Sigh

Romance doesn't need to be the central focus of a story to be a part of it. The romantic subplot was still a vital element in character development, interpersonal relationships and narrative structure

"Removing the romance" and "making the couple just friends" aren't the only options. What about the option of "keeping the romance and making it more romantic?"

Reducing the romantic relationship between two female or two male characters to "just a friendship" is homophobic and should be met with criticism, but it's a marginally better option than removing the love interest from the narrative. A "friendship" would allow for the possibility of gay undertones and a romantic subplot to arise organically in the story or to be expanded on by the fandom in fan works/edits

@moonchild's keyboard is stuck on CTRL+C, CTRL+V

Homophobic comedy, queer-baiting and gay erasure are all serious issues that shouldn't be pitted against each other

The dramas of the past were unacceptable, we can't go back in time to remedy their flaws. What we can do is use our voices to advocate for a more respectful future in television

I'm not pressuring others to abandon the drama or join the boycott. I might watch it myself for the pleasure of Kim Tae Ri's performance, and I believe the all-female setting of the theatre will retain a sense of Sapphic charm in the absence of the main gay romance. I've simply brought attention to the issue of homophobic censorship and voiced my discontent at the constant removal of gay representation

It's wild how a country that prides itself on being developed can be so far behind when it comes to granting basic human rights to gay people

Why don't BLs or GLs make it onto TV? Networks fear their viewers will be turned off by the briefest depiction of a gay couple. This is homophobia in action

The only reason to remove a smidgen of gay romance is if society has the emotional fortitude of a wet tissue and a phobia of anything that doesn't conform to traditional gender roles. Admit it, you're okay with the homophobia. Others, however, might not be. And they are allowed to call it what it is

"... and how to modify one's body beyond what nature intended (balding and death)"

Trans identifying people aren't maniacal masterminds, rubbing their hands together in glee and mutilating their bodies to outsmart Mother Nature. No matter how many hormones they swallow, or how much surgery they go under, they'll be the same people. They will sprout unsightly bald spots or develop a host of health issues, just like the rest of us in this unnatural modern society

"Freedom" of choice is a thorny issue. I believe that all choices are open to respectful discussion and critique, even if the discussion raises questions about the morality, or lack thereof, of "body modification"

"... it's a bit short, just 5 letters"

It's bigger than the amount of time people spend thinking before they speak

"It's amazing that you've seen some homophobes who are ok with transgender people but not with gays"

I've had the misfortune of being around homophobes my whole life, I've seen every flavor under the sun

"Idiot," "narcissist," "sociopath." Those are big words for someone with a small mind

Misogyny and homophobia share a common source in men's fear of being treated as they treat women. Trans issues don't fit into the equation. I've seen homophobes who are more supportive of trans identifying people, to the point of preferring that their gay children identify as trans. The enemies of the gay, women's, and trans movements are different groups with different agendas

You're force-fitting trans issues into a conversation about gay people and stirring up a pot of trouble where there's no kettle to be found. It's not working

Are you discriminating against the people with brain deficiency?

Being trans and being gay are two separate parts of an identity. Trans refers to one’s internal sense of gender identity, it's the self-loathing, the discomfort with oneself and the external presentation of a different persona as a result. Gay refers to who one is attracted to. Self-love, not self-loathing, is the core principle of the gay rights movement. It’s not hard for me to imagine someone rejecting the trans identity and respecting the rights of gay people

Are you the (un)official spokesperson for Bigoted Productions? Under every comments section of censored gay adaptations, there you are, complaining about other people complaining and telling them that "the gay romance isn't a major part of the story anyway"

Why are producers snipping out little, minor slices of stories? They could've left them in and put a warning label like, "caution: minor gay romance ahead. If it offends you, please close your eyes. The straight agenda will resume momentarily"

Removing the love interest is as much censorship as toning down the romance

Some Western countries are behind the times on gay rights and representation, why should Korea follow suit? "We can't make progress on human rights because some countries haven't yet." That's a terrible argument. Korea should be a leader, not a follower

I'm not lying. At the time of Goblin's release, the age gap between Kim Go Eun and Gong Yoo, who were 25 and 37 respectively, was visible. Gong Yoo's appearance suggested a maturity beyond his years, he could've believably played a father figure to Go Eun. Their on-screen interactions were disturbing

I'm not trying to "lecture" you, I'm highlighting the inconsistency in how age gaps are treated in media

What do you have against baby-faced people?

Blank's source material might've been "problematic" to you, but the producers addressed your concerns by increasing the age of the younger female character from 18 to 20-21

The negative reaction to the series is disproportionate and unjustified, it doesn't acknowledge the positive creative changes made to the source material

Appearances can be deceiving. If you're going to base relationships on appearances, will you tell people with similar haircuts or outfits they look like twins and should avoid dating?

Kim Go Eun and Gong Yoo had a visible age difference that made them appear more like a father-daughter duo, why do you defend that problematic drama?

"... that girlie behaves like a child"

Being an adult doesn’t mean losing your sense of fun and playfulness. It’s possible to have a youthful "spirit" or act childlike and still be a mature, responsible adult

"A lot" is relative. With one openly gay character or couple per million dramas, we're hardly pushing the boundaries of representation

Removing a gay romance isn't better than censoring it, it contributes to the erasure of gay identities and experiences

Homophobia is a widespread issue that affects all communities around the world. Some Western societies claim to be tolerant, but their reactions to gay representation in media demonstrate that there's progress to be made. Rather than repeating the mistakes of the West, Asia should aim to be more supportive of the gay community

You don't have to watch the drama, I'll likely be tuned in for Tae Ri's performance though

The "woke" have ruined everything. Now people have to watch a drama for the plot and characters and not for the eye candy. The horror!

I have a preference for all-female or all-male casts, stories, spaces and societies. As opposed to the liberal "woke" straight agenda that pushes for extra-inclusive, mixed-sex interactions, I believe in the power of separate spaces for women and men. In my ideal world, there would be two homosocial societies, one for women and one for men, so that each sex could thrive independently of the influence of the opposite sex. Freed from the shackles of relentless "procreation," each sex would use its finite time on earth to create a harmonious, enjoyable existence

Removing a small gay romance is absurd, homophobes could've just covered their eyes or changed the channel

It's doubly absurd when you consider that the theater is female-only and the women play romantic roles with each other. There's no escaping the gayness

The truth is, even a seemingly small inclusion of gay romance can shift the story's dynamics. It matters, to those who value it and to those who are uncomfortable with it. We need to protect and preserve it

To those concerned that this drama might be "pedophilic"

The actresses of "Blank" are adults of legal age. The fictional story establishes that the younger female character attending high school is a 20-21-year-old adult who's been delayed in her educational progress due to medical circumstances. The age gap in the romantic storyline doesn't involve minors or pre-pubescent children and can't be classified as "pedophilia"

Supernatural elements don't completely eliminate the psychological, emotional, societal effects of time on individuals. Imagine a 900+-year-old goblin dating a 17-19-year-old human. Despite the supernatural entity's frozen physical appearance, their emotional maturity outstrips the human's, creating a power imbalance in their relationship

It's not illogical to draw comparisons between supernatural and ordinary age gaps in fictional narratives, or to find inconsistencies in the acceptance and condemnation of age gaps across different works of fiction

The actresses of "Blank" are adults of legal age. The fictional story establishes that the younger female character attending high school is a 20-21-year-old adult who's been delayed in her educational progress due to medical circumstances. The age gap in the romantic storyline doesn't involve minors or pre-pubescent children and can't be classified as "pedophilia"

Anyone who challenges the elite and their crimes is a vigilante hero

The police have been known to disproportionately target marginalized communities (POC, gay people, disabled people, etc). The issue isn't with vigilantism, it's with people in general. Both law enforcement officers and crime fighters are susceptible to bias