THE NEWEST GAY CUM EXPLOSION ON TUMBLR SERIES
The impact is more nuanced than just saying that any representation is a good representation, but the increasing popularity of Boys’ Love is also giving rise to spaces where fans get together to discuss their favourite series and also find solidarity with each other. This is only one example of how BL has been deconstructed and differently decoded to empower the queer fans that consume it. However, in what can be seen as an emancipatory move, some fans have tended to strategically “misread” the history of Thai BL, to separate it from its Japanese influence, and decode it in a manner that fits their understanding of what it means to be queer (Baudinette, Thomas. While queer fans have been at the forefront of demanding series representative of real queer individuals (and this is true for both BL and queer media in other contexts), the fact that BL has had a boost in popularity has also prompted greater production of BL series, many of which have shown great depth and sensitivity in their portrayal of gay relationships.īL, in particular Thai BL series, has undoubtedly been influenced heavily by Japanese yaoi. Boys’ Love providing safe spaces for queer fans There was a comparison made to what has become an iconic scene from Not Me, with the main characters participating in a pride parade-cum-march for marriage equality, and a parade that happened in Thailand recently, which evoked a striking resemblance to one another, and saw reactions from both fans of the series, as well as the cast, who too showed their support for the movement.
Recent shows Not Me Series and Cutie Pie Series both conveyed solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community within the plots themselves and also with conversations that they started and brought forward, which are connected to the pressing issue of marriage equality in Thailand. BL actively discusses marriage equality and supports the LGBTQ+ communityĪctors such as Max Nattapol, Tul Pakorn, and Saint Suppapong are only a few of many who have been very vocal about their advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, going beyond the promotion of their series to actively show their support. This article is written with the intent to counter some of the bad creds BL has received with the positive transformations brought about by its increased popularity. Some critiques are warranted, but at times they have tended to overshadow the promising changes BL has made in the lives of its consumers. The obvious conservative opposition to homosexuality aside, BL has also been branded as a tool for fetishism by straight women and has been called unrealistic in its representation of gay relationships. With popularity undoubtedly came different ways of perceiving BL media and the industry itself, and it has been subjected to no small amount of criticism from the conservative as well as liberal sides.