Sensitive Your thoughts on BL & GL in K-Pop (1 Viewer)

[StirFriedPanda]

I've voiced my annoyance before with the lack of GL drama's out there. It's no secret I'm a fan of women and don't understand why all women aren't lesbians but on a more serious note I've always wondered a few things. Hopefully I don't come off creepy. I'm trying to approach this topic respectfully. BL or boy group members being playful about BL seems very accepted and encouraged in k-pop. Outright homosexuality seems to be, for the most part a rarely tackled and discouraged. I've seen rare instances where girl groups have played around jokingly with lesbian play but far far less than boy groups. There's a lot of YouTube video's where people try to make something of nothing or highlight that play but in the end it's not real... or sometimes is it? I've thought this for a very long time and I wouldn't be the slightest bit shocked to find out ITZY's Ryujin and Lia were really in a relationship of some sort. Something about their actions and affection around each other seems deeper. Maybe they are just good actors? Wouldn't actually matter to me. It's their business. But if it came out, would their career be over? Would it shock you? Is there anyone you suspect and if was true would it change your feelings toward them or their group?

Something else: The industry seems to try very hard to keep males and females apart in all forms. I remember a while back when a picture surfaced of Weeekly's Jihan with a guy. I think he was from a lesser known boy group. They had to make an announcement that he was her cousin. Chaewon of LSFM's recent interactions with a guy at an awards show where she looked uncomfortable and it was touted because she wanted to "avoid" a scandal. Last year rumors floated that Jihyo from OMG and an openly gay comedian were in a relationship because she was wearing some of that comedian's clothes. I honestly wasn't shocked. Something about Jihyo seemed to fit that situation. I was happy for her if she was and hopped she was happy. And I honestly think they made a cute couple if it was true. Do you think this is more of a Korean moral separation OR do you think behind closed doors there's a lot of secret dating/relationships etc.

Lastly, if this male/female separation is really diehard and part of the industry do you think idols turn to same sex relationships for intimate relations/companionship?

 

[dark_tranquility]

I think both would be welcomed.

I just think some people's denial and ignorance prevents a lot of this from bearing fruit.
They do not hurt you. Let gay women and gay men be free. that's all anyone wants in this world.

 

[Horizonshard]

Assuming someone's sexuality, and then making inferences and judgements based on that assumption is one of the lowest things that anyone can do.

Anyone who does so should be publicly humiliated and driven from society.

Let people love whoever they want to!

 

[SugarPoppinBSI]

I AM FOR THE LOVE! Love who you love is my general ouput in life!
But a lot of people don't agree in this life....and it's stupid.


Dating scandels can end or make your career from what I have heard of and seen. Weither between M/F, F/F, and M/M or however they identify as, From what I see with some already out idols, like Holland, sometimes face discrimination. Even some of the Lesbians and Bi's of the KPop Industry. LGBTQ+ Struggle on the daily....the hate from fans and discrimination from some fans and people can be harsh as hell....If anyone came out, I'm proud of them and wish them all of the success~!

Some hetero couples got backlash from fans because of dating or being married...Liek the hell? (Recent ones being Dawn and Hyuna...) But i learned aboutan Exo member (I THINK it was Chen, correct me if I am wrong) got married and people wanted him OUT of the group....like what???

And Majority of people would be like "It's jsut fanservice~!" and stuff usually. I don't know how may Kpop fans are Allies to th eLGBTQ+ Comunity...so if their favorite Idols came out suddenly not attracted to their sex, I think thye would be sad, mad, confused, but I hope they would be HAPPY for them. IDK. II'm not them.

Eitherway, If Guy Like Girls, GOOD. If Gils like Girls, GOOD. If Guys like Guys, GOOD. If A Person likes a Person, GOOOOOOD! That would be their life and no one else's! I would wish them all the happiness in the world! I would hope all of them would be happy!

 

[StirFriedPanda]

Assuming someone's sexuality, and then making inferences and judgements based on that assumption is one of the lowest things that anyone can do.

Anyone who does so should be publicly humiliated and driven from society.

Let people love whoever they want to!

If I wasn't successful in being respectful I'm sorry. I consider you a friend and don't want to affect that. I feel like your view is kind of extreme. I'm a hetero male and if I ever want a relationship don't I need to at least start with the assumption that a woman I'm approaching would be interested in men until I know otherwise. In reality me approaching any woman would lead to publicly humiliation and being driven from society... The same would go for any form of sexual or relationship interest according to that rule. If your not at least allowed to hope and assume they would be interested in you then how can anyone approach anyone at all.

 

[Horizonshard]

If I wasn't successful in being respectful I'm sorry. I consider you a friend and don't want to affect that. I feel like your view is kind of extreme. I'm a hetero male and if I ever want a relationship don't I need to at least start with the assumption that a woman I'm approaching would be interested in men until I know otherwise. In reality me approaching any woman would lead to publicly humiliation and being driven from society... The same would go for any form of sexual or relationship interest according to that rule. If your not at least allowed to hope and assume they would be interested in you then how can anyone approach anyone at all.

Oh, I wasn't talking about you.

More talking about the "fans" that see an idol doing fanservice and make the serious assumptions go way too far.

For example, when the rumor of Chaeyoung dating a (male) tattoo artist were going around and people were adamantly saying "She can't be dating him because she's gay". That's taking it too far.

 

[StirFriedPanda]

Oh, I wasn't talking about you.

More talking about the "fans" that see an idol doing fanservice and make the serious assumptions go way too far.

For example, when the rumor of Chaeyoung dating a (male) tattoo artist were going around and people were adamantly saying "She can't be dating him because she's gay". That's taking it too far.

Ok, I was afraid I really upset you. LOL, PTSD from previous posts that I really missed my mark... I was like OMFG, I did it again...

And I agree, fans take it way to far.

 

[Magician]

Fans need to stop assuming Idol's sexualities, bc it’s none of their business
Stop projecting your fantasies onto them, it’s highly inappropriate
Straight people fetishizing BL or GL is a struggle and I wish it would stop

And no, I wouldn’t mind if an Idol came out nor would it change my feelings towards them
But I know that the Idol probably didn’t come out bc they wanted to, but bc someone outed them

I don’t think that straight Idols turn to same sex relationships bc why would they?
Idols are not locked in their dorms after work and are allowed to go out
Female and male Idols only keep their distance on camera to please their fans, but that obviously doesn’t happen in private

 

[seungfloral]

So i only say assumptions too, and don't know anyone's sexuality or preferences or love life. (Let's just say that in advance)

But i presume the companies also do encourage shipping culture especially among male idols. As in they don't discourage it, cause if i would get a penny for every time skz butt slapped eachother i would be a millionaire.
Anyway i think it really depends on the group's audience. Female audience is more receptive to lgbt content in manhwas and dramas, so they tend to ship their idols a lot too. While girl group fans tend to have many male fans who have parasocial relationships with their idols (BUT NOT EVERYONE OFC). Also there is a percentage of bg fans who also idolize their singers as their "potential boyfriend" in their fantasies. And for these two parties to not revolt or boycott the idols when they begin to date the companies put in dating bands and such.

I wanna say it's all bullshit and no fans are actually jealous of their idol having a healthy relationship, but let's be honest we all saw Taeyeon and Baekhyun's relationship how it turned out. Chen's marriage announcement was answered with a protest from fans that he leaves EXO etc. A lil bit of change is seen, but it could be better tbh.

Also i do hear rumours about same sex relationship inside of groups and outside, but i assume there still is a stigma sadly.

 

[Willow]

I hate when people assume sb else's sexuality. It is none of their business. I agree with that

 

[eclipsoul]

kpop industry is a business so all that fanservice bl gl shit doesn't necessarily have to mean those idols are actually lgbtq+, like they even had siwon who's a whole ronald reagan fanboy and shared homophobic tweets participate in such fanservice because they know fans will eat this up but once there's someone who is actually gay it's not so good anymore. it's one thing to enjoy interactions between people in your favourite group and another to make conspiracy theories on how two coworkers or friends are secretly daring or how an idol is actually because most of those theories are deeply rooted in homophobic stereotypes that if someone dresses a certain way or acts a certain way or even likes certain music they must be gay. the internet has somehow normalised being too deep in celebs' personal business to the point where some forgot we literally don't know these people...

 

[NBW]

u brought a lot of observations and on a general sense i dont think its abnormal for people in the same group to show affection towards eachother. imo majority of these cases are just people being super comfortable with eachother. i mean most idols are together 24/7, let alone how much time they have known eachother prior to debuting
now if it were to happen i dont think anyone would lose their career over it. they could get fired and have people against it, but i think majority of fans are supportive of these things, as it showed with hyuna and dawn. i dont think it being a gay/lesbian couple would change the narrative that much

the thing about kpop relationships might be mainly around the culture. fans seem more open to idols interacting and dating now, but there was huge scandals before due to it. labels scared of losing their money, so they deny everything, kick the idol from the company or make them apologize for the smallest stuff... happens a ton

and the last thing i honestly dont think it would make any sense, unless the idol bisexual, u get me? i dont think anyone straight would get desperate to the point of challenging their sexuality, only cause they cant date someone of the other gender easily. maybe it just doesnt align with my beliefs

 

[Abeamus]

That Kim Shin Young and Jiho rumour was super intrusive and came from that pathetic YouTube channel Sojang which Kim Shin Young came out herself and shut it down saying Jiho had just borrowed her clothes and there's a 14 year age gap between them to consider the chances of it being legitimate which with that age gap is small.