For those who follow me who are not in the Outlander fandom I want to try and explain what went down yesterday. (15th January 2022).
For years - literally years - an LGBTQIA+ section of the fandom has existed. However, on social media and especially on stories that contain Queer characters or plots and themes, there has been consistent trolling, bullying, and negative comments including homophobic hate messages.
Yesterday a number of people within the Queer section of the fandom started receiving anon hate. However, the spelling wording and tenor of the messages was the same as publicly posted tumblr posts from known accounts. And one account in particular. This account was making hate-filled responses to blog posts made by people within the LGBTQIA+ corner of the fandom.
When the individual user was challenged by specific blog users (happy to mention names but only if they consent) the tone of the messages became more serious and began including personal attacks. Now the messages were not just attacking Queer characters, Queer interpretations or Queer storytelling but now including personal attacks of a homophobic and hateful nature against individuals within the fandom.
These messages included as I say, attacks of a personal nature. Some of these were relatively petty but some of them escalated up to encouragment to self harm and encouragement for someone to take their own life. Death threats, people. We are talking about named blogs of known individuals sending death threats to users because of who they are or the way they write fictional characters.
Its easy to sit by and think, ‘Wow that looks ugly!’ And do nothing.
This fandom has a serious problem with hate and yes, with the alt-right. The fandom has ingrained homophobic, racist and white supremacist narratives. Some of that comes from the way the original canon texts express themselves.
When someone receives a message telling them to go kill themselves, the correct response is not to sit by on the sidelines.
This fandom needs to decide what it thinks is right. And I feel I have an obligation as the writer of stories like Triquetra which I am aware changed the zeitgeist of the fandom for a lot of people, I feel I have an obligation to use whatever small platform I may have to stand up against hate and bullying.
I lived through the gaslighting, sock-puppeting, the plagiarism, and so much more. But really it comes down to this:
Either you believe in decency or you don’t.
Either you believe in the inherent worth of human beings or you don’t.
Either you believe in standing up for what is right or you don’t.
Now is the time to let the world know what you believe.
No one is saying every single user on the internet ever has to personally go to war with every troll. But whoever you are, and whatever your fandom (or none) a show of support from outwith the LGBTQIA+ section of the Outlander fandom would mean a lot.
This corner of the fandom has been fighting this fight - that other people keep bringing to them - for a long time. Years and years at this point.
Please, if you think that the spreading of hate messages and death threats is wrong, consider posting a short blog post expressing your solidarity.
Do not tolerate intolerance.
Thank you for your time.
