#TFs and queerness

[altraviolet]

Hey Violet!

I'm curious; what do you think the queer allure of transformers is, purely from your experience? Be as surface level or in-depth as you want, I've had media and fandom worms in my research brain and I'd love your perspective!

Hey anon!

hmm! what an interesting question! I hope I can answer to your satisfaction :u I'm not sure how personal to get with my own experience, to be honest :u

I'll give you a little bit of background info on me so that your research brain can ground itself in my internal timeline, and then I'll do my best :)

I'm on the older side of fandom. I always liked Transformers (even wrote some fic 25+ years ago), but I didn't become a very serious fan until I was introduced to MTMTE in 2015.

I also, uh... hmm. I definitely fall under the definition of queer, but I'm not Out, for a couple of reasons, except to family and close friends. I am not part of a real life queer community (to my own detriment, I am quite sure).

So the intersection of Transformers and queer stuff, for me, has some limits. I don't know what the fandom, let alone the queer side of the fandom, was doing before 2015. All I can offer you is the following :)

I guess first I'll approach this from a wider perspective: I assume there's always been a queer component to the TF fandom. Even if you calculated what percentage of the fandom could be queer, just given what the queer percentage of the total population is, it is immutably a true statement (and I'd wager the % of queer-identifying fans is a much higher number than the % of the population identifying as queer). tl;dr- there always has been a queer audience for TFs because there are always queer people in an audience.

I would guess, though, that the percentage of queer fans measurably increased with the publication of MTMTE: the comic caused an influx to the fandom/franchise. Why? The comic had explicit and clearly defined representation. The world was presented as homonormative. So, that's a big thing, I think. People gravitate towards the things that represent them. If you happen to love robots and all the sudden holy shit trans lesbian robots and you're a trans lesbian, I'm guessing that, overall*, you would enjoy that.

(*yes I am aware that there was and continues to be criticism of all the queer elements of MTMTE, let's move forward acknowledging that but not dwelling on it. I hate that I feel like I have to make statements like this but, just so we're all clear, I'm not seeking to represent anyone in particular or deny criticism)

Other than the representation, MTMTE had a fantastic story. So like, you know. Everyone likes a fantastic story.

But what else? The franchise is absolutely enormous: surely there is more appeal than one comic.

Yes, I do think so :) and from here on out I'm going to be giving you some guesses and observations. Whereas you can math your way through population statistics, the following is more anecdotal. More feeling based than data based.

Transformers can be anything you want them to be. They can have any genitals, or none. They can be any sex/gender/sexuality, or none. They are perfect in this way because they are fictional. They can be seen as wish fulfillment ("I wish my body looked like XYZ and that would require a change, so what if I had my favorite character go through that change"), or as celebration ("HELL YEAH this character has the same sexual/emotional connections with others that I do!"). They can be as messy or as perfect as you want them to be. They can reflect you, or who you want to be, or who you wished you were but suspect you will never be, or who you hope to be, or who you have already become.

Ah, you say. Yes, all fine and dandy. But technically any fictional characters can fit these criteria: what makes Transformers special?

There are several themes explored in various parts of the franchise that could appeal to queer folks. As a targeted minority who have often only had themselves and scant allies on their own side, the themes of "body autonomy regardless of how you were born" and "freedom is the right of all sentient beings" may ring more true... consciously or subconsciously. There's the whole they literally transform, hey, that's in the name! They change into other things: that's who they are and that's who all their friends are. It's normal and correct for their world. There's the idea that the good guys are fighting for freedom and peace and protecting the more fragile squishy organics (common theme across the franchise- Optimus risking everything for a handful of humans). The "when you stick up for the little ones, you're sticking up for everyone," kind of idea.

On a wholly different note, there's the fact that many of the characters are drawn with "heroic proportions." Hello, Hot Motor Oil? These characters can be made very very sexy. And heck, I'd wager for some small percentage of the queer audience, the attraction to the franchise started with aesthetics, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Perhaps for a small part of the audience, the sexy drawings made them go, "This better not make me feel anything. ... uh oh..." and then they realized that their identity was different from what they first thought.

Heck I know two (queer) people who joined the fandom just because of OP's voice in the live action movies.

Another thing that probably helps is the fandom. Bullying and stupid drama aside, I've observed that most people tend to be friendly and appreciate the outpouring of fanwork. It's much easier to slide into a fandom if it's been around for a long time and already has queer people in it. And boy, has this fandom been around for a long time. Oh, and also, it's extremely excellent that a lot of the people who work on canon (artists, VAs, etc) are vocally supportive of queer folks. And some of the creators for the later shows have been open and out and have discussed their identities or specifically been picked for roles so that they could represent a character (I'm thinkin' Cyberverse and EarthSpark here: I'm not sure about anything that came earlier).

Now this is definitely anecdotal, but the TF fandom has a shitton of artists, and they are extremely fucking skilled and talented. And I've noticed that artists tend to be queer. Like, in my whole life meeting and talking to artists, the straight ones are in the minority. (again, anecdotal, lol) So there's that. There are so many people across all the spectra of attraction and expression and so forth creating so much stuff for everyone to enjoy in the TF fandom. There are a LOT of queer fanon (and some canon) pairings/groupings with tons of art and fic exploring those dynamics. And when you see that, when you feel welcome, you're more likely to join and stay.

Another side note: there is something of an overlap between TF fans and furries, and furries (to my understanding) have always been very welcoming of queer people. So I'm sure some people have wandered to and fro between those two arenas.

You've probably already thought of this, anon, but I wanted to note it: there are other intersections. I know several disabled and queer creators who love Transformers. I can't speak for that point of view, but I'm certain both those things factor into their relationships with the franchise. The intersections of race and religion and queerness will also shape how people are drawn to the franchise. And also, come to think of it, age. My younger coworkers are so confident and open about who they are. I admire them so much! I'm so proud of them. None of them are Transformers fans... yet >D

And... hmm. That's all I can think of at the moment! I considered putting some more personal info in, but decided against it... if I think of anything else, I'll add it in later =)

I hope this helped! Best of luck on your quest for knowledge 📚✨

[spencer-is-someone]

happy pride month to all the “weird” queers. The ones who use neopronouns, the ones who feel xenogenders fit them best, the ones who use micro labels that barely any people know, the ones that make their own flags. I love you, and you’re not “too weird” to be in this community.

[nailbats]

why dis 🏍️ so mad 😭😭😭

can you believe I drew em out in their cogged forms, then realized I meant to draw them COGLESS. can you imagine redrawing them ALL THE WAY rjkekkdkskdk

[k-wame]

ANDREW SCOTT as Adam & PAUL MESCAL as Harry All of Us Strangers (2023) dir. Andrew Haigh

[dazzletron9000]

happy pride month

coming in hot with everyone's favorite gay-coded luxury automobile and his heavy-duty husband

really i believe all transformers are queer in some way

and technically the overwhelming majority of them are gay

I wasn't meaning for that to rhyme it just happened

[sketchinventor]

GAY ROBOTS 🏳️‍🌈

(before you ask, yes, i did give them abs and bigger hips sue me)

Beakdown x Knockout

#QueerSummmer - 17/30

[nonotnolan]

No Regrets

My roommate's body keeps looking at me like I'm supposed to be making the first move. It was weird enough when my roommate and his girlfriend swapped bodies for the weekend, but the unspoken tension was starting to become unbearable. "Seriously, Tiffany, you're starting to creep me out. Don't you and Daniel have plans for tonight?"

She just smiled at me. "No plans. I'm still deciding how I want to spend my evening. Daniel, though... he's taking my body out clubbing tonight. He wants to see how many free drinks he can score, and I think he's also planning to get laid." Gross. I knew better than to say anything out loud, but my face must have given me away. "Don't be such a prude, Jeff. You know we have an open relationship."

I tugged at my collar. "I know, Tiff, I'm sorry. I just... body swaps that cross the gender line still make me uncomfortable. It feels wrong, somehow. And, I mean, technically they are illegal."

"Oh please, get over yourself," she said, tossing herself onto his bed. "Swaps over 12 hours are also illegal, but that didn't stop you from hiring someone to take your Calc exam two weeks ago. You need to learn how to relax. Not everything you were told on Sundays is true, you know. Some things aren't actually all that bad. You're only clutching your pearls because society told you that swapping genders was bad. What harm is there, as long as both people consent?"

I wanted to argue, but I knew Tiffany was absolutely correct. There wasn't anything wrong with the two of them swapping bodies outside of society telling us that men and women could only swap with other men and other women. Which... given the way that their open relationship also defied societal expectations, I suppose it wasn't too much of a surprise that the two of them thought so little about swapping like this. "You're right, and I'm sorry. I... I'm trying, really. You've heard how conservative my childhood was. It's a lot to unlearn."

"Well, maybe it's time to start unlearning," she said, beckoning me closer. "You want to know the real reason I'm still here? It's because of you, stud. I'm here to see you." Did Tiffany just call me a stud? She had to be mocking me, but I could feel myself blushing all the same.

Tiffany started to unbutton my shirt, brushing her fingers along my exposed chest as she did so. I could feel myself growing erect. Were we... were we really doing this? They were in an open relationship, after all, it wasn't like he was helping Tiffany cheat on his roommate. With his roommate? God, Swappers made things confusing.

"I've seen the way you look at Daniel," she said, rubbing a hand across the stubble on my chin. "I love the man, but he's too straight and too clueless to pick up on those stares. And honestly, I can't help but think that you're too sheltered to realize you're even doing it half the time."

"I... thought I was hiding it better," I said, trying to steady my emotions. Her fingers started to tease my nipples, leaving me squirming with raw pleasure. "I still don't know if I'm bisexual, or gay, or just... Mormon. But I didn't think it mattered. He's already in a relationship with you. What I want isn't important."

"He's in an open relationship," she said, staring at me like I was a hunk of meat to be devoured. "He's also not here right now. I'm in control of this body right now, and I want to fuck you senseless. If that's what you want too, well..." Tiffany slipped her hand inside my waistband, giving my manhood a firm squeeze that had me gasping for breath. "Tonight's a perfect night to let loose. No regrets."

I couldn't hold back anymore. I leaned in for a quick kiss, which Tiffany returned with tongue. The two of us stripped down as fast as we could, though I made certain not to let her pull me onto the bed with her. "Not on Daniel's bed," I said, dragging her over to my part of the bedroom. "His sheets reek of frat boy sweat, and I doubt he has any lube."

"I, uhh... you're alright with being on top, right?" I asked, as I handed her the bottle of lube from my nightstand. It occurred to me that we hadn't actually talked through any plans, set boundaries, or anything like that. "The way you phrased it, I'm assuming that's what you meant, I just--"

"Stop. Thinking." Seeing Daniel's face looming over me, with a look of pure lust on his face, it was everything I never knew I needed. I started rolling over onto my knees before she yelled at me. "Not like that, stay on your back. I want to see your face as I fuck you senseless."

Tiffany spent the entire time telling me exactly what to do, and it was everything I could have ever wanted. She got me lubed, eased me onto her massive manhood, and railed me like there was no tomorrow. My chest was coated in strands of my own cum, while Daniel's cum slowly leaked out of my ass. I'd never had a no-hands orgasm before, but holy hell I could not believe how amazing that felt.

"I can't believe we just did that," I said, trying to catch my breath. She responded by scooping up some of the jizz off of my torso and putting it into her mouth. She was making an entire production out of licking it off of her finger, and I could feel myself getting hard again. "So, uhh... you... you'll be in Daniel's body for the entire evening?"

"If that's your way of asking me if I'd like to fuck you again? The answer is yes," she said, giving me a wink. "Even better, we might be able to make this a weekly thing," she added, standing up to grab some towels. "I don't think I'll have to fight too hard to convince Daniel to swap. What sort of straight man doesn't enjoy having boobs?"

God, I was falling for her so hard. What had I gotten myself into? Life was going to be a long, awkward hell once my roommate was back in his own body. And yet... I had to admit, I had no regrets.

[starscream-is-my-wife]

​A couple hours earlier that day:

“I think I may be trans”

“I thought humans couldn’t transform??”

[lgbtqtext]

[golden-boy-vixx-blog]

Freedom is the right of all sentient beings

Little edit I did of one of the comic covers

[asimp4bee]

Better late than never—

Happy Pride!! Know that you are loved and that you are valid 🏳️‍🌈💖

Mea is holding the demiromantic and bisexual flag

And Bee has the transgender and pansexual flag!

[bobby-the-queer-artist]

[k-wame]

(L-R) MIKE FAIST · ZENDAYA · JOSH O'CONNOR ↳ · Challengers Press · SUNRISE Breakfast News Program

[degenerateshinji]

happy pride to everyone!! the link click cast love you!

+pride icons! use with credit and feel free to rb with a flag req if you want a flag not already on here🫶

the world has been a super scary place for trans people recently, and I want everyone to know that I have and will continue to stand with my community, I love you all. Please keep fighting. If you want to support queer people this pride month, here's a link to the Stonewall Community Foundation's website, where you can directly donate to help out transgender and queer people who are struggling in the US right now.

[spiciestmango]

my cnc fantasy is turning all my friends into pokemon that i find particularly hot and their vibe without their consent and then turning their heat up to 11 and then do the same to myself

so then everyone is confused and knotting each other impulsively on all 4s for the rest of time itd be so fun !!

[lgbtqtext]