GLBT writing tips/resources

[ThisIsNoName]

Well, I've seen a lot of threads complaining about how few games there are with GBLT character's, and the ones that do have them tend to either set them up as stereotypes (This character is Genki Lesbian Girl. We sometimes call her Jill) or just have them as comic relief or other negative roles.

So anyways, I figured this could be a place where people can put writing tips or ask GLBT specific questions, so people who may not know much about GLBT issues can maybe say "Huh, I think I might be able to fit this in my game."

[Victoria Jennings]

Oh, wow, awesome idea. 0':

I write LGBTQ characters quite frequently, and what I've found works the best is having them not make a big deal about it, in the same way you wouldn't make a black character make a huge deal about their race. People are people, in the end. It's not like having queer characters opens up a whole new range of specific personality types or anything.

Another thing: there are a quite a bit LGBTQ webcomics that deal with issues of sexuality, but none cover it so broadly, I think, as Khaos Komix (warning: some parts are NSFW).

Also, just in case you don't want to read KK up to Charlie's story, causing you to skip out on this helpful pamphlet about what it's like for trans people, here you go.

[ThisIsNoName]

I write LGBTQ characters quite frequently, and what I've found works the best is having them not make a big deal about it, in the same way you wouldn't make a black character make a huge deal about their race. People are people, in the end. It's not like having queer characters opens up a whole new range of specific personality types or anything.

I definitely agree with this. I have to say one of the biggest flaws I see when people start writing about GLBT issues is that they only make them about GLBT issues, and conveniently forget that there's supposed to be a story in there somewhere. Although, I suppose that's a common thing with any issue.

One resource I've found very useful for learning about Transgender issues is the National Center for Transgender Equality Resources page.

Some of the documents that I found particularly useful:
Model District Policy on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students
This is a good reference for how people should react to transgender/gender non-comforming characters in an ideal situation.
Transgender Terminology
A simple glossary of commonly used transgender terms.
Understanding Transgender People
A good resource for learning about transgender issues from a layman's point of view.

[Carrogath]

I definitely agree with this. I have to say one of the biggest flaws I see when people start writing about GLBT issues is that they only make them about GLBT issues, and conveniently forget that there's supposed to be a story in there somewhere. Although, I suppose that's a common thing with any issue.

Oh, absolutely. Badly-written LGBT stories tend to be heavy on the sexuality angst and the melodrama and the fact that this character is gay/bi/trans/genderqueer/etc., when all that really does is reinforce the idea that LGBT people can't, or shouldn't, be comfortable with themselves.

A big question in LGBT stories is whether the characters are in denial, or in the closet, or not, and how much that matters to the people around them. If it's not a coming-out story, then you have a lot more freedom as to how the character's sexuality affects their lives. You can make it a huge issue or a non-issue--it depends on what you want to convey to your audience.

TVTropes' index of LGBT tropes is worth a read, even though I know a lot of people hate that site.

[Arelune]

Do you count asexuals, demisexuals, genderfluid, neutrois, ... also under this? If so, I could go dig around in my links.

People are people, in the end. It's not like having queer characters opens up a whole new range of specific personality types or anything.

^

[Victoria Jennings]

I know a lot of people hate that site.

Why would anyone hate TVTropes? :3

But besides that... OH, I HAVE A GOOD ONE.

Ahem... permit me to go on something of a rant here... I understand that people have their kinks and their preferences and all. But for the record, the uke/seme dynamic I've encountered in many a BL work is pretty unrealistic. I'm not trying to invalidate your stories or taste or anything, I'm just saying, if you want to write a realistic gay character, avoid that stereotype of a set top and bottom, with the seme acting as the "man" in the relationship, and the blushing, constantly-crying, hyper-effeminate uke acting as the "woman".

Of course, there's always exceptions, but just because a certain kind of relationship is possible doesn't mean it's a good way to handle something.

On another note, a lot of BL is unabashed porn, so realism is more of an after-thought than anything else, which is totally fine. Just saying, if you want to write a believable gay character, don't base their whole personality off of being gay!

Do you count asexuals, demisexuals, genderfluid, neutrois, ... also under this? If so, I could go dig around in my links.

I haven't ever encountered the term 'neutrois' before, so I looked it up... and consequently realized I'd already written a character who identified as genderqueer, who I probably should have made this instead.

Yay, Mal gets to come out of the gender closet a second time! xD

[Minnfae]

I write LGBTQ characters quite frequently, and what I've found works the best is having them not make a big deal about it, in the same way you wouldn't make a black character make a huge deal about their race. People are people, in the end. It's not like having queer characters opens up a whole new range of specific personality types or anything.

I agree with this.
I'd add that, at least to me, it gets somewhat annoying when the story itself gets too preachy or dumps too much information regarding sexuality, but it could work in some plots. I don't want to feel that the story is trying to force me to accept certain values (somehow, it's more annoying when it's values you already agree with), and it feels unnatural.

[Greeny]

I strongly believe that you can just take any straight romance and substitute one of them for the other gender (and imply they're both gay) and you would have a perfectly good romance story. Assuming the story you started from was any good.

To that effect (don't tell anyone what I'm about to say, it's a secret) I'm about to start working on a project with a lesbian romance element where the lesbian bit is completely incidental.

[Victoria Jennings]

To that effect (don't tell anyone what I'm about to say, it's a secret) I'm about to start working on a project with a lesbian romance element where the lesbian bit is completely incidental.

Playing this! * 0 *

[Arelune]

I haven't ever encountered the term 'neutrois' before, so I looked it up... and consequently realized I'd already written a character who identified as genderqueer, who I probably should have made this instead.

Yay, Mal gets to come out of the gender closet a second time! xD

Congratulations, Mal! And yeah, it's one of the lesser known terms.

-Dumps some links for research-
Main site of Neutrois.
Understanding asexuality, with eyebrows.
The various forms of attraction.
Asexual symbols.
AVENwiki as a whole. Most is about asexuality.
About the Grey-Area of sexuality. Interesting site as a whole too about asexuality.
Small Gender wiki. Compacter than the original wikipedia.
Androgyne information. Lots of interesting links below.
Gender-neutral pronouns.

[Aedin]

AVEENNN. It's been forever since I've been on that site.

I strongly believe that you can just take any straight romance and substitute one of them for the other gender (and imply they're both gay) and you would have a perfectly good romance story. Assuming the story you started from was any good.

This.
People assume that because it may be a same-sex relationship that everything has to be different. Most relationships like that are the same a heterosexual, except for how things work in the bedroom.

I write LGBTQ characters quite frequently, and what I've found works the best is having them not make a big deal about it, in the same way you wouldn't make a black character make a huge deal about their race. People are people, in the end. It's not like having queer characters opens up a whole new range of specific personality types or anything.

Also, this. I know one person, just one in the LGBTQP community that makes a huge deal about their sexuality. Most people don't run around screaming "I'm flaaaaming gay~" or anything like that. They act like normal people, save for their romantic interests and, again, the bedroom.

Then again, I'm panromantically asexual, and I've grown up around people in the LGBTQP community so I've never really had problems writing it because I've been extremely exposed to it.

[BairaagiVN]

Thanks for this topic! Being offensive is near the top of my "really stupid writing mistakes I'm afraid of" list, so this is a big help.

[LeandroP]

You can find stereotypes in any character nowadays. Making an innovative character takes a lot, I mean, A LOT of time and mind. Still, it will fall in a category of the sort.

The best way to write about something you don't know, (for example: a woman's feelings), is to interact and analyze them as a whole and then as individuals and take the traits of personality you want from each. Still, It's going to be quite a pain in the neck to do so.

[dramspringfeald]

The Major issue is most writers write what/who they know. That leads to googling "LGBT" subjects and running into the Stereotypes.

Personally My sister WAS the Genki Lesbian Girl, who joined the US Army. So the joke... Yes my sister did indeed wear combat boots. Her lesbian friend / room mate was the stereotypical Butch.

It all comes from what we know and what we might think is ok according to the resources we find.

[Obscura]

Sort of a tangent, but I felt like remarking on this speech I saw today by Lana Wachowski today (one of the Matrix directors).

Amazing, beautiful speech.