LightningCoyote for the first one just don’t do it. I’m not gonna dissect the layers here. Just don’t do that
Hi! Following some discussion in the "TH pet peeves" thread, I've decided to create a discussion thread specifically dedicated to discussion around LGBT+ OCs. This is not a "show me..." thread (I'm sure there's plenty of these in Character Discussion already), it's a thread where you can share your thoughts or ask for advice!
Share your thoughts: Ramble about your experience with LGBT+ OCs and give ideas and tips to other OCs creators! Venting about negative experiences or tropes is allowed, but try to be constructive! Talk about things you want someone with an LGBT+ character to explore, how this character could be more relatable or realistic, or how a character that fits a caricature or stereotype could be given more depth.
Ask for advice: Share your character ideas or profiles and ask for feedback, or ask a more specific question about something you're unsure about! However, please try to make research before posting, as there are lots of resources and tips available already. LeoLeonis has created a Google Doc masterlist listing all topics that have already been mentioned and info that has been given on here; give it a look if you have doubts! I'll try to keep it as up-to-date as possible.
Feel free to ping me if things heat up or if anything needs to be added in the OP. Have fun, and please keep things civil ♥
Similar threads on different themes:
I think my plans from the first one is just give them a general "I am better than everybody else" attitude so that one trait would be a small part of the overall personality I think. Basically if you are not just like her in every way you get made fun of and insulted. This way its a focus on her overall mean personality instead of her sexuality. Hopefully that way I can still get my emotions out without making others feel uncomfortable.
LightningCoyote If you're just planning on making a mean girl type character I don't see the reason to bring sexuality into it? It comes off awful especially, especially as someone who's aroace. You're basically making fodder for homophobes because someone was mean to you once, and that person might not even be gay. Homophobic trolls love to raid servers saying shit like that to make the rest of the demographic look horrible. No one is "heterophobic" and the people who say that are likely joking to play off their oppression from them.
By making a gay character who's mean about others' sexualities especially with other aspec people in the cast it comes off as you being bigoted, point blank. This shouldn't be a hill to die on.
ETA: this was their original post before they deleted, for frame of reference
They were worried about it being offensive, I told them it was, they didn't like that, basically.
IIDX I do not appreciate the fact that you are invalidating something I saw happen multiple times with my own eyes. This was not "someone being mean once" I just went into detail with the one example as it was one of the most extreme. All of this happened within one community so it is likely fairly community specific, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I will not elaborate more here as I don't feel like the rest of my defense belongs clogging up an advice thread.
Oh I hope this is the right thread to ask and if anyone would see this, I'm new to the forums apologies.. I have a question for those that are lesbian or any wlw/nblw. I'm bisexual but I'd prefer to hear a second opinion about this :')) What's your opinion on lesbian or wlw characters hating/disliking men? Is there a line to be drawn when writing something like this? Is this something that is harmful I'm afraid that people would assume I'm homophobic or that homophobes would use this to justify their hatred for them. I wanna add that I have wlw characters that aren't like this, only just one or two though. Their dislike has nothing to do with their sexuality of course, it was only because of terrible experiences with them. I know a close person like this (again, I know it's not related to their sexuality, and its not extreme) but I still wanna hear other people's thoughts about it.
Ahh this is really informative, thankuusomuch!! It's been nagging me for a while and I can't pinpoint what's wrong with it since I don't write wlw characters as often as mlm. You're right though, being a wlw is about loving women :DD There's more to my girls than their dislike for men. I think they've always been attracted to women, one of them also can be attracted to men it's just that their past relationships with them don't turn out well usually. I guess it's best if I don't mention it at all. Well there's certainly more aspects to them that I can give more attention to. I'll try my best to develop them. Thank you for your help!!
If there are some more tips you can offer about wlw characters, I would really appreciate it :DD
Anyone have any recommendations of stuff to read onto poly relationships or things to avoid or pursue when writing it?
I've been wanting write a throuple for some time, but just recently have 3 characters that wold do well on that an was thinking a bout it again.
You’re welcome!! Yeah both wlw and mlm (and any other variants like nblm, etc.) can be used as umbrella terms! (Similar to sapphic/achillean)
While I don’t have much general advice off the top of my head atm, as a polyam person I’d be happy to answer any specific questions you have!
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hi. i have no idea why, so don't ask me, but i have constant anxiety about my ocs, and right now, i'm worrying about if they're lgbtq+ stereotypes or harmful in any way, despite being lgbtq+ myself... anxiety do what anxiety do
i'm especially concerned because almost all of them have had very traumatic experiences in addition to being lgbtq+ and sometimes even partly caused by this, but i'm not sure if this doesn't count because it's heavy projection? (i mean, all of my ocs are heavily projected. yes, even you, valdis.)Â
there's also me being worried about mental health and disability representation, despite also being another thing from projection and very personal experiences, but that's a topic for another day in another thread...Â
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