Gayngst/Playing With

Basic Trope: A gay character is prompted towards much introspection and angst as a consequence of being homosexual.
 * Straight: Harry frequently broods about being homosexual and the problems it has caused him in his life.
 * Exaggerated: Harry's homosexuality has caused him nothing but trauma and anguish, and he has attempted suicide on several occasions.
 * Justified: Traditionally, homosexuality has been subjected to widespread societal prejudice, disapproval and disgust, Harry has faced the possibility of having violence and even death inflicted on him due to his sexuality and suffered the need to keep a fundamental part of himself in the closet in order to avoid this. As such, his life has not been easy.
 * Inverted:
 * Harry is relentlessly cheerful and optimistic about being gay.
 * Harry has angst about being straight being considered unacceptable. Being gay or bisexual is the norm.
 * Subverted: Harry contemplates brooding about being homosexual, but decides that would be to let the homophobes win, and so continues on regardless.
 * Double Subverted: Further trauma in his life breaks Harry's resolve, and he succumbs to despair.
 * Parodied:
 * Harry has had an easy life and is surrounded by supportive, encouraging people, but nevertheless he complains endlessly about being gay.
 * Harry is not actually gay, but still complains about suffering from this trope.
 * Deconstructed: After coming out to a few people who are close to him, Harry tries to talk about his gayngst with said people. However, they just don't seem to understand, and the people he's out to usually become confused or annoyed when he brings it up. So he decides to keep quiet about it. Forever.
 * Reconstructed: Harry eventually meets some other gay people, with whom he can discuss his gayngst.
 * Zig Zagged: Harry's level of Gaynst varies from day to day.
 * Averted:
 * Harry feels and demonstrates no excessive amounts of angst about being homosexual.
 * Harry is not gay.
 * Enforced: The author is himself gay and is drawing upon his own difficult experiences in writing Harry's character.
 * Lampshaded: "How ironic that "gay" used to mean happy, Harry. You've given it a life of its own."
 * Invoked: Harry is bullied because he is gay.
 * Defied: Harry refuses to let those who have attempted to shame and oppress him dictate how he lives his life and builds his character, and remains optimistic.
 * Discussed: "Just because Harry is gay, that doesn't mean his life sucks!" "I think you mean it shouldn't mean his life sucks. And yet here we are."
 * Conversed: "Huh, my favorite show is introducing an LGBT character. Cue his or her life being so horrible that I'll end up needing anti-depressants in three... two... one..."

Back to Gayngst