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Well, at least y'all are openly admitting that you only believe in respect or empathy for other queer people until they start getting attention & making money, then it's open season. (Although, I doubt Becky Albertalli gets any cut of the movie or Hulu show.) https://twitter.com/brosandprose/status/1304158392316039170
Can we cut the dramatics & end this discourse today. First of all, SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA has never been *the* queer narrative. Ever. When in what imaginary world do people think that happened?
It is a best-selling YA book but most queer adults have never heard of it or read it, including most of the people having this discourse. It certainly hasn't dominated adult queer lit talk more than A LITTLE LIFE, for example.
Or CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, or any of the other adult queer novels written by actual straight authors that folks conveniently aren't picking on for it.
LOVE, SIMON was a modest box office hit, and even achieving that took considerable campaigning & careful marketing by its queer director/producer.
It is only the 12th highest grossest LGBTQ movie of all time, not even accounting for inflation. Not "THE narrative"
It is only the 12th highest grossest LGBTQ movie of all time, not even accounting for inflation. Not "THE narrative"
LOVE, VICTOR was dumped by its initial network & became a surprise hit on Hulu because the teen viewers turned out to love it. It wasn't even given a second season initially. Nobody in the industry was banking on it.
In short, this idea that queer media is just this huge untapped fountain of bankability & sure money & the industry is just going around handing straight creators the golden tickets to that sweet queer media $$$$...is preposterous
Every piece of queer media is a risk, always
Every piece of queer media is a risk, always
And every bit of industry support for any piece of queer media had to be fought for, and most people doubted it every step of the way.
NONE of these books, films, or shows were guaranteed successes.
NONE of these books, films, or shows were guaranteed successes.
How these Becky Albertalli haters seem to think it works:
Step 1) Be closeted queer still learning about your sexuality
Step 2) Send in YA book proposal that "steps into the queer space"
Step 3) Make MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
Honestly, I have to laugh.
Step 1) Be closeted queer still learning about your sexuality
Step 2) Send in YA book proposal that "steps into the queer space"
Step 3) Make MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
Honestly, I have to laugh.
Someone being successful does not mean you are entitled to stop feeling empathy for them or respecting the reasons why they may be closeted or struggling with their sexuality. No amount of $ justifies someone being forced out of the closet or harassed.
Anyway, I hope these grown adults will take some time to rethink this whole "you cannot make art about queerness until you are out of the closet", b/c what they're saying is actually quite oppressive & abusive, especially to young queer people or those in dangerous environments.
Making art is often a way we process our queerness, whether we are in or out of the closet at the time, and no one can or should tell anyone not to do that. And anyone who really believes in "community" would never.
That's all! Love y'all xoxo
That's all! Love y'all xoxo
