Queer Stuff

[dead-ced-dead]

I wanted to get some opinions of people here. It's about cis writers writing trans or enby characters in works of fiction.

Specifically, I was thinking of starting to write a detective book with an enby lead character as a cis writer.

I know there are millions of examples of well meaning writers trying to write about race, sexuality, gender etc. and getting it really wrong. so rather than asking, "what should I know?" before I start planning, it's more of a case of, "should I even start?" Even with tonnes of research it could come across as cringy. Like, even the best ally can't know everything there is to know without it coming across as authentic, or should I just stop second guessing myself and write the darn thing?

So I wanted to get some advice and I thought this would be a good thread to ask.

[phantom_power]

As a straight white man I feel fully qualified to stick my fucking beak in where it isn't needed and say go for it. Isn't part of writing putting yourself in other people's shoes and minds? Do you have to be a detective to write a whodunnit? Isn't that what makes fiction writing what it is, imagination and empathy?

[dead-ced-dead]

Someone on the LGBT Reddit gave some good advice:

More representation is good, so go nuts. But don't write ABOUT enby issues, and don't fall in the tropes where they're a tragic character or the million other cliches that cis writers fall into.

[Dr Rock]

I wanted to get some opinions of people here. It's about cis writers writing trans or enby characters in works of fiction.

Specifically, I was thinking of starting to write a detective book with an enby lead character as a cis writer.

I know there are millions of examples of well meaning writers trying to write about race, sexuality, gender etc. and getting it really wrong. so rather than asking, "what should I know?" before I start planning, it's more of a case of, "should I even start?" Even with tonnes of research it could come across as cringy. Like, even the best ally can't know everything there is to know without it coming across as authentic, or should I just stop second guessing myself and write the darn thing?

So I wanted to get some advice and I thought this would be a good thread to ask.

Why not write it to your best ability and then get some nice trans to take a look at it and give you advice?

[Kankurette]

Someone on the LGBT Reddit gave some good advice:

More representation is good, so go nuts. But don't write ABOUT enby issues, and don't fall in the tropes where they're a tragic character or the million other cliches that cis writers fall into.

Yeah, it's all too easy to write a trans character as either evil, tragic or a joke. Happens in anime a lot.

[dead-ced-dead]

Yeah, it's all too easy to write a trans character as either evil, tragic or a joke. Happens in anime a lot.

Another good example is Jared Leto's character in The Dallas Buyer's Club. I remember a lot of trans folks and allies giving that performance some shit.

[Kankurette]

Are there any well-written examples of trans characters in mainstream media?

[Twit 2]

Ace Ventura

[dead-ced-dead]

Are there any well-written examples of trans characters in mainstream media?

I seem to recall the movie Tangerine being well received.

[Kankurette]

Funnily enough, one anime I saw that did have a fairly well-written trans girl in it (she did have a tragic background but everyone in that anime did, it was why they became magical girls) was this edgelordy bullshit anime called Magical Girl Site. Kiyoharu's a fairly minor character, she's part of the supporting group but her mum loves her, the other girls accept her and she's as much a magical girl as they are.

I'm only vaguely familiar with Hunter x Hunter but IIRC Alluka Zoldyck, Killua's sister, is trans - her oldest brothers call her 'he' but Killua, who she's closest to, calls her 'she'.

[Dr Rock]

Are there any well-written examples of trans characters in mainstream media?

David Duchovny in Twin Peaks?

[phantom_power]

Are there any well-written examples of trans characters in mainstream media?

I think I say this every time it comes up but Dispatches From Elsewhere that has a very well-rounded, empathic trans character, where their gender isn't even discussed until we have got to know the character as a person, and then it is still related to the story being told

[dead-ced-dead]

I think I say this every time it comes up but Dispatches From Elsewhere that has a very well-rounded, empathic trans character, where their gender isn't even discussed until we have got to know the character as a person, and then it is still related to the story being told

[/b]

That's the other advice I was given. Don't think that because you're writing a trans character that you can write the trans experience. Stick to the story you're writing, have the trans characters exist and don't try an explain trans experiences when you aren't.

[chveik]

Are there any well-written examples of trans characters in mainstream media?

in Almodovar films perhaps, but it's been a really long time since i've seen any

[Autopsy Turvey]

Are there any well-written examples of trans characters in mainstream media?

Norma Bormann in The New Statesman.

[phantom_power]

Didn't The OA have a trans character where their gender was barely mentioned? Star Trek: Discovery had the same actor playing a sort-of trans alien

[dozybugcarrot]

Sense8 by the Wachowski sisters was good.

[tookish]

I wanted to get some opinions of people here. It's about cis writers writing trans or enby characters in works of fiction.

Specifically, I was thinking of starting to write a detective book with an enby lead character as a cis writer.

I know there are millions of examples of well meaning writers trying to write about race, sexuality, gender etc. and getting it really wrong. so rather than asking, "what should I know?" before I start planning, it's more of a case of, "should I even start?" Even with tonnes of research it could come across as cringy. Like, even the best ally can't know everything there is to know without it coming across as authentic, or should I just stop second guessing myself and write the darn thing?

So I wanted to get some advice and I thought this would be a good thread to ask.

This is a good question. In my humble onion, please DO write trans and non binary characters. Please also gain sensitivity readers! I'm very willing to read your work if you'd like someone. I write myself too.

[dead-ced-dead]

This is a good question. In my humble onion, please DO write trans and non binary characters. Please also gain sensitivity readers! I'm very willing to read your work if you'd like someone. I write myself too.

Thank you for the response and for the offer. At the moment the story is merely a glint in the milkman's eye, but when (if ever) it's complete, I'll PM you.

[Mister Six]

Apparently the transphobes are trying to claim that Terry Pratchett was "gender critical", even though anyone even vaguely familiar with his work (particularly Monstrous Regiment, and a bunch of stuff involving the dwarves in the Watch novels) would know that's clearly absolute bollocks.

Thankfully, his daughter has stepped up to correct the record.

[Kankurette]

Was he fuck gender critical. I mean, he wasn't super right-on but his heart was in the right place.

[bgmnts]

Trying to claim that dead people would have taken your side is desperate stuff.

[canadagoose]

Trying to claim that dead people would have taken your side is desperate stuff.

But but but, women won't wheesht!!! (or some shit)

[Mister Six]

Was he fuck gender critical. I mean, he wasn't super right-on but his heart was in the right place.

He was pretty right on. One of the villains in The Fifth Elephant (IIRC) is basically a TERF (or dwarf equivalent... DWERF?).

[rack and peanut]

Found this on my travels today:

https://tiltify.com/@localmanjon/local-man-jon-walks-bath-for-mermaids-mind-shelter