Horrors Persisting: Discussions on Queer Identities in the Horror Genre

 WELCOME FOOLISH MORTALS!!!!!!

Friends, we are SO excited to announce our partnership with Transplaining for a virtual Halloween lecture series! Starting next week, we'll be coming live from our haunted house to yours with a series of three spine-chilling talks dedicated to queer themes and artists in the horror genre. (NOTE- all lectures will be recorded, so if you buy a ticket but can't join us in real-time, you can always watch later.)

Throughout history, there has always been a link between the supernatural, the otherworldly, and queer identities. Historically this has led to thinly veiled references to LGBTQ+ identities in the monsters and villains of many stories. In today’s world, LGBTQ+ content in stories has taken on a new label of “villainous”; that of the “forced inclusion”, of “everything is gay nowadays.”

We at the Virtual Queer Library reject both of those narratives; that of LGBTQ+ characters as perpetual villains and as queer representation being a new, frightening phenomenon. LGBTQ+ stories and artists have always been present in the horror genre. Our Halloween series takes a look at some examples of LGBTQ+ representation in the horror genre, both within stories and in the people who create them.

Buy tickets HERE for any individual lecture for $10 or for the whole series for $25.


Fear Street: A Defense of Those Called “Witch” 
Thursday, October 10th; 8pm EST

Netflix’s “Fear Street” trilogy, based on the universe created by author R. L. Stine, covers many of the classic horror tropes. Teens being chased by a knife-wielding killer, an ancient curse, a witch hiding within a community. What makes the series memorable, however, is how it subverts tropes- how it subverts the prejudices that have long held a tight hold over the scary stories we tell.

This lecture dives deep into the identity of the “witch” who has cursed the town of Shadyside. Over the course of the films, the audience comes to learn that her crimes, far from summoning demons, center around being different, being independent, being queer. We explore the historic parallels between the Fear Street witch and many of the victims of historical witch hunts, and how bias, ableism, and sexism have long driven the narratives of horror and superstition. This lecture is also a celebration of turning away from those biases, and the rise of stories like “Fear Street”, bringing long-needed justice to the genre.


The Haunting of Hill House: A Discussion on Queerness and Conformity
Thursday, October 17th; 8pm EST

“The Haunting of Hill House” is an iconic haunted house tale that has endured for decades. But underneath the walls that don’t line up and the rooms that move is a story about conformity- or a lack thereof. This book is a character study more than a ghost story, an analysis of a young woman who was never given the chance to be who she truly is.

This presentation will be an exploration of the metaphors contained within the shifting stairs of Hill House, and how specifically it can be seen as an allegory for queerness and grappling with one’s identity.


Hollywood Halloween: A Queer History of the Horror That Made Us
Thursday, October 24th; 8pm EST

“Frankenstein”, “The Shining”, “Hellraiser”.

These are names that every horror fan knows, stories that have resonated for generations and have shaped horror as we know it. And none of them would be the iconic stories that we know without the work of LGBTQ+ artists.

This lecture discusses three of horror’s greats: director James Whale, composer Wendy Carlos, and writer Clive Barker. It is a celebration of their work- and also of their identities as LGBGTQ+ individuals, and how that influenced their art and their lives.

We have always been here- and we have always helped to create memorable art and shape popular culture.

 

The Virtual Queer Library is a non-profit dedicated to ensuring that LGBTQ+ stories- both real and fictional- are always told and always accessible to all.

VQ Library is a private collection of books centering LGBTQ+ stories and history. By filling out our Google Form request, a person anywhere in the United States or Canada can have one of our books mailed to them free of charge. The book will also come with a pre-paid return envelope for the reader to return the book when they are finished with it.

In addition to helping people access books, we also enjoy exploring LGBTQ+ themes within stories. We do this via events like this virtual lecture series, and also through blog posts on our webpage.

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