[Vol. 1] Gay Content is For Everyone ... That's All
Why are queer stories "alternative"? Straight/cisgender content is great, but can't we all enjoy both?
Ok, let me clarify: Some gay content is for everyone – I’m not saying you have to get on the internet and dive into the world of gay porn (unless, of course, you’re the least bit curious).
No, but on a serious note, I’m sick and tired of feeling like any story that revolves around a gay and/or queer narrative or voice is somehow off-limits to the straight, cisgender mainstream.
Whew. Yeah that’s right, we’re diving right into it today.
Actually, hold up real quick. Didn’t get ‘That’s Gay’ in your inbox? Make sure you get it next time!
Okay, do you want to know how many straight people I’ve seen fall in love on TV?
No? Well, that’s fine, because I couldn’t even tell you. I’ve lost count.
I’ve lost count of how many stories I’ve read, movies and TV shows I’ve watched, and art I’ve appreciated from the perspective of straight/cisgender creators. I’ve lost count because, save for a handful of queer gems that broke through the mainstream, these are the only stories I’ve ever known.
Hell, I even listen to a straight-centric sex podcast, Call Her Daddy. I, Till Kaeslin, am listening to a podcast about straight sex … just take a second to let that one sink in.
I’m not saying I don’t like these things, I’m saying we can like queer things too.
I don’t want to replace all the brilliant movies, TV shows, and stories I’ve got to enjoy over the years that centered around straight/cisgender characters – I could never go without my semi-yearly binge of Parks and Rec, after all.
What I am saying is that there’s ample room for you and me to enjoy queer content too.
Whether it’s from the perspective of a queer creator (like yours truly), or a plot-line that involves a lot of queer characters, the bottom line is that the queerness of a thing shouldn’t make that thing inaccessible to anyone.
Let’s talk ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.
Think about it – gay men love The Devil Wears Prada (guilty as charged).
While, yes, the movie does include one and a half gay characters (@ Doug), that isn’t why it trends so popular in the gay community (They are hardly given enough screen time to attract that kind of attention on their own).
Straight love stories and character arcs aside, movies like The Devil Wears Prada unite gay and straight viewers with story-telling elements that everyone with a heartbeat can enjoy. I’m talking fashion, drama, betrayal, toxic relationships – things that way surpass the bounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Newsflash: You can get all that from queer stories and storytellers too.
If Andy were queer, it wouldn’t have taken away from any of these elements that make the movie so great – only, maybe there would be one less toxic relationship to deal with (*Ahem* Nate).
Instead of having yet another straight character playing a lead role, we’d get to see the story from a queer perspective. The queer kids watching from underneath their covers while pretending to be at soccer practice would win another queer icon to look up to and it wouldn’t erase any of the elements that made the story so great to watch in the first place.
It’s a win-win scenario (Also, if you caught the sly movie reference in that last paragraph, I commend you on your The Devil Wears Prada knowledge).
But then, unfortunately, it would have been a … queer movie (dun, dun, dunnnn).
Instead of showing up in theaters with Oscar’s red carpet-energy already buzzing through the crowds, it would have been released in a small indie film festival, and Meryl Streep would have one less Oscar on her nightstand (leaving her with a measly 20 in total).
Why do we do this to queer stories? Why do we relegate them to the top shelf?*
*No, not the metaphor for the prized position, but the topmost part of the kitchen cabinet that you refuse to clean because you’d have to get up on a stool and blow your back out just to get your arm up there.
People need to learn to see that queerness can be part of a story and not be the whole story.
Just like a movie can feature a queer couple and not be filed under “alternative”, I know I can write a newsletter centered around gay stories that can appeal to all readers, queer or not.
So welcome, you – you that decided to subscribe to That’s Gay regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity. Let’s help make gay content mainstream.
I’m excited to continue to share my stories and insights, as well as the stories and insights of others. Yes, they will be queer stories, but they carry messages so much greater than who someone loves and how they identify; messages I think we can all benefit from.
Also, it’ll be fun – at least about a quarter as fun as watching The Devil Wear’s Prada, which I may just do for the umpteenth time on this snowy-gone-slushy weekend night in New York City.
And that was That’s Gay, Volume 1. See you in Volume 2, folks!
Comment your thoughts, or simply your favorite line from the movie.
Give this post a like if you think Nate is the real devil in (knock-off) Prada.
Want Volume 2? Not signed up yet?
Want to share this specific newsletter with someone special? Perhaps, someone that also get’s all hot and bothered talking about The Devil Wears Prada?