Gail Simone's Blog, page 853

APE IN A CAPE: Trigger Warning: Transphobia

APE IN A CAPE: Trigger Warning: Transphobia:

queenanthai:

girlinfourcolors:

gailsimone:

I just got this in my inbox.

“If you getting fired means we don’t have to see some disgusting tranny in Batgirl, I’m on board. I like a lot of what you’ve done, but once you started talking about trannies, I wanted you gone. You don’t have to support…

Okay, you know what?

No.

You don’t ask someone to apologize for defending you.

Regardless of whether you not you think “transphobia shouldn’t be publicized because we deal with this bullshit every day” - I’m not arguing that point, because it’s true - I’m sorry, but I think it’s far more important that trans men and women should see someone in the public eye, whom they may admire, flat-out standing up for them.

Whether you’re trans or not, if you’ve ever been bullied or abused for being yourself, think about the hope it would put in your heart to see someone so publicly denouncing that kind of hate speech. Okay, maybe Gail didn’t have to directly quote the email in question. I’ll give you that. But is important - very, very important - to everybody to see other people standing up against hateful speech and bigotry. Someone to champion you when maybe nobody else is.

I really appreciate these kind words and I promise I didn’t feel attacked or treated unfairly or anything like that by the poster in question. I think she was making a fair point, that it’s smart for people who aren’t trans to remember where the focus is, where the oxygen and sunlight have to go. And that person isn’t me in this question.

Honest, I didn’t mean to start any disagreements. I will definitely make sure that if I quote anything like this again, I will be very very careful indeed.

No ill will at all, I appreciate that people take the time to educate me on these things. They certainly have no obligation to do that.

Brian, you remain hilarious.Thanks, man. :)

Brian, you remain hilarious.

Thanks, man. :)

You Know

It just hit me, holy crap, what a great time this would be to bring Bryan Q. Miller back to the dcu.

Bryan!

Come write Batgirl again!

barryjkelly:Heard the news about Gail...

barryjkelly:

Heard the news about Gail Simone…

Boooooo….

I’m sorry.

I had to reblog this. Because it made me laugh out loud.

Thank you so much.

I am not giving up on anything, the higher ups at DC and elsewhere have all called or written and been quite kind.

We’re not done, Barbara OR me.

Just sadly not on the same book!


Also, wow, what a perfect piece of art!

fyeahbatgirl:Batgirl by Ty TempletonLove Ty. Such a...

fyeahbatgirl:

Batgirl by Ty Templeton

Love Ty. Such a sweet, talented man.

I just realized it’s hip gonna be weird seeing Barbara on my dash all the time now!

No trans character in Batgirl, either? Or is that still in the books, before you leave? :3

I think it’s very unlikely that thread will be followed up on in Batgirl, sadly. The worst thing about this is all the beautiful things we had set up will likely not happen, as new editors and creative teams understandably want to forge their own trail.

HOWEVER.

I am not giving up on the idea of a major trans character in an ongoing mainstream title without a fight. I want a clear, unambiguous trans character in a prominent, unambiguous and unapologetic role THIS YEAR.

It’s important, it should have happened ages ago, I will not let the year pass without it if it is in my power to do something about it.

I have a proposal in right now where not just a cast member but the LEAD character is trans. Trans readers deserve representation and this is something that I am determined to see happen. This year, period.

That is not negotiable.

I Don't Know If This Is An Autism Thing or Just Me

lauralot89:

But I cannot process upsetting news well at all, and every since it was announced that Gail Simone is off of Batgirl, I have wanted to scream and break things and injure myself and that doesn’t show signs of stopping any time soon.  The more I learn about the situation - like that she’d already written Barbara’s recovery arc, and now we’ll never get to see it - the worse it gets, and nothing I do makes it any better.  Not sharing fond memories about Gail or the book, not looking at old pages, nothing.

I can’t even go re-read the old issues because I can’t stop crying at the moment and I don’t want to ruin the pages.  Jesus.

Oh, sweetheart, please don’t let this get you that down! I promise I will do my best to get some other awesome characters and storie as soon as possible!

Please, I understand being sad, but you being sad is unbearable to me…

I promise to do my best to make it better!

keaneoncomics:Batgirl Pinup - NotoI love that guy. What a...

keaneoncomics:

Batgirl Pinup - Noto

I love that guy. What a talent. Sigh.

Wait so the BC article says the last Death of the Family issue is your last - does that mean we're not going to see the Barbara's-recovery arc that you've been talking about? Do I need to start sobbing now?

Sadly, the new editor nixed everything we had planned. I think it’s very likely that will still be covered, but it will not be in the way we had been building to, which I am very sad about. And those issues are already written, but will not be published, I gather.

I Am So Fricking Fortunate It's Ridiculous

Seriously.

Okay, well, if you read the news on Bleeding Cool, I unfortunately have the sad duty to confirm that it’s true.  As of Wednesday of last week, I was informed by an email from  my new editor that I am no longer the writer of Batgirl.

I cannot express my disappointment at this. I think everyone is aware how important Barbara Gordon is to me, and how important it is to me that her stories be told with respect and care, both for the character and the readers.

We tried our very best to do that, and it was an honor to write Barbara for these many years.

I have to thank the previous editors, the intelligent and classy Bobbie Chase, and the absolutely wonderful Brian Smith. I want to thank the rest of the bat-office writers and artists who never failed to be supportive and inspiring to work with. In particular, Scott Snyder has made a Herculean effort to support me, Batgirl, and the entire Bat-line, and I am proud to call him my friend.

I am in debt forever to the magnificent artists I’ve gotten to work with telling these stories. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Ardian, Ed, Daniel, Vincente, Admira, Stanley, and all the rest of you wonderful people I am too scattered right now to name. You guys have no idea how much joy your talents and craft have brought me. It’s absolutely humbling to work with people like you.

I want to thank DC for giving me the opportunity to write Barbara. When the new52 was announced, I was terrified that telling early stories of Barbara would mean completely invalidating her story as a disabled icon. We tried our best never to forget that, even when putting her back in the suit. 

Very few writers are ever lucky enough to get to work in the bat-offices, it’s a rare honor and thrill and I absolutely loved it and will miss it terribly.

I am probably sounding a little bit maudlin right now, as I feel a genuine sense of loss. This wasn’t just another assignment to me. 

When this was announced just a little while ago on bleedingcool.com, I confirmed it, and when I came back, my twitter feed was completely flooded by incredibly kind words.

So, while I am very sad right now and I won’t deny it, I have to say, I’m sure this sounds corny, but I feel very, very fortunate.

I have been lucky enough to live a dream that was too big for me to even think about as a child. I got to write  Batgirl. When I was just a little kid, she was the first superhero I’d ever seen. A redhaired smart girl who could kick ass?  It changed my life. And I grew up and got to write her. I wouldn’t be any happier if I’d won the lottery.

I still understand that not everyone was happy with the changes to her in the new52. But if it was going to happen, I wanted it to be done with honesty and care.  And we produced a book that was a critical and commercial success. Twice in the past year we got raves from the New York Times. We had many sell-out issues. In short, I am very, very proud of what we’ve done.

But the reason I feel fortunate right now is you guys. Here’s where the corn level goes nuclear.

You guys have NO IDEA, no CONCEPTION AT ALL, how much you mean to me. The support on Twitter in the past hour was almost more than I could take, I had to stop reading because I was getting too choked up.

You guys have supported me and said kind things when I was low, and you let me know that fighting for things to get better was important and worth the effort, you made me laugh too many times to count, and you have added so much to my life I can’t even explain it.

Yes, I know this sounds corny, but it’s true and I can’t help it.

I thought I was going to be just hearbroken giving this news, and I definitely am, but the support from you guys and from the pro community is something very very special and I will cherish it.You guys made a rotten week much, much more bearable.

Thank you so, so much. And I wish the next team on Batgirl the very best of luck.

Gail