Add Vietnam to the Database next

 QueerDudeGermany:

yeah active boys also didn't have eng subs in the last 2 Episodes, so i dropped it.

Here's a link for follow my sunshine (Viet BL) with eng subs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS9iUWjKwHA

I didn't watched it now, but it was recommended by some other Homepages

I finished Follow my Sunshine. It was the first Vietnamese BL I watched (led me here after not being ale to find info and track it). Pretty good. Story and character development seemed a bit rushed/sudden, especially at the end and would have been nice to get an after, but it worked. Music and cinematography were good. Also interesting to see the differences in cultural norms/values portrayed - homophobia, marrying young, etc (German living in CA, US).  Also watching Ma Boy and Nation's Brother, enjoying both so far.  Tried starting Fools, but didn't quite grab me yet.  Seems maybe should hold off on Stages of Love, was on my radar.

Vietnamese content despite being readily available here, is generally not subbed as audience is native/fluent. Noticed quite a few other BL and regular Vietnamese shows in my YT recs, but sadly they are all without subs. Hopefully as demand grows this will change!

Definitely prefer Vietnamese BL over Thai ones, even if still short, a bit underdeveloped and unpolished. 

Sadly despite Thailand being the powerhouse, I'm having some real issues with what is being consistently churned out and find it problematic that such content effectively turns into cash cows. Some reasons include: non-con everywhere, rape - often unpunished / as start of relationship / not being seen as bad thing - like cuz we love the ship/actors so it's ok, constant LGBTQ+ geared heckling even among supposed good friends - like what is your message, non BL members of community portrayed as not normal/to be taken seriously or used as comedic relief, use of I'm not gay just like x or husband and wife even though its two dudes, most actors fit the ridiculous yet popular "pretty white skin/red lips" beauty standard/stereotype and are from the middle and upper class, often actors are required to be straight, young/rookie actors being mistreated/taken advantage of, insane couple shipping franchise.
Hopefully with growing international exposure and other countries joining in, things will develop in a better direction. I understand that for many the decision to create content is entirely financial, which is fine to an extend and as long as the benefits far outweigh the cons.
Still won't be watching regular Thai content/lakorns any time soon. Labored through and finished Kiss Me Again, which was enraging, problematic and just NO (both cis females and males totally off putting). Could rant for ages. I sincerely regret not being someone that just drops shows, but has a need to finish without FF just in case.... Should have watched the Pete-Kao cut version as many recommended. Either way, that experience firmly reaffirmed my reasons for not having watched Thai stuff in the first place all these years. That door will be shut again for the foreseeable future.

Guess sort of went off topic, but yeah happy to see good content from other countries that will hopefully move things in a better direction. Looking forward to also see more representation of LGBTQ+ characters in regular (non BL universe) shows/movies, not just BL focus and that more actors of the LGBTQ+ community get roles. We'll get there ; )

Completely agree. Loving tientai series. Would love to be able to track what I’m watching. 

 QueerDudeGermany:

sorry if this goes off-topic but i have to comment this

I know there are some major issues in the representation and in the most parts i agree with you, but i think there is a change in the industry. For example ITSAY is an outstandig Work of queer art, who nobody can say that is doesn't matter.

Also the representation of gay man who also can be succesfull increased in the last years.
Fluke Natouch  is for me an real good Example of an open gay man, there is no toxic masculinity too find with him and he  could be a good role model your Queer Youth all over the world.

Yes it is still a hard way to go, butit  goes slow and steady

ITSAY is a gay drama though, not a BL, that is why it's different. there are more gay dramas around now /because/ of the success of BLs (which is wonderful, of course). you're always more likely to find less offensive material and proper representation in gay dramas than BLs, since BLs are women's fantasies and therefore anything goes. but BLs are never going to change into gay dramas. they are completely different things with completely different purposes. 

it's pretty much as likely as it is to see lesbian porn changing into something that actual gay women can watch without feeling mortified, disgusted, deeply offended and angry and also kinda sad and confused. ;)

 QueerDudeGermany:

somehow this reminds of an taiwan-BL with a tragical ending out of nowhere ( I don't want to spoil so Ì don't name it here...) but maybe  that ending was fan choosen too... ;)

BtW: Stage of Love was very boring in the first episode, don't know if i drop or continue

I finished stage of love, I liked it but it could have been better, BUT all in all I loved it.

 QueerDudeGermany:

sorry if this goes off-topic but i have to comment this

I know there are some major issues in the representation and in the most parts i agree with you, but i think there is a change in the industry. For example ITSAY is an outstandig Work of queer art, who nobody can say that is doesn't matter.

Also the representation of gay man who also can be succesfull increased in the last years.
Fluke Natouch  is for me an real good Example of an open gay man, there is no toxic masculinity too find with him and he  could be a good role model your Queer Youth all over the world.

Yes it is still a hard way to go, butit  goes slow and steady

True that.<3333333333

sorry guys for staying off topic, if you don't like it, feel free to post :)

 Tsuliwaensis:

you always have people complaining about the lack of proper representation in BLs, for example, when that is just so not what they're about or for. I'm just really really really tired of hearing from those people is all.

Yeah now i know your point! I totally agree with you, but with one difference (and that's just my personal opinion, never read anywhere else)

 BLs has something that an normal Queer Drama never has before...and that is the romantic, the lighness and the good feeling. And that one the good side, but the lacking of representation on the bad one it's ambivalent to watch. 

We best Love  NO.1,  for example it's actually a real good show. Does it show the community in a realistic way? not at all 

Is it still nice to watch? definitely

So i don't need the outstanding drama, to be entertaint. But when such a drama, with a message enters the stage, i'm always grateful.

 Tsuliwaensis:

ok, you have to tell me more about that though, what happened?! (send me a pm if it's too much for here ;))

I don't know any details here, but some women make their own porn videos, they were raw and unfiltered and not to compare with the standart ones.The biggest Difference that they weren't made for man's pleasure, rather for women. 

There were also Photobooks, Music, Artworks and queer feministic sex positive Partys. It was all about to show the society that there is be more than the heteronormative lifestyle, but also more than the omnipresent" cis gay white men."

I'm not sure if anyone's interested, but Vietnam has a bunch of GLs too, not just BLs. But as always, they still lack in a lot of departments. Only the 1st three are English subbed though...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO0geuZS71E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX-g_gxDSxE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWgncH_n6CY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spJD7eCAmMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLNlTURhYQs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39MYcLtN4Kc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAEoOSiHCEQ

There are also some theatrical film releases, most popularly Love (but not sure where I can find it now): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4777250/