"When asked if the possibility of Daryl being gay had been considered, Kirkman answered, “All I can say is that it’s been discussed. We have very specific ideas about Daryl’s sexuality (or the seeming lack thereof), and if there’s ever a quiet period in the show where he’s not consistently distracted by crossbowing… we’ll tackle it in the show.”
When also asked if AMC would let the possibility of Daryl Dixon being gay fly, Kirkman responded, “For the record, they absolutely would.”
Well darlins, I'm back from Otakon, and this is like coming home to a piece of strawberry cheesecake dripping in syrup and covered in berries waiting for me to dig right the fuck in.
Because this? This is MONUMENTAL.
Regardless of if Daryl's sexuality is ever revealed in the show, or what it might ever be revealed to be, this statement right here is showing that Daryl as queer has been taken seriously as a possibility. Not just by queer fans- not just by shippers of queer ships- not just by people starved and grasping and clutching at the crumbs we're given- but by the people who are creating this show.
That it has been taken seriously enough to be discussed, that it has been taken seriously enough to not be dismissed outright but to be kept under wraps and thus treated as JUST AS LEGITIMATE A POSSIBILITY AS DARYL BEING STRAIGHT.
(and you all know me, so you KNOW that I've long thought that I think Daryl as queer is much more likely than Daryl as straight, but that's another conversation entirely)
Daryl as queer is no longer something that other fans can dismiss as ludicrous, not only because we were ALWAYS legitimate and if you EVER dismissed us you should feel bad-- but because we have now been officially legitimized. It's not just fan conjecture; it's a possibility and it's been an official one. It's a possibility that AMC would stand behind and support. It's a possibility that the show creators and that we know Norman Reedus would stand behind and support. It's a possibility that queer fans and straight fans alike DESERVE to have treated as worthwhile.
If you ever told us we were being ridiculous- if you ever told us they would never, AMC would never, TWD's showrunners would never, if you ever told us we were being delusional- if you ever told us Daryl couldn't be because he didn't fit enough of your stereotypes- if you ever told us it was impossible-- you need to realize how very wrong you were and why what you said was wrong on a moral level and not just on a factual level.
I'm celebrating. Whatever happens- and you can bet your ass this gives me real, concrete hope, because anyone who takes it seriously enough to talk about it this much is more likely to to maybe even do it- we've been treated like we, and the idea of a queer Daryl- the idea that the most bad-ass character on television, the brooding sex symbol, the gorgeous moody protagonist, the idol of the South, the break from every stereotype-- we've been treated like stereotypes don't exist and queer Daryl could possibly BE, and that means the world.
Thanks.
Someone tell me where to send Robert Kirkman a #QueerDarylDixon teeshirt :) he's earned it.