It was fun drawing the cute gay guys.
Panel 1:
(There is a caption at the top of the panel, which reads:) Sometimes, when I’m out with Joe I get intimidated. Lots of people stare at us. So I pull away.
Joe: (A person wearing a dark red undershirt, a green hoodie, and black trousers, who is facing the viewer, but looking at Sam. Eyebrows are raised, and mouth is open, with very upturned edges. One arm is bent forward at the elbow, its hand holding Sam’s.) They stare because we’re so hot!!
Sam: (A person wearing a pale blue, collared shirt, a dark grey vest, and dark trousers, who is facing the viewer, but looking back. Eyebrows are lowered and pushed together slightly, mouth is closed, small, and has slightly downturned edges. One arm is bent forward at the elbow, its hand holding Joe’s.
(There are a group of people behind Joe and Sam. They’re in silhouette, with the exception of their eyes, which are wide and pointed at Joe and Sam.)
Panel 2:
(There is a caption at the bottom of the panel, which reads:) Then I feel sad thinking I get too worried about what others think.
(There is a close up of Joe and Sam’s hands holding each other, behind which are lightning-bolt-like jagged yellow shapes. The background to either side is dark, and full of eyes.)
Panel 3:
(There is a caption in the panel, which reads:) But then I get scared of the moments when people yell. And then their homophobia wins.
Joe: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking at Sam. Eyebrows are both slightly raised and pushed together, and mouth has downturned edges. One arm is around Sam’s shoulders.) They’re the ones who are scared, dear.
Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer, but looking down. Eyebrows are both slightly raised and pushed together, mouth is closed and small. Sam’s head is tilted forward, and arms are crossed.
(Surrounding Joe and Sam is a dark background, filled with open mouths.)
Panel 4:
(There is a caption at the top of the panel, which reads:) And then I see others and I feel empowered again.
Joe: (A person who is facing the viewer but looking back, with raised eyebrows, and a closed mouth, which has upturned edges. Joe’s arm is bent forward at the elbow, hand holding Sam’s.)
Sam: (A person who is facing the viewer but looking back, with raised eyebrows and an open mouth, which has very upturned edges. Sam’s arm is bent forward at the elbow, hand holding Joe’s.)
(There are two people in the background, who are holding hands and looking at each other. There are a number of red hearts above them.)
Discussion (11) ¬
thank you so much for your comic. whenever i see it i get a little lift! 🙂
😀 Yay!
and don’t you foget the power of your visbility – you are both empowering by just being seen together 🙂
Yup, it’s doubly good. It’s so nice getting smiles instead of stares when we hold hands.
I showed this comic to my girlfriend, because I always feel hopeful seeing stuff about happy gay couples. She opened up about her own transgender feelings. I was really surprised, we’ve been together for four years and she never mentioned this. She was incredibly relieved and happy that it wasn’t an issue to me, and that I even think it’s kind of cool.
She said without me linking to your comic, she may not have dared say anything. Thank you so much. Btw, I also love your drawing style and tone. But I’m mostly just really touched.
That’s really great. Wow. I just started drawing it because it’s such a nice way to celebrate the happiness that comes along with being queer, and the difficult moments too, it’s always heartwarming when people relate to different aspects of it, and it’s so wonderful to hear that your partner opened up to you because of it – so thank you!
Awww
Jay and I run into the staring issue pretty frequently. Sometimes we overhear people talking about us. My tactic is to turn the situation around by turning the trolls into the trolled.
If it’s holding hands that triggers their glares, then we kiss. If they say something to their acquaintance, I interject into the conversation and agree/disagree.
Anyways, I can understand how you feel, and you have my deepest respect. As per usual, I love the comics.
Ha, what sort of things do you say to them when you interject?
(and thanks!)
He stutters out “Yeah”s and “OH NO YOU DINNIT!”s and very obscure things like that.
I must be an old fart, because the stares and the likes don’t phase me. Then again being more or less out and ostracized since grade school I have a thick skin to what others may or may not say…