am a flexible biromantic asexual female, and I'm not religious. Here are some experiences of mine that I have already gone into a little bit, but here they are:
c) My first crush was a girl in primary school, but my second was a boy near the same time. I'm not sure what I would have done if she hadn't been in a relationship during those years, and if I wasn't so shy, but I know I focussed more on the boy during this time. I think the first time I questioned my sexuality was with the same girl, but in secondary school and I said to myself, "It is easier to be straight." because I've always wanted kids, I am terrified of confrontation, and it was 'normal'.
c) I had more girl crushes in school, but since I literally squashed those feelings, I never really noticed besides feeling like I wanted to be around them more.
c) I've never had a boyfriend or girlfriend, never kissed anybody, and I've never wanted to have a relationship until this year when I let myself figure this all out.
c) I didn't know I could be bisexual or biromantic because of how old I am. Everybody else I knew ( and people on tv and books) came out in school so I believed that people 'realised' during school, and I didn't really think anybody would not know after this time. I know I had questioned it but I didn't know.
c) People got bullied in our school. We had posters on the walls each with a different statement like "'gay' lets get the meaning straight" to 'promote anti-bullying. The school held itself high for it's lack of racisms, homophobia and bullying. I got called a lesbian a lot, and it was okay for me because it was like calling a purple person blue in my head. It wasn't who I was so it didn't matter. I got called worse. I got hit a lot. So that never mattered. I had friends who were bi, and they got bullied a lot. I didn't know and I swear if I did I would have gone crazy.
c) I cried myself to sleep after watching Shane Dawsons coming out video, because I was so happy that I wasn't alone. That you actually could still be gay or bi even if you didn't figure it out or realise during school. I felt like an idiot for that to be honest. I know I was crying so much because there was a word. But I was also crying because I felt fucked up (sorry for my language). All this time, I was screaming it's easier to be straight, but how can I love anybody when I'm literally stopping myself from doing that.
c) Every time after and around that, I felt horrible and I hated myself for liking girls, whenever I liked any women.
c) I came out to a friend online three weeks ago. She was the first person I'd told. I guess… I watched Love, Simon a few days before and that might've helped but, I was just so scared of letting myself out I guess. She was great, I did it mid-joke, and it was fine. I told her, because even typing it was hard. I thought, it'd help to tell somebody who I don't care about hating me, or wanting to get rid of me from their lives.
c) I thought about it, and after that I wanted to tell my bi friend in person at college, then my closest friend that I've known since primary who is also bi, then my family. After that, I didn't care who knew or in what order.
c) I told my friend, in person, and I cried. Not a lot, but I was shaking like mad and it was funny because at first she said, "How?" and when I started laughing like, "What?" I started shaking and she hugged me after saying, "Oh god this is really scaring you." which was just so good of her. While she was hugging me, a pansexual friend of mine said in a pretty mean tone, "What? Did she just come out as a lesbo or something?" and I laughed saying, "Bi actually." Worst mistake I've made in a long time.
c) All day, he was making horrible jokes. I took him to the side at one point and kindly said that I wasn't comfortable with these jokes 'yet' and I pointed out that only them two knew, so could he stop. He… toned it down.
c) The next day the rest of my friends, including the Bi girl (kitty), went out to Nandos with me. All of us but this guy. While eating, one of my mates went, "So Toni! I've heard that you've got something to say?" I didn't even think about it, I was just confused like, "Huh?" and then she just goes, "You know? That you're Bisexual?" And everybodies eyes shot to me. No smiles just shock and I fucking wanted to die. I instantly looked at my Bi friend and she just whispered with pure anger, "Jonathan." My other mate quickly realised what happened and, she's Bi too so she just kept saying sorry while my other two mates who are straight kept saying how it's really cool of me and that they're proud but, I just smiled and said it's okay, held my mate to calm her down cause she was fuming, and we happily kept eating. My mate kitty screamed at Jonathan when I wasn't there, and he apparently said, "Oh sorry mum!" and walked off.
c) While walking back to college, I remember hearing my two straight mates shipping me and kitty which I normally didn't mind but… God I was sad.
c) When I got home, I cried a lot and I was so angry because I didn't know why I was crying, it didn't matter. I thought my Mum was gonna be home at 8, but she was home at 6. I came out to my mum while crying, and I remember saying things that I didn't mean. I said that I was sorry, that I didn't want to be, that I was still figuring it out, that I might not be. God…
c) My mum told my older brother, but he pretended that he didn't know. Two days later, I 'told' him, knowing he knew, but still. He is the best big brother ever. He said all the right things that I needed (The whole family will love you anyway, uncle Simon might make jokes but if you have a girlfriend and somebody says something bad, he will knock them out and you know it, I won't tell his girlfriend I'll leave that for you to do etc.) and I told me that he was questioning in school, even had a boyfriend, but realised he wasn't. I told him that even though I hadn't had a relationship, I knew and he completely understood.
c) All of this happened in two weeks. I didn't know how to tell my best friend, but I wanted to do it in person. Two weeks later, we went camping, just the two of us and I think we spent most of that week asking eachother what we thought of different girls either from tv shows, movies, general media, or in school. We talked about what we thought was wrong, right and what needed to change with things relating to the community. Shit, we organised going to gay clubs to try to meet women haha. Still a little too socially awkward for that though I think.
This is a lot, but I think it'd everything I can offer for writers. I do have something somewhere that I'll add on in a sec though. Oh and also, we just bought two male guinea pigs that keep humping, and my mum literally shouted, "WHY IS EVERYTHING IN THIS HOUSE GAY!" I love my family.
I'm sorry, I got carried away :/
Link: https://www.notebook.ai/forum/characters-board/diversity-without-accidental-discrimination
Mate, you are more than welcome. You are a writer, and so you should be able to write about anything, just try to do it well.
When I read books or watch movies, I don't think I've ever taken into account the sexuality or gender, or even the race, of the person writing it. I will know their name, when reading, and if I want to know more about them after then I will, but that's after. I think who you are doesn't make it strange. J.K Rowling's MC is male. George RR Martin has multiple female MCs. If gender doesn't matter, then why should anything else?
I've come out to most of the people I know within the last few days, so I just wanted to add something if you plan to write an LGBTQA+ Character, and if coming out is something that happens in the story.
It's scary. It's super scary. Not the fight or flight type of afraid but…
Imagine if you was in a family where everybody in it was a Baker. They only cooked cakes and buns, and sweet things, and you like cooking those sweet foods, but you also like cooking savoury foods, so you want to be a chef. You think, you could just be a baker, cause you'd be cooking sweet foods anyway, but you know you like cooking savoury foods and no matter what, you will always want to and without letting yourself cook those foods you're stopping yourself from being who you are, and from cooking savoury foods, and it might effect how you cook sweet foods because you'll never know what would make you happier. You want to tell your family because you don't want them to be upset or confused if you cook a pastry, and you don't want to waste any food because they don't want it in the house, but you do, so you're afraid you'd have to leave. You love your family, and you want to show them both your savoury and your sweet foods, but you're afraid that they won't love you as much, or they'll question every food you look at, thinking what if she wants to cook that. You're afraid of change, and you're afraid of not knowing what will happen. But you want to. That's what coming out is like in the worst analogy ever haha.
Once you do it, it feels great. Especially if they are accepting because you've let them see you and they love you anyway. It gets easier the more you do it too. I told a friend that I wasn't too close to, who didn't know anyone I do now. Then I told my mates. Then I told my Mum who told my Nan. All were great.
Finally, something that sucks. Being outed. This has been the most stressful three days I've had in a while. Monday I told two mates, both bi, that I'm Bi. Now when you tell people, you prepare yourself, put up walls, ready yourself. It takes a good half an hour. Or it takes seconds like ripping off a plaster. But either way, you do it. One of my mates told another without me knowing. She randomly said it while at a meal out with two other mates who didn't know, and the one mate who didn't tell. I wanted to leave, and cry and hide because I was so happy, then so scared in seconds. I don't know what would have happened if they weren't accepting, but it was terrifying. I wasn't angry. My mate was furious, but I wasn't. I was hurt, so sad, scared and numb for most of the day. Then I got home and burst out crying. My Mum came home, and I told her because I was scared of her finding out any other way.
This is an insight to coming out and being outed, I really hope it helps with writing, and don't worry, I'm so happy now, and everything will be alright.
I've come out to most of the people I know within the last few days, so I just wanted to add something if you plan to write an LGBTQA+ Character, and if coming out is something that happens in the story.
It's scary. It's super scary. Not the fight or flight type of afraid but…
Imagine if you was in a family where everybody in it was a Baker. They only cooked cakes and buns, and sweet things, and you like cooking those sweet foods, but you also like cooking savoury foods, so you want to be a chef. You think, you could just be a baker, cause you'd be cooking sweet foods anyway, but you know you like cooking savoury foods and no matter what, you will always want to and without letting yourself cook those foods you're stopping yourself from being who you are, and from cooking savoury foods, and it might effect how you cook sweet foods because you'll never know what would make you happier. You want to tell your family because you don't want them to be upset or confused if you cook a pastry, and you don't want to waste any food because they don't want it in the house, but you do, so you're afraid you'd have to leave. You love your family, and you want to show them both your savoury and your sweet foods, but you're afraid that they won't love you as much, or they'll question every food you look at, thinking what if she wants to cook that. You're afraid of change, and you're afraid of not knowing what will happen. But you want to. That's what coming out is like in the worst analogy ever haha.
that was the best metaphor heck what are you talking about
hahaha thank you, believe it or not, it's not something I like to talk about so I was pretty anxious about it and this. thank you.
no I totally get it
coming out is absolutely terrifying
and it's really hard to talk about
Hi, I'm Eunhye. I identify as panromantic ace, female. I am a bit younger (I don't like putting my age) and I'm out to various people outside my family. My friend (Who is trans/genderfluid, pan ace) helped me figure out who I was as in sexuality (We helped each other). I have never really questioned my sexuality, so much to where I get anxious, and people at my school are very relaxed about the subject even though it may seem unusual or incorrect to them. I haven't been in any negative situations so far, but I am a little nervous telling my family because I don't know their opinions on LGBTQA+, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't care, but still… My religious situation is odd, considering I don't really think much of it, I consider myself christian at the moment though I believe I am atheist/agnostic (Still being decided though I'm pretty sure I'm agnostic) I don't really know how to tell this to my family either, though, I am not very concerned. Finding out I was panromantic was cool, I was reading an article about a Broadway actress(I love Broadway)about her relationship with another woman. It didn't strike me as 'odd' but 'interesting'. I read through it and found myself agreeing with alot of what she was saying about not caring whether it was a man or woman she was with, but focusing on personality. I set that aside. Later I came across the definition of pansexual and it hit me. I used pansexual for a time until I read the definition of asexual, and was like 'oh'. After finding out there were romantic options too, I settled with panromantic asexual.
I wish that there were more less known sexuality books. So i want to see a non binary prince/princess (I'm sorry i don't know the gender neutral term), an asexual 'playboy'(Everyone thinks he's really into it but he's actually asexual) and other stuff like that. Also I want a lesbian princess who gets rescued by a gay guy then she marries his sister.