SS7 53 Hopkins is Frustrated
skyangel on April 7, 2020
I was looking at our comic profile at the weekend and found myself questioning if there is still any point in tagging this as an LGBT comic. When we first started out 10 years ago it felt very important because the scene was very sparsely covered by people committed and able enough to turn out a good story but now 10 years on LGBT characters pop up everywhere and are just accepted as a way to make any story more colourful and interesting.
In the beginning we were sharing personal issues about how it felt to be in minority groups and how frustrated we were with the misconceptions on the straight side of the fence about our behaviour and attitudes. Ten years on though things feel so much more relaxed now that I only really feel a desire to write about love rather than any personal issues. Nikki and Stacey are the only two exceptions because Nikki still struggles to find a perfect partner which to me makes her personal issues still of interest, and likewise Stacy as a victim of sexual abuse still suffers from her inner demons. ( I've pushed Stacey to one side by the way because this final chapter is jumpy enough as it is but we catch up with her towards the end because she's still one character that I've found the most interesting to explore and wanted to say goodbye to properly.)
So as I write this editorial this morning it feels nice to think that we as human beings have come so far in finally understanding and accepting each others personal differences and lifestyle experiences over the last 10 years and not only with just thanks for the internet but also to this site, the dear old Duck which has allowed so many of us the freedom to share our thoughts and feelings through our art and writing. The Duck really is one very special place in helping people stay connected in such a unique way.
Next week: Back in the present, Sarah notices something troubling about Lucy's performance during the concert!
Have a nice week :)
tommym at 4:26PM, Aug. 4, 2020
Dear Sky I feel strongly you should keep the LGBT Tag! Maybe you guys in the british empire made good progress, but here in the states Trans people are getting murdered at a high rate, especially Trans of color! Sad to say there is still along way to go tommym
skyangel at 3:34PM, Aug. 5, 2020
Tommym: That's really sad to hear. We seem to have made a lot of progress over here in the last few years and luckily murder is still a rare thing over here as far as I know.
DarkVisor at 2:45PM, April 11, 2020
An LGBT-soup webic doesn't have to be about 'issues' or 'problems', it just means the primary character(s) are not 'straight'
skyangel at 3:41AM, April 12, 2020
DV: Exactly, I felt about 5 years ago a lot of issues had been well covered by enough comics, especially life at school and first love, so I really wanted to go to a different place for my storylines.
Fruitbat44v2 at 3:06AM, April 11, 2020
"Hopkins is frustrated . . ." well that would explain a lot. Over a month? Well the guy obviously has way too much time on his hands. Unless he's getting paid for this gig, in which case it's in his interest to drag it out as long as possible. Errr, really random thought, he's not a con artist who's not really hunting Lenore, but actually working with her? Hmmm . . . …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...Anyway interesting editorial. Things have changed, and maybe SS is now more about the joys and fears of being love rather than about being gay. But given that the main character is a lesbian I think the LGBT is still appropriate, but more as an indication than a definition...……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Yes things have changed. Okay not everything in the garden is roses. In a minor way think of Colors, "only the 'straights' here were the oddity." And yet one of the characters is an openly gay PC. Yep, change.
Fruitbat44v2 at 5:47AM, April 13, 2020
Sky, thank you for your replies. Ultimately it's your strip and you cover what you enjoy and what think is important. I do enjoy reading it & it's always good to get other people's perspective. And thank you for the snippet about the R/L Hopkins. The Good Lord really does help those who help themselves . . .
skyangel at 3:38AM, April 12, 2020
Fruitbat: I suppose to me, SS still has to be about being gay as they are gay characters presenting their views on each other and life in general, but I only tend to include new thoughts and feelings that I get fired up about as most of my pleasure now comes from just focusing on the love story. Colors was an exception for that very reason. I'd heard people say things about gay clubs being their domain and how 'straights' sometimes ruined the atmosphere, even just by being over accepting to the point of embarrassing and I could relate to that but this labelling idea within the LGBT community itself felt like a step backwards and fired me up enough to want to cover it, awkwardly maybe but I felt a desire to have a poke at that.
skyangel at 3:28AM, April 12, 2020
Fruitbat: This quote from a historian who studied Hopkins life shows why he was so hot on witches and far more extortionist than exorcist:---------------- "On one occasion using his pretended commission from Parliament, he directed the officials of Stowmarket in Suffolk, to levy a special tax on it’s citizens to pay his expenses and those of his assistants. Records show that he extorted twenty-eight pounds and three pence from them, at a time when the prevailing wage of the day was only sixpence, but Hopkins defended his high fees arguing that ferreting out witches required great skill, and not a little courage when a witch was confronted."
BearinOz at 6:15AM, April 9, 2020
Yeah, people can't get too complacent about LGBTI++ rights - look at Russia, much of Eastern Europe, Brasil - especially with "Balls'n'arsol" in charge, and even the Orange Clown in Washington !! Despite all the rights and liberties - emancipation, suffrage, civil rights, etc., what the world will never have a shortage of, is racist, misogynistic and assorted deadshits and f#ckwits and many of the long-fought-for workers' rights and other things we value, are under threat, with increasingly 'rightist' governments ! Our man in black, above looks, like he's one from that category ! B-)
skyangel at 4:21PM, April 9, 2020
Bear: That's a very passionate speech and from the heart too! 'Hopkins' certainly doesn't seem to me like the sort of guy one could reason with on fairness or logic.
0becomingX at 5:26PM, April 7, 2020
OMG i'm coming back to his comic after 10 years!! Props to you for keeping up the great work!!!
0becomingX at 7:16PM, April 9, 2020
WOw I'm in a bit of shock you remember me! I could never forget your lovely story tho! getting caught up cause you were a busy bee <3
skyangel at 4:18PM, April 9, 2020
Silva! OMG You really are a blast from the past aren't you! Wonderful to see you around again hon :)
dolo724 at 2:24PM, April 7, 2020
Certainly, this began as an LGBT slice of life, but has become more since. The comic acknowledges its beginnings by continuing to deal with fear and discrimination towards us while advancing the story in a human way. Thank you for telling us Sarah's story!
skyangel at 4:16PM, April 9, 2020
Dolo: I always pay tribute to Patricia Grullion's comic 'Friction' for everything I've achieved on the Duck because it was her comic that showed me the way and also inspired me to write about things I felt passionate about. Coming out stories were one of the hottest things on here at the time and I could see so many young readers who felt isolated at home and school, connecting with the stories on here which were not so much giving advice but more importantly sharing thoughts and feelings on what it's like to be in their position.
fredhedges at 9:26AM, April 7, 2020
Things have certainly changed for the better, overall, for those of us of alternate sexuality over the last decade; but in the US we have seen a discouraging push back by gay bashers, misogynists, incels, evangelists and right-wing legislators. The hate is still out there. And those of us who are older, and who grew up in the repressive climate (and laws) of the 1950s and 1960s, are permanently scarred. We remember, whether we want to or not, and we still hurt. So even though as you said "gay issues" do not predominate these days in your wonderful story, they are the reason that sets it apart and keeps me reading.
skyangel at 3:55PM, April 9, 2020
Fred: I hear you! Sadly it often seems there will always be some discrimination for whatever reasons because a few people decide others are less equal to themselves. I do feel though that the majority of people today are far less ignorant, more aware of how negative any form of discrimination is and have the common sense as a result to see that a community that looks after each other is a better and healthier one for us all.
skyangel at 3:42PM, April 9, 2020
NicandBen: Haha I never thought of that but it's a good possibility!