The problem with purity culture in the byler fandom
In light of the recent conflict surrounding lockgate (which I won't be commenting on in this post) it got me thinking how the purity culture in the byler fandom is honestly damaging.
I can understand how some feel uncomfortable thinking about byler and/or mileven sex scenes as we've knows these characters since they where a young age but we've got to remember that this is a coming of age story. They are growing up and entering adulthood in the epilogue. They are not little kids anymore and are going to experience hormones and all that jazz!! Part of the growing up for many is experiencing romantic and sexual attraction.
Having these feelings is especially important to Mike and Will considering they are GAY in the 80'S!!! Exploring your sexuality becomes a lot more difficult in this context and unfortunately for yalls sexual attraction and intimacy are involved here. If you are wanting to discuss byler and their struggles with being gay guys in the 80s, the time of the AIDS crisis, then I'm afraid sex is going to be discussed. We can't just avoid that part of the context and history!!
Another point is that I couldn't help but notice that no one is complaining about stancy and jancy having sex but when it's byler it's an issue??? Why are things different when it's gay sex?! It's important for queer representation to show that homosexual relationships are treated the same as heterosexual ones.
Not to get all personal here but, I have only ever been taught in school about sex between a man and a woman. Never once has discussing gay sex in a safe, open and educational environment. I think it says a lot when a sapphic girl had to learn about lesbian sex through yuri manga that does nothing but objectifies woman. Ew.
Same sex intimacy needs to be normalised!!! It is not abnormal or disgusting, it is natural, normal and (like sex is supposed to be) fun,, No matter you or your partner's gender/sex. This needs to be potraid in our media so folks (especially queer teens) are aware of this and will not feel ostracized for feeling the way they do. Let the gay kids see gay experiences!! And sexual attraction is part of that.
I'm not saying you have to go crazy theorising whether or not Mike and Will are gonna have say gex (I myself aren't too fussed) or even feel comfortable about viewing sexual content (I myself am also not very comfortable with it) but attacking those who discuss these ideas is chipping away at LGBTQ+ representation and supporting a stigma around sex in general.
