Queerbaiting is harmful to those who are trying to feel represented. Representation is important, but it has to be fully thought out and not added last minute to make fans happy. It makes a mockery of the experiences that LGBTQ+ people have. Representation should be used with good intentions and anything less should be frowned upon.
An example of using representation with bad intentions is Kit Connor and Charles Melton’s kiss during a photoshoot for the film “Warfare.” The film is based on a Navy SEAL’s experience during the Iraq war. The kiss was a publicity stunt done by the actors to get people to watch the movie, and seeing the reactions to the clip, it worked.
This is concerning because it distracts from what the movie is about. This is not a romantic comedy. This is a serious movie about the horrors of war and the nightmares the soldiers face on the battlefield. People should be going into that movie for the right reasons. They should be ready to face gruesome sights and hear the stories of real soldiers.
There were comments calling them out for queerbaiting, but there were more saying they ship the two together and they would only see the movie just to see those two together.
“Vampire Diaries” and “Sherlock” are other shows that have been accused of queerbaiting. Both shows have queer relationships that come out of nowhere and are not developed as well as the heterosexual ones. This leaves fans confused and disappointed. Representation in media is important, but it doesn’t matter if the relationships are shallow and not executed to the level as the other relationships in the show.
On the other hand, there are some bands that have used queer representation to create a safe space where people can be themselves.
Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance has said he has “always identified a fair amount with the female gender” and has spoken out against “shitty ass rock dudes” with his makeup tutorials, kissing bandmates during performances, and songs that have potential queer references.
Way has been an advocate for transgender and nonbinary rights through their interviews and on stage. Fans have found a place where they feel comfortable to be themselves.
My Chemical Romance has been an inspiration for queer people to embrace their identity and find a community where they feel accepted.
I am a big My Chemical Romance fan myself, and I agree their songs are anthems to outcasts around the world. Feelings of being isolated and being treated like an outcast are major motifs in their songs; their songs act as a beacon to those who are exploring who they are and give them a place where their feelings are validated.
Queerbaiting exploits a culture for personal gain. If the relationship in a show sacrifices the quality of the show, it should either be rewritten or cut out entirely. It isn’t fair to the fans who want representation if what they get is a half-baked romance or their partner is killed off.
