oh god WHY?

[kindkit]

I am trying not to hate the entire world today, but things like this charming piece of fanart (warning for homophobic violence) are not making it easy.

Apparently the artist and their friends think it's the cutest thing ever, too.

*rages*

Comments

[surexit]

Oh, what. :(

[lemposoi]

The context does make it homophobic, but to be honest if someone kissed me without invitation I would probably punch them on the mouth too.

[kindkit]

But the context matters. In particular, I think it matters that this is a male-male kiss, because of the still-prevalent idea that a sexual advance from a gay man is an insult that impugns the other man's masculinity, and the other man has not only the right but almost the obligation to respond with violence. That idea results in a lot of brutalized, sometimes murdered gay men.

I don't think violence is the right response to any unwanted advance unless it's necessary because the aggressor doesn't take no for an answer. And I'm definitely unsympathetic when the violence springs from or reinforces homophobia.

[lemposoi]

Oh yes, I agree. You wouldn't show Tintin punching a woman who did that to him (though you would show a female character punching a male character) and the whole framework was all "gay dudes are funny and disgusting!"

I mildly disagree about violence as a response, though - although perhaps punching is too excessive. There would at the very least be shoving and shouted abuse. Kissing someone without invitation, particularly someone you're not involved with, is absolutely not on.

I don't mean to derail, though I seem to be doing exactly that, so I reiterate: the point you made is one I agree with: that piece of art was homophobic and reinforced social acceptance of hate violence against gay men. That is also not on.