How do I create a gay character without being disrespectful?

Erm - what?

Accurately and sensitively portrayed? I'm sorry, I didn't realise all gay men were the same, in the fact that NONE of them are ever feminine in any way, or have ANY stereotypical ways whatsoever.

 

Stereotypes exist. Of course you can write them. Also, it depends on the POV. Some POVs will be more perceptive to some stereotypes than others.

 

You are actively, and rather desperately, pushing understanding as far away from you as you can get it.

You don't want to understand. Dandy. Why not move on?

 

How do you know what's offensive to gay people?

Are you gay? - if you are, then are we talking what's just offensive to you?

If you are not, then have you done a poll of 100 gay people to find out what they think is offensive or not?

Or are you - like me - just going by your own thoughts?

 

We really need @Wreybies here for both insights and the mallet.

 

This is a little different than upsetting the bourgeois by drawing attention to their oppression of the proletariat. Yes, people get offended by things, but as writers with potential influence over the minds and hearts of tens, to hundreds, to millions of people, we have an obligation to use that influence to make the world a better place by drawing attention to problems and inciting people to work to correct them either through action or attitude. It's morally abstinent to further these inequities because we're lazy, confused and frustrated that we might be wrong. As a single white woman in the UK, I'm going to assume you don't really have much of a grounding in the hurt and hate that these stereotypes can unleash. Just think of how much grief you would inspire if you wrote a book where your only black characters were lazy, dirty drug dealers and then put that book into the hands of the Ku Klux Klan. And if you wouldn't do that shit, then you should probably listen to the people trying to help you here right now.

 

Omg, Black Adder reference!

Also, can we try not to antagonize each other too much? Honestly, nowadays whenever I see an identity politics thread, my first reaction's 'oh boy girl, Kat's not gonna go to sleep early tonight, there's a thread to watch.'

Also also, I miss @Wreybies.

 

Please don't assume.

 

...don't...assume...that you would hesitate to write a book filled with racist stereotypes?

Wouldn't you want us to give you that credit?

 

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

HERE IT IS AS PLAIN AS I CAN PUT IT!

I am NOT writing Chase as a stereotypical, offensive, limp wristed, tutu wearing, pink haired, flamboyant, gay man!

This is why I came here, to find a list of what is offensive and what isn't. As it turns out, EVERYTHING I could write, could be taken as offensive.

But you have all jumped on this with guns blazing like I'm about to start a riot and stick a burning effigy on Elton John's front lawn!

 

Where the hell does race come into this?

 

No, not really. You could write him as an ordinary man. That possibility seems to be one that you can't envision.

 

OK, I'm starting to wonder if you are actually reading the posts in this thread

 

I'm afraid I must, my dear, because if you were, in fact privy to such things, then there is no damn way you could in good conscious willfully inflict them onto another human being.

 

I'm putting this thread on pause because the conversation is getting circular and things need to cool down.