Queering the Narrative: Fanfiction and LGBTQ+ Identities

By Jessie Ames

---

Fanfiction has become a sensation in recent years. What was once considered a hidden pastime of teen girls has now exploded into a cultural phenomenon. It is more than the fantasies of dating Harry Styles or images of a life set in fictional reality. Fanfiction encompasses so much, from short stories to detailed plotlines that draw on extensive research to enhance realism. However, it still has a negative stigma. Nevertheless, fanfiction is a valid form of fictional expression and, moreover, has surprising benefits.

Fanfiction is a worthy endeavor; it is a valid form of self-expression, sex education, and a sanctuary for marginalized communities. Since its creation, it has created a safe space to portray queer characters and romances that the mainstream media has ignored or censored. The LGBTQ+ community has flocked to the art for decades. Understanding fanfiction’s role as a safe space for the community is important in the analysis of broader queer media.

              Before analyzing fanfiction and the LGBTQ+  community, I need to explain what fanfiction is and how it came to be. Fanfiction, simply put, is fiction by fans for fans. The Guardian writer, Ewan Morrison, defines fanfic as “the work of amateurs retelling existing stories” and “the reworking of another author’s characters.” The definitions remain broad, and for good reason: fanfiction is an ever-evolving medium. Morrisson’s definition extends the origins to any reworking of a story after the invention of legal authorship in the 18th century. However, most would consider the inception of fanfiction as we know it to be the Star Trek story "Ring of Soshern" by Jennifer Guttridge in 1987. It was the first widely circulated same-sex couple within the slash genre. (Reich) (Slash fanfiction takes two commonly deemed heterosexual characters and places them in a situation with romantic undertones) Before this, fans created fanzines ( fan magazines) full of original works designed to swap. (Reich)

This subgenre has garnered criticism from members of the community because the authors who wrote slash stories were supposedly cis straight women who did not portray authentic representations of gay characters. However, recent studies have shown that a substantial number of the people who write and read slash fics identify as queer and use these stories to explore their own sexuality.

              Fanfiction expanded beyond fan magazines with the invention of the internet. What began as individual forums and webpages has evolved into a variety of sites that host hundreds of thousands of stories, including Archive of Our Own (A03), Fanfiction.net, LiveJournal, and Wattpad. Each one is different, but overall users can upload their original works, read, and organize their favorite stories. A03 is a standout among its contemporaries. The site was founded in 2007 because of frustration due to content purges and monetization efforts from other original fiction websites. A03 is unique since it is not just a site to publish, but “A non-profit, non-commercial archive for transformative fanworks; created by and for fans of books, music, art, games, shows, movies, real-person fiction (RPF), and other fandoms.” (A03) In 2019, Archive of Our Own won a Hugo Award for its community-focused project due to its open-source repository of fanworks. (Morrison)

              For members of groups like the queer community, fanfiction has offered an opportunity to reclaim media that misrepresents them or completely erases them from the narrative. Today, we have more queer representation than ever; however, it is still at the mercy of advertisers and a predominantly straight audience. Fanfiction allows creators to craft diverse and inclusive stories in their favorite works, and readers can find representation that is lacking in popular media. Additionally, sites allow authors and readers to create completely anonymous profiles, creating a layer of freedom and safety that may be missing from their offline lives. Readers form emotional connections to these characters and stories, often leading to online engagement. In 2018, a study done by Kristina Busse and Alexis Lohtian found that young fans, “describe…slash fan fiction as enabling them to explore and come to terms with their own queer identifications.”  

Fanfiction sites offer a way for people in marginalized communities to connect and build support systems that are often missing in daily life. Studies have found that teens and young adults who feel a sense of belonging and representation are, on average, happier than those who feel excluded. Meaning that fanfiction and its community can be tools to aid one’s mental health. (Busse Kristina, Lothian Alexis. and The Trevor Project)

              Fanfiction allows readers to explore their own identity through their favorite characters. Often, the world of fanfiction rejects traditional heteronormative narratives. Tropes, plotlines, and character arcs that are traditionally exclusionary are picked apart and broken down in favor of gender bending, sexuality exploration, and new, more diverse plotlines. Fanfiction also allows the fans to express theories about characters that the original creators have not or refuse to analyze. (Duggan)

 One of the best examples of this is the character Dean Winchester from the CW show, Supernatural. Since the show's inception in 2005, eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the stereotypical “macho man” Dean also had characteristics seen in traditionally queer characters, particularly ones struggling with their sexuality. He blushed when men flirted with him and flirted back; he had a strong (sometimes read as homoerotic) friendship with other male characters and yearned for femininity via multiple scenes of dancing and referencing wearing women’s underwear. While none of these things are definitive indicators of a person's sexuality, fans flocked to these hints so much that a large portion of the online fandom has accepted Dean as part of the LGBTQ+ community. It is no coincidence that Dean Winchester has appeared multiple times on A03’s year in review top 100 ships for multiple years in a row.

              ‘Slash’ and ‘Genderfuck’ fanfiction make up the two most-read genres that embrace the queer identity. ‘Genderfuck’ or ‘Genderswap’ both subvert traditional understandings of gender. Often, authors take popular characters and rewrite them as a different gender. This trope has been criticized in the past, as previously authors would take a popular slash pairing and only switch the gender of one character, making them heteronormative. More recently, trans authors have stepped in to create more authentic representations. These stories portray popular characters as trans people navigating life and relationships.

Another popular trend is rewriting characters as asexual. According to the Trevor Project asexual individuals, “may experience little or no sexual attraction and/or experience sexual attraction in a non-normative way. Ace people may want to and can form many types of intimate relationships, whether those relationships are romantic, platonic, or other forms of attraction and connection.” The most popular character of this trend is detective Sherlock Holmes. These stories build on elements and queer subthemes hinted at in their original works but rework the narrative to make the characters' identities integral to their stories.

It’s important to note that being apart of the queer community does not guarantee acceptance from it. These genres do more than provide a framework for authors. Stories like these are a platform for writers to provide commentary on LGBTQ+ issues, history, and theory in a way that is easily digestible for a wider audience. Beyond all else, fanfiction makes diverse characters visible. Which opens doors for heterosexual and LGBTQ+ teens to be educated. Identities like asexuality or pansexuality are often excluded from wider conversations in the community. Fan works can act as an introduction to new identities for not only self-acceptance but understanding of new concepts. Not all fanfiction is Pulitzer Prize-worthy, but its openness allows for important discussions.

How do I know if I’m bisexual or gay? What if I’m not interested in sex at all? Help! I’m in love with my best friend! Does wearing “girl” clothes make me gay?

Popular media ignores or is not equipped to manage these topics, but fanfiction helps fill in the blanks. One fanfic author, who goes by the pseudonym Jo, attributes fanfiction to helping her figure out that she was trans. Jo reveals that “writing about trans characters helped me figure out that I myself am trans. Fanfiction was a safe space for me to put those feelings when I couldn’t articulate them to anyone else in my life.” (Tesoro) When LGBTQ+ youth feel lost and judged, Fanfiction offers a haven of comfort. A way to answer questions that feel hard to ask family and friends. Only 38% of A03’s users identified as heterosexual, and more people identified as genderqueer than as male, pointing to the reality that fanfiction acts as a coping mechanism and acceptance. (Hu)

            Fanfiction is far more than amateur story telling. At its core, it embraces intersectionality and diverse narratives. For LGBTQ+ individuals, fanfiction has provided a creative space where readers and writers can embrace representation with opportunities for self-discovery, education, and connection. Through queer reinterpretations, fanfiction has become a tool for empowerment and community. Though there is still criticism and stigma, it has continued to impact countless community members in a positive way that cannot be ignored. Fanfic has created a vital space for marginalized voices to be heard and celebrated.

Busse Kristina, Lothian Alexis. 2018. “A History of Slash Sexualities: Debating Queer Sex, Gay Politics and Media Fan Cultures.” In Routledge Companion to Media, Sex and Sexuality, edited by Smith C., Attwood F., McNair B., 117–29. London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315168302.ch11.

Duggan J. "Worlds. . .[of] Contingent Possibilities": Genderqueer and Trans Adolescents Reading Fan Fiction. Telev New Media. 2022 Nov;23(7):703-720. doi: 10.1177/15274764211016305. Epub 2021 May 19. PMID: 36317062; PMCID: PMC9616102.

Hu, Jane. “The Revolutionary Power Of Fanfiction For Queer Youth.” Medium, The Establishment, 17 July 2017, medium.com/the-establishment/the-importance-of-fanfiction-for-queer-youth-4ec3e85d7519.

Gannon, Kathleen. “Parasocial Relationships with Fictional Characters in Therapy” (2018). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses 77. digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/77.

Morrison, Ewan. “In the beginning, there was fan fiction: from the four gospels to Fifty Shades” The Guardian,13 August 2012, In the beginning, there was fan fiction: from the four gospels to Fifty Shades | Fiction | The Guardian.

Reich, J. E. “Fanspeak: The Brief Origins Of Fanfiction.” Tech Times, 25 July 2015, www.techtimes.com/articles/70108/20150723/fan-fiction-star-trek-harry-potter-history-of-fan-fiction-shakespeare-roman-mythology-greek-mythology-sherlock-holmes.htm.