: Re: How to write a homosexual character, whose homosexuality isn't the point of the story? I'm writing a modern fantasy novel, with a female protagonist whose principal romantic interest is another

@Kristi637

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Although this presents as a writing question, it's really a question of cultural context. For example, in most parts of America, until quite recently, it would have been nearly impossible for someone's homosexuality to be an unremarkable aspect of her identity, because homosexuality was so heavily problematized culturally. On the other hand, in many parts of today's America, a wide range of sexualities, including what we call homosexuality, are unremarkable and unproblematic, particularly among a younger age-cohort.

Since you are creating the world your character exists in, your real question is what kind of culture does it have, a culture where homosexuality is necessarily problematic, or one where it is unremarkable? (Or perhaps one where it is assumed, or even mandated?) Your worldbuilding choices about the cultural context the character exists within will then go on to inform how you write your story.

In other words, if you want to make a story where a character's homosexuality is incidental, then you first need to create a world in which incidental homosexuality is the norm. If you first establish this for the world, then it will not be shocking for the character (or the reader).

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