I wish people would understand the difference between QUEERCODING and QUEERBAITING.
To code can be used positively or negatively.
To bait is only negative. Baiting is not good.
Referring to a creation as “bait” is claiming there’s a purposeful manipulation or exploitation of the intended viewers by the creators of that creation.
Queerbaiting is only ever manipulation and exploitation so you don’t claim it unless you’re sure of it or the creators have admitted to committing it.
Queercoding certainly can be that too if the creators for it are purposefully using it that way but not always.
To code something as queer might just be their only way of providing and representing a queer narrative.
It can be a very good thing that a show queer codes if the intention is a positive one - validating the viewers.
The reason why they get lumped together as the same thing these days is because why ever is there a need to queer code something when you can make it legitimately and explicitly queer? A valid question.
However, the storytelling in a queer narrative might benefit from something being queercoded rather than explicitly queer because there’s more nuance to it.
Therefore more depth to peruse your thoughts on.
And it can look a lot more natural and authentic than something being explicitly queer depending on who the creator is and what their intention is with using it.
On the other side of the coin….
There’s creators like Emily Andras.
Who can effectively do both and do it well.
So I’ll say it and I’ll say it again and as long as I have to.
What matters is the CREATIVE INTENTION.
Not “better queer representation”.
You won’t get queerbaiting if the intention is sincere.
If it’s sincere - use QUEERCODING. Not queerbaiting.
For the last time - queerbaiting is not a good thing. There is no such thing as “good queerbaiting”. Ever.
If queerbaiting is being committed - it’s a bad thing.
It means you - as a queer person - are not being represented or validated. You are being exploited.
Stop throwing that term around as if it means something good because it’s not fucking good!
Queerbaiting is one of the most evil things a creator can do with their creation and their characters.
For me personally - it’s the worst thing I’ve experienced and I, as a queer person, do not have to put up with it. And neither do you. So if you truly believe a show you’re watching or whatever creation you’re engaged in is queerbaiting, start protesting.
Stop accepting it as all you have or all you can have.
Because if the creator was truly sincere in providing for you what they do with their creation - you wouldn’t feel like this. You wouldn’t feel like you have to settle because, if they were sincere, they’d give you it all - or as much as they possibly could - without detracting from the storytelling or sacrificing great characters.
Likely the characters of which are queercoded.
The ones you relate to, resonate or identify with.
Creators that provide sincere queer representation don’t make this a difficulty, don’t give pathetic excuses and don’t act like throwing a bone is enough.
Creators that are sincere in providing queer representation involve all their explicitly queer or queercoded characters in everything that happens.
They don’t make them either weaker or stronger. They don’t throw drama or theatrics into their relationships for no reason. And they don’t drop screen-time for their queer characters because something or someone more “important” needs to be the focus and therefore the only time they have reserved for them is always some kind of physical intimacy baiting you in.
Sincere providers of queer representation don’t play around with their queer or queercoded characters.
They use them purposefully to represent you and validate you. Not to purposefully use and exploit you.
Please please please learn the difference and please please please stop throwing “queerbaiting” around - especially with a creation that’s legacy within the queer community is as great and profound as Xena’s - whose creators/cast/crew do what they can to represent and validate queer people to this fucking day and do not deserve to be accused of queerbaiting.
Call Xena straightbaiting. I don’t have a problem with that. It’s about time straight people feel as we do when they watch a queer show about queer characters but never get definitive representation and have to settle for one-of-the-week subplots and seriously boring one dimensional straight characters that are about as expressive as a plank of wood.
Sure, Xena can certainly be referred to as committing straightbaiting and I’m 100% nonapologetic about it.
