Alright, I’m all for gay characters in musicals, but there’s something severely wrong with how tumblr approaches the topic. Note that my comments are not directed at anyone in particular.
In Dear Evan Hansen, there is literally no “great male friendship.” Not between Evan and Jared nor with Evan and Connor. When we see Evan and Connor interact, Connor acts violently toward Evan, insults him, and feels insulted by him (though Evan may have no such intent). The only remotely positive interaction that we see is Connor signing Evan’s cast. After that, Connor dies leaving no way for Evan and Connor to grow in any sort of relationship.
When people in the DEH fandom call out the creators for not making it “gay” or whatever, it’s really dumb. To make it gay, it would erase the story and any depth that the musical has, not to mention erase the female characters– something the musical fandoms are great at doing.
Female characters and their stories are so overshadowed and seemingly unimportant in a lot of situations. Take for example, Hamilton. I think Alexander Hamilton could have very well have been bisexual and he also may have had a relationship with John Laurens.
That’s great and all, but the way people are so willing to erase Eliza from the narrative that she strives and ultimately becomes, shows that tumblr just won’t be happy until we see two guys making out on stage.
The same thing happens with In the Heights. Bensnavi, shipping Usnavi with Johan from Blackish, or shipping Usnavi with Ruben from Do No Harm (this one is so weird, you’re basically shipping Lin with himself), you’re taking away the incredible character Vanessa is (and with Bensnavi, Nina as well).
I really don’t mind Lams and all, but I hate seeing Eliza and other female characters pushed aside to satisfy the needs of the fandom.
And the issue becomes, it’s not only the women, but practically everyone who gets ignored and set aside. The story is stripped and in the end is barely remininiciant of the original. All that we have left are two dudes who have been changed into “cute, soft, smol” or some other tumblr thing. The people of the ship are changed to an extent as well. Their stories, struggles, personalities– everything is molded into what the fandom wants to see. When Connor and Evan are shipped together, the fact that Connor committed suicide, had mental problems, was emotionally (and perhaps physically) abusive gets overlooked. Evan’s compulsive lying, social anxiety, and need for attention also turn into “Evan Hansen the smol boy who loves trees!!!”
I’m sure I went off on a tangent. But I hate the way characters are being treated now the days. From TV shows, to movies, to musicals, it seems like what the creators vision was, it’s been turned into something stupid so tumblr can fawn over who they want.
I’m pansexual myself and I love to see LGBTQ+ characters. But I also can’t have crucial parts of the story gone or erased because then, there’s really nothing there.
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