Kazeki was really important to me growing up. You bring up similar paranoias I have. I consider it a masterpiece honestly and while it's important to criticize the popularity of fetishization and homophobia in mainstream yaoi/shounen-ai (I'm bigender and queer so), I get worried that well-written queer manga automatically is assumed as yaoi, which isn't productive or fair, especially in Kazeki's case where it predates the yaoi genre's existence. Idk I get anxiety about having to disclaimer?
LEGIT I totally get it. I kinda stumbled on Kaze ki by watching an artist voiceover “difference between lgbt media and yaoi?” And tbh? It’s hard to distinguish, because Y’know, male porn is not considered yaoi, or it’s made for consumption without the stigma of yaoi.
And also, much boys love genres are changing generally for more sweeter stories? But it’s the fact that authors blatantly regard lgbt stigma and do it because the characters are male and it’s hot is the distinction 😂 fetisization specifically
If boys love genre can get to the standard of “these are lgbt stories and we respect gay men” rather than “we use gay men to fulfill your fantasies ;)” that shift right there would get rid of the stigma altogether.
But still, we’re see changes in the world, slowly yet steadily for sure
