Seeing all the fuss didn't surprise me too much. If I've learned
anything by being part of-or maybe I should say on the edge of- Shelly
De Luca’s Little Wonders, it’s how dedicated fandoms can be. But, what does
surprise me is how cutthroat some of the so called ’ fans’ can be. I have
always been utterly baffled and bemused by the sheer Hut of the pedestal Shelly
seems to be placed on. But this?! This really takes the cake.
After becoming a star online, Shelly is starting to break into the world
of the silver screen. Her latest role but is as a character who happens to be a
member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Shelly, as far as I'm aware, is not a
member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and apparently some of her ‘Little Wonders’
have a problem with that. Now I'm going to pause here to preface that what's to
follow may be yeah distressing to some in the community. Continue watching with
caution and please, please take care of yourself
I am struggling to see where the problem actually lies as far as Shelly
bringing this character to life… Assuming Shelly does her homework, which I’ve
no doubt she would, and portrays the character as authentically as she can, is
that harming anyone? I understand creating space and opportunities for people
in certain communities to play characters who are also part of that community,
but here's the most important question of all- who said Shelly isn't part of
the LGBTQIA+ community? Just because she hasn't said it doesn't I mean it isn't
true.
Except, according to this small group of Little Wonders, Shelly does
need to actually say it, whether she wants to or not. That is where my problem
lies and it's also what baffles me the most. Firstly, how can you go from
lifting someone up to the high heavens, hailing them like some kind of God, to
this kind of appalling behaviour? Behaviour which may be described by no word
other than; bullying. And how could anybody, with a shred of their
humanity intact, treat a fellow human this way? Trying to pressure-fully prise
such personal and private information out into the public with apparently no
regard for the person or their wishes? And for what? To ensure authentic
representation? Whether she is or isn't part of the LGBTQIA+ community is
Shelly's business.
Because here's the thing; no matter how high the pedestal she is placed
upon. No matter how many people know her name or how many fans she has,
underneath it all, just like you and me, and everyone else, Shelly is a human.
She is a #humantoo. And just like all of us, she deserves respect and dignity. Not
only does she deserves these things, but she also has a right to her privacy.
Especially with such personal information as what is being demanded from
her.
So now, let me ask you this; if the situation were reversed, how would
you like it? How would you like it if you were being made to share such
personal things with the world? Things which you may still have been trying to
make sense of for yourself? Things which might have been scary to tell people
who know and love you, let alone complete strangers? You wouldn't like it,
would you? So why do it to someone else? Apart from the inhumaneness
of it, and the disrespect and denial of dignity, demanding that kind of
information is not something that anyone has the right to do.
Aspects of our identities are ours, and ours alone. And they are also
ours to share, if, when and with whom we want to. not because other people are
demanding it end not when others decide. We don't owe it to anyone to outwardly
identify, share or disclose anything. Because we are all #humantoo.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This story was inspired by the awful treatment of Kit Connor, who was pressured
to come out following his starring role in Heartstopper.
Check out this video by Rown Ellis for a thoughtful
and thought provoking discussion on queer baiting and queer speculation, including
the harms it can have.
If you are affected by any of this- what's discussed in Rowan's video,
the story or what's happened with Kit, I want to strongly encourage you to
reach out for extra support. There's QLife in Australia, the LGBTQIA Resource Center's directory to find
support in America and the ILGA directory to help you find support in
Europe and Asia.
I'd also recommend Heartstopper as an (in some ways ironic) antidote to these kinds of yucky phenomenon.
