Before we begin this thread, let’s remember to respect every individual and their identity.

There are a few questions that often cross my mind while watching dramas centered around the LGBTQ+ community or simply thinking about the community itself.

1. Why is femininity often associated with being gay/LGBTQ+?

Being gay is a sexual orientation, not a gender identity, and it doesn’t determine how someone should look or behave. So why do so many gay or LGBTQ+ people seem to have a more feminine appearance or mannerisms? Sometimes, you can almost tell that someone belongs to the LGBTQ+ community just by looking at them, as if they’re carrying an identity badge. Why is that, when sexual orientation and gender expression are two entirely different things?

2. Why are LGBTQ+ dramas often set in a world where almost everyone is LGBTQ+?

Whenever I watch a drama centered around the LGBTQ+ community, I often wonder why most of the main characters, and sometimes nearly everyone in their social circle, belong to the same community. Don’t LGBTQ+ people live in the same world as everyone else? Don’t they have straight friends, families, colleagues, and relationships with people of different sexual orientations and gender identities?

In real life, people with different identities and orientations coexist and interact naturally. Yet, almost all dramas portray LGBTQ+ characters as if they exist in a separate world, disconnected from the broader society. Why not show more stories in which LGBTQ+ characters are simply part of a diverse society, navigating everyday life and building relationships with all kinds of people?

NOTE: I’m asking purely out of curiosity and a desire to understand, not to offend anyone.