What Gaywatch Stands For
Added 2024-11-06 22:41:48 +0000 UTCI make it pretty clear through how I run things where I stand on censorship, dark fiction, kink, dark ships, etc, but I've been a bit of a coward and never made a direct statement myself because I had it framed in my mind as a stance against Purity Culture, and nobody has the energy to deal with Purity Culture bullshit should they decide my inbox looks like a nice target.
Well, that's not how I see it anymore. The framing is no longer against Purity Culture, it's for free speech, a healthy grasp on fiction being fictional, and acknowledging that everyone engages with fiction in different ways + for different reasons. Nobody's moral character should ever be judged solely on the fiction they consume.
My priority is not to engage with Purity Culture bullshit or the toxic vocal minority, it's to protect people from it.
Gaywatch is, and always will be, a place for queer sanity and support. A space to enjoy queer fandom, queer fiction, and the camaraderie it inspires between queer and ally fans alike when we unite under art we love.
I will not tolerate the silly idea that we should be at each others' throats over the "validity" of ships, or that differences in opinion when it comes to which characters should kiss-kiss-fall-in-love justifies spewing hyperbolic vitriol at real, breathing people. I don't have the time, energy, or hubris to vet every single fan's hyper-specific relationship with fiction and psychological origins for their taste in make believe.
My enemy just got elected. I know trans people. Members of the community I've built are trans and most everyone else are queer. My boomer neighbors fly a Blue Lives Matter flag every day of the year and the Gen Z nephew I helped raise owned a shotgun when he was seventeen. I have, quite literally, real problems to deal with and real people to worry about.
If I have any actual role in the online community I've gathered so far, it's to protect one of the goddamn few things they have in this world that brings them joy.
You're safe here. I'm not going anywhere.
Comments
Too bad, I was really on fire. Lol. But I mostly expressed my sorrow and fear for the people I love over there that are threatened. So, mostly Trump. But I completely agree that fans should not fight over ships or kinks or other irrelevant stuff. If someone wants another ship than I want, good for them if it makes them happy. I read my fanfictions....they read theirs and I would never get the idea to bully someone for shipping differently or enjoying something that is in their head and harming no one. Absurd. Many people in OFMD AO3 shipped Ed, Stede and Izzy together.....completely fine...not my thing but I dont have to read it. That what tags are for. Izzy deserved to live and either get into a polyship with Lucius because I thought there was some strange chemistry between Lucius and Izzy or get himself a love and all the happiness he deserved.
Anais Winter
2024-11-09 22:54:15 +0000 UTCThank you so much for your canvassing efforts, you're a rock star. <3
Brittany Diamond
2024-11-09 06:38:25 +0000 UTCI haven't seen a comment from you until this one, but I don't delete comments based on profanity so I think Patreon may have just glitched. <3
Brittany Diamond
2024-11-09 06:36:44 +0000 UTCThank you, Brittany, I agree with everything! Safe spaces such as this one are so important, now more than ever.
Ruuna
2024-11-08 21:58:12 +0000 UTCI thought I commented. If my anger over Trump got my comment deleted, I apologize deeply and will watch my language in the future. I meant no harm but I should have been more mindful about it and will watch my wording in the future. Sorry and otherwise, thank you for being who you are, you and the wife.
Anais Winter
2024-11-08 11:25:39 +0000 UTCI feel you. Wrote a long comment. Also not from the USA but from your neighbor country Germany (hope no hard feelings.....not a fan of my country) and I am shocked and saddened and scared for all over there in the USA. The people here also have a tendency to idolize the Americans and the American Way (northern Kontinent, that is) and it is so disheartening. I am queer, mentally and physically chronically ill, an outsider in this little conservative town and I have to fear for my existence but its nothing what our friends now have to fear. I will send wishes and agnostic prayers to everyone. I am agoraphobic but I ask a friend to drive me when wer have to vote, not because I believe in one party in particular but to take a vote away from the AFD (our local new branded Nazis). I am sorry for everyone who has to go through this. John Oliver will blow a fuse and still try to make people laugh and educate them on everything important even if it is uncomfortable and I hope he and the other people who work like that can overcome their shock and bring a bit of disbelieving laughter that borders on hysterical. The safe space here is important and I will upgrade my patreon soon, just to really participate in the discord. I haven´t and still don´t have money since three months because my move back to my hometown that I had little control over bites me in the ass and the disability benefits .....let´s say, they throw boulders my way to hinder it. But I am luckier than most. I have a friend where I can crash who just inherited money and helps me until I hopefully can pay back the money when everything benefit wise is through. I always thought I live in a social security state but it seems less that case more and more. Our politicians want to change the things like in the USA and its scary. But my main concern is our friends over there who need security and safety more than me. Brittany is a becaon and my new icon. I wish I could create a safe space but I am too afraid of people and mental health gets in the way. I admire her strength. As George Carlin with all his faults would say ........they call it the American Dream because you have to be asleep to dream it.
Anais Winter
2024-11-08 11:16:15 +0000 UTCI’m usually one to sit quietly in the shadows and just enjoy your content but I’m scared, heartbroken and so disappointed in our country right now and after spending yesterday in tears, I came here to watch videos and hopefully feel a little better. So thank you for being a safe space to come and take my mind off things and find a little bit of joy 💙.
Shey Newman
2024-11-08 05:36:03 +0000 UTCBrittany you and your channel are both light and warmth in the chill dark of universe. I think I speak for more than myself when I tell you how welcome seeing and feeling it is.
Bubbleigh
2024-11-07 19:34:13 +0000 UTCThank you Brittany. I spent 12 consecutive weekends in Pennsylvania canvassing voters to stop Trump. Although the election result is devastating and I am terrified for all of us and the future of our beloved nation (and the world), I do want to say that I met and spoke to SO so many voters who stand against hate, stand with the values we believe in, and that includes many who would not have necessarily been easy to recognize as friends. I have no answers and no vision for the future, but I do know that none of us are going to hide, or go away, or fade into silence. We have a long battle ahead, and we are not alone. For me, Gaywatch has been a wonderful place to get little breaks from the work I was doing. I appreciate you all!
Malsperanza
2024-11-07 14:50:04 +0000 UTCThank you for being yourself and all that you do. I am depressed by the election result. I fear for my children and all the marginalized people in my life. I appreciate reminders like this that the only way through darkness is by sharing our light together. Stay strong.
Clover
2024-11-07 14:01:08 +0000 UTCThanks for that. For better or for worse, American politics have a huge influence on political and societal issues almost everywhere else in the word, and the news are hard to swallow even from across the ocean. Safe spaces really are priceless.
blueturnips
2024-11-07 10:57:33 +0000 UTCSending love and hugs Brittany. I’m not American, but a lot of the people in my country (the Netherlands) idolize America to a degree, combined with the very racist past and present of our country. There has been a far right plague across the world. Fascism is winning and it’s breaking my heart. Just look at Italy or India and now US with their openly fascist leaders, look at South Korea with it’s incel pandering president, look at the Netherlands and Germany, where populist monsters are gaining more and more footholds in our govermment. Look at how thoroughly cucked most of the “western” world is by America and how useless the international criminal court has been at enforcing international law. Just how many more countries will America influence the destruction of in the next 50 years? I’m scared, but I know I can’t do much on my own. VOTE LOCAL, support your community and also support other marginalized communities in your area, change is often only truly made when the disadvantaged unite. (eg. Lesbians and Gays Support The Miners in 1984 ;) ) Create safe spaces both online (like Brittany has so wonderfully done) and offline. It’s worth looking into your local library, libraries tend to be autism and lgbtqia friendly spaces. Other online spaces that make me feel safe and heard are the communities of FoxTaco and Andelein, two other reactors I really enjoy. ^^
LisMM
2024-11-07 10:14:44 +0000 UTCMy country just showed me, overwhelmingly so, that it hates everything that I am. Where the fuck do I go from here? What do I do? This is why these spaces are so important. This is my safe space. Fandoms are my safe space and from the bottom of my shattered soul I am so grateful for them.
MuggleMeTrue
2024-11-07 09:58:54 +0000 UTC❤️
Lilah Kane
2024-11-07 05:58:54 +0000 UTCYou've created a safe space for many on your channel here. Can't speak for anyone else but the hits I've experienced elsewhere when it comes to enjoying and engaging with fictional characters and queer art/narratives has me running back here every single time. There are no words to express how much this means to myself and I'm sure many others. *Hugs & Loves*
FabulousLove
2024-11-07 05:57:48 +0000 UTCIt was a general statement I felt compelled to make in a time when so many people (including myself) are feeling scared and vulnerable--we need advocates/safe spaces to be loud about their presence and values no matter how big or small the space is. <3
Brittany Diamond
2024-11-07 04:48:40 +0000 UTCThank you!
Britney Lee
2024-11-07 02:55:13 +0000 UTCFuck purity culture entirely. It’s all fear of being different, fear of being cringe, fear of being other, and today of all days we should have no time for it
Brooke Chappell
2024-11-07 02:38:28 +0000 UTCCanadian lurker here, thank you
V B
2024-11-07 02:09:52 +0000 UTCI think I speak for most if not all of us when I say that your space has felt nothing but safe and accepting. If anything happened for you to feel like you needed to make that statement, then I'm sorry you had to experience that, especially on a day like this. Regardless of if it's just a general statement that you wanted to make, I can only say that I'm grateful for you and for all the people in this little corner who make my days a little brighter and happier. The sense of community and of being seen and understood here is really special and wonderful.
blueturnips
2024-11-07 01:06:58 +0000 UTCusually a lurker, but I needed this today, thank you, stay as safe as possible ❤️
Allyn (@spiteandbooks)
2024-11-07 00:22:59 +0000 UTCVery well said! We as human of varied experiences and journeys can communicate, interact and dialogue without the toxicity or the need to censor others. Without these things in healthy dose how will we grow as people? Thanks you for creating a place where queers and queer allies can feel safe.
PaleoWild
2024-11-07 00:14:15 +0000 UTCThanks so much for this, Brittany! Love you lots and wish you and everyone else here safety and peace, with all my heart
EllenD
2024-11-07 00:12:45 +0000 UTCThank you, Brittany, reading this almost made me cry. I appreciate this so much. Thank you for being you!!!
JMercedesD
2024-11-07 00:05:11 +0000 UTCWhile I tend to chill in the background, this space has meant the world to me, and I am so grateful for it and for you!
Bri
2024-11-06 23:49:08 +0000 UTC❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Maria Lima (aka chickwriter)
2024-11-06 23:41:17 +0000 UTCThank you so much for the safe space you have created. Your content and streams have recently been a comfort and companion to me through a very tough time personally. Although I am across an ocean here in the UK, I am a bisexual woman with a non-binary teen and we have both felt sadness and shock today at this result. We see you all, stand with you and send all our love.
Janine M Hall
2024-11-06 23:39:32 +0000 UTCThank you all the love ❤
Allie
2024-11-06 23:31:51 +0000 UTCAs an Australian, I'm so, so, so sorry about the election. It hurts my heart to see how many people are going to be harmed in your country and globally. The only thing that I can do, with the little interaction I have here, is to be supportive and open to everyone that enjoys the space you created. Make sure it stays a stress-free haven, as much as I can for everyone here for as long as it's needed.
Dana
2024-11-06 23:23:09 +0000 UTCApparently there is a whole world of fandom I know nothing about. But getting riled up over any kind of fiction or how people interact with it is just silly, which doesn’t mean that I doubt some people take it far too seriously. Today I very much share the opinion that real life is considerably more important and more dangerous to ignore. Looking from the outside in the election results seem unreal; I hope everyone makes it through to the other side of this presidency better than expected. Everyone has the right to pursue their own happiness and should get the support they need on their way.
Bernhard
2024-11-06 23:21:49 +0000 UTCUsually a lurker, but sending all the love rn <3♡♡
MadHyacinth
2024-11-06 23:04:52 +0000 UTCThank you for the space you have created here. I appreciate it.
LingeringEye
2024-11-06 22:45:52 +0000 UTC
