So I love the notion that cosplay is for everyone, it really is, and I actually love when people realize the hate that goes on in the community and try and do something about it, that’s really great.

But what I get frustrated at, more so than the hate, is the blindness.

I saw a post that said something along the lines of, “Why is it that when white cosplayers cosplay outside their race, they get bashed, but when people of color do it, they get praised?”  And just… h-huh?  

Now, I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen, I’ve seen it happen, but from my experience it’s more of a, “Why are you cosplaying a person of color when you have so many choices and we have so few?”  From my experience it’s a genuine feeling, because I feel like when we do see people of color in our geekery we get so excited because there’s not that much representation, so there’s this moment of, “FINALLY!”  Now I personally don’t mind who cosplays what, but I’m not going to pretend that when I saw Tiana for the first time my thoughts weren’t, “OMG,” and, “FINALLY,” and, “GONNA COSPLAY THE HELL OUT OF THAT,” and even, “A princess for me after all these years!”  It’s a thing that happens, because representation is important, I can tell when I see that little black girl staring up at me when I wear Tiana, and her dad is smiling just as brightly because… finally!  So I get it, and I hope white cosplayers can see where the “bashing” comes from.  It’s not so much “bashing” as it is… disappointment?  But ultimately its your cosplay, and my only advice is to be respectful about it, and just understand where those feelings are coming from. And, for the most part, I think white cosplayers do get it, and understand, some have even asked me my opinion on the matter to which I say, “Do what you want, just be respectful, and understand why someone might have an issue.” Cosplay is about showing love for a character you love, and we should respect each other along the way.  

Which leads me to the other part of that statement I quoted in the beginning because… since when have people of color NOT been bashed for cosplaying outside their race?  I wish, WISH, I could stop seeing ignorant posts in regards to black cosplayers cosplaying outside their race… or cosplaying in general. This is what I consider blindness.  In the argument of “one gets bashed more than the other” that is just some serious “I choose not to see the truth” because there can’t even be black fanart without some harsh comments.  And, in my experience, the hateful comments I see are bashing, straight up bashing. Where a person of color may be like, “Why cosplay that one character when there’s a million others,” the comments I see on the flip side are all about “ghetto” versions of characters, or “nigga” versions of characters, or terrible fried chicken jokes, or watermelon jokes, or just a wide variety of racist statements.  There’s no, “Why cosplay Belle when you can cosplay Tiana,” it’s a flat out “har har ghetto princess” with no purpose other than to hurt the cosplayer. 

So yeah, if you think that people of color don’t get hated on for, well, being people of color… I’m here to tell you that that’s not the case.  Sadly, it happens, a lot, it happens too much, and it needs to stop.  It’s nice to think that everything is right with the world but… it’s not the truth.  The truth is that we are working on it, and are always aiming to make things better, and to highlight why such comments are uncalled for and to promote the fact that cosplay is for everyone, key word being everyone.  And I genuinely think that people do want this, they do want cosplay to be this thing that everyone does, but in order to do that you have to take the blinders off.  

The hate is real, and it needs to stop.  

theblackamericanprincess:

bubblysaur:

FUCKING

THIS

Yesssssss

OMG CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS?!?!?!?!

Yes, yes, I am fat, I am, I know this, everyone knows this, but:

1.  You do not need to tell me this, because the way you’re saying it is obviously meant to be condescending. 

2.  I may be fat but I am not an animal.

3.  I may be fat but I am not lazy.

4.  I may be fat but I am not disgusting.

5.  Stop telling me I’m going to die WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE SOMEDAY I DO NOT NEED YOUR REMINDER!

Yes, I am happy with myself and who I am, and yes, I love inspiring others to not be afraid to be who they are, but that doesn’t mean it’s open season to make fun of me.  Just because I have sassy comebacks doesn’t mean I like the fact that I have to make said sassy comebacks because of some jerk who wants to make fun of someone they don’t even know, all because of some extra weight.   

I’ll never get hate blogs or hate in general, really.  I can’t imagine my life being at a point where I feel good tearing someone else down, let alone someone I don’t even know.  Like what goes through someone’s head when they see someone’s picture online?  ”Who is this person? They’re fat!  I should let them know in the most insulting way I can come up with which is actually terribly cliche.”

I think the reason why I always post this stuff and share my responses and feelings to it is because there are way too many people who won’t put themselves out there because of these people.  There are so many people who want to cosplay and just won’t because they’re worried about this random person attacking them, so I figure, “Hey look, this person over here?  Called me a cow.  Know what I did?  Kept cosplaying.  Got some books published.  Went to a bunch of conventions to get my books out there.  Had a blast.”  Because I know what it feels like to get that hate and then sit in your room and wonder if they’re right about you, and no lie those comments do hurt, no one wants to get hate on.  But I don’t know these people, I don’t know why they have issue with me, why they can’t just hit the next button if they don’t like what they see.  And I realized that, damn Bri, these are the SAME kinds of comments you got growing up.  It’s the same shit!  It’s ALWAYS the same shit!  They have nothing to say about my cosplay, but my weight, or the color of my skin, THAT they can preach on for days.  It doesn’t matter how the costume looks, they just want to poke fun at a fat girl.  

And I realized… wow… that’s pretty sad.  

And I realized that this happens to EVERYONE.  It’s not just fat that gets bashed, everything, EVERYTHING does.  I’ve seen amazing cosplayers get cut down because they’re black.  I’ve seen thin cosplayers get cut down because “you’re just doing it for attention.”  We all have insecurities and we all deal with people who are just so ugly on the inside that they feel the need to shoot you a message in an attempt to make you feel like shit.  I mean hell, that Reddit post with me and the other Wonder Woman? Someone called her anorexic because she’s thin!  It’s just not worth stressing over, at least not to the point of stopping what you’re doing.  If you feel bad for hate, that’s fine, just don’t let it KEEP you down.  Keep doing what you do, keep having fun with it, keep enjoying it, you’re opinion of yourself is what matters most  :)

Wow, you know what?  This is my first time ever getting anon hate, usually the people who bash me at least do it off of anon.  Congrats for being the first  *slow clap*  Lots of things in this world would be nice, huh?  Too bad I don’t believe in making haters’ wishes come true.  

Have a good night  *embraces with flabby arms*

In which creepy dreams happen and I try to be intense. 

Things to know:  Gable and Avery are boyfriends in love, but Avery goes missing and is soon found dead.  When Gable wakes up, he finds that he’s gone back a week to the point before Avery goes missing.  Now, he’s trying to save him from a crazy murderer who targets gay men.  There’s been three victims so far, so Gable is trying desperately to prevent Avery from becoming victim number four.

This story… has been a bit uncomfortable for me to write, since discrimination is a touchy, personal subject, and I’ve created this killer who does just that.  But it’s getting beyond that, now, because the bodies are found with derogatory terms written all over them after their bodies have been cleaned with bleach.  But along with those words are compliments, like, “Nice eyes,” and, “Pretty smile,” because the killer is attracted to these boys, but hates them at the same time.  

So yeah, leave it to me to write gay romance that’s… urm… yeah.

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