Okay, ever since the recent thing with the bisexual/biromantic stories on Episode being told that they aren’t allowed in the LGBTQ genre, I’m okay with stories that allow male LIs as well as female LIs but ONLY if it’s addressed in the story that the MC is bi. Since, dating a man doesn’t make the MC any less bi along with how dating a woman doesn’t make the MC any less bi as well.
But, I know we’re all just talking about those LI gender choice stories that neglect the female LI route and playing it, you can tell the author hardly put any effort into it and it really feels like you’re just romancing a male LI in a woman’s body based on female LIs behavior, dialogue, etc.
A friend of mine has a story were the MC’s are gay.
She has chosen not to put it in the LGBTQ+ section, because she sees it as more of a “character development” shelf, while both her characters were aware and perfectly fine with being gay.
I truly feel that this is a good mindset.
As soon as I saw that the shelf was created, I knew that it would be abused by the “choose your LI’s gender” stories. I hope that Episode will say that these stories are in the wrong category, though most of these are very popular stories, so I highly doubt that’ll happen.
I agree, pls do not put put your stories in which only 2 or 3 charcaters THAT ARE NOT THE MC OR THE MC’ S LI in the LGBT+ section. You’re just doing that because you know your story cant get enough recognition in its actual genre so you try to put it in one where it does not fit…now don’t get me wrong I’m sorry if it isnt getting enough recognition but its not fair to take it away from ACTUAL LGBT+ authors. sincerely, a bisexual/pansexual girl/woman.
I know people are just looking for cis wlw in this genre anyway lmao. If they saw an m / f relationship where the MC if not the LI were binary trans ppl, they’d report it. Or if they saw male generic and female generic / plus but both the characters were non-binary they’d report it too. Which…whatever. It’s just why I think the genre isn’t very effective because it’s only for a few types of stories when lgbtq narratives and stories encompass a wide variety of experiences, sometimes ones that people want to be recognized outside of just being an “lgbtq story.”
I honestly think people are adding now characters like these just to not make anyone upset. But it can be too much in a way. Like mine doesn’t have any, not cause I’m against it but cause I don’t feel it will be good for my story and I also have no experience for it, which I can Google obviously
As a bisexual girl, I really agree with you. I don’t like it when I see on the LGBTQ+ shelf stories that the protagonist is a girl, but then you can choose the gender of your LI. It doesn’t make sense. Okay that heterosexuality is a sexuality, but this shelf is about love between two (or more) same gender, not about straight realtionships.
I’m trans and would love to see a trans women represented on episode in a wlw relationship. Or any relationship actually. We exist. We deserve representation.
Lmao I know that? The point isn’t that trans characters are always or have to be in m/f or straight relationships, it’s that people always look at the surface level of representation in the lgbt genre and that all trans stories that would fit into the genre belong there, even if the romance relationship is or appears to be straight. See also what I wrote about non-binary people where readers would only look at the body types. I am also trans and I’m not out here writing about straight ppl, trans or otherwise lol
I think it’s just hard because typically trans authors write the best trans representation but it can be hard to stay motivated and because we write in ways that aren’t ~sensationalizing~ the experience other ppl don’t want want to read it supposedly episode is prepping a shelf for stories written by trans authors, but I’m not sure what will be on it lol
Cis person writing a trans person:
"I knew I was trans since I popped out my mom’s womb going “yass queen”, but my parents denied it. They were embarrassed of me, they never let me play with dolls or wear dresses as a kid. I was so miserable.
I became a real girl after coming out to my parents at 19 and I had “the surgery”. I thought I was happy, I had everything I wanted. But… that’s not the case. I wake up and put on my high heels, lipstick, and fake lashes as my dad calls me a [slur] and a disappointment. I then walk out onto the street and get hate-crimed by a group of men who realize I’m not actually a woman. A mother walks past me and covers her child’s eyes, pleading under her breath that her precious son never grows up to be like me.
At least I have my friends, who misgender and deadname me constantly because it’s hard for them. I should be more patient, they lost the man they once knew and loved… it’s not the same anymore :(. Still, they’re really woke because they haven’t abandoned me completely. I’m so glad to have them. :)"
I’m very much gay. 
wish they would add the lesbian flag. 
supposedly episode is prepping a shelf for stories written by trans authors, but I’m not sure what will be on it lol