@ les mis fandom why are you all so insistent on erasing what is arguably Grantaire’s canonical bisexuality? The dude likes girls. He’s also got the mega angsty hots for Enjolras. Everytime I see a headcanon or post where he’s described as gay I’m like??? But??? He talked very clearly about liking ladies??? Why do you have to erase his bisexuality? Him having had a Thing with Floreal for example doesn’t somehow undermine his love for Enjolras? Generally I say headcanon however you like but given it’s practically canon it seems less like ‘this is my interpretation of him!’ And more just. Shady bi erasure. >
Chill, fandom. Let R be bi.
Yes, but I think that the same point could be made for “erasing” Grantaire’s arguably canonical heterosexuality.
(I, personally, don’t think either can be erased, because nothing ficwriters do could ever change canon, so even in cases a character is stated to be something or other in canon, they can be written literally opposite in a fanwork, and it still won’t be erasure, because it doesn’t affect canon in any way.)As for Grantaire, I think the case slightly more complicated – he is described as having no understanding of what his feelings for Enjolras are. Like, he can’t even wrap his head around the concept of him being attracted to a man, in any way.
But he is also a libertine, which might indicated that he’s been around to some lovely parties where everyone sleep with eachother, and he arguably knows that same-sex attraction and action exist.
It’s just that he couldn’t even imagine it applying to him.But then, Grantaire is no master in self-awareness and reflection – he doesn’t think he can be attracted to men, but he’s drawn to Enjolras, for his character, and perhaps for his beauty also.
It’s been 3 years, and I’m still on the fence about Grantaire – either he is straight, but confused, or he is gay, but repressed and confused.
Either way, Grantaire being confused is my only fixed opinion about him.‘Either straight but confused or gay and confused’ ??? Or just. Bi? No offence but the ‘either straight or gay’ mentality doesn’t sit well with me and is exactly what I’m talking about here. Bisexuality is an option here you know? He could like women and men (and I never see him imply otherwise in canon – I don’t see where your ‘cannot possibly wrap his head around being attracted to a man in any way!’ Thing comes from. He seems pretty accepting of his feelings towards Enjolras; it shows in how he’s always described as talking to him ‘tenderly’ and ‘sweetly’. He’s regularly compared to figures with questionable sexualities. He’s literally introduced as in love with Enjolras and all that he is. That doesn’t strike me as a man repressed. Also the idea that a 19th century Parisian artist is unaware of same gender attraction even existing is pretty amusing to me)
Grantaire is arguably one of the only characters in the brick who can almost canonically be discerned as LGBTQ. And one of the only characters who has canonical evidence hinting towards bisexuality. To reduce him to straight or gay without ever exploring this is insulting.
Regardless of your in depth analysis though you’ve sort of missed my point entirely. This post is aimed at a very specific part of fandom who like to erase all the evidence that Grantaire has ever had any interest in women and make him gay due to biphobia and some weird fandom notion that bisexuality will get in the way of their ships. This wasn’t a discussion about Grantaire’s sexuality; it is about erasure of bisexuality in fandom, as an act of biphobia (whether conscious or not) – not about erasing this particular character’s sexuality. Grantaire is my example here because there is very obvious evidence for him being attracted to both women and men.
I’d like to add that the idea that Grantaire is either “straight, but confused, or he is gay, but repressed and confused” (as you say) is also a form of bi-erasure.
Especially since, following
’s theory that he doesn’t understand his feelings for Enjolras, it’s only more likely he’s bi. What makes gay people question whether they are gay? Attraction to the opposite gender. A man in the 19th century won’t have access to labels like bisexual, gay and straight, not to mention all the other labels, so he’ll be more likely to think it’s hella weird that he likes men and women. If Enjolras is the first man he’s ever been in love with, he would be slightly confused.
Our poor, confused, possibly bi little bab.
(that is to say, the OP should also keep in mind that just because R likes two genders doesn’t mean he’s bi. Pan-erasure is also a thing. There are so many labels modern!Grantaire could pick. Gay or straight just aren’t the most recommended when you look at canon)
Published
¯_( ಠ_ಠ)_/¯ 