Homophobia in Haixing

[extrapenguin]

If I were to write a Guardian fic the point of which was something completely unrelated to homophobia, but which ended with Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan getting a happily ever after, what level of societal homophobia would not throw you out of the story? Would you find it jarring if they dared hold hands in public? If they dared kiss? If they introduced each other as romantic partners in casual-ish conversation without too much euphemism? Their nearest and dearest would know, and marriage wouldn't be on the table anyway, but ... what is the range of attitudes that wouldn't have the readership's suspension of disbelief come crashing down?

On the one hand, I want this to be happily-ever-after dancing on roses without a cloud in sight; on the other, a lot of the relationship developments of canon make more sense if Haixing is at least somewhat homophobic. So: advice?

Comments

[rheasilvia]

Yes, exactly, to both of this! :-) And since narrative fiction works differently from film, the authors of fanfic have a much harder time avoiding the issue, seeing as they are inside the characters' heads in a way film is not. So here, it's the author who has to do the interpretation, when in film its the viewer.

I also interpret the canonical contradiction as mild homophobia - erring too far in either direction wouldn't ring true to me. Since I tend to give a bit more weight to the lack of overt homophobia than to the silence surrounding homosexuality, though, I do opt for "mild", and more blatant forms would seem jarring to me.

[extrapenguin]

I also interpret the canonical contradiction as mild homophobia - erring too far in either direction wouldn't ring true to me.
I do think it's mild rather than than hate crime misery porn homophobia, but the question is, how mild, and which would be the primary forms of it? Being passed over for promotion due to being seen as less suitable? Awkward pauses and pained expressions whenever anyone has to introduce them as a couple? Every bureaucracy being utterly baffled that they'd list each other as primary contacts and build a family together? Acquaintances frequently expressing wishes they'd find girlfriends? (I imagine at least some of this would be excacerbated by it being interspecies.) It is a delicate balance, where I want to stay within what is implied by canon and also not hit any of my own, personal issues.