Mako

I’m very confused about this opinion that LGBTQA+ people who ship heterosexual pairings are either, a) not queer, b) homophobic, or c) both. So many Makorra shippers, even cis straight shippers, are getting so much shit and being called oppressive and heteronormative and homophobic. 

“What? You have a reasonable and well formed opinion...? Uhh.....YOURE HOMOPHOBIC”

I stand in solidarity with lgbt people who believe that bi relationships in children’s media should be portrayed with forethought and care. I have never and will never claim to be the sole or higher authority on this matter - I draw what I know from other lgbt commentators and LOK fans, and I also speak from my experience as a longtime viewer of the show. I support writers like those in Steven Universe that intentionally and thoughtfully weave lgbt characters into their shows.

But this notion that a straight fan saying remotely anything negative above K/A is “erasure of lgbt voices” is untrue and wrong. What IS wrong is straight people commandeering the discussion in ways that are dictatorial and authoritative and refuse to take into account the views of lgbt people. Instead, it’s as if even though I’ve been deeply invested in LOK and all its characters for years, I am obligated to sit back and not contribute any negative criticism or express my hurt and frustration about how this show, Korra, and her relationships were handled - and when/if I do, I need to always follow up with an asterisk praising the social importance of K/A. Every post I do make on this matter, no matter how thoughtful or polite, almost always gets responded to with “boo hoo” or “wow the straights are so desperate/bitter.” And then if I try to tell people that I think it’s wrong to attack disappointed M/K fans and/or LOK fans in this way, I get accused of elevating straight pain above lgbt pain – an accusation that doesn’t make sense in this situation, because the discussion centers singularly around two specific fictional relationships that people have different opinions about writing-wise. And then the comments like “you don’t care about little lbgt children!” start coming. There’s this wild, instant jump to connect dots that don’t exist in the name of keeping a pairing free of any criticism whatsoever because it’s believed that if this pairing is tarnished even in the smallest way, it’s going to belittle the cause of lgbt representation in the media and reinforce the suffering of young children. Thinking like this isn’t doing anything to defend those children or progress in general, it’s launched this community into an aggressive cycle where there is literally no way for any LOK fan who disagrees with K/A to express themselves. No matter HOW it’s phrased and no matter what the sexuality or age of the person in question is, it all comes back to the fact that the majority of the people on here believe that if you say ANYTHING remotely negative about K/A, you are inherently wrong and harboring internalized homophobia/biphobia.

And I personally (I know many others agree with me too) think there is something deeply wrong about a movement that claims to be progressive viciously rejecting any and all forms of disapproval. To give a personal example: There are few realistic and unstereotypical female-led action franchises that exist in the movie industry. I can and do celebrate The Hunger Games franchise for proving that females can play complex, dynamic leading roles in major franchises and make as much or more money than male leads. But, I also speak out negatively about the erasure of Katniss’ identity as a women of color and reblog posts harshly criticizing hollywood for doing so because I know that one of the feminist movement’s ultimate goals should be the elevation and respectful portrayal of women of color in the media.

None of us have ever asked anyone to stop enjoying or drawing or writing about K/A – only to have some basic decency and respect for people who don’t agree with it and who want to talk negatively within their own circle of friends and followers about it. M/K has been the butt of harsh jokes for YEARS. K/A’s stance as an lgbt relationship in children’s media deserves recognition and a level of respect, but it certainly does not magically absolve it from being joked about in the way that M/K has. Not to mention the sheer hypocrisy of K/A fans who make ridiculous claims about M/K being abusive (it’s one thing to not like M/K and to believe they don’t work together - but to claim a pairing is abusive is a gross accusation on a whole other level) and then lash out when people imply that K/A might have been portrayed in an unhealthy and unrealistic way.

“Makorra Summer is erasing Korra’s bisexuality.”

“Makorra Summer is putting down all the queers that fought for representation.”

At the end of the day if you went to work at a company they have strict guidelines about what you can andcannot wear. You also have restrictions on dying your hair, piercings covering up tattoos all these things now some places they are less strict others stricter depending on which kind of business environment you go into. 

Our school personally believed at 6th form which is one of the only times places allow you to come in in non school uniform except ours said to wear business suits. Because it was meant to prepare us for if we ever got office jobs or high up corporate jobs or just you know for when you go to interviews you are expected to dress smart etc. 

My question to you is. You are a lucky bitch you even get to wear non uniform as it is. You are going into an environment and if you ever get a job you would NOT dare do anything like this why is a school any different to a work environment? It is meant to be preparing you to go out into the world and get a job. In which you have to follow rules and regulations to keep said job. If you cannot follow one simple fucking rule and want to act like a snarky privileged uptight first world problems basic bitch then what are you gonna do when you want to get a job? Cos no one is gonna employ you if you can’t dress appropriately for the work place. 

This is not edgy and cool and wow fight the patriarchy those evil bastards. Realistically you would never be allowed to wear that in a job unless you were a fitness or PE instructor/teacher. If you go to an institution and you are a child you follow their rules. What the fuck is wrong with your parents to allow this.  Never mind women who have no rights over their bodies never mind women under rule of sharia law I need feminism because I can’t handle reasonable rules and regulations that a school has EVERY RIGHT to put in place.