Hello!
I’m curious as to how LGBTQIA+ authors and readers feel about this.
I want to know if an author has all LGBTQ main characters, would it still be considered for Episode’s LGBTQ genre if the story is not focused on their identity.
Feel free to put your opinions below, I’m curious as to what you all have to say.
Thank you in advance!
I mean I’m sure it would have to be. Most LGBTQ+ stories I’ve read only involve romance, which is fine, but as long as their sexualities aren’t being completely brushed off and forgotten about, or simply aren’t the main focus, then it should be meeting Episode’s genre guidelines 
Okay, thank you!
I agree with what was said above.
If the story is mainly focused on the characters’ identities, than I would put it in the LGBTQ+ genre.
If the story is a mystery where the characters are LGBTQ+ but the main focus is on the mystery (instead of on the characters), then I would put it in mystery.
This ^^
My story is a mystery-drama. Even though my main cast is 90% lgbtq, it’s not plot relevant so I don’t categorize it as such.
Thank you for your thoughts. I was curious!
Completely depends on the plot. One of the reasons why I am very skeptical of the LGBTQ+ genre is because I don’t want representation limited to one small part of the app. I want to see LGBTQ+ characters and stories in every genre. If the plot is about their daily life and or critiques the way society views sexuality/gender, then it makes sense to go in the LGBTQ+ genre. If the characters more or less just happen to be LGBTQ+ and the story’s main plot is horror for example, then you have a horror story with LGBTQ+ characters, not an LGBTQ+ story.
If you ask episode they will say it needs to focus on coming out and sh*t like that. Which is totally fine and cool especially when someone is finding themselves and want to learn more about identity but some people in the community just want to read a story in that genre where it is normal. If it relevant enough I guess. Like you can’t just make your cast part of the community just to put it in the genre, if you really want to write one focusing on identities so you can learn more about identity. But if it is basically not at all got anything to do with them but something else.
The whole fact it is a genre in the first place is stupid. It is not clear to anyone what “fits” in the genre not even episode themselves seeing as they keep a story rewritten into a new story that has a female LI. I am not slagging off the author at all but as far as I know she is not part of the community and people who are got their stories kicked off the genre. Totally should be a tag since so many were/are using it as a booster for their story.
So if the identities are important to the plot and you have really researched them then it could fit in the genre but if it is brought up and then forgot about then leave it.
For me, the LGBTQ+ genre is for stories that have an LGBTQ+ main character where their identity is prevalent and important to the plot… but it also doesn’t completely define them. LGBTQ+ people are first and foremost: PEOPLE. We aren’t just our coming out stories and our struggles. We’re more than that.
Also this is just me being picky, but LGBTQ+ stories written by non-LGBTQ+ people just don’t sit right with me. I’ve seen a few exceptions… but those authors consulted LGBTQ+ people and basically had them as beta readers and co-writers. So the LGBTQ+ genre should mainly be limited to authors in our community and the stories should pertain to the topics I stated in the first paragraph … that’s just me tho. the second part isn’t in the guidelines, only the first part is.
Hey! I just was wondering if you could elaborate on this portion of what you said: Would this be including the option to select your LI in a romance story, or just an LGBTQ+ storyline completely? Just wondering…
I wouldn’t consider it appropriate for a story in the LGBTQ+ genre to include a choice between a M/F LI unless the MC is canonically bi and it plays a major role in the story (like if the MC comes out, deals with biphobia as a result of their LI’s gender, works for an LGBTQ+ charity, etc.). Basically I would consider a story appropriate for the LGBTQ+ genre if the story literally could not be told without significant changes to the plot if the characters were straight and cisgender instead.