Ask yourself this: why do you call your work “m/m” instead of “gay”? Both are three keystrokes. Why is it you only refer to your work as “gay” when you want to get a Lambda nomination?
The Lambdas are for LGBT writing, not LGBT-slash writing.
That upset me. If the Lambda awards want to be for GLBT authors, fine. There are awards limited to certain groups all over the place. But do we have to take that swing at slash? What’s wrong with m/m? It’s better than ScyFy, isn’t it?
Maybe it’s time for the whole wall to come down. I have gay characters. I don’t think I actually write gay fiction, as none of my stories center around gayness (gaiety?). My gay characters are just like everyone else–just trying to get by, find their place and have some fun along the way. The last time I was in the “GLBT” section of the bookstore, it was a dreary place. Shouldn’t we be trying to get this stuff more mainstream?
When I’m writing erotica, though, I’m going to call it m/m. People like what they like, and you’ve got to let them know what they’re getting. (and to the objection to “fetishization” of m/m, my sincerest regrets for your discomfort, but hot guys are hot, and two hot guys are better than one. I promise you, though, all the hot guys in my work are imaginary. *sigh*)
Anyway. We’re allies. Let’s act like it. Can we stop taking random swipes at each other?
This post has been included in a Linkspam roundup.
“The last time I was in the “GLBT” section of the bookstore, it was a dreary place. Shouldn’t we be trying to get this stuff more mainstream?”
Because of course the problem is that not enough straight people are writing ‘gay’ fiction and cheering up the world for gay people, instead of institutional and societal prejudice keeping gay authors out of publishing contracts, and their stories out of schools and libraries.
“to the objection to “fetishization” of m/m, my sincerest regrets for your discomfort, but hot guys are hot, and two hot guys are better than one.”
Well then, that makes it all right. Do by all means continue to play with your dollies. I’m sure real gay people don’t mind being treated like porns stars just for your fun.
I wish I thought this was a parody, but no, you’re serious. And probably incurably arrogant and unaware.
Actually, I was thinking that with more gay fiction both submitted and bought, we could overload the dreary GLBT section stashed back there in a dark corner, and the segregation would end. We could have my gay starship pilot’s book stuck right next to some gay author’s story about a straight time traveler in the SF section where they both belong. Kinda like how allies of GLBT persons march shoulder-to-shoulder for the Matthew Shepard act, or to repeal DOMA or DODT, or even just party together at Pride events.
My statement was badly put and does sounds arrogant. My apologies for that. But you missed this sentence in your copy and paste.
I write fiction. No real gays have ever or will ever be treated like porn stars in my stories or in my head. But the fact is that a market exists for m/m. I think I write respectful and hot m/m with characters who are well-rounded and not objects, so I don’t feel I’m doing anything wrong. Why shouldn’t there be erotica about gay characters just the same as straight?
I can’t be a gay writer trying to blaze a trail in publishing. I’m not an editor or a publisher or an agent, so I can’t take on that aspect either. All I can do is my best to stand with those I support, and hopefully not be too much the clueless straight girl.
Sorry, but you have not convinced me that I’ve been clueless.
See, the thing is, as far as I’ve seen you write stuff based on this philosophy and also the philosophy that gay people are people and smut is no substitute for character and good writing. Not everyone does that. Yeah, it’s perfectly possible to be a straight author and be respectful and even write stuff that can be legitimately classed as gay fiction, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a point where love of the gay sex gets legitimately creepy and oppressive.
Not trying to disagree with you, exactly, but, you know, “I don’t have this problem” doesn’t mean “no one has this problem”. Some of the slash writers and fans I’ve seen are honestly terrifying and I think Lambda does have something of a point.
Oh, I completely agree that the Lambdas have a point. The screams about this rule change–some of that has gotten really ugly. I don’t know much about the Lambdas anyway, but to me it seems similar to screaming that the NAACP only gives scholarships to African Americans–support and promotion of a marginalized minority is the point of the organization!
I, too, have seen the scary fans and writers you’re talking about. (especially the ones who think of rape as a good start to a relationship!!) It’s one reason, I think, that I started writing my own fics–one too many stories of a more-girly-than-any-girl uke falling in love with his rapist.