Earlier this week, the internet went wild when a new queer ship was born: Babadook and Pennywise the Clown.
It started with a joke, some angry DMS, and then the internet doing what it does best: making something a viral joke. Fanart and headcanons flourished, and people flooded Twitter with rainbow-clad monster icons.
However, not everyone is here for the fictional ship.
Yesterday, Twitter user @showupforthis, expressed concerns with the ship, even as simply a fun jest.
I want to love the Babadook/Pennywise as queer thing but honestly "monsters who terrorize children BUT QUEER" makes me feel exhausted.
— gin. (@showupforthis) September 13, 2017
‘I want to love the Babadook/Pennywise as queer thing,’ the tweet reads. ‘But honestly “monsters who terrorize children BUT QUEER” makes me feel exhausted.’
It’s an interesting idea that has sparked an even more fascinating discussion on how society views the queer community.
The whole thread is definitely worth the read and consideration.
She follows up her first point about being exhausted with the reasoning ‘there are people who already view queer folk, especially gay men, as inherently dangerous and harmful to children’.
Why do you think it's always been harder for queer folk to get work in child-centric fields, to adopt or foster children?
— gin. (@showupforthis) September 13, 2017
She then says she’s not down on any ‘fellow queers who enjoy it’ but she finds it in poor taste, especially with who the monsters are specifically.
Two, an unearthly evil terrorizing generation after generation whose evil forces pre-pubescent kids to have sex in a sewer.
— gin. (@showupforthis) September 13, 2017
A lot of people agreed with the original user’s points. One person also pointed out the death of a gay character in It.
Also in the book pennywise kills one of only two cannon gay men after the man is gay bashed. Can't see him as a gay icon.
— L.J.Hamlin Demon chick (@LjHamlin) September 13, 2017
Another brought up double standards within the community.
https://twitter.com/aroaceluce/status/907983763535224832
Others, however, are still more accepting of the ship for various reasons.
https://twitter.com/ezrafell/status/908384800389652480
I feel that way too, I just enjoy how angry it makes the straights like they are So Adamant that these monsters are heteros
— [Redacted] (they/them) (@transofgender) September 13, 2017
Regardless, there’s a compelling discussion about media representation, the act of claiming, and how something as seemingly innocuous as this can have a ripple effect.
Where do you come down on the Babadook/Pennywise ship?