*treading carefully* …. well just to ask this question, is it wrong to assume that a character is straight until proven otherwise?
No, it’s not wrong, but it is limiting possibilities. Saying, until stated otherwise by a character, a character can very well be queer, is simply a way to ask to stay open for more than one idea. edit: Or one can say as well, yes, it is wrong to simply assume a character is hetero, like RG put it. I am just a tad more diplomatic in this case (and have maybe a different understanding of right and wrong).
People very rarely have to come out as hetero. When you meet someone new and and they tell in the first small talk something like, that they went with their partner last night to the theater and it was a great show, most people will picture as partner someone of the opposite sex. We don’t give it much thought, we don’t question it, unless it is in some way pointed out, mentioned, made visible. Hetero people seldom have to explain, why they’re hetero. Fans seldom have to explain, why we wish for any hetero romantic couple on a TV show, maybe who we want to pair up, but not that on a show telling stories about love should be at least a hetero couple and not just only singles loving their parents, kids, and maybe their pets. Hetero is defined as “the normal”. And as the norm, so it has not to be declared, defined, explained. Thus the term heteronormativity.
In discussions it happens many times, that people argue, that it was not shown or stated, that the character is gay, and because of this lack of expressed otherness the character has to be what is defined as “normal”, that means hetero. But why should that be, as long as it is not explicitly stated?
Ask yourself, how many people have told you, or have you asked, if they are hetero? I bet with you, that a few of the people you know and have so far not questioned and assumed to be hetero are queer, although they might never tell you (because of society). It can be quite interesting to ask people, if they are hetero, some feel offended, but some wonder why I ask them that, and it can start productive discussions about how we are used to see things in society.
@RumplesGirl You did well. And thanks for the intervention No long essay this time from me, little sleep, not enough coffee and it is too warm 😉
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