#the LGBT list got so much attention

[garciaasfluffypen]

prompt list #12

numbers 1 and 2

with Jennifer Jareau 😫

i love you, but shut the fuck up

wc: 696 pairing: jj x gn!reader warnings: secret relationship! jjxreader, mentions of a homophobic unsub (nothing happens i promise), men are creepy assholes, 

“jesus fuck, jennifer!” 

your head rolled back as your “wife” started to massage your shoulders, the tension you felt from the past few weeks immediately leaving your body. 

the two of you had gone undercover to try and catch an unsub who was targeting lgbt couples vacationing at the hotel you two were currently sitting at. the pool, you figured, would be the best place to do some recon and to get yourselves out in the open and visible to said unsub. 

“you’re being quite loud, sweetheart. people are staring.”

“i’m aware, jj, that’s the point.” you turned to look back to her. “how else are we going to get their attention if we’re not being obvious? we probably look like two best friends. we have to act more like a couple.”

“darling...”

“and i mean yeah, we don’t want the team to know but we’re not mic’d up and anything so we can be open as we want.”

“baby.”

you leaned back into her touch. “and i’m just saying, you could totally kiss me right now and nobody would be none the--”

“y/n. ten o’clock.” 

your eyes automatically scanned the pool deck as jj went back to massaging your shoulders, noticing a weird looking man staring you two down. that must be him. the discomfort you had felt slowly creeped its way back into your shoulders as you leaned back into jj’s touch, trying to reach slyly for her knee to give your secret code- three taps to the knee to get the fuck out of there. 

as if on cue, you realized the man was walking by you and you tensed up, aggressively tapping jj’s knee. but like you, she was frozen to the deck chair, watching him come closer and closer. as he walked by you two, he made eye contact with you specifically, licking his lips.

“oh no, please, by all means…. continue, don’t let me stop you.”

as he walked away, you cowered back into your girlfriend, trying not to let your emotions get the best of you. her arms wrapped around you and pulled you close, whispering sweet nothings into your ear as you did your best to calm down. by the time you had gotten your breathing slowed down, jj had already one-handedly packed your guys’ bag and got you out of the chair and had started to drag you closer to the building. your mind was racing a mile a minute as you made your way to the team’s room they had rented out, jj doing the special knock for derek to let you two in. 

you let jj do all the talking as you sat in the corner playing with your necklace- the one that jj had gifted you for christmas the previous year- waiting for her to come back over to you so you could go back to the room you two were staying in and waiting for him to come. all you wanted to do was just go back and watch a fluffy and fun movie, maybe order some room service and just forget everything had happened. 

garcia had come to sit next to you after they had gotten a good view of the unsub in the security feed, talking your ear off to try and distract you. you really appreciated it, you did, but you didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. you had just gotten eye-fucked by a creepy sixty plus year old man, and you did Not want to be hearing about the new disney movie coming out. 

“garcia, i love you, i love you so much, but i swear to god, i’ll beat you to death with my high heels, if you don’t shut the fuck up.”

jj locked eyes with you and looked back to derek, silently signaling that you two were going to go back to your room. fucking finally. she grabbed your hand and pulled you up from where you were sitting, slipping one of her oversized shirts over you before you two stepped out into the hallway, ready to make your way back to your room.

“you good?”

“no,” you started. “but i will be.”

[tommysparker]

one person asked me to share my thoughts on the Red White & Royal Blue movie and that’s all i need so here you go! spoilers below

Okay so let’s start with the things I did like:

Taylor and Nick had AMAZING chemistry. They did a fantastic job with what they were given and I can genuinely envision them as the book characters. All the cast did a great job.

The scene with Alex and Ellen was so heart touching. As a queer person who’s come out to their parent and not been accepted, I almost started bawling when I saw Ellen holding Alex on the couch and telling him how much she loves and accepts him. It was a beautiful thing to see and I’m so happy we have more of that kind of representation in media; a safe space to come out and be yourself. Also Ellen’s knowledge of all the different labels in the community and her saying “The B in LGBT isn’t silent” is super empowering.

On that note, Alex’s speech at the end about privacy and how it’s your choice to come out (if you want to come out). Again, a very important message for people to hear and understand. Seeing the effects of being outed hopefully will open people’s eyes and we’ll see less pressure for people to come out or label themselves. And also hopefully people will stop butting into celebs lives in general.

To end the short list of things I liked: the bit with the phone calls was done in a clever way. I thought it was pretty cool, although it felt too much like walmart Heartstopper.

Now, on to everything I didn’t like about this movie

The writing was SO. FREAKING. LAZY. 90% of the movie is exposition. All tell no show. They pretty much only payed attention to the sex scenes and even those weren’t very interesting.

THEY CUT SO MANY THINGS. When I heard they cut June and Rafael, I was disappointed but figured it was to save time and they’d combine their stories with Nora/Liam respectively (which is what I heard). To my absolute disappointment, neither was done and on top of that they introduced this new character named Miguel who is nothing more than a jealous ex hookup. Not only that, they erased Alex’s parent’s divorce and Henry’s mother, two very important parts of their character backstories.

Continuing on about things that were cut, pretty much any actual bonding time we see with Henry and Alex in the book was reduced to short one-minute scenes and cheap montages. Instead they were replaced with beats that were 15-seconds too long that were meant to say something but simply didn’t translate properly.

Also, they completely cut out Alex’s whole awakening and immediately jumped to him coming out to Henry when they meet up after their first kiss. I get it made for a cute little haha funny banter moment but COME ON. Part of Alex’s character arc is him coming to terms with who he is after denying it for so long, and seeing that process is so important to show for people who are doing the same.

The movie felt so fast paced. Every ten minutes a new important story beat happened without giving the audience any real time to process whatever happened before that. By the time they were in Paris I had no interest in them “making love” for the first time.

I’m gonna make an example of this before it stands out as the most annoying thing to me still. The museum scene is a masterpiece in the books but on the big screen it’s so…bad. Half of the scene was done in voiceover for no reason (once again going back to exposition) and the other half was so boring I could barely pay attention. And the “history, huh?” moment being a spoken thing between them, as opposed to through email like in the book’s completely erases the basis all of their supporters held onto in the books. All the signs, the t-shirts, the graffiti, the way they did it in the movie makes it so none of that could exist.

I really wish we saw Alex’s side of things when they got exposed, especially the way it effected his mother’s campaign. I wanted to see him he told he’s off the campaign and how badly it hurt him. Instead we got one scene of exposition and a single shot of him gushing abt Henry and saying he misses him.

From a cinematography perspective, there was some very pretty shots that were obviously made to turn into promo posters.

That’s pretty much all I got for now off the top of my head. I’ve been trying to cleanse my brain of the film for the past 4 hours lmao

If you have your own opinions, please share respectfully!! I want to hear what you liked or disliked about this.

[annieskawaiiworld]

Hi! I'm Joana, aka Mysty, aka a few other names depending on where you know me online! I'm a 32-year-old woman with ADHD and chronic pain, among other things, and I need help.

For almost six years I've worked at the same fast food restaurant, and even during lockdown, I got mostly full-time hours and was able to sustain myself on this job as the minimum wage in my state is higher than average and I have a sister who I live with and split bills with.

Well, back in September, I had a meltdown due to stress. Since then, I've been fighting with the store to actually cut down my hours a little so I could avoid both the extremely stressful dinner shift and being there when my ADHD medication wears off. At first I thought the store manager understood because I got the slightly shorter shifts I had requested. And then they went right back to scheduling me how they were. When I tried to talk about it, the store manager gaslit me, trying to tell me I had never said I wanted the reduced hours as my permanent schedule, even though I had a note on my phone I had written so I would be prepared with what to say when I spoke with her, timestamped for that September.

And now, because I spoke up, they've pretty much slashed both mine and my sister's hours to practically nothing. In this month of January, I've averaged between seven and thirteen hours, and my sister's been about the same. We have bills to pay! We have rent, phone, internet, groceries, everything that an adult is expected to have.

So here's where you can help me. I have a few things to present to you guys.

The first, of course, is if you'd like to make a direct donation to me, you can do so here. I have a Paypal debit card, so any funds put in there I can use right away, meaning I'd be able to pay for groceries and such directly from it without waiting to transfer to my bank account or pay the fee for instant transfer.

The next: I'm a writer! I've been making some money here and there from it. If you'd like to support me and buy my stuff, here's a list.

I'm The Reincarnation of a Water Spirit

I'm The Protagonist of an Otome Dating Sim And I Don't Like Any of My Love Interests!

I Just Want To Play The Game Without Getting Crushed By Giant Tomatoes

These three are serial stories on Kindle Vella! I update them frequently, and on top of royalties from episodes read, the more engagement (likes, faves, reads) I get, the higher my bonus from them is every month. They're stories modeled after anime and light novels, so if that's your thing, great!

Attention to Detail

This is also a Vella serial, under my pen name. This one is more American YA-style (the protagonist has ADHD and is in a relationship with another guy! Neurodivergent and LGBT rep yay!).

SK Online, Volume 1

This one is a novella, another anime-inspired story about an MMORPG. If you like .hack, you'll probably like this.

Sweet Saviors, volume 1, volume 2, volume 3

Sweet Saviors is a novella series about manga artists, starring the cutest manga-ka you'll ever meet.

The links for the novellas lead to the e-book versions, but you can click into the paperback versions if you like!

And finally, I have a merch shop! I like to draw cute things. If you like wearing t-shirts and such with cute animals and anthropomorphized food, I bet you'll love it!

You can find the Annie's Kawaii World shop here at Threadless.

If you're still reading this, I love you forever. Even if you can't donate or buy anything to help out, reblogs to spread this around to those who might be able to are deeply appreciated. Thanks, guys. You're the best.

[thedawningofthehour]

Oh my god, Mikeyyyy my little orange boy. You deserve better.

As soon as Leo heard that there is a possibility that Donnie might not get his memories back he became the representation of almost every reader; I hear you Leo, but please listen to Mikey! I just hope, HOPE, that nothing the fam does ruins Mikey's progress.

Who knew Donnie's autistic teenage brain would be the key to Draxum's downfall. Although does that mean the idea of Donnie getting his memories back through a super emotional rock ballad is out of the question?

Xever, please stop being transphobic.

Poor Tigerclaw, hopefully his affection will carry over when Donnie gets his memories back. I wonder, what did he do in this continuity to make Alopex hate him? In the show, Alopex blames Tigerclaw because he always made the decisions saying he knew what was best for both of them, besides killing their parents. If Alopex ever appears in the fic I can easily see her helping the fam, and hating Draxum because of his arguments that he knows best.

You mean like with Pearl in the SU movie? I mean, that's not how it's gonna go, but that song is iconic.

I kind of saw it as more misogynistic than anything. Would Xever be transphobic? 'Googles some stuff about gay rights in Brazil' Oh, they're actually at the top of the list when it comes to LGBT rights. Good for them!

But, and I'm just reading from the Wikipedia page, it seems like this extends more just to the LGB part, and a lot of transgender people end up in the sex industry because they can't get work elsewhere. Attitudes have been changing in the last few years, but it's 2020 in the story and Xever has been living in the U.S. for a few years, so he wouldn't have been around for that. The murder rate for LGBT individuals is very high in Brazil-but the murder rate in Brazil is high in general right now, so that's probably more of a reflection of the political unrest going on right now than attitudes towards gay people.

Now I'm really thinking about Xever's backstory and how it would have influenced his perceptions. He grew up poor, mostly out on the streets getting involved in crime and gang activity from a young age, and while he's definitely smart he's very undereducated. How progressive are Brazilian gangs? Would he feel some sort of kinship and mutual respect for trans people selling themselves on the street, because he's also doing what he needs to do to survive? Or would he look down on them because "at least I didn't stoop to that."

And he has lived in the U.S. for a bit-but again, he's mostly hung around gangs. And I am so totally here for women's wrongs and queer mob bosses, but gangs in the U.S. are generally pretty misogynistic and homophobic. Not that people can't break out of the mindsets they've been immersed in most of their lives, but like-people need resources to do that. Xever has like a sixth grade education that was probably not very good to begin with (impoverished school with low budget, crowded unruly classes, poor attendance and didn't pay much attention when he did go because he was a hungry kid who had bigger priorities) and he's lived life in survival mode for a long, long time. He probably doesn't think about that kind of stuff and doesn't really have the tools to refute what he's been indoctrinated with. This is why cutting education is fascism 101, by the way-it makes it way easier to indoctrinate people with bullshit.

(fuck, this got off the rails)

I still haven't made a concrete decision on Alopex. I'm pretty sure she's going to appear, but I haven't nailed down a definite backstory for them yet and I haven't decided if they'll reconcile. He didn't kill their parents here though-he never returned home after they were kidnapped. He didn't know if his family was still alive or if they would accept him, and he decided that he would rather just never know.

[this-is-krikkit]

Top 5 queer characters

ooooh good one, thank you !!

5. Frankie Bergstein. The most gentle soul out there, hilarious whether she wants to be or not, an incredibly loving and warm character who ends up falling in love with a woman who's shown her nothing but disdain most of their lives before they end up in the same shitty situation. What i especially love about her is that in my headcanon where that show didn't queerbait us to death, she's the bold and crazy one who doesn't care about other people's opinion, she's the one you'd expect to be brave and loud and clear about how she's in love with her best friend and it's not just platonic. But i actually love the idea that she might be the one struggling most with that realization and how to act on it, because she used to be so open and loving of everything and everyone (and still seems that way) for the seven decades before the show starts ; and she got her heart broken so badly from the twenty year old affair, that although she did get attached to Grace quickly enough and jokes about being more than friends all the time, she's deadly afraid of those feelings and what may come of them. I absolutely love this strong and funny and silly woman on the outside, who hides a much more vulnerable and frightened woman on the inside, who deserves all the lifetime of love and affection Grace has never allowed herself to feel or show anyone.. until now, post-canon !!

4. Crawley, my actual demon child, who is way too good for this world, and the other two he's visited. (And i've been torturing myself for a solid half hour trying to pick between him and his equally amazing boyfriend Aziraphale, and ended up flipping a coin for it. I'm sorry Aziraphale. I love you so much.) Anyways, back to Crawley and his ridiculous crush on an angel that makes him do crazy things such as going to actual heaven to save said angel's ass, and who embodies Iris by the Goo goo Dolls so perfectly it's a lil suspicious and he probably had smth to do with that song coming to life while he was under cover on Earth. I love a tv show that brings a book to my attention, i loved both of those media and i cannot wait for season 2.

(do i need to explain that gif choice ? no i don't. bye.)

3. Charity Dingle, chaotic bisexual icon if i ever saw one !! haven't had a chance to catch up with the soap since the Vanity shit hit the fan, but i'll get back to her one day because i miss the truly Slytherin Queen that she is (sorry for the HP mention but it belongs to us now, fuck JKR and terfs in general). Pretty sure she's the most flawed character in this list, but i apparently LOVE a queer anti hero ? She's a lot of things and not all of them good ; she's a cheat, a liar, a bad mom most of the time, selfish and venale and has trust issues towards everyone and herself the size of a mountain. She's also a survivor of terrible abuse, a fighter, a love-starved but deeply insecure person who won't let that be seen easily. She's the only such representation i've ever seen of a wlw woman esp in a popular soap, and her simply existing gives me so much hope that society might just be evolving in the right direction ? Idk man, on the good days where i still have faith for lgbt future, she sorta gives me hope for our queer lives to become part of the norm and not just sensational and weird.

2. Regina Mills from OUAT. What a great show with a great lesbian power couple and awesome message about queer families, or so i'm yelling somewhere in that parallel universe where the two cowards who wrote it grew courage instead of magic beans and made Swan Queen canon. I grew to love this character, it wasn't love at first sight (although def lust at first sight, shout out to them Evil Queen gowns) and now i'm trying to write self indulgent fics from her pov and day dreaming about all the things she deserved that she never got. Best redemption arc (apart from my #1 down there maybe) i've ever seen, a full badass bitch energy. Sidenote, Lana Parrilla being the biggest and loudest Swan Queen supporter in the cast felt suspicious to me in the beginning (idk, i don't get me either), but i'm finally at a point where i can fully appreciate how awesome that was of her.

(Yes that gif was queerbait. Yes i still get excited seeing it.)

1. Obv my number 1 queer bitch forever is ROOT from Person of Interest, it's been 6 years and i'm still in denial of the byg trope they pushed down my throat a meer day after she finally got her tiny sociopathic soulmate back. She was a lot of things that i can't detail or i would die from dehydration bc the tears would consume my entire stock of water, but she also happened to appear in a TV show i actually loved. I mean i did start watching strictly for the gayness i vaguely knew was ahead, let's be real, but POI is a show i really came to love so much even when she wasn't a main character. It touched me deeply, and i still rewatch it and get blown away by the genius of so many of its episodes, from the mind blowing plot twists to the soundtrack. I had so many kids on that show and loved them all so much, just thinking about it hurts... We were robbed of a Shoot reboot, and i'll leave it at that.

(look at her being so passionate and right and fierce and hot. loooooook. i would have followed her into battle from day one of her psych ward escape 😢 )

[heretherebedork]

who are some older queer/lgbtq+ characters from lgbt/bl/gl series?

There are not that many. @bengiyo might really have a better memory for this than me, honestly, especially since I know there are some in shows I haven't really watched yet.

But the best example I can think of are the uncles from My Ride. They're amazing. Cheep and Dej are a great couple, talk about realizing their own sexualities and how their relationship grew and they're very, very supportive of Mork.

We've got Uncle Man in 21 Days Theory who's providing a great and darling role model for his nephew but also for X as he flirts with him and for his sister to help her understand and respect her son's sexuality.

There is a lesbian teacher for La Cuisine who was underutilized but very enjoyable when she was on-screen? Didn't do much guidance, though.

What Did You Eat Yesterday? is one I need to watch (I literally have it downloaded, I just... cannot find the attention span for a real binge) that's about two older queer men who, definitely on this list

This also depends on how we define older? There are a number of Taiwanese BLs that take on characters that are late 20s/early 30s that feel older comparatively to the typical university and high school students but aren't actually... old.

Like, I could include Manner of Death on this list because they're actually grown ups and everything, which is nice! Ocean Likes Me is also definitely two adults, same with To My Star. But, like, how are we defining older versus elder?

Sorry, I am listing shows and not so always just characters because this is harder once we get to the shows with adults.

Ossan's Love does have KK who is definitely older and queer but the show is not worth watching and especially not for that.

Pornographer also definitely has this but... yeah, I like this one but it's not exactly BL. Kijima is a full on queer adult but also a horrible influence.

The Player isn't exactly a BL or even a queer show but did have a bi father of an adult child and his boyfriend for a while in the show. I loved them and I was sad that the show didn't do a great job giving them a happy ending, tbh.

That's about all I've got? But it's a weird list and I probably missed something.

Oh! I almost forgot Cutie Pie and the gay grandpa and his partner blessing the gay arranged marriage for his son!

[lavendershowcase]

Lavender Book Club Update

Hello friends,

Running polls for this book club can be a little bit much. The past couple of months, I haven't chosen themes. It's difficult to figure out genres/tropes/identities for every single book on the list, and even when I do get them, there can be a dozen of books for one theme or one book that fits a dozen themes.

It's time-consuming and some months when I'm super busy with my personal life, I forget to put them up all together! And everyone who participates in these discussions deserves to have a more consistent schedule so you can place library holds have time to read the books.

Also, I thought that with the addition of Tumblr polls, it would get some attention to the club itself. The poll featuring Gideon the Ninth got over 100 results. But no new people--or at least very few--actually "joined" the club or expressed interest a month later. When 100 people outside the club vote without joining the discussion, it just feels like it's skewing the results and the pick for the month isn't in the best interest for the club members.

I think July will be the last month for polls--at least for now. I'm going to use a random number generator to start selecting the books. I'll intervene only if the books is very new (and therefore has a long holds list at libraries), if it's out-of-print, or some other circumstances that make it difficult to access.

I'm really sorry if this is disappointing, but it will make the maintenance of the club much easier right now!

The titles will still be coming from the recommendations that have been submitted! So everyone still definitely has a say in what we're reading every month!

Thank you for being part of this club < 3 I really love seeing all of the discussions and passion for LGBT books.

[the-real-milo]

Truce

Summary: Malfoy isn’t really okay with being cast as the villain, but maybe Harry isn’t a hero anyways.

A/N: Characters are 18+ , story is unrelated to plot (no present-day Voldy) and does not connect to the timeline in the books, pre-established that draco and harry are LGBT+ because none of us have time for that realization story arc. Ok, enjoy!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43374268/chapters/109032940

 Words: 1.5k

“I have spent the past 45 minutes explaining to you all how to use the Vanishing Spell. Now, prove to me you have been listening. Partners are listed,” a flick of the wand, and a piece of paper zinged into existence onto the classroom door, “where they always are.” 

Professor McGonagall is trying a new thing, where we switch partners every week. It hasn’t been the smoothest transition - while the Gryffindors might laugh at Seamus for burning his (and a bit of his partner’s) eyebrows off, Blaise Zabini was a bit more vain than we had realized, and partners had to be switched early or Seamus would’ve been sporting a violet eye under his bare brow. 

Last week, though, when Neville and Hermione were partnered together, there was a really touching moment when Neville finally got the specific wand flick right and hugged Hermoine, who looked surprised but warmly hugged him back. So, it hasn’t been all bad.

Making my way to the door, I have high hopes for this class, before Malfoy calls from the door, “Oy, Potter, looks like you’re with me this week!” With the cheekiest grin imaginable on his face. Pansy and Blaise are trying, and failing, not to laugh, but Ron next to me is turning a solid shade of red. 

“You can always ask to switch if he bothers you too much,” Hermione whispers, but I just shrug. 

“I’ve dealt with him for this long, one week as partners won’t kill me. Thanks, though, ‘Mione.” Ron doesn’t look like he can speak quite yet, but his eyes bug out a bit in a way I recognize as, “It’s bloody Malfoy! Shit, if he even looks at you the wrong way I’m going to shove my wand up his ass and summon a flame.” I pat him once on the back before making my way to the Slytherin side, where Malfoy has decidedly planted himself. Malfoy looks relaxed, and the smile he still has on puts a sparkle in his eyes that has me looking for a second too long.

Before he can get one annoying word in, I stick my hand out and propose,”Truce. One week. You game?” His eyes flare and remind me suspiciously of the mischief I always see gleaming in Fred and George’s. “I can behave myself, Potter; Can you?” I roll my eyes, but shake his hand all the same. He has a loose grip, like most rich boys do, but his quidditch calluses are outliers on his insanely smooth hands that I can’t shake the feel of, even after our brief handshake ends. 

McGonagall gives each team a mouse, and ours is a fuzzy little gray thing, which is just about the cutest animal I have ever seen. Malfoy, of course, immediately starts being a jerk, and corners the mouse in between his textbooks, so much so that he looks uncomfortably squished.

“Lay off the mouse, will you, Malfoy?” I sigh. Hermione’s usually the activist of the friend group, but I’m not going to let Malfoy just abuse an animal right in front of me. 

He gives me a side glance, and ah, there it is, his famous sneer. I swear it actually makes his jaw look more angular, and he only does it to make me jealousy aware of that fact.

“How are we supposed to Vanish him if we won’t stay still?”

“Yeah, but you don’t need to be cruel to him.”

“Cruel?” Malfoy scoffs, “We are Vanishing him. That in itself isn’t a showcase of your brilliant, Gryffindor morality, is it, Potter?”

My cheeks are turning red without my permission, and for some reason I can’t meet his eyes. “Well, yeah, but I dunno, we can always accio him back, or something.” 

“You weren’t even paying attention.” Malfoy’s voice is loudening, and other people have turned to stare. “You’re about to throw a living creature into non-existence, and you can’t even give a damn enough to care?” I want to shout at Malfoy, the way he’s shouting at me, but I can’t defend myself. For once, Malfoy is right. He looks disgusted with my lack of an answer, and thusly, with me. The whole room has gone quiet.

He looks up, suddenly aware of the rest of the class, and casts a perfect, “Evanesco!” on the mouse before storming out of the room.

Without thinking I follow him out, ignoring McGonagall and Hermione’s joint “Wait!” He hasn’t gotten far, and is just standing against the wall a couple of steps from the door. His breaths are coming hard, and freckled cheeks are showing a pink color that has me wanting to hold his face in my hands. Malfoy looks up at me with a numbness in his eyes that’s quite disconcerting. All of the sudden, I feel a need to babble incessantly. 

“You’re right, about the mouse. I know you are. I’m sorry I didn’t -” 

Malfoy cuts me off quietly, “I’m not a bad person.” 

“I know.” I say automatically. And, at that moment, I knew it was true. Malfoy may annoy me to all hell, but he hasn’t really done anything more than feed the pre-existing Gryffindor-Slytherin feud.

“But you don’t know. No one does. Everyone hates the Slytherins for being evil, and you do too! You just asked to call a truce between us, even when I’ve done nothing! You don’t need a truce from nothing, Potter. I’m not the evil one between us, by fucking Salazar!” By the end he’s sniffling hard and barely making sense. 

“I don’t think you’re evil,” I start, and he glares at me with eyes that say he’ll not take any bullshit in the name of pity.

“It’s true! I think you’re a bit of a wad, and somethings you exasperate me to bloody hell, but I’ve never thought of you as evil, and - wait are you calling me the evil one?”     Malfoy stops looking sad and starts looking appalled. “Well, yeah! You were kind of a jerk to me when we first met.” 

“What? I don’t remem-”

“I can find my own sort, thanks,” he mimics, nasally.

“You had just called Ron the wrong sort!” 

“Oh, so you do remember! I was nervous, still taking my father’s advice for making minions as that for making friends. And please, this isn’t about your boyfriend.” 

“You were still,” I paused from the thought to address his last statement, “My boyfriend?”

Malfoy wasn’t on the verge of tears any more, though that inviting pinkness remained in his cheeks. Now, if I was reading him correctly, he looked angry

“Weaselby. You know, short redhead who looks like a psychopath when you hang around anyone else?” he sputters out.

“He’s just a protective friend! And, come on, you know he’s super into Hermione, right? Oh man, don’t tell him I told you that.” 

Malfoy had the gall to look surprised, and then went back to furrowing his brows. “Whatever.”

“Come on, Malfoy, can’t we both agree that eleven year old boys are jerks and move past this? Why do you care about what people think of you, anyways?”

    The pinkness in his cheeks darkens to a not-quite red, and I almost miss his response for debating about the hue in my head.

    “Not people.”

Not people, how coherent. There’s one confusing second, before it clicks. 

    “Please, Malfoy. I’ve seen you turned into a ferret. I don’t think there’s anything you could do to make me think of you as pure evil after that.” I give a small chuckle at that memory, and Malfoy rolls his eyes so hard I’m a tad worried for his vision.

    There’s a minute of silence, all of which I anticipate him going right back to reaming me out, when he chokes out a, “Truce?”

    I laugh fully this time, and grab his hand to pull him into one of those bro handshake-hugs. Though, I don’t think Malfoy’s ever done one of those before, and he pulls me to him with more force than necessary. He smells fantastic, like crisp green apples and expensive broom oil. We’re still tangled together when class ends and jolt away too quickly, our clasped hands the last to unfurl. Again, I do everything I can to look directly into Malfoy’s time.

    Ron and Hermione wait on the other side of the wall, thankfully with my scrolls and quills, and I make to join them before Professor McGonagall stops both Malfoy and I from scuttling away. We both glance to her, then to each other, and say doggedly in unison,”Detention.”

    “9pm, tomorrow night. Don’t be late.” Her robes swirl around her as she marches back into her classroom, and hit Malfoy and us in the face. 

    Malfoy and I look back at each other, and he winks at me before saying, “It’s a date. See you then, Potter.” Without looking back, he walks hands-in-pocket in the direction of the Slytherin dorms.

    I go to join Ron and Hermione, the former who pelts me with questions about what I did with Malfoy. I have a feeling Malfoy wouldn’t appreciate me telling my friends about his minor mental breakdown, so I just shrug and say, “I think we’re friends now.”

For whatever reason, I don’t stop grinning the entire way back to the dorms. 

 A/N: Chapter 1/?? The goal is enemies to lovers <3 Lemme know if a continutation is wanted! Taglist: @mawofmeraxes​

[wytfut]

I’m related to a superhero

Within the past 2 weeks, my Aunt Ruth died at an age, I can’t even imagine reaching of 92.

As this title so states, she is a super hero. A super hero for the underprivileged, down trodden, and unjustly served.  Relentless, fierce courage, yet daily life of a small statured quiet lady. A super hero by definition.

She is the last of the “old Guard” on both sides of my family. And to be honest I’m a bit uncomfortable at this passing of the keys. This makes me, my Sister, and cousins the new current “old Guard”. We as the new guardians, have a huge task ahead to be able to stand within her shadow. Pretty sure I don’t deserve this honor. Pretty sure at my age, this task is HUGE... a lot of catching up to do, in short time.

The above Tshirt photo, she and a buddy wore at some event.... I’d suspect a gathering of protest of some sort. Pitch forks and torches I’m sure. ... 

I cannot do her the true justice she deserves as I don’t have her history in front of me.... but please allow me to give you what I remember.

Her son Doug was involved in a  terrible accident due to a drunk driver. So she chaired Omaha Madd.

Her Daughter Jo,  a lesbian, she fought the good fight with parents of LGBT Omaha.

Personally took on the Nebraska Liquor Association. No she wasn’t an member of the temperance community. She was known to have a sip of wine.

At her passing a book was found in her apartment.... “the NRA unofficial history.” We suspect that this was going to be her next target. 

Married Lowen and her moved to Republican Central headquarters Nebraska, as a Staunch Democrat way back in 1956.

With Lowens duty to the Methodist church they lived in many communities of Nebraska over the years.

Moved to North Omaha ON PURPOSE in the 90s. Yes she and Lowen did. 

on and on and on.... Like I said I just can’t list it all. The long table set up at her memorial, was covered with civic awards from every entity you could imagine with a smattering of private awards.

Lets try this:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/omaha/name/ruth-kruse-obituary?id=38419968

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-kruse-25294348

https://en.everybodywiki.com/Ruth_A._Kruse

Sorry its still not even close to all of it....

She was the best listener I ever have known. She wanted to know everything about you. With that, it was hard for a person to get her story out of her. She didn’t offer much of her story often, and when she did, you paid attention, guaranteed to be interesting. Truly I talk too much and don’t listen enough.

Because of her listening skills, she used this to her advantage. She could let a person go on and on.... and if you were the next Opponent, .... you just set yourself up with this mild/meek looking lady and the next encounter.

Ruth was winding down finally this fall,.... heart slowly failing her. She knew it, everyone did. Good days and bad. I went to visit/sit with her a couple of times (3 times?). 

Dragging around about 30′ of O2 hose, I got lucky to see her at her best in her final days.  That damn hose (constantly scared me, as I thought she trip up over it)....   “its saving my life, but it won’t let me go...”... Classic Aunt Ruth

This was a jumbled time.... and I really can’t remember exacts. I know Jo her daughter and I was there one time, and we all shared some food.

First time I brought food, and she was tickled I had came to see her and ate well.  As usual, she’d just let me gab on and on.... and she’d share little bits of her life. Got mad at me for trying to do the dishes. “I’ll get them....”   You could tell, she wanted to make efforts of being a good host, not realizing that I was there for her.  I told her,...”You’ve worked very hard your whole life.... its ok if you take a break for a while....I’d like to help out...”

Second time, she didn’t know I was coming....  and she was making lunch. Good Lord Ruth, how do you do all of this. 

A week before she past, she had someone take her to the Church Library to sort books.... her obligation (really?).  Took herself off the O2 on purpose so she could do this. Had to stop a few times, but drive she was not short of. Left all the other library volunteers notes to keep it all in line.

Feel I have led a fairly interesting life..... nothing tremendous, but interesting. I obviously pale to Ruth. 

She’s truly my Super Hero. Long live Ruth. May we all see you as an inspiration to do the good fight.

I’ve always admired my Aunt, but truly never “knew” her personally other than family gatherings. I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to get to know her much better before she passed her last few months. She was everything I expected, plus. 

[hopeless-orchid]

About

My name is Hope, ironically. I’m 24 and have suffered from BED and binge-restrict cycles since 2014, formally diagnosed in 2017. I’ve also been on and off ED tumblr since 2016. I’m a former nutrition & dietetics student and you’d think I would have a healthy relationship with food as a result... I don’t. Maybe someday, but I’ve relapsed once again, so here we are.

My last blog was silent-orchid. You might remember me for my “Your Favorite Th*nsp0 is Photoshopped” posts and attempts to combat the dangerous health/weight loss misinformation flooding ED tumblr. I got too much attention which ultimately led to people seeing and reporting me, so I got taken down. I’m just going to lay low this time around and keep to myself.

** I don’t post or reblog tsp0, this blog is purely for journaling, venting, and memes I find funny that help me cope.

DNI List

Minors: I know what it’s like to be 15 and addicted to ED tumblr, so please trust me when I say that all you’re gonna find here are unattainable beauty standards, dangerous misinformation regarding health and weight loss, an endless cycle feeling like you’ll never be good enough. I also know that nothing I say will prevent you from being here though, so I just ask that you don’t look at or interact with my blog. I’m not saying I’m okay with 18+ sufferers hanging out in this hellhole, but if I knew I influenced an impressionable minor in any way, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. I will not report you, but I will block you.

Racists, LGBT-phobes, cisphobes & heterophobes, misogynists, misandrists, TERFS, bodyshamers, any kind of bigot is not welcome here.

DD/LGs, MAPs, lolicons, or any other kind of pedophilic scum.

People who glorify/romanticize eating disorders or treat EDs like a diet or quirky personality trait rather than the mental anguish that they really are.

Anyone who thinks BED isn’t as serious as restrictive/purging EDs.

I’ll likely edit this post over time, but for now, that’s all. Feel free to follow or hit my DMs if you need someone to talk to.

[lord-of-the-margins]

Thoughts on the DSM

I’m going to preface this by saying that I am not a psychologist. I have no formal training whatsoever. But man is there a lot of mental illness in my life. I both have mental illness and have encountered it in others. So I have thoughts.

The DSM is The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Homosexuality used to be listed in the DSM, but it has since been removed. And I no longer know if such a decision serves us well because I have yet to meet a single LGBT person who can say they came from a household without sexual abuse. So...hm.

But uh, I’m just going to give a brief overview of what I know about mental illness and personality disorders.

ADHD almost feels like a gateway into further mental illness. Everyone seems to have it. And that’s bad because attention is how you control your life. If you can’t control your attention, you can not be the master of your destiny.

I know a lot about narcissism and the dark triad (narcissism, psychopathy, and sociopathy). That’s how we classify evil these days. Of course not every narcissist is the pinnacle of evil...yet. I don’t know. I do know that the narcissist worships a false self, whereas the true self appears to be a desiccated skeleton under the floorboards of their soul. This false self will never be satisfied with what it has. The narcissist also likes to construct a web of “flying monkeys” (people who prop up the narcissist) and creates an environment of triangulation and group gaslighting.

The only reason I can fathom that we have evolved to have psychopaths and sociopaths among us is that if we were ever under attack, sociopaths and psychopaths could still function among the wreckage. And if they were loved well, they may look around and decide to help the rest of us.

I think psychopaths are actually filed under Antisocial Personality Disorder these days. And then Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is the female version of Antisocial Personality Disorder. I’ve encountered BPD and it’s pretty intense. From what I can tell, people with BPD - when they sense they will be abandoned - will be triggered into a psychopathic rage and man...it’s a lot. It can get pretty abusive.

Honestly I’ll take a narcissist over someone with BPD. Maybe it’s because I grew up with narcissists and I know how to maneuver around them. Maybe I just don’t like psychopathic rage. But you have to push a narcissist pretty far to get them to fly into a psychopathic rage. You have to utterly destroy their reputation. Whereas with BPD it can happen at the drop of a hat.

Finally, we get to schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder. These two are scary for completely different reasons. This is the part of the DSM where reality tends to unravel. And colloquially, informally, it’s identified as “hearing voices.”

Now for me, someone with DID, all those voices are me. That’s just me talking to myself. I am quite literally talking to someone else who is still somehow me. It still shocks me how different and distinct they are from me. Incredible. In fact, I am so damn dissociated, that I have to make the effort to tell different parts of myself certain things to get the information across even though we share the same brain. I’ve been resisting this because it’s just so damn absurd, but it has to happen.

Schizophrenia...I don’t know much about that. I do know schizophrenia has some genetic component whereas DID is induced through trauma. It is possible to recover from DID, whereas schizophrenia can be managed at best.

Sometimes I wonder if what we call schizophrenia is an ability that was evolved to protect us and we now live in some sort of hell world where this ability is seen as the most shameful thing one could possibly possess. But that’s just silly. Ha ha.

I mean, even if that was true, just because you had it wouldn’t mean you are automatically prepared to help others. Just like having 10/20 vision doesn’t make you a great pilot.

This essay got pretty weird. Although the world’s pretty weird these days. So let’s just take a few more steps into that weirdness, eh?

One of the best ways we can tell we’re alive and exist is with Descartes proclamation: “I think, therefore I am.”

With DID, I can’t always tell when or what I’m thinking. It’s an existential nightmare. And my version of it is pretty advanced. With “naturally-occurring” DID, there’s a lot of amnesia that happens when different alters take over. So eventually the host should figure out that this isn’t normal. You were there on Tuesday doing dishes and now it’s Friday and you’re in a ditch. Something is going on.

As for me, I’ve never had that experience which made it very, very hard to detect. I, the host, am always present in my waking life. But like other people with DID, I can’t recall much of my childhood. I can only recall snippets of all my childhood homes (my family moved around a lot) and apparently that’s not normal.

What I’m trying to relay to you, internet people, is that DID is a great way to enslave another without their awareness.

[ginnyweaslays]

80 Books White People Need to Read

Here’s my next list! All links are now for Barnes and Noble! If you are interested in finding Black-owned bookstores in your area, check out this website: https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.php ; I also have additional resources regarding Black-owned bookstores on my Instagram (@books_n_cats) if you are interested! As always, please continue to add books to these lists! ((please circulate this one as much as the LGBT one, these books are incredibly important)).

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

Killing Rage: Ending Racism by bell hooks

Where We Stand: Class Matters by bell hooks

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race by Jesmyn Ward

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores by Dominique DuBois Gilliard

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forget by Mikki Kendall

Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces by Radley Balko

Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People by Ben Crump

The Black and the Blue: A Cop Reveals the Crime, Racism, and Injustice in America’s Law Enforcement by Matthew Horace and Ron Harris

From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America by Elizabeth Kai Hinton

Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis

They Can’t Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson

A Promise And A Way of Life: White Antiracist Activism by Becky Thompson

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Disrupting White Supremacy From Within edited by Jennifer Harvey, Karin Ac. Case and Robin Hawley Gorsline

How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice by Paul Kivel

Witnessing Whiteness by Shelly Tochluk

Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race by Derald Wing Sue

Towards the Other America: Anti-Racist Resources for White People Taking Action for Black Lives Matter by Chris Crass (be advised, this came out in 2015 and is not up to date with current events obviously)

Understanding White Privilege: Creating Pathways to Authentic Relationships Across Race by Frances Kendall

The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: How White People Profit from Identify Politics by George Lipsitz

Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving

How I Shed My Skin: Unlearning the Racist Lessons of a Southern Childhood by Jim Grimsley

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son by Tim Wise

Benign Bigotry: The Psychology of Subtle Prejudice by Kristin J. Anderson

America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America by Jim Wallis

Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We Say and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt

Raising White Kids by Jennifer Harvey

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

The Guide for White Women who Teach Black Boys by Eddie Moore Jr, Ali Michael, and Marguerite Penick-Parks

What White Children Need to Know About Race by Ali Michael

White By Law by Ian Haney Lopez

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

My Soul Is Rested: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South by Howell Raines

Race Matters by Cornel West

American Lynching by Ashraf H.A. Rushdy

Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-Create Race in the Twenty-First Century by Dorothy Roberts

White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism by Kevin Kruse

This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color edited by Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad

Racism Without Racists by Eduardo Bonilla-Silva

The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: How White People Profit From Identity Politics by George Lipsitz

Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment by Patricia Hill Collins

When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

Habits of Whiteness: A Pragmatist Reconstruction by Terrance MacMullan

Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper

Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America by Melissa V. Harris-Perry

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

An African American and Latinx History of the United States by Paul Ortiz

Blueprint for Black Power: A Moral, Political, and Economic Imperative for the Twenty-First Century by Amos N. Wilson

The Man-Not: Race, Class, Genre, and the Dilemmas of Black Manhood by Tommy J. Curry

Freedom Is A Constant Struggle by Angela Davis

Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde

Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman

The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist

The Price for Their Pound of Flesh: The Value of the Enslaved, From Womb to Grave, in the Building of a Nation by Daina Ramey Berry

Slavery by Another Name: The Re-enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II by Douglas A. Blackmon

The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America by Khalil Gibran Muhammad

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

The Origins of the Urban Crisis: Race and Inequality in Postwar Detroit by Thomas J. Sugrue

From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America by Ari Berman

One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression is Destroying our Democracy by Carol Anderson

Antiracism: An Introduction by Alex Zamalin

The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing by Anneliese A. Singh

Chokehold: Policing Black Men by Paul Butler

Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul by Eddie S. Glaude

Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson

Things That Make White People Uncomfortable by Michael Bennett

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors

[gregrulzok]

Mitsuya, Hakkai, and Gay Coding

So the Tokyo Revengers' fandom's notorious and rampant homophobia makes this topic almost impossible to discuss anywhere outside of Tumblr... But I at least wanted to touch on it here.

Mitsuya and Hakkai are almost certainly gay coded, and there's a reason it's important.

Mitsuya is gay coded individually. He's written to be read as a young gay teen.

The most compelling piece of evidence to this is his Home Economics class. He is the only man there, seemingly friends with a ton of girls, who all seem to trust and like him.

Note here that Japanese culture isn't American culture - men being casual friends with women isn't as normalized as it may be here, and in most places a man in an otherwise all-woman club would be considered to be trying to "get with" one or more of them. We never, ever hear this about Mitsuya.

In fact, Mitsuya is one of the few TR characters that we see show no interest whatsoever in women. The most notable scene here is the beach scene, Kazutora and Pah-Chin both stare at the women in bikinis, but Mitsuya and Draken instantly dash to the ocean without paying it any attention. This is even pointed out by Kazutora, who remarks on how strange it is that neither of them cared.

("So is Draken gay coded?" My heart says yes, but his relationship with Emma says no. Draken is just desensitised to seeing female bodies.)

And of course, sewing and fashion, very stereotypically feminine things, are Mitsuya's main interests. While it's not exactly progressive to say that effeminate = gay, I implore you once again that this is all being written by an old Japanese ex-gang member, and not a modern day American LGBT teen.

My point is that, though it's a little stereotypical, Mitsuya has many qualities that would liken him to an old-school depiction of a gay teen. Which, in a way, is in line with the old-school aesthetic and worldview of Yankees and Yankee culture.

Now - Hakkai.

Hakkai is not gay coded individually - he's a model, but that's not seen as a particularly effeminate thing, and he's shown to have some interest in girls, seeing as he freezes up talking to them.

However, Hakkai is absolutely intended to be read as having a crush on Mitsuya. Honestly I can't even bring myself to write a paragraph explaining it, so here's a bullet list of things Hakkai has done:

Repeatedly remarked how much he "really likes" Mitsuya, coupled with other characters talking about this. This is not something that happens to any other duo with this frequency.

Set Mitsuya's face as his phone lockscreen.

Immediately thought of Mitsuya when the words "I like him" were spoken.

Said "Who wouldn't fall in love with him" after something that Mitsuya did almost exclusively for his sake.

Immediately upon finding out that it WASN'T about Mitsuya, was completely baffled and confused about how it could possibly be anyone else.

Gave Mitsuya a specialised nickname that consists of shortening his given name and adding "-chan". Given names are seen as more intimate in Japan, while the "-chan" suffix is mostly used for girls, younger relatives, or romantic partners. Mitsuya isn't a girl, and he's older than Hakkai, who looks up to him. So... Again, this is not mimicked by any other duo.

Chose a career based on what Mitsuya wanted to do in an attempt to be close to him.

Then, when he got more famous and busy, still carved out time to visit him seemingly very regularly.

Seemingly ignored a crowd of girls that all wanted to talk to him to make his way to Mitsuya as quickly as possible.

Straight up called Mitsuya "hot".

Maybe some of these things individually could be read as a coincidence, or a joke, but compiling it all in a list definitely shows that this was, more than likely, very intentional.

"But he says he sees Mitsuya like a brother!!" Hakkai looks up to and admires Mitsuya, who, as a child, taught him how to act and inspired him to be better. This is how Hakkai thinks brothers should be, and given his issues with his real brother, it's not a surprise that he's looking for brotherly guidance elsewhere.

However, three things.

Hakkai is very young and inexperienced. At that age, it's not difficult to confuse romantic feelings for familial ones.

Relationships change and grow with people. Many childhood friends-to-lovers feel as if they're siblings when they're little kids, but then transition to a relationship. This is also a VERY common anime trope that seems to only be an issue when they're both boys. 🤔

"Like a brother" is, sometimes, used as a euphemism in East Asian countries to censor or hint at gay lovers.

Mitsuya is almost certainly coded to be gay, and Hakkai is almost certainly written with a crush on Mitsuya in mind.

And why is this important?

Because they're both scrappy, edgy, shitty teenage boys.

Neither of them are misfits or outcasts. Neither of them are weak or dainty or need protection. They're not perverts, or deviants, they're not girly or looked down on. They're loved, respected by their friends. Their friends don't question their interests, or their bonds.

They're allowed to just be two teen boys that happen to be gay.

Two teen boys that happen to be gay, that are accepted at face value for who they are by their friends, no questions or conditions.

Nothing more, nothing less.

You can't pay for that kind of representation.

[yurimother]

The Best Yuri of 2020

2020 was hell in every way, and many of us are looking forward to new possibilities and advances in 2021. However, the year brought us many small moments and gifts worth celebrating. Among these, the explosive growth and change within the Yuri genre are among the most precious and most outstanding achievements. This second century of Yuri opened with a bang, as phenomenal new works, creators, and moments made their mark and helped change the future genre.

This annual list is a celebration of just a handful of the fantastic titles, people, and events in Yuri. There are likely some even greater ones that did not make the list because there is so much content in both English and Japanese that even I cannot keep up. However, among the troves of treasure, these titles stood out as shining examples of Yuri excellence. Some were released this year, others were recently adapted into English, and still, others are established titles that rose to prominence to dominate the conversation and my mind this year, but every one of them is worthy of being on this list and in your heart.

Here is the Best Yuri of 2020!

15: The Curse of Kudan Remastered

Japanese Yuri visual novel developers show no sign of slowing down as they continue to push to new heights and try new ideas. These are the same amazing people who brought us the delightful educational Yuri game The Expression Amrilato and the hilarious and surprisingly queer OshiRabu: Waifus Over Husbando’s. However, this most recent release, The Curse of Kudan Remastered, is their best work yet. Released near Halloween, this game brings a new edge of dark mystery and the occult to Yuri audiences worldwide.

The Curse of Kudan is available on MangaGamer, JAST USA, Denpasoft, and Sekai Project.

14: Adachi and Shimamura

English audiences were finally treated this year to Hitoma Iruma’s long-running and wildly successful Yuri light novel series, Adachi and Shimamura. Although the story struggles to gain traction, dedicated readers’ have their patience rewarded with a sweet tale full of gay pining. Alternatively, you can jump into its stellar anime adaptation, with gorgeous visuals and realized characters you will actually be willing to put up with the annoying Yashiro just to see where the title characters go. The series shows no sign of slowing down either, as the manga adaptation is coming to Western audiences next year.

Adachi and Shimamura is available to stream on Funimation. The light novel series is published by Seven Seas - https://amzn.to/3rTSZTK

Honorable Mention: Happy Go Lucky Days

The OVA adaptation of Fragtime got most of the attention this year. Still, director Takuya Satou and Pony Canyon also gave us this much-overlooked “love is love” anthology movie based on Takako Shimura’s manga (Sweet Blue Flowers, Wandering Son). The first short in the film, “Happy,” is easily the best Yuri anime of the year. It follows the beautiful yet realistic queer love story of two women hooking up at a mutual ex-girlfriend’s wedding, only for the relationship to blossom and warm viewers’ hearts. Sadly, while stylized, the budget demanded the animation cut a few too many corners. Additionally, the subsequent stories are at best tedious and at worst alarmingly problematic, which is why Happy Go Lucky Days only gets an honorable mention.

The OVA is streaming on HIDIVE

13: Mieri Hiranishi

The Yuri scene has many colorful creators with a breadth of different ideas and stories in the genre, yet few have provided as much humor and joy as Mieri. This talented creator spectacularly tumbled into the scene with her manga essay The Moment I Realized I Wasn’t Straight, which embodies the brutal honesty and realism of Nagata Kabi and matches it with exaggerated hilarity. She continues to chronicle her painful struggles of being a butch girl in love with butch girls in the monthly series The Girl that Can’t Get a Girlfriend. Alternatively, you can follow her on Twitter for just as much heart and laughter.

Read The Girl that Can’t get a Girlfriend on Tapas and Webtoon.

12: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

My Next Life as a Villainess has what can only be described as volcanic bisexual energy. Every character protagonist Catarina Claes encounters is entirely enthralled by her. Of course, she is far too preoccupied with her quest to avoid doom flags and change her ultimate fate to notice any romantic interest. The series is rewarding and well structured, as views are just as focused on how Catarina plans to avoid certain doom as they are with the various romantic misses her band of companions cooks up. While the “friendship ending” did not capitalize on its Yuri potential, it was perhaps the most satisfying possibility for this crazy harem, at least until season two comes out, which looks, unfortunately, to be significantly less queer.

My Next Life as a Villainess is streaming on Crunchyroll

11: Love Me for Who I Am

Kata Konayama’s manga series is less Yuri than a general LGBT work, but it has a lesbian character and explores her identity and struggles in great detail. Few titles before have captured the exciting and nervous waves of emotions that young people feel as they explore gender and sexual identities and try to find themselves. This heartfelt and extremely queer series rubberbands between cute moe dress up to tragic and gripping backstory, keeping readers on their toes the whole time.

Love me for Who I Am is published by Seven Seas - https://amzn.to/3rTSZTK

10: A Summer’s End – Hong Kong 1986

Oracle and Bone’s debut visual novel, A Summer’s End, is set in a vibrant and electric 1980’s Hong Kong. Drawing inspiration from classic Asian cinema, music, and fashion. The worlds of Michelle, a young office worker, and a free-spirited woman named Same collide. The two struggle to comprehend and accept each other’s feelings just as they struggle against society’s expectations and prejudices. An incredibly thoughtful and touching adventure, the creators incorporated vital contemporary elements include Asian LGBTQ rights and growing political unrest in Hong Kong, into this illustrious game.

The visual novel is available on Steam.

Honorable Mention: Goodbye, My Rose Garden

In the same vein as A Summer’s End, Goodbye, My Rose Garden is a beautiful period piece that incorporates LGBT views into its shattering narrative. The story follows a bright-eyed immigrant, Hanako, wanting to make a new life in England as an author at the dawn of the twentieth century. She takes a job as a maid to noblewoman Alice, but their relationship takes a turn when Alice asks Hanako to kill her. This poignant tale is beautiful and an honest depiction of love and its conflict with responsibility and society.

Goodbye, My Rose Garden is published by Seven Seas Entertainment - https://amzn.to/3hFSyaG

9: Shio Usui

Usui’s hit Shaikaijin Yuri manga Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon could easily take this spot even though it is not even out in English until February 2021. The manga is already making waves and receiving constant praise. The characters and their journey to discover love and self-acceptance are as charming as they are relatable and grounded. However, it is the creator, Usui, who really deserves acclaim. Not just for their work on Doughnuts, but having a second serialized story, Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita, in monthly Yuri magazine Comic Yuri Hime simultaneously. It is even more remarkable when you consider these two iconic stories are Usui’s first long-running works, as they only contributed one-shots before.

8: Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka

Bloom Into You is possibly the most iconic Yuri series in the past decade, and while the manga deserves its own place on this list, the best thing to come out of the series as a whole is easily the light novels. This trilogy by Adachi and Shimamura creator Hitoma Iruma dives deep into supporting cast member Sayaka. Readers are treated to a delightful journey as she discovers her sexuality, experiences heartbreak, and finally finds herself breaking free and falling in love. With the help of gorgeous illustrations by Nakatani Nio herself, Iruma masterfully captures Sayaka’s unique voice and emotions in this wonderful series. Whether a fan of the originals or not, every Yurijin must check out Regarding Saeki Sayaka.

The light novel series is published by Seven Seas - https://amzn.to/3hFSyaG

7: Our Teachers are Dating

The best a Yuri can get. This workplace romance follows two teachers at the start of a new relationship taking nervous yet enthusiastic first steps, including saying I love you, going on their first date, and even sleeping together. It is so heartfelt and salacious that readers will squeal the whole time. Additionally, our heroines are supported in their relationship by everyone they know, their students, colleagues, and even the principal. It is a perfect world for these two lovebirds! Our Teachers are Dating would easily be number one or two in any other year, but the competition is fierce in 2020. So even though this is only number seven, it is still a master class Yuri manga.

The manga is published by Seven Seas Entertainment - https://amzn.to/38XY3O9

6: Amongst Us

Who would have thought that a comedy alternative universe story spinoff of a fantasy action series would be the single best Yuri webcomic this year? Shilin’s astounding artwork illustrations the hilarious and irresistible journey of girlfriends Blackbird and Veloce. These two eccentric young women get into all kinds of everyday mischief that bounces between tender and touching romance, completely outrageous comedy, and downright thirst-inducing sorcery. Seriously, you should buy the first volume for Veloce’s back muscles alone. The storyline skips between time, but both their established relationship and their meeting as teenagers are adorkable and captivating.

Amongst Us is available online free on Webtoon and the comic’s website. The first volume is in paperback on Shilin’s site.

Honorable Mention: Éclair

There are a lot of Yuri anthologies out there, and they have done some beautiful things. Many focus on themes like Syrup. Others collect a series of stories by an author into one bound work. However, out of all of them, Éclair is the most successful. ASCII Media Works took some of the genre’s most extraordinary creators and let them do whatever they wanted, and the results are spectacular. The incredible talent behind Éclair somehow packs a full volume’s worth of story and character into just a few pages with every chapter. While the first volume came overseas a few years ago, Yen Press gave Yurijin a gift this year by releasing the entire rest of the series in which readers can get lost.

The anthology series is published by Yen Press - https://amzn.to/38XY3O9

5: I’m in Love with the Villainess

A small trend of isekai Yuri with villainesses emerged recently, and I honestly had few hopes of I’m in Love with the Villainess. The series is pretty popular, but I often find that this does not denote quality, and with isekai having some institutional issues, I suspected this would fall flat. Then the volume three cover showcased an incredible accomplishment, allowing for a lesbian relationship to blossom into a family with children, and it blew me away. Finally, I read volume one and realized that the series has incredible character, some of the best world-building I have ever seen in a light novel, thoughtful discussions of inequality and societal issues, and most impressively, open and frank discussion of queer identity and life Yuri has ever seen! This one is something special.

The series is published by Seven Seas Entertainment - https://amzn.to/3nedvdZ

4: The Last of Us Part II

Yes, I know this one is not Yuri and that a portion of the population despises this game and will likely be exceptionally angry at me for including it. However, I maintain that it was an incredibly challenging masterpiece. Naughty Dog did not take the easy route out and delivered one of the most devastating media experiences I have ever seen. As I said in my article about the game, playing it changed me, and it sticks with me to this day. The Last of Us Part II earns its spot on this list because it pushed boundaries more with LGBTQ inclusion than any other AAA game. From brave inclusion of LGBTQ themes to queer characters and storylines at its center, the game changes gaming and it will never go back.

The Last of Us Part II is available on PlayStation 4

3: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

She-Ra feels like the culmination of all the LGBTQ progress western cartoons have made over the past few years. From The Legend of Korra to Steven Universe, young people are finally seeing more LGBTQ people represented on the small screen. This epic fantasy concluded with an amazing and powerful lesbian romance, delivering on its queer promise and revolutionized representation in a trope-defying crescendo.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is streaming on Netflix

2:  The Conditions of Paradise

The greatest single Yuri work of all in 2020 was the English release of Akiko Morishima’s breakthrough manga, The Conditions of Paradise. Initially released in 2007, this anthology detailed the love between adult women. It was in every way a manga ahead of its time, and seeing it finally get a small piece of the recognition it deserves overseas is a true gift. The fact that we can own this legendary piece of Yuri history and Morishima’s other anthologies is nothing short of a blessing from the Yuri goddess.

The Conditions of Paradise is published by Seven Seas Entertainment - https://amzn.to/38bh4xq

Honorable Mention: Otherside Picnic

This eerie sci-fi horror series combines the best of pulse-pounding thrillers, complex and intelligent hard science fiction, and exciting Yuri romance. Author Iori Miyazawa spends as much time crafting a well-paced and intriguing narrative about a mysterious world where occult creatures roam as he does establishing two believable and grounded heroes in Sorawo and Toriko. The romance between the two may be slow to start, but their chemistry is undeniable and as the stakes and story build, so too does their relationship. Not only are the light novels incredible, but the series’ manga adaptation is coming soon to the West as well as an upcoming TV anime in early 2021.

Otherside Picnic is streaming on Funimation. The light novels are published by J-Novel Club - https://amzn.to/3niiv1g

1. Yuri subgenres

For a long time, Yuri was not a genre of its own, but elements of romances or bonds between women found in other works. Now, thanks to an increasing library of works, the advent of social media, and a wider audience, Yuri is a genre on its own, with many creators telling different stories in different styles. However, 2020 saw the continued emergence of something extraordinary, subgenres. Yuri is now so vast, we can actually categorize the works within. Depending on their characters, like classic schoolgirl romances or spicy shakaijin office affairs, their world, such as fantasy or isekai series and thrilling science fiction adventures, and even other elements within. One of my personal favorites is the feminist Yuri that emerges from titles like Sexiled, where women celebrate the accomplishments of other women and dismantle power structures stacked against them. Now, no matter what kind of Yurijin you are, there is something for you to love.

I am happy to leave 2020 behind, but I bring with me a renewed love and admiration for Yuri. 2021 looks to be a somehow even better year for the genre, and I am thrilled to experience every minute of it that I can. Yuri has transformed into something far greater than I ever thought it would be, and let us all enjoy its evolution and expansion together in 2021.

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

I've been trying to find this fic for a while with no luck, so hopefully you guys might have an idea. Kurt goes off to college not having gotten into NYADA, where he meets Blaine at some Lgbt party, (not sure if they sleep together then) but Blaine becomes kind of a player, enjoying the freedom to date/sleep with guys openly. It's kind of enemies to friends to lovers, slowburn. I remember that Tina eventually joins Kurt at the college, and she ends up helping with a play he is putting on.

I immediately thought about the fic listed below, only some of the details aren't the same. In this fic, Kurt and Blaine attend NYU, and they meet at the freshmen start-of-term party. There is also no Tina. Sometimes, people don't remember the details correctly, so I'm hoping it is this one. Readers, if I got it wrong and you know this one, please let us know. - HKVoyage

Dirt On Your Name by wishicouldeletethisacc

Blaine Anderson is NYU's most notorious lothario. Everyone knows his name, and people either warn each other off him or vie for his attention. So when he meets Kurt Hummel at a party their dorm is hosting for the newly moved-in freshmen, he expects either rejection or, more likely, approval – and gets so much more than he ever would have guessed, and had definitely never hoped for.

[ETA] Thank you @deborah2065 for identifying this fic.

Near Misses by flaming_muse

This story is AU from within 2x06 ("Never Been Kissed"), with many of the broad strokes of canon remaining except where I thought they would be different because of the AU or other factors. Near Misses itself takes place in Blaine's first year of college, starting about a year from now. There are some spoilers through 3x22 (“Goodbye”).

[cyndavilachase]

I’m Looking Forward Now 💖Thank you and good bye

So, it’s been a little over a week since Steven Universe Future ended… 

I’ve been hesitant to write this, honestly, but I’m tired of holding myself back from properly expressing myself in fear of appearing overly invested in the media I consume, even in private. Writing helps me organize my thoughts and feelings, and I feel like these thoughts in particular may resonate with many, so I want to share them. I want to talk about what Steven Universe has done for me personally, both as an artist, and as a person.

I’ve been around since the day the first episode of the original series aired. I actually remember when Steven Universe was just a logo on Wikipedia’s “List of Upcoming Cartoon Network Shows” list, back when I was a freshman in high school. It piqued my interest, but when commercials finally dropped for it, I thought it was going to be bad because of the way marketing handled introducing Steven as a likeable character. There was still something about it that made me want to give it a chance though, so I went online and watched the pilot before the first episode's release. I was hooked immediately. I knew I was going to love it, and I did. I fell so absolutely in love with Steven as a character, and the world that he and the gems lived in. I became obsessed. I was always so excited for new episodes to come out. Little did I know what else it would do for me as I went through my adolescence alongside it.

As the show progressed, it was evident that what I wanted out of a western animated childrens’ cartoon was finally coming into fruition: this show was becoming serialized. There was continuity, there was plot, there was character development-- it was getting deep. It was pushing the groundwork that Adventure Time laid out even further (thank you, Adventure Time).  

I will give credit where credit is due: earlier western childrens’ cartoons I grew up with like Hey Arnold, and Rugrats, among others, also touched on heavy topics, but Steven Universe was able to take similar ideas (and even more complex ones, concerning mental health and relationships) and expand on them outside of contained episodes and/or short arcs. These themes, which were a part of the show’s overarching story, spanned across its entirety. Continuity was rampant. 

What did this mean? It meant kids cartoons didn’t have to be silly and fun all the time and characters weren’t just actors playing a part in 11-minute skits. Steven and the gems would remember things that happened to them, and it affected them and how they would function and play a part in their story. This was a huge deal to me as a teenager. I always wanted the cartoons I grew up with featuring kid characters to feel more. In my own work, I often felt discouraged when combining a fun, cutesy western art style with themes as dark or layered as anime would cover. I always thought it had to be one or the other because an audience wouldn’t take a combination of the two seriously enough, based on discussions I had with classmates, friends, and online analysis I read at the time. Steven Universe proved to me otherwise. This show was opening the door for future cartoons exploring in-depth, adult concepts. I felt so seen as a kid, and was inspired to stick with what I love doing.

I was actually very worried about the show’s survival. It was in fact immensely underrated and the fandom was miniscule. Then in 2014, JailBreak dropped, and it’s popularity exploded. Part of it was because of the complex plot and the themes it was covering like I mentioned, but also because of its representation. 

I remember when fandom theorized that Garnet was a fusion due to grand, tragic reasons. Turns out, she’s simply a metaphor for a very loving w|w relationship. This was huge. I cannot stress how important it is that we continue to normalize healthy canon queer relationships in childens’ media, and Steven Universe finally was the first to do that proper. Introducing these themes offers the chance for a kid to sit there and ask themselves, “Why is this demonized by so many people?” I asked myself exactly that. Ruby and Sapphire were my cartoon LGBT rep. They were the first LGBT couple I ever ecstatically drew fanart of. I was dealing with a lot of internalized homophobia at the time, and they showed me that I was allowed to love women and feel normal about it. The process of overcoming this was a long one, but they played a part in my very first steps into becoming comfortable with my sexuality. I could go on and on about it’s representation in general-- how it breaks the mold when it comes to showcasing a diverse set of characters in design, in casting, and in breaking gender roles. It’s focus on love and empathy. Steven himself is a big boy, but he's the protagonist, and the show never once makes fun of his weight, or any other bigger characters for that matter. It wasn’t hard to see why the fandom had grown so large.

Fandom was always a joy for me. It was a hobby I picked up when I was in middle school, like many of us here did. I would always cater my experience to fun, and fun only. I only started getting more deeply involved in SU’s fandom when I had just turned into an adult. During the summer of 2016, between my first and second year of college, I drew for the show almost every day non-stop when the Summer of Steven event was going on and posted them online. This was a form of practice for me in order to become not just more comfortable with experimenting with my art, but also to meet new artists, make new friends, and learn to interact with strangers without fear. I dealt with a ton of anxiety when I was in high school. When I was a senior applying to art school for animation, I decided I was going to overcome that anxiety. I made plans to take baby steps to improve myself over the course of my 4 years of college. Joining the fandom, while unforeseen, was definitely a part of that process. I started feeling more confident in sharing my ideas, even if they were fan-made. I fell in love with storyboarding after that summer, when I took my first storyboarding class, and genuinely felt like I was actually getting somewhere with all of this. I remember finally coming to a point in my classes where I could pitch and not feel hopelessly insecure about it. I was opening up more to my friends and peers. 

But this process, unfortunately, came to a screeching halt. 

My life completely, utterly crumbled under me in the Fall of 2017 due to a series of blows in my personal life that happened in the span of just a couple weeks. My mental health and sense of identity were completely destroyed. All of that confidence I had worked for-- completely ruined. I was alone. I nearly died. My stay at college was extended to 4 and half years, instead of the 4 I had intended. I lost my love for animation-- making it, and watching it. I could no longer watch Steven Universe with the same love I had for it beforehand. It’s a terrible thing, trying to give your attention to something you don’t love anymore, and wanting so desperately to love again. I dropped so many things I loved in my life, including the fandom.

Healing was a long and complicated road. I continued to watch the show all the way up until Change Your Mind aired in the beginning of 2019, and while I still felt empty, that was definitely a turning point for me with it’s encapsulation of self-love. I was hoping James Baxter would get to work on Steven Universe since he guest-animated on Adventure Time, and it was incredible seeing that wish actually come true. The movie came out and while I enjoyed it and thought highly of it, I was still having issues letting myself genuinely love things again, old and new. It was especially difficult because cartoons were my solace as a kid, when things got rough at home. I remember feeling sad because the show ended, and not getting the chance to love it again like I used to while it was still going.

By the time Steven Universe Future was announced, I was finally coming around. I was genuinely starting to feel excitement for art and animation again. I wasn’t expecting there to be a whole new epilogue series, but happily ever after, there we were! Prickly Pear aired, and the implications it left in terms of where the story was going did it. I was finally ready to let myself take the dive back into fandom in January of this year. My art blew up, something I wasn’t expecting considering my 2-year hiatus. Following this, I was invited into a discord server containing some of the biggest writers, artists, editors, and analysts in the fandom. I had no idea there were so many talented people in the fandom, some already with degrees, some getting their degrees-- creating stuff for it on the side just for fun. The amount of passion and productivity level here is insane, and so is the amount of discussion that has come out of it.

I didn’t realize it at first, but it was actually helping me gain back the courage to share ideas. I lost my confidence in pitching while I was taking the time to heal, and graduating meant there would no longer be a classroom setting I could practice in. This group helped immensely. 

I have made so many friends through this wonderful series, and I have so many fond memories talking to like-minded creatives, getting feedback and a myriad of sources for inspiration, as well as all of the memes and jokes and weekly theorizations that came about as we all waited on the edges of our seats for episodes to air. I needed this so badly, I needed to get back in touch with my roots, when I would go absolutely hog-wild over a cartoon I loved with people who loved it as much I did. Future has been a blessing for me in this way. I graduated feeling like I was back at square-one, but now I feel like I’m on my way again.

It’s 2020 and while I’m doing great right now, I am honestly still recovering from the total exhaustion that followed after graduating a few months ago, and finally leaving the campus where my life fell apart behind. Needless to say, watching Future was like looking into a mirror. Watching one of my favorite characters of all time-- one that grew up with me-- go through so many of the same things I went through not too long ago was absolutely insane to watch unfold. It’s such an important thing too, to show a character go through the process of breaking down over trauma and all the nasty things that come with it, and to have them go on the road to healing. Steven got that therapy. He wasn’t blamed. The gems were called out. The finale was everything I could have ever hoped for. The catharsis I experienced watching it was out of this world.

As I continue my own healing journey, I will always look up to the storyboard artists, revisionists, and designers that I have been following over these past 7 years, as well as the new ones introduced in Future. It's been such a joy watching these artists release their promo art for episodes, talk about their experiences working on the show, and post the work they've done for it alongside episodes airing.

Thank you Rebecca Sugar, the Crewniverse, and the fans, for making this such a truly wonderful and unique experience. Thank you for reminding me that I am, and always will be, an artist, a cartoonist, and a fan. Thank you, my followers, for the overwhelmingly positive response to my artwork. I have had so much fun interacting and discussing the show with you all again over these past few months. Steven Universe and it’s fandom will always have a special place in my heart, and it will always be a classic that I will return to for comfort and inspiration for decades to come. I am sad that the cartoon renaissance is over, but so many doors have been opened thanks to this show. I am so, so excited to see what this show will inspire in the future, and I hope one day I get the opportunity to be a part of that. 

Goodbye Steven, thank you for everything. I wish you healing, and I wish Rebecca and the team a well-deserved rest. ♥️

-Cynthia D.