Yeah… You know, the irony was, I wasn’t even that excited about it, when it was announced, I literally posted this: https://booasaur.tumblr.com/post/180630988565/me-a-new-ff-movie-with-recognizable-stars-and-a
And then I ended up thinking it was great! What an idiot I was. I wish now I hadn’t watched at all and just stayed away from it completely.
I don’t know if it’s needed, it’s certainly not effective. And people can say, all they want, how it’s because of Harper’s actions, because apparently they’re somehow decontextualized from her being closeted?, because in this situation THEY would never lie or briefly be a dick (and apologize), they would never put someone in this situation that apparently they had no choice to refuse, that basically, it’s Harper they find unsympathetic, not closeted people in general.
Even though we can see the comments they make that kind of DO apply to closeted people in general! Oh, she’s cowardly but in a different way from us? She doesn’t deserve love but in a different way from us? That out people are better in general, more confident, mature, but only when we’re talking about fictional characters?
But you know what the rub of it is. I’ve been really deep in some fandoms with closeted characters, who were as sympathetic as they claim Harper should have been. Jade from The Rich Man’s Daughter, who attempted suicide and who was slapped around by her family? Rana from Corrie who was shaking and sobbing and humiliated when her parents found out? I saw how they were treated. I saw how people treated Sophie from Batwoman. I don’t want to hear about this perfect closeted person who behaves like an angel, as if they themselves aren’t the biggest victim of the homophobia around them.