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Here we go again
Aug. 16th, 2009 10:24 amOn the heels of The Mammoth Book of Mind-Blowing SF debacle, we have the following.
So back in June, GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) rated the various networks on wacky things like positive (or in some cases, any) portrayals of actual LBGT people on their shows. Not surprisingly but sadly, the SciFi--excuse me, SyFy--Channel failed. SyFy said public equivalent of "Ooops. We will do better." Then turned around and developed a Stargate Universe episode in which Ming-Na's lesbian character goes through the old body switcheroo with another character, then sleeps with a male character, only it's like not really her, it's this other character doing it. Yeah. Right. Said lesbian character is of course a zillion light years from actual partner, just to cut down on the onscreen ickiness potential of, you know, showing homosexual interactions of any kind between actual queer characters. Way to grasp the whole diversity thing there, Sy-Fy. They say "Oops again." In the midst of this, a science fiction writer named John C. Wright (with whose works I plan to remain blissfully unfamiliar) decides to wade in to save the world of scifi from the Homosexual Menace (advise skipping this unless the old blood pressure needs a boost - the high points are repeated elsewhere). He's quite fond of words like "sin" and "perversion" as well as drawing the most bizaare connections between racism and homophobia ("Is an irrational lust and longing to mimic the mating act with a sex with which one cannot mate, at its root, any more or less disconnected to reality than an irrational fear and hatred of a Negro?"). Author Hal Duncan writes a marvelous response here. Explain to me again why the sf/f field and fandom are just so accepting and open minded that we don't need to talk about or respond to homophobia and racism and sexism and ableism again? I think I missed it.
And other links, just for variety -
From the fab When Fangirls Attack comics feed - 100 Best Comic Book Covers, compiled by one of those semi-mythical female comic book fans who presumably don't go to ComicCon to lust after and grope the "booth babes" (another classic moment from recent weeks). It's an interesting list - I found some stuff I'll be checking out, as well as things to avoid.
Also, check out the following -
The Hathor Legacy searches for good women characters as well as providing a bunch of good resources on books, movies, gender, race, pop culture and politics. Recommended.
Genre Reviews - Well written and entertaining paranormal and fantasy reviews. Good stuff!
So back in June, GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) rated the various networks on wacky things like positive (or in some cases, any) portrayals of actual LBGT people on their shows. Not surprisingly but sadly, the SciFi--excuse me, SyFy--Channel failed. SyFy said public equivalent of "Ooops. We will do better." Then turned around and developed a Stargate Universe episode in which Ming-Na's lesbian character goes through the old body switcheroo with another character, then sleeps with a male character, only it's like not really her, it's this other character doing it. Yeah. Right. Said lesbian character is of course a zillion light years from actual partner, just to cut down on the onscreen ickiness potential of, you know, showing homosexual interactions of any kind between actual queer characters. Way to grasp the whole diversity thing there, Sy-Fy. They say "Oops again." In the midst of this, a science fiction writer named John C. Wright (with whose works I plan to remain blissfully unfamiliar) decides to wade in to save the world of scifi from the Homosexual Menace (advise skipping this unless the old blood pressure needs a boost - the high points are repeated elsewhere). He's quite fond of words like "sin" and "perversion" as well as drawing the most bizaare connections between racism and homophobia ("Is an irrational lust and longing to mimic the mating act with a sex with which one cannot mate, at its root, any more or less disconnected to reality than an irrational fear and hatred of a Negro?"). Author Hal Duncan writes a marvelous response here. Explain to me again why the sf/f field and fandom are just so accepting and open minded that we don't need to talk about or respond to homophobia and racism and sexism and ableism again? I think I missed it.
And other links, just for variety -
From the fab When Fangirls Attack comics feed - 100 Best Comic Book Covers, compiled by one of those semi-mythical female comic book fans who presumably don't go to ComicCon to lust after and grope the "booth babes" (another classic moment from recent weeks). It's an interesting list - I found some stuff I'll be checking out, as well as things to avoid.
Also, check out the following -
The Hathor Legacy searches for good women characters as well as providing a bunch of good resources on books, movies, gender, race, pop culture and politics. Recommended.
Genre Reviews - Well written and entertaining paranormal and fantasy reviews. Good stuff!