"Really validating"... Dream had to find validation in his friend coming out and receiving loving, celebratory, and totally appropriate reception in the public eye. Dream had to do that because the public certainly didn't validate him. So little people validated dream after he was harassed for days about his sexuality for jokes other queer creators have made on the same platform. Then once Dream reluctantly and nervously clarified his queerness he was invalidated at every turn. He was doxxed, insulted, and belittled on bigoted grounds.
Legitimate criticisms of dreams past and informed opinions by affected groups on how to handle his controversies were flooded beneath waves of queerphobia and abject hatred.
Dream was not allowed to enjoy sexuality as so many other people enjoy it. He was not allowed to use it for levity or to find community or to make light of his struggles in a liberating way. No, Dream was called a liar, his sexuality was undermined for a variety of horrible reasons. People consigned Dream's coming out to a marketing tactic, they used it and his vulnerability has some sign he was truly evil and trying to manipulate the masses, queer people even outright denied him access to queer community as if they were the same cops who queer activists have fought for decades against.
No one, spoke up for dream. Hardly anybody congratulated him, and the overall consensus was to ignore his vulnerability just as people ignored his humanity in an effort to mine his controversy and his struggles for content.
I am so glad that Ranboo felt the courage and the comfort to be able to indulge in his sexuality honestly and happily. But it is bittersweet to me because someone else who I really enjoy and who is a human being didn't get to do the same thing. And he should have because regardless of how you feel about Dream none of us, not me, not you, or anyone reading this have the authority to undermine anyone's identity regardless of if we like them or not.
The treatment of dreams coming out was unacceptable despite any of the actions that were revealed about his past or any of the ways he's responded to someone's tweets. There need not have been joyous celebration from people who didn't like dream but they're certainly should not have been the level of disrespect and bigotry that was presented. There should have been respect for what he said about his sexuality and respect to not use that innate trait as some sort of insult or weapon against him.
It's really disappointing to see how the reception is different. And honesty it has nothing to do with either content creator. I'm very happy for Ranboo and have said as much on other platforms he deserves every bit of support he recieves. I can feel genuine joy for Rambo and also feel bittersweetness for the mistreatment and mishandling dreams own coming out received.
In closing I am begging people to be mindful of what they say and the implications of what they say. When controversy happens who decides when the gloves are off? You cannot keep attempting to be selective about when bigotry is excusable or okay and then be surprised when bigotry is used against people and in ways that you would have never intended for it to be. Bigotry is never okay and it's never okay for a reason and it's never excusable for a reason.
Finally, if it behooves you congratulate both Dream and Ranboo on their coming out.
jbbartram-illu
germansingergirl
jacobvanloon
stormborns
tangentwithtanner
