Smash the heterosexual orthodoxy

[donnaimmaculata]

Following the confirmation of the Remus/Tonks canon and the subsequent - to use a polite term - discussions about whether or not Rowling has merely submitted to society's heterosexist pressure, I would like to ask a question that's always interested me: What makes Remus gay?

I am asking this, because there are many readers who read the character Remus Lupin as gay. And I don't mean the character's being coded as representing the idea of homosexuality on an allegorical level, which is quite a different thing. (A worrying one as well if people assume that making someone a vicious man-eating monster means that they stand for homosexuality, but this is neither here nor there.) What I am interested to know is what, exactly, about Lupin's characterisation makes readers think he's as gay as a tree full of monkey.

Because, as much as I like writing and reading Remus in slash pairings, I've never read the character in the novel as gay. (He reminds me far too much of my ex-BF for that, but this, again, is neither here nor there.) He's polite, understanding and witty, which, I realise, are qualities that are often contributed to gay men, because they are oh so full of understanding for us women, quite unlike their rude, insensitive, grumpy straight counterparts.

This is a serious question. I'm honestly interested.

Comments

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

I think it's that he's coded female, in much the same way that Joanna Russ said that Spock was, when she wrote about the original phenomenon of slash.

"Ruled by the moon" would be the key one, also with the sensitivity and the general physical unimposingness... and the general DIFFERENCE.

Which makes him easy to put into the slash stuff, which makes it very easy for people to go all tin hat about the Gay.

[kelly-holden.livejournal.com]

I think it's that he's coded female, in much the same way that Joanna Russ said that Spock was, when she wrote about the original phenomenon of slash.
I sort of agree about Remus, he does seem 'feminine', but I don't agree about Spock; if one of the K/S pairing is 'coded female' it's Kirk. To quote an entry of mine from a long while back (hooray for tags): "Consider that Jim is the emotional, the intuitive, essentially the feminine; in spite of his (mostly undeserved) reputation (both in his universe and the real world) as a ladies' man. Consider also that Spock is the logical, the unemotional, the masculine. In K/S smut, Spock almost invariably tops, and I've yet to lay eyes on D/s or BDSM with a dom Kirk."

I don't think it's straight out being 'coded female' that had me thinking of Remus as gay, though, I think it was partly by comparison with Aziraphale from 'Good Omens'.

[seductivedark.livejournal.com]

I think the 'coded female' is part of it. He's influenced by the moon, he has a once-a-month curse, he's quiet, he's recessive (reticent by necessity, of course, because of his curse), he's understanding and compassionate, and he's an outsider to the rest of Harry's world. So, yes, he is a 'coded female'.

I think another thing that points to 'gay' to a lot of people, is the depth of his friendship with the Marauders or their memories, which borders on modern perceptions of romance. Even in the movies, which a lot of people have pointed to as bringing out a gay subtext, hugging an old friend who has been lost to one for years doesn't make someone gay or even bi. And as for Curaon (sp?) making this a point of gay subtext, recall, Curaon (sp?) is not English or American. Men are freer in other societies to hug and even kiss without a romantic undercurrent. Arab and South American cultures are more open this way, much more emotional. And their personal space is much smaller than ours tends to be, giving rise to imaginings on our parts.

But, the friendship thing is, I think, one of the key turning points that makes Remus gay in some opinions. People have a hang-up about close non-sexual friendships these days, whether from fear or from desire, I don't know. Really, you can be close without being involved in a sexual relationship. But everyone's afraid to try it out any more, or so it seems.

I've wondered about it too, and this is all I could come up with. donnaimmaculata, I hope you get a definitive answer!

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

I don't think there is a satisfactory answer - but I am most interested in people's opinions and insights. And your elaboration of the "coded female", actually, hits the nail on the head, I think. I get the impression that there is something about Remus' characterisation that makes readers perceive him as gay (not merely coded as gay, not merely slashable). His assuming traditionally female characteristics is certainly one reason.