LGBTQ+ characters can immensely diversify and add an extra oomph to your story. However, writers tend to make similar mistakes while representing individuals from the community. This article will look at avoiding these common clichés and help with writing LGBTQ+ characters that stand out.
Before you carve out these characters, ask yourself why you have this person in your storyline. Do the sexual preferences of the character play a role in your story, or are you simply trying to tick one off the checklist and reach a larger audience? If your response is the latter, then you are strongly advised to rethink your narrative. The LGBTQ+ community deserves recognition, but not for the sake of it.
If you’re writing a character that is crucial to the storyline, you have to do it right. Go beyond your own fears, prejudices, and moral hang-ups. They may be imaginary characters, but they will form a bond with your audiences and may even be an inspiration. Readers today have had their fair share of LGBTQ+ tropes to look out for, and a few aren’t usually well-received.
Let’s look at which ones to avoid.
Don’t Revolve Entirely Around Their Identity
Much like religion, race, or gender, a person’s sexual preference is not their entire identity. Like every other character, he\she\they too have a list of adjectives that define them, goals they want to achieve, and enemies they want to annihilate. Regardless of their sexual identity, you have to shed light on how they mingle in their world. Their interactions with their family, peers, and outside world need to be as normal as possible.
Why, you ask? Well, the answer is quite simple. How often do you come across a persona that is so self-absorbed that their conversations with their WiFi service provider have to have their sexual identity included? People do not go out of their way flaunting, and neither should your character. Unless, of course, that is who you intend to write.
Don’t Base Them on One Person You Know
People’s privacy is very important to them, and unless you have their permission in writing, do not share anyone’s personal details through your characters. Sexuality is deeply personal, just as coming out, transitioning or gender identity is. As a writer, you are expected to show restraint from invading a queer person’s personal space for your needs. Instead, spend time on public forums and read other writers who have LGBTQ+ characters.
Do Not Mix up Their Sexual Identity
Even if you belong to the LGBTQ+ community, spend time understanding the differences between the various sexual groups. What is the difference between a pansexual and an asexual? Do their sexual preferences affect how they interact with people? Take advantage of applications like the Taimi app to understand the bare bones of the community to make your character as authentic as possible.
While you’re at it, keep up with the terminology, it is constantly updating.
Avoid Stereotypes and Exaggerating
Okay, this goes without saying, but here we are. Not all queer characters hate themselves, and no, bisexuals aren’t just confused. Gay men aren’t necessarily overly feminine, and lesbians don’t always dress in plaid and ride bikes. They aren’t all sassy and sex crazy. Nor do they constantly obsess over how they look.
It is very easy for writers to use this minority character as comic relief and exaggerate their actions or feelings. If you find yourself doing that, stop.
Instead, take into consideration their character and what they are like. What is their internal conflict? What drives them, and what makes them happy? Most importantly, how does that fit into your story?
Don’t Skimp on the Character’s Backstory
Backstories are the cornerstones of successful character building. It is more so for queer characters who have lived a full life before, wondering if they may be different. Give them a pre and post-character arc. As a writer, it may be intimidating to give one character too many arcs in a story, but if not them, then who?
Your character doesn’t only live in words on your page; they come to life when a reader picks up your book. Let your character be bold, not in how open they are about their sexuality but in their backstory.
Don’t Be Afraid of Emotions and Emotional Connections
If your character has your past in their background story, there is nothing wrong with adding your flavor to them. It is a wonderful space and opportunity to pour your fears, emotions, and the feelings you have had or still do into this piece of art you are creating.
If that is not the case, remember that LGBTQ+ community individuals are people too! Do not be afraid to use your insecurities to fill their character sheet. Plus, you can always try to step into their shoes! Take advice from people from the community and walk their talk to craft their drafts.
Don’t Protect Your LGBTQ+ Characters
Okay, it is tempting to protect your precious creation from the imaginary hardships of your made-up world. Do not fall prey to that temptation. Let them be bullied for their identity; let them see that the world isn’t a bed of roses. How else will they transform? It is a sure-shot way of writing a believable and authentic character.
● How does your character succumb to peer pressure?
● How often do they get bullied or harassed?
● How long does it take them to find their spine?
Place them in situations that traumatize them and turn them into an anxious mess. But also give them enough good to keep them going. Who helps them? How do they find their strength, and which other character was there to catch them from falling too deep?
Let your characters live as you do.
Avoid Killing Them Off in the First Five Chapters
Representation of minority characters will mean nothing if there isn’t much of them throughout the book! If killing characters is a regular theme throughout the book, have a backup minority character to continue representing the community.
Conclusion
They say art is paper-thin, but the emotions it conjures up go beyond basic space and time. When writing LGBTQ+ individuals, keep in mind that all these years of content you’ve consumed over multiple media platforms have tried to demonize these characters in one way or the other. If you’ve read this far into the article, you are specifically trying to avoid that notion.
Use the character to educate people on their struggles, much like the tug of all communities.
And finally, enforce the idea that at the heart of all LGBTQ+ characters and community is a plea for acceptance and equal treatment. It is all they want, like every other person in this world. All you need is love! Here is hoping this article will steer you in the right direction and you can create an LGBTQ+ individual character you are proud of.
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