#can y’all tell I read a lot of webcomics where similar things happen

[whimsyprinx]

i truly should’ve been born to a noble family that has more rivals and enemies than they do allies so that one day I would inevitably be caught in the crossfire and dies tragically coughing up blood (and tea) after succumbing to the poison that has laced my tea

[justasmallbloginabigklainefandom]

Love, Simon comes out today in America.

Pun intended.

Since there are strangely enough still people crying about how we shouldn’t support Love, Simon because the book it is based on (Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda) is written by a straight woman.

Honey.

Sit the fuck down cause guess what time it is? It is time for my unnecessary opinion! Lemme tell you why this entire thing bothers me so much.

It actually started a while before I found out there were LGBTQ+ peeps shitting on Love, Simon. A similar thing happened in the Check, Please! fandom, which is a HAPPY mlm webcomic. 

“Gay people? Happy ending? Too unrealistic!”

Honestly, I was so pissed. I remember talking about it on the Gay af debate app (a group chat filled with other LGBTQ people to talk about more serious issues in the community, as a result of the Pulse shooting). The same thing is happening with Love, Simon.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not denying that Becky is straight and that she will probably never fully get the Gay Experience, but there is still a difference between Becky, who worked with LGBTQ youth and who decided to write a happy book for them in the hopes they could find support and happiness in it, and straight people who think homophobia doesn’t exist anymore and go “is Love, Simon still needed in this current progressive time?”.

Hell, I don’t want to spoil too much because I really encourage all of you to fucking watch this movie and to support it, but straight people who think that homophobia isn’t a problem anymore are in the actual book! And guess what? It is shown as a problem and their ignorance actually results in some homophobia because guess what straight people, homophobia still exists.

“His parents are soooo supportive it is so fake! It is not realistic.”

Listen, I am truly, truly sorry that you were given a reason to believe that. This world still sucks a lot, I am not denying that. But there are very supportive parents out there (mine included) and one of the goals of this movie is showing teens that it does get better, and hopefully it will show straight parents that there’s nothing wrong with their kid not being straight. But also, it shows that even those supportive parents still make mistakes that can hurt their kids (mind included). Again, I don’t want to spoil much, but Simon even confronts his parents about subtle homophobic jokes and so on. 

This movie needs to do well, okay. The media influence the public opinion and this movie shows how a cheesy gay romance is not that different from a straight one. It normalises homosexuality, and since y’all are still yelling about homophobia, isn’t that what we want. We want to show to an audience that we are here and queer and happy and we deserve it.

Looking back in history and LGBTQ portrayal, it fucking sucks. That’s all I can say, okay? It sucks. Homosexuality was not always permitted on television, but there were always the sneaky gay characters. They were the psychos. They were evil men stealing innocent husbands from their loving wives. And then it eventually got better, but most stories about LGBTQ people were still the typical: “I’m gay and I wanna kill myself.” 

And somewhere around 2013, it started to change. LGBTQ characters became more common. If you’d told me 5 years ago that we’d get a big commercial LGBTQ+ teen movie, with the same promotion and leverage as typical straight YA adaptions, I wouldn’t have believed you. And now it is happening. Yes, LGBTQ representation is still not ideal, but it is changing. 

I have read so many posts of: “Man, if I were younger and we would’ve had positive LGBTQ content, I’d be so much more confident/my parents would’ve understood better/I would feel safer/I’d know I’m okay and that there’s nothing wrong with me.” Or: “Wow, I wish straight people would use more LGBTQ characters in their works!”

I read posts about how we need more happy LGBTQ content so that we can normalise it for children and to show the world that LGBTQ people can be happy and don't always have to be portrayed as the sad or the mean ones (so side-eyeing you, Heathers 2018).

And now it is happening.

And it is seen as bad?

And I also think it is kind of sad because most of those haters are actually LGBTQ and if you look deeper into this, it basically means that this community is so used to all the shit that the moment we get some happiness, we turn against it because we've come to a place where homophobia etc has been normalised and I think that's even more sad.

As if after years of being thrown under the bus, we finally get the opportunity to crawl out of that shithole and we choose to stay because that shithole under the bus is all we've known and that's what we've gotten used to.

Don’t get me wrong. That is also a problem created by straight people. I am not saying that all the evil started in the LGBTQ community, you know, like straight people do.

But really, you won’t support happy LGBTQ content because it is “too unrealistic”? I have great news for you! If you want to watch stories about how awful being gay is, just watch most of the media content that already exists! So much self-loathing. So much hate. So much pain and bullying and death.

Besides, straight people have so many unrealistic scenarios, it is kinda weird. Happy mlm content is unrealistic, but a woman falling in love with a bee isn’t? 

Okay.

Well, it is a “straight bee” so it doesn’t matter anyway.

Also, this movie has to succeed in order to show Hollywood that there is indeed an audience for LGBTQ rom coms. And idk man if Becky being straight is such a big problem for you, just think that if this movie succeeds, the chance of LGBTQ authors getting full blown movies is bigger.

Look at Wonder Woman and Black Panther. Like, Scarlett Johansson has been Black Widow for ages and no one was going to make a Black Widow movie because “women aren’t into superheroes so a female superhero won’t do” and then Wonder Woman not only smashed the box office but that movie also single handedly saved the entire superhero franchise and it opened the doors to move female-led action movies. And Black Panther got shit as well because uhm “an all black-movie? who’s gonna care???” and it totally annihilated the box office records and it shows Hollywood that black magic is magic and that there are indeed people willing to see more diversity in big movies.

And last but not least, if you are still not convinced, then please support this movie for the actual LGBTQ people who have put their heart and love into this project. Support the LGBTQ crew. Support the LGBTQ actors. Support the LGBTQ artists on the soundtrack.

Do it.

Just do it.

For the love of god, watch Love, Simon.

[sevenlovescats]

ooohhg you watch dramas? can you recommend me one?

whoo ok. i’ve mostly watched korean dramas just bc i haven’t found any other super interesting ones, so i hope that’s ok?*just a forewarning: i’m putting links to kissasian here, and that might cause a lot of popups for you. i use adblock so it doesn’t affect me. i’m pretty sure all of these dramas are also available on dramafever as well ^^*under the cut bc this is some long shit sorry.

My very first drama was Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (featuring baekhyun from exo!). Moon Lovers is about a girl named Go Ha-jin (played by IU!) from the modern era who manages to drown and get thrown into the Goryeo Dynasty, in the year 941. she becomes this girl from the past whose name is Hae Soo, and she meets all these princes from the ruling Wang family. and of course she falls in love with one prince but some other things happen and a whole lot changes. but anyway, it’s not a super tear jerker, but it’s very sad in some parts. there’s also a couple episodes with lashing, and torture, but it’s not too explicit. i definitely recommend it if you enjoy historical korea. (also there are a lot of beautiful people but that’s just a bonus).

Another one i would recommend is Blood. this is a drama about vampires, but mainly about doctors but also mainly about vampires… i can’t really tell which is supposed to be the main theme lol. anyway! the leading actors are actually married now! and they started dating while/after (i’m not sure when they started dating lol). honestly they’re both so gorgeous and such a cute couple. anyway, back to Blood. Park Ji-sang (Ahn Jae-hyun) is a doctor specializing in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in a cancer institute. He’s the vampire. Yoo Ri-ta (Gu Hye-sun) is his colleague and the niece of the hospital owner. she’s very snotty actually lol but there’s some past between her and jisang even tho they don’t know it yet. (was that a spoiler?) um anyway, it’s pretty good, i personally loved it but it’s probably not the best drama ever.

next is Legend of the Blue Sea. this is like my second favorite drama. i loved it so so much fjdakgjdg. anyway. this one is about a mermaid and a human scenario that’s kind of similar to The Little Mermaid. except that the ‘prince’ is actually a top-notch con artist lmao. a mermaid (Jeon Ji-hyeon) who is later named Shim Chung falls in love with con-artist Heo joon-jae (played by the talented, the cute, the handsome, the amazing Lee Min-ho). (can u tell i love lee min-ho?) anyway, she falls in love with him and after he goes back to seoul, she follows him and searches all around seoul for him (resulting in some frustrating “damn, so close” moments). so she’s living with him, who is a con artist, and he’s trying to keep the fact that he’s a con artist from her (which isn’t hard bc she’s a mermaid she doesn’t know what a con artist is lol) and his two con artist friends are also living with them. it’s a very manga scenario tbh. anyway, this is some good shit, it’s not too mushy for those of y’all who don’t like romance, but it has a good bit of romance in, but it also has a lot of family drama that happens later. 11/10 would watch again.

next is Cinderella and the Four Knights which also has Ahn Jae-hyun in it. this is a lot more romancey than the others i think. but it’s not too bad. so this girl hates her life due to her new step-mother and step-sister, and she’s working all the time to pay for herself and she really wants to go to college. (i think. i watched this a long time ago lol). anyway, as she’s working in a convenience store, she meets this rich boy hyun-min, who eventually hires her to accompany him to his grandfather’s nth wedding. she does, and a whole bunch of shit involving the family happens, she gets roasted by hyun-mins half?cousin and then she gets hired by the father to uhh either house keep or try to help his three grandsons. anywho, this is a toned down version of boys over flowers but it’s pretty good for a day when u wanna look at handsome men and watch some cliche family drama go down.

this is getting really long i’m so sorry.

anyway, next is W: Two Worlds. THIS IS SOME GOOOOOD SHIT. at least to me. i’ve been told i have no taste so lol. anyway, this was super interesting. oh yeon joo is a surgeon whose father is a webcomic artist. he does this webcomic called W. the webcomic is about a guy named Kang Chul, who was framed for his parent’s and sister’s deaths. he was proven innocent, though, and ends up being the president of a company. so yeon joo one day goes over to her dad’s place and goes into the room he draws in. she sees a scene of a dying kang chul on her dad’s drawing tablet. she reads a note, and then a hand grabs her and pulls her into the world of W. she ends up on the rooftop of a hotel, where kang chul has just gotten stabbed by the murderer of his parents and sister. and that’s where the crazy shit begins. this is such and interesting show, with a really unique premise. i def recommend.

ok these next two are actually movies, and they’re gay-themed so.

Night Flight is really fckn good. but! it is also really not happy. like at all. no fluff here. this deals with the SEVERE bullying that was apparently very prevalent in korea at the time this was made (and probably still is but i’m not sure). if you don’t want to watch bullying/bullying towards gay people, please skip this one. Shin Yong-joo, Han Ki-woong and Ko Ki-taek were all close friends in middle school, but Ki-woong becomes estranged from the other two, and becomes a jjang, one of the strongest fighters in the school and starts hanging around with the school gang (the bullies). Yong-joo is hiding his sexual orientation (he’s gay) from everyone, and Ki-taek is being bullied by the school gang. like i said, this is pretty brutal in terms of bullying, and it could make you uncomfortable, but it is a good watch. it’s also directed by  Leesong Hee-Il, who is openly gay :)

The King and the Clown is set in the late 15th century during the reign of King Yeonsan. these two comedians, Jangsaeng and Gong-gil break away from their troop after Jangsaeng had enough of their manager prostituting Gong-gil (who’s feminine and super beautiful) off to rich customers. so, after they break off, they run away to seoul and form a new troop with three street performers. they come up with a skit that mocks the king and members of his court. but then they get arrested and are told they have to make the king laugh, or they die. the king and the clown was really frustrating for me, because it had one of those “is this happy?” endings, ya know? but anyway, it’s a good watch, definitely. the homosexuality isn’t the main point, and there isn’t even much of it there, but you can tell that jangaeng has a thing for gong-gil. this movie was actually based off a stage play “Yi” (which means You) that was about King Yeonsan.

honorable mention: Boys Over Flowers. it’s based off a manga called hana yori dango, which is also a japanese drama with three seasons. anyway, it’s about a poor girl who goes to a rich people school, and she gets chased after and harassed by falls in love with with the cocky handsome school idol. it’s kind of cliche now, but it’s an early 2000′s drama. it’s good tho. give it a watch.

and this concludes my recommendations. if you read this far, go you. you’re a true trooper. 

[to-a-merrier-world]

Webcomic recs!

These are some of my absolute favorite webcomics that I’m reading right now (all are in-progress). They aren’t ranked in any order, since I don’t think I could choose a favorite. Also, all of these have queer themes of some variety, since that’s just how I like my entertainment. Anyways, here we go!

1) Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu   (read here)

Description: Eric Bittle—former Georgia junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and amateur pâtissier—is starting his freshman year playing hockey at the prestigious Samwell University in Samwell, Massachusetts. And it’s basically nothing like co-ed club hockey back in the South. For one? There’s checking. It’s a story about hockey and friendship and bros and trying to find yourself during the best 4 years of your life. 

My notes: This is one of the more popular webcomics around right now, at least from what I’ve seen, and that popularity is well-deserved. The characters are well-written, unique, and very fun; the story has a good pacing and keeps you engaged; and the art is really nice. I’m personally very fond of this comic because I, too, am a queer Southern guy person, so I can really relate to Bitty and all his struggles and idiosyncrasies. Plus, it’s cute, sweet, has relatable angst, and is already promised to have a happy ending, so what more could I ask for? Also, pie. And hockey butts. And no need for any knowledge on actual hockey. Need I say more?

2) No End by  Erli & Kromi (read here)

Description: No End is a romantic soap opera webcomic about a group of people trying to survive and make lives for themselves in a cold, post-apocalyptic world ravaged by hordes of undead. Heavy on LGBTQ+ themes, content warning for occasional blood, gore, violence and strong language. 

My notes: This comic guys. THIS. COMIC. It’s so good, okay; so good. I’m not even all that into zombies (I’ve only liked In the Flesh and Warm Bodies, as far as zombie stuff goes, if that tells you anything), and I love this comic. I literally read all of it (that was out at the time) last year in one sitting. That good, y’all. The characters are great and surprise you at different turns, the relationships are engaging and realistic, and the art is drop-dead (ha) gorgeous. 

3) Sunshine-Boy (Leftovers) by Moosopp (read here)

Description: Sunshine Boy is about a boy named Kelly, moving to a new environment and struggling to fit in. Growing up in a loving house hold and having supporting parents. He has to learn that the world isn't as nice as he thought it would be. 

My notes: Y’aaaall, this artist is quite possibly my favorite artist, ever. I don’t even know, their style just makes me feel things, ok. Also, this is probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s still going, and there are future content warnings for violence/bullying/drug use/sexual content, so it may not stay so lighthearted and cute, but I love it, so. I also just recommend this artist/writer in general, cause all their works are wonderful and gorgeous. Besides my obvious hard on for their art, though, the story has a nice flow and the characters are all really unique and interesting--you can really tell that there’s more to them than what we’ve seen, and I’m personally very excited to see where all these characters go.

4) Les Normaux by KnightJJ (read here)

Description: Les Normaux follows the lives of a bunch of supernatural beings living in Paris after a human wizard named Sebastien moved to the city. 

My notes: Honestly, what’s better than queer characters, Paris, and modern mythical/supernatural creatures in a slice-of-life style comic? Not much. This is a really cool comic that changes which character they highlight in each episode. The character designs are unique; everyone has different problems, solutions, and happy moments, but they’re all connected in one way or another, which is super cool; and I really dig the art style (ok, I know I say this about everything, but I just really love art, ok? All of these people are wonderfully talented and hardworking).

5) George and Johnny by Savi (read here)

Description: Comics about two unlikely friends, George and Johnny. Stayed tuned for bad jokes, high school, sleepovers, bands, romance, burgers, and tiramisu. ((not necessarily in that order)) 

My notes: A comic that has a sweet, chubby, nerdy guy as one of the main characters? Sign me the fuck up. This is an extremely sweet and wholesome comic about two boys becoming close friends (and possibly something else? yet to see...). It’s very much a slice-of-life kind of comic, concentrating on characters and their relationships, and I honestly love it so much. The art style is also really pretty, especially the coloring, which is typically bright and kinda pastel, which I really dig. 

6) Sharp Zero by robotsharks (read here)

Description: Delivering takeout normally doesn't end with lethal exposure to superscience, but Elliot's habit of being at the wrong place at the wrong time lands him in a shitshow that ends up with being brought back from the dead with the help of Danny, the cute intern who he died hitting on. His new form of undead life gives him new powers and recognition from a high ranking superhero organization. While running with the heroes he used to worship, Elliot learns what it really means to be alive. 

My notes: Y’all. Do words even exist to describe my love for this comic? I don’t think they do. The art? Gorgeous. The writing? Interesting, well-paced, and hilarious. The characters? Unique, beautiful, and deliciously diverse. There’s superheroes. There’s the supernatural. There’s aliens. This comic has got it all and it’s amazing. I’ve never seen something so specifically my kind of thing, but this is hitting everything I love, plus its got gorgeous art. Need I really say more?

7) Long Exposure by mars (read here)

Description: Long Exposure is an ongoing webcomic about a nerd and a bully who are forced to work on a class project together. The story revolves around them developing super powers after an incident at a strange research center, and finding themselves followed by a mysterious car, overcoming personal challenges, and (most importantly) discovering how gay they are for each other. 

My notes: I was actually kinda unsure about this comic before I read it, since the whole enemies to lovers trope isn’t often my thing (only if it’s done really well). But after reading what’s been posted? I love it. These characters are imperfect people who the author treats as imperfect people, and they do it really well. Also, their art style is sooo cool and unique, I dig it a lot. Also, I’m really digging where the story is going and how they’re handling it, thus far, so I’m super excited to keep reading it.

8) Heavy Horns by Joane Kwan (read more)

Description: Guy meets guy, but it isn't love at first sight. Just how will Andreas ever get along with the enthusiastic Beau remains to be seen. An unromantic romance. Warning: Can be nsfw, also, these two swear a lot. 

My notes: Okay, so admittedly the first thing that caught my eye with this comic was that one of the main characters literally has horns. Like. Legit horns. Growing out of his head. It works for him, though. Anyways, this is a cool fic and I really like where it’s going, cause it’s really highlighting some of the struggles that queer people face, especially relationship wise. The art is also really gorgeous, with unique character designs that I dig a lot (no, it’s not just because of the guy with the bull horns... I actually like Beau’s characters design the most...).

9) Griefer Belt by Kales (read here)

Description: Griefer Belt is a slice of life series about queer criminals in the black market! Light-hearted dark humor ensues! Contains violence, gore, foul language and sexual references.

My notes: This is a fun one. All the characters have very... grey morality, considering they’re all in the business of black market organs selling (and no, I don’t mean the instrument). But! The characters are fun, the writing is funny, and the art is great. And, honestly, who doesn’t love a little dark humor every once in a while?

Special Mentions:

Memory Born by theroyalglasses (read here) -- there hasn’t been much written for this one yet, but the art is rad and I dig the concept.

Improvise by robotsharks (read here) -- very new, and very fun; same author as Sharp Zero, only this one is about lady assassins. Nice.

A Turn for Change by Kace (read here) -- not a lot has happened yet in this comic, but I dig the characters, and the art style is pretty rad.

Same Shit Different Day by Moosopp (read here) -- by the same author as Sunshine Boy, this is kinda just a mini comic about the artist’s life. I’m still in love with the art, and we also, apparently, have similar senses of humor, so I genuinely find this comic hilarious

And that’s it! I hope you can find something you love, too, out of this list. And if you end up getting into any of these, come chat with me! I’m always up for chatting about these comics! 

[violet--minds-blog]

Awesome Queer Media to Check Out!

Piper Gibson | March 20, 2017

Sorry for the absence (school is kicking my ass but what else is new) but I’m back with another list! This time, I’m cataloging some of my favorite pieces of media with LGBTQ+ characters and plotlines. Of course, nothing is perfect, and all these shows/books/movies/etc. have their problems, but I still think they’re pretty damn cool.

1. Check, Please!

What is it: A webcomic

Who makes it: Ngozi Ukazu 

Why you should read it: Queer boys who play hockey! Lots of pie! Discussions of mental illness and drug abuse! An ensemble cast! Comedy and drama in one! Slow-burn, healthy, communicative, gay relationship!! Confirmed happy gay ending!!! Most of my friends know that I love this comic with my whole heart, and it’s really easy to see why. There’s a character in it for everyone, and they’re all easy to relate to and care about. Personally, I relate so hard to Jack having anxiety and trying to navigate his life and career in the intersection of being mentally ill and queer. No spoilers, but this comic includes the best queer relationship I’ve ever seen portrayed. Don’t get discouraged by the hockey-- I knew nothing about the sport going in and it really doesn’t stop you from enjoying the comic at all! Currently in Bitty’s third year and gearing up for more spring updates, Check, Please is a master of storytelling and will make you laugh and cry. Read it here!

2. The Get Down

What is it: A Netflix Original series

Who makes it: dir. Baz Luhrmann

Why you should watch it: Almost the entire cast are people of color, it’s set in the 1970s and focuses on both the dying out of disco and the arising hip-hop scene, and the performances are incredible. You see this world through young Zeke’s eyes, a complex and talented kid looking to be a part of something bigger than himself and for a community to fall back on. No matter what’s going on, the story never lets you forget these characters are in the middle of the South Bronx in the seventies, fighting for a way out of poverty, strict religious family, or gangs, all while holding on to their passions. The music and the performances of these young actors are what sold me immediately. The queer relationship in it (I won’t spoil it) is lovely and gentle and blooms very naturally. The story, the characters, and the music are the focus, and if you’re like me, you’ll be hooked immediately. The second season just came out this month and it’s incredible but holy shit so intense. Catch it on Netflix!

3. Carry On

What is it: A young-adult novel

Who makes it: Rainbow Rowell

Why you should read it: Did you read Harry Potter and think: “Wow, Harry is super bi. Wow, he’s pretty obsessed with Draco. Wow they could be friends if Harry was sorted into Slytherin WOW THEY COULD EVEN BE MORE THAN THAT!” ...Okay, well this is the book for you. Set in a magic school more different from Hogwarts than you’d think, Simon and Baz are roommates that hate each other. But things are complicated when you’re the chosen one and you think your roommate might be a vampire and there’s an evil something out for you. It’s like Harry Potter except different and more queer people and people of color. Plus a happy ending that’s so, so much better than that “17 years later” shit. If you like gay magical boys and ass-kicking best friends and plot twists, you’ll definitely enjoy this.

4. Fourth Man Out

What is it: A 2016 movie

Who makes it: dir. Andrew Nackman

Why you should watch it: If you’ve been searching your whole fucking life for a queer rom-com like me, this’ll make you immensely happy. The story centers around Adam, who comes out to his mostly clueless friends in his twenties. They’re all a little uncomfortable and shitty at first, but they all grow and learn and by the end of the film have created the kind of caring and casual atmosphere any queer person hopes for when initially coming out to friends. The movie explores those awkward first steps after coming out, including online dating and homophobic neighbors, in a comedic yet respectful way. It’ll make you laugh and it’ll make you care a lot about Adam-- his puppy-dog face just makes you root for him from the beginning. Watch this if you hate that more comedies don’t center around queer themes, and then please recommend me more!!

5. About a Girl

What is it: A young-adult novel

Who makes it: Sarah McCarry

Why you should read it: Okay, maybe you should read the first two books in this series first, All Our Pretty Songs and Dirty Wings, but I read this one first and I think it can stand alone pretty well. There is an abundance of queer people of color in this, a beautiful, mythological storyline, a girl/girl romance, and a main character you’ll fall in love with. This book is so gorgeous to read and so rewarding, and I couldn’t put it down. In fact, I’m due for a reread... good thing I just impulsively bought all three of these so now I OWN THEM. Please, please give at least About a Girl a read, though-- the lyrical, soft nature of it was so incredibly healing and I can’t tell you how much I loved it.

5. Moonlight

What is it: A 2016 film

Who makes it: dir. Barry Jenkins

Why you should watch it: First of all, if you haven’t been following the mess that happened at the Oscars with La La Land being announced incorrectly and this film winning Best Picture, where have you been? I saw this rather recently, I’ll admit, but it blew my socks off. This film is so completely centered on the experience of black queer men, and allows them to be so honest and tender, so complex and multi-faceted, in a way we haven’t much seen in mainstream media so far. We know why this is-- mainstream media is overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly straight, and wants to put down and silence differing experiences as much as possible, making Hollywood a boring and homogeneous space. But Moonlight has broken through and shown that when these stories are told, and they are listened to, something incredible can happen. 

6. Ask the Passengers

What is it: A young-adult novel

Who makes it: A.S. King

Why you should read it: Holy shit, y’all, I loved this book so fucking much. I reread it a little while ago and it still punches me in the gut just as hard. The book centers around Astrid, a teenager navigating her sexuality, her family, and suffocating small-town life. She’s a philosopher at heart, so nothing comes easy, especially not love-- it’s not as clear-cut as her other queer friends may think. This is a really honest portrayal of figuring out sexuality and Astrid is such a lovable narrator that you just want to bundle her up and let no one else hurt her. The book hit close to home as a queer girl who spent a lot of time figuring out my identity and what it meant to me personally. If you have a similar story, prepare to get emotional.

7. One Day at a Time

What is it: A Netflix original series based off Norman Lear's 1975 series of the same name

Who makes it: Too many directors & executive producers to name! But if you’re a Norman Lear fan, he stayed on to be an executive producer for the remake.

Why you should watch it: The show centers around a Cuban-American family living in California and tackles topics like immigration, religion, sexuality, PTSD, divorce/separation, and more. Elena’s coming out storyline is beautifully and respectfully done and I really appreciate how realistic it is. This show will make you laugh and make you cry, but mostly, you’ll just fall completely in love with the Alvarez family and their story. And they’ve just been confirmed for a second season!! (GET ELENA A GIRLFRIEND!!)

8. The Real O’Neals

What is it: An ABC comedy series

Who makes it: Executive producer Dan Savage

Why you should watch it: Okay, I’ll admit, I have more problems with this show than the others-- namely its consistent biphobia and very few characters of color-- but besides the problems, it’s still hilarious and honest. In the very first episode, Kenny comes out to his conservative, Irish Catholic family in an... explosive way, and what follows is them all trying to figure out how to navigate his identity while still being religious. It’s important to see representation of queer people who keep their faith after coming out; it reminds us that religion and queerness aren’t mutually exclusive. Plus, I love Kenny’s relationship with his siblings, and the fact that his younger sister Shannon is the smartest and most put-together of them all. The show just finished its second season, and as of yet there has been no announcement of a renewal for a third season.

9. The Raven Cycle

What is it: A young-adult novel series

Who makes it: Maggie Stiefvater

Why you should read it: Holy wow, this book series is fantastic. I had no idea what it was about when I read it (because I read it for the gays...), but the story is complex and fascinating. Blue is our narrator most of the time, the daughter of a psychic who has no psychic abilities herself and who lives in a house with a bunch of other awesome psychic ladies. Her life has always been surrounded by magic, but it gets even more magical when she meets Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah, four boys who go to the near Aglionby Academy and are dubbed “Raven Boys” because of the raven on their uniforms. I’m pretty sure shit starts to get Really Actually Gay in the last book, but the entire series is fantastic and well worth a read. If you like ghost boys, dead kings, magical dreamers, and weird curses, this series is for you. It’s recently been announced that there will be a TV show based on the books, and there will also be another book series just about Ronan, so I’m super pumped for those cool things... Unless they ruin the TV show, in which case I will be incredibly disappointed. (In the meantime, though, you can read the first chapter of the first book, The Raven Boys, here!)

10. Yuri On Ice

What is it: An Japanese sports anime series

Who makes it: Creator Mitsurō Kubo, dir. Sayo Yamamoto

Why you should watch it: LISTEN, I’ve never finished an anime before this, because I’m not really that into anime. But this series is about figure skating, has twelve episodes, and is hella gay, so it’s not hard to binge it. (For the love of God, please watch the subbed version if you can, the dub voices give me nightmares.) The story is beautifully done, Viktor and Yuuri’s relationship is stable, loving, and realistic, and the portrayal of Yuuri’s anxiety is so important and made me cry in spots. Plus, it’s really funny and the competition scenes are thrilling as all hell. You can watch the series in literally a day, so what are you waiting for?? Binge it and then listen to the soundtrack on Spotify on repeat while crying, like I did.

11. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

What is it: A Fox-produced police sitcom

Who makes it: A million directors and producers, it’s a comedy sitcom

Why you should watch it: A diverse ensemble cast, comedy that isn’t at the expense of any marginalized group, complex characters, a stable gay relationship, Andy Samberg??? I love this show so much, y’all. To be fair, the main relationship is between a man and a woman, but the captain of the 99th precinct is an openly gay black man who’s in an amazing, loving relationship with his husband. And the relationship between Jake, the main character, and Amy (Spoiler! But you’ll see it coming from a million miles away, promise.) is one of the most delicious slow-burn plotlines I’ve ever seen. And as far as I know, the writers have no intention to break them up for “conflict” (cough cough New Girl cough). In an episode from the current season, a character called something transphobic, which was the first time I’ve ever heard that word on television, and I had to pause and look at my girlfriend in wonder, like “Did he just really say that? Oh my God??” Anyway. Please watch this show. It’s currently in its fourth season, just recently back from its haitus, so go binge it now!

There’s so many more to add to this list (Legend of Korra! Rock and Riot!! Etc etc etc!), but since you now have 11 new (or not-so-new) pieces of queer media to consume, I’ll leave you with that. Till next time!