RainbowMarshmallows

"... because no one is surprised that SK is homophobic"

Something being common doesn't mean it's not worth questioning or fighting against. And if you think homophobia is a SK-only problem, I've got news for you: it's everywhere, it's a bad smell that won't go away. So let's stop being surprised by it and start fighting back

"... is not equal with the small content"

The gay romance matters, even if it wasn't a full-on Brokeback Mountain-esque romance that was cut. Korea knew the power of that small representation and censored it

You do realize many gay people are invested in BLs? My friends IRL are gay and BL fans. Art transcends boundaries (gender, race, etc). It touches the hearts of anyone (man or woman) who appreciates it

"I didn't even see this much outrage over Jon Kent not being bisexual"

The outrage could've been there, buried in a secret forum of Superman fans. Or, it could be that fans of Asian media are more vocal and dedicated to their fandom than fans of Western media

I’m not comfortable with huge age gaps in relationships, when the younger person is in their teens. There’s the power imbalance, and the younger person doesn't have the life experience or maturity to make informed decisions

I’ve stayed away from TikTok. The things I’ve heard people doing and saying on there? I don’t need it in my life

Ignore @Xiao Qilin (they blocked me, I can't respond to their comment)

They hold gay stories to a different standard than straight stories. These are people who expect gay relationships to be subtle and avoid displays of intimacy, when straight relationships can be explicit and in-your-face

"... because the two teenage boys won't be together at the end of the story like in the original novel? It has nothing to do with the adult and teenager right?"

That's right, we're angry at the removal of the boys' relationship from the end of the story, Yi Heon's sexuality (that he was bullied for) and Se Kyung's feelings for Yi Heon

I can't speak to the ship edits you're referring to, I'm not familiar with them (and I don't use TikTok)

I wouldn't ship an adult in their 40s and a teenager. That kind of dynamic can be unhealthy

You're obsessed with us, have you caught a case of the disease?

The high school boys had a relationship that was censored, and Yi Heon's gay identity was censored. His identity was a central part of the story. He was bullied because he was gay

Society didn't want to acknowledge that their intolerance contributed to a gay person's suicidal ideation, and censored it

"But does their relationship really matter, when the main characters are the gangster and the high schooler?"

Ask yourselves this question: if their relationship didn't matter, why bother cutting it out? Were the producers afraid that the audience might spontaneously combust after catching a glimpse of two boys holding hands and confessing their love?

You don't like it? Look away or get a snack, people. What you don't get to do is delete it from existence

"Turns out in the novel the gay part is a small part between the high schoolers"

Why was a small, skippable romance between two boys censored? Why didn't people ignore it or roll their eyes at it, instead of censoring it? Why isn't that your question?

The censorship suggests that the presence of gay relationships, no matter how minor, is feared by society. Society should grow a pair and stop acting like a small dose of gay romance will give it hives

I think you have no right to tell us how to feel or react

Private companies were free to make business decisions and censor gay works, we are as free to criticize those decisions

Censorship, whether by the state or by a private company, has negative consequences for marginalized groups, and people have the right to voice their concerns about it

You might want to consider the broader context in which censorship occurs. Censorship of gay works is motivated by homophobia. Private companies are catering to your discomfort, which is a symptom of a societal problem of homophobia, and to a society that devalues and stigmatizes non-straight relationships

We call out the homophobia for what it is to challenge negative attitudes. Meanwhile, you're allowing the negative attitudes to dictate the stories that are told, and you don't see how discriminatory that is?

A producer uncomfortable with gay people or relationships isn't the right person to adapt a story centered on the struggles and triumphs of gay people. Adapt one of the straight stories out there and leave gay stories alone

I'm behind the times. I never would've guessed they made a Thai adaptation of Kieta Hatsukoi. I'll check it out in an hour

None of us are "forcing" anyone to watch gay dramas/movies. I mentioned in a comment that if someone doesn't want to watch them, they don't have to. Censorship takes away the choice for those of us who do want to watch them, and that's where the issue starts

Something having subtext or hints at queerness doesn't make it queer

You consider censored stories "queer," I don't. Queer representation should be authentic. Coded hints that we piece together aren't representation; they are queer-baiting

"Why? because they're just not good"

They are good, charming scrappy underdogs that make the most of what they have. The scrappiness of their productions add to their appeal, giving them an authentic feel

Low-budget doesn't mean it was shot in someone's basement. A little creativity and careful planning make the meager resources shine on screen, and that's how "cheap" BLs are, to me. They shine brighter than a unicorn's horn

Some of the greatest masterpieces of art and literature were considered garbage in their day. Today's "cheap" BLs are the masterpieces you're failing to appreciate. In a few years, you'll be kicking yourselves for not recognizing their genius

"... it is because they like the book and want to share the story to a larger audience"

Some of them are interested in having a good time or poking fun at tropes

"Literally all I'm saying is ..."

Literally all I'm saying is that "oh well, it is what it is" won't fix the issue. To make progress, I will speak up, criticize homophobic censorship and demand better

The difference is that in Mainland China, producers legally have to censor gay works ("The Untamed," "Word of Honor," etc). In Korea, there's no such law. Producers themselves decide to censor gay works for money. Isn't that more infuriating to you? It is to me. It's rubbed me the wrong way

You said what needed to be said: we can, and should, call out homophobic censorship and tell the producers to take their cold, hard cash and shove it

Straight stories get to have the confession, hug and kiss scenes, why can't gay stories?

The chemistry between the male leads might be off the charts. But without a confession to seal the deal, you're holding the two magnets apart. You hint at a relationship, and don't actually show it. This is not just bad storytelling, it's homophobic queer-baiting and frankly, insulting to the tension that could've been realized

If producers were concerned about profits and income, they should've adapted a straight story instead of censoring or straight-washing a gay one. What they did is cowardly and wrong

Straight stories get to have the confession, hug and kiss scenes, why can't gay stories?

I don't care that the production value is high. I won't support homophobic censorship

"It's your choice to ship them" means "you can make the two characters a couple, close your eyes and use your imagination." Why watch the censored drama then? I'd rather create my own fan-fiction fantasy world

The romance in the novel was between the real Yi Heon and Se Kyung. The adaptation censored the romance

Deuk Pal's soul disappeared. Its time came to an end

His soul fulfilled its purpose in helping Yi Heon and moved on to the afterlife

"I don’t think most people are against two people of same gender in love"

I don't think so. "I don't mind that you're gay ... as long as I don't have to see it. Or hear about it. Or know it exists" is homophobia with a coat of fake acceptance

Censorship robs a gay story of its depth and complexity

The gay story was a powerful depiction of a gay boy's journey from homophobic bullying and self-doubt to self-acceptance and love. This drama is missing the crucial ingredients that could've made it special. The tension you see is a pale imitation of the powerful, moving story that was told