We Need More Queer Stories in Speculative Fiction

Recently I have been embracing my queerness more and more. I’ve always been open and proud about my pansexuality, but circumstances have made it so that I couldn’t be as out and as proud as I wanted to be. For example, even now I can’t talk about or even mention my sexuality at my job, or I could be fired—the hazards of working for a Catholic church. I was nervous about going to my local Pridefest because if someone saw me I could have lost my job just for attending. This is an obstacle that is sadly still in my life, but other obstacles have since fallen away. Before this, I hadn’t come out to my father; however, I have now, with thankfully very few obstacles. I have also been engaging more with the queer community: something I was previously afraid to even attempt because of how prevalent I heard the bi and pan-phobia was in the community. But so far, to my delight, I haven’t personally encountered any such issues. Now I can be somewhat more open in my life, and the recent Pulse shooting prompted me to be even more open in defiance of all the hate. Together, this all has led me to want to engage more in the queer community and queer culture.

Of course, being a nerd, I naturally wanted to look into queer stories in sci-fi and fantasy. Sadly, as you can guess, there are very few.

Web Crush Wednesdays: Yu+Me Dream

The start of a new year brings forth the changes that we want to make in ourselves and the world around us. These resolutions are what propel us forward, even if they end up being just a little out of our reach. What I have for you today isn’t a nerdy way to lose weight or a petition to bring about a well-needed shift in media; however, if your resolution had to do with reading something new, have I got a webcomic for you.

On the surface, Megan Rose Gedris’s Yu+Me Dream doesn’t look like anything out of the ordinary. Main character Fiona lives her day-to-day normal, boring life going to Catholic school and being teased because she’s an outcast. Although content with her life—save for the bullying—Fiona can’t help but feel there’s something missing, and when new girl Lia transfers in, Fiona realized that it might just be this new face she was looking for this entire time.