Queercoding- its roots, usage and how queer people reclaimed it

"Queercoding" is a term that refers to when a character- stereotypically male characters, are given character traits that are linked to queerness, so that a character may be interpreted as gay without being explicitly stated. Some of these traits being exaggerated gender performance, sexual or implied sexual deviance, hedonism, vanity and theatrical behaviour. 

Queercoding was established as a means to portray gay characters without violating the "Hays Code." The Hays Code, was enforced in 1934 and lasted till 1954. It effectively established what was appropriate to show to audiences- as up to this point, with cinema being a new form of media, there was so particular rules on what was "inappropriate,"- with the first ever gay kiss in cinema being in "Wings," (1927.) The Hays Code's contents stated that:

No "perverse" relationships should be depicted on screen, this included homosexual relationships and interracial relationships. Furthermore, sexual encounters outside of marriage were not allowed to be portrayed as desirable, "unnatural" references or depictions of sex were also forbidden.

In addition, any kind of criminality had to be punished, and no criminal character was allowed to be depicted in a way that might gain the audiences sympathy. 

The code had other enforcements- such as all authority figures being treated with respect, such as policemen, judges and politicians. 

Thus, as a means to portray queerness without violating this code, queercoding was established. And from queercoding came the "bury your gays" trope, as in the Hays Code it is stated that any immoral or criminal action must be punished- therefore queer characters were often punished for the "crime" of homosexualitity. 

Though sometimes queercoding was employed by queer directors to inadvertently depict homosexual stories, in many cases it was used to portray gay characters as villains. A prime example of this being Disney villains, such as: Ursula- a drag queen through subtext with an inflated gender performance, and was inspired by drag queen "Divine"- who also plays into lesbian stereotypes by deceiving and leading a young girl astray. 

Scar- from the "Lion king." He is feminine and cunning, as well as dramatic and power hungry.

Jafar- from "Aladdin," he is heavily associated with snakes- a phallic symbol, as well as being depicted as feminine, power hungry and dramatic. 

It is interesting, that in all the stated cases, many of the queercoded characters are depicted as power hungry- wanting to challenge and destroy the good, honest protagonists and society at large. My own hypothesis on this is that this is a subtextual message about homosexuals- that we wish to break down and corrupt the heterosexual, suburban masses. 

And ironically, it is not a wrong conclusion. Queer people do want to break down constructs such as hetronorminty and the patriarchy. But this is not because gay people want to corrupt society, it's because many queer people have been victims of these societal norms, and recognise the harmful and problematic nature of them. 

Queercoding is often attributed to the 20th century and cinema- and though it is where the phrase was coined and it particularly rose to prominence, queercoding has been a stable in literature for many years prior. The most notable example being in Wilde's "picture of Dorian Gray," wherein the character of Basil Hallward is strongly implied to be in love with Dorian, and in the beginning it is alluded that there may be a romantic, perhaps sexual relationship between the two men. Throughout the novel there are many allusions to Achillean love, with Lord Henry Wotton having a fascination with Dorian's beauty that feels like a strong lust. As well as Basil asking Dorian "what is it that makes your friendship so lethal to young men?' (paraphrasing.) Oscar Wilde was famously queer, the book was even mentioned in Wilde's trial for homosexualitity, this is an example of queercoding being used by queer authors to portray queerness through censorship. Another example being "Carmilla," the lesbian predecessor of "Dracula." The story follows young Sarah, who is sexually enticed by the beautiful, also vampire Carmilla. The protagonists lesbianism is depicted as something that is being caused by Carmilla's demonic countenance, the lesbianism in the novel, though very explicit, is portrayed as something villianous, which of course is a product of its time. 

Though throughout history, queercoding has often been used to portray gay people in a negative light, highlighting the "perverse nature" of it, many queer people have reclaimed it's usage. For example, for many young LGBTQ people, the queercoded Disney villains were the first kind of exposure to any kind of gay culture, therefore have become widely celebrated and iconic within the queer community. As well as books born out of censorship, such a the picture of Dorian Gray and Carmilla, have become widely discussed and celebrated pieces of literature within queer academia. 

In conclusion, censorship such as the Hays Code bred one of the longest standing movie tropes, that still runs in media today. And despite the reclamation and celebration of many queercoded characters, it is still an issue that is yet to be properly addressed- in addition queercoded characters are often used as a lazy form of "representation." Wherein companies can lure in LGBTQ audiences with a promise of a gay story, but never follow through on it as to no loose heterosexual viewership. This is known as "queerbaiting." Despite the undeniable progess in gay media, queercoding is still present, and should be addressed, deconstructed and recognised for its harmful intents and roots.

Thank you for reading.