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How Magic Conquered Popular Culture

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Editor’s Note: After yesterday’s discussion on how we can use Fantasy to explore our own community and issues, this article from Lev Grossman at Time seemed particularly apropos: ———— hen I was a kid, in the 1980s, fantasy was not entirely OK. It had, let us say, some unpleasant associations. It was fringey and subcultural and uncool. In my suburban Massachusetts junior high, to be a fantasy fan was not to be a good, contented hobbit, working his sunny garden and smoking his fragrant pipeweed. It was to be Gollum, slimy and gross and hidden away, riddling in the dark. … Read more

The Love Lives of Intergalactic Queers

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In the Doctor Who season premiere episode ‘Deep Breath’ nearly a million Australian ABC viewers via BBC simulcast, repeat evening viewing and iView, were treated to an intimate lesbian kiss between Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh) and wife Jenny (Catrin Stewart), that created quite a stir based on its primetime “family viewing” time slot. Ok, they may have been “sharing oxygen” to avoid detection by cybernetic sword-wielding breath detectors, and one may have been a reptile and therefore not human, and despite being married they may live out their roles as master and servant to be seen as socially acceptable, but … Read more

Where Are All the Gay Sci Fi Films?

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Last month, we reported on a planned, to-be-crowdfunded sci fi film, Credence, about two gay parents and their young daughter. It got me thinking. If gays in mainstream sci fi books are few and far between, LGBT characters in sci fi films are practically non-existent. Especially if you discount villains. So here’s my challenge to you today. What gay sci fi novel do you think would translate well to film? Who would star in it? And where on Earth could it be shot to capture the spirit of the book? Just one rule – it can’t be one of your … Read more

BBC Censors Dr. Who Lesbian “Kiss” in Asia

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The BBC is facing criticism for self-censoring its Asia broadcast of the first episode of the new Doctor Who series by cutting a lesbian kiss scene, South China Morning Post reports: Thousands of fans missed out on the kiss between lizard-woman Madame Vastra and her human wife Jenny Flint, which the BBC says was cut to comply with broadcasting regulations in Asia. Local gay-rights groups called the edit “outrageous” and “scandalous” and said it was unfair not to treat the kiss the same as a kiss between a man and a woman. The BBC Worldwide’s London-based compliance team made the … Read more

“Cuttlefish Shifter Gangbang”

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Cindy Wang over at Dot429 dips her toe into shifter world: It’s no secret that the genre of supernatural fiction, especially supernatural romance, has thrived in recent years. Shapeshifters–generally werewolves–are a magnet for fan fascination. Shows like MTV’s Teen Wolf (somehow) continue to be successful, and even vampire-centric franchises such as True Blood and Twilight have a strong werewolf contingent. So, it’s also no surprise that some stories have stretched the shapeshifter fad to include all sorts of creatures. (Well, the cuttlefish were a surprise.)… And now, as promised, the gay cuttlefish porn. I’m not sure if these title puns … Read more

Dorchester Gay Pride Parade Has Sci Fi Theme

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HUNDREDS of supporters came out in force to celebrate this year’s Love Parade. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their supporters took to the streets of Dorchester to march in the parade, which had a sci-fi theme this year. The parade, which was launched in 2009, is a celebration of love and acceptance and has been increasing in size each year since it began. The march began at the town pump and ended at Maumbury Rings where celebrations continued with live music and comedy acts. Organiser Chris Kendrick said: “The parade went really well. We went with a Star … Read more

Straight Women Love Gay Porn

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OK, so it’s not specifically sci fi, gay or fantasy, but this caught our eye since such a large proportion of both writers and readers of MM romance are women: In 2001, Salon received the equivalent of a Dear Abby letter from a straight women confessing, “[Gay porn] turns me on like no heterosexual porn ever has. What’s up with that? Am I a freak?” In response, writer Tracy Clark-Flory recounted her experience co-judging the Air Sex Championships, during which the all-female panel of judges was often “recoiling in disgust.” That is, until a man unexpectedly and vigorously began reenacting … Read more

How True Blood Became a Paranormal Allegory for Gay Rights

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In 2000, Alan Ball, a TV writer who’d worked on Grace Under Fire and Cybill, hit the jackpot. American Beauty–a satirical melodrama he’d written about the suffering, brutalizing, twisted soul of the suburbs–won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sam Mendes), and Best Actor (Kevin Spacey), which is not too shabby for a movie that was originally turned down by Chevy Chase. Ball, whose script had already earned him a Golden Globe, took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The 43-year-old Ball found himself turned overnight into a very hot property. In an earlier era, this would … Read more

To Be Takei

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A gay sci fi icon is profiled in a new documentary: The third feature-length project from filmmaker Jennifer M. Kroot, whose previous endeavors include the 2003 sci-fi/fantasy Sirens of the 23rd Century and the 2009 biographical doc It Came from Kuchar, details the professional achievements, political activism, and personal life of Takei, who proves to be as accomplished as he is downright likable. The weight with which Kroot approaches the three principal aspects of Kroot’s life tends to vary, leaning in favor of his work for gay rights, but we find ourselves duly engrossed in his personal and professional stories … Read more

“Doctor Who” Features Its First lesbian Kiss

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Doctor Who has been criticized for featuring an on-screen lesbian kiss for the first time ever, in last night’s season premiere. The latest episode of the sci-fi series, titled Deep Breath, aired last night on BBC One to over 7 million people, in addition to special screenings in over 400 cinemas. In the episode, Silurian lizard-woman Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh) was forced to lock lips with her human wife Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart) – the first time they have done so on screen. The pair have recurred on the show since 2011 and have long been portrayed as lovers. See … Read more