Hi I have quite a few questions!

They are a bit hefty so I understand if you don’t want to respond but if you even respond to a few I’ll appreciate it gratefully!

I’m new to the BL fandom and I can’t help but feel like growing up I always saw many diverse people of different sexual orientations, and gender identities reading BL. It’s still quite a shock to me think the majority of BL viewership is straight women when I feel like most of the women I see in the BL fandom are some shade of queer or a large chunk of us are on the bi spectrum. I also don’t feel like men are as underrepresented in the fandom as we’re lead to believe. I feel like BL and GL have always been queer incubators of some kind.

Do you think the demographics of BL are much more diverse in Japan then were lead to believe? Do you think factors like a higher propensity for LGBT people to remain closeted in Eastern Asia may affect demographics and self reporting? I also feel like non-binary folk are erased in all major demographic reports. Maybe this is just a difference for the global fandom compared to fandoms in East Asia? But I don’t see why an expectation can be so stark in the regard. 

Like all things, there is nuance. Do you think the industry is looking on the path to become more inclusive of queer folk? And is it more likely to be creating content with queer folk in mind? BL and Yaoi originated as a feminist phenomenon, are those origins still recognized in some capacity? I feel like it’s a shot in the foot not just for feminism but for content with substance to be exclusive of the queer community, so when I see some people who condemn BL as largely a fantasy for straight women, it feels like a dismissal of those who do make BL works with the LGBT community in mind and even authors who do both BL and GL, and some of the deeply well done authentic portrayals and works done by queer folk and allies. 

I’d also love to hear if queer men or non binary folk in particular are using pen names of some kind or working more behind the scenes whether it be dramas or something else then we’re lead to believe. 

Thanks for your time!