Talk:Nico/@comment-4142005-20150218164956

I guess the reason why the gay rights movement is sooo slow in Japan is because of stereotypes and society's rejection of people who, and people who they perceive to, fit these traits. There is nothing inherently wrong with being an extremely feminine man. And what is important is that a character is more than just a concept, a stereotype. I've only just started reading Tokyo Ghoul so I don't know how Nico will turn out, but Bon Kurei was handled pretty well in ONE PIECE although I was very uncomfortable before he was developed as a character. That being said, the other okama characters in ONE PIECE? Offensive.

What is problematic is the equation of most if not all gay men as okama/transvestites/cross-dressers/effeminate in popular culture. Gay men are reduced and dehumanized into a set of mannerisms and traits perceived to be negative by society. The way they're portrayed, all shoeboxed into having the a very narrow range of interests and hobbies, and the same kinds of look, is demeaning. The purpose for their existence is to provide comic relief, to be novel, and to make readers uncomfortable by being ridiculous, "weird" or even inappropriate (such as sexual advances).

One, society needs to change its sexist views and deconstruct gender roles. Two, there is no true representation of the community in question. It's simply not true. Cross-dressers and tranvestites are different. Most transvestites are heterosexual. Of course, I doubt the authors are mindful of such things, which is another problem.

"Retain some of his male personality traits" - what's with the use of "retain"? Did he hit his head and "lost" some of his "male personality traits?"