Queer-coding is when characters are given attributes, traits, or behaviors to suggest that they are queer without explicitly stating that they are. Queer-coding can also be used to mark a character as an outsider, a villain, or a target of ridicule because of the queer-coded traits.
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| Team Rocket from Pokémon |
This practice originated from a code in the 1920s and 30s called the Hays Code. The Hays Code was a censorship law that was meant to discourage "bad" people or "bad" actions; this would include crimes, sex, and blasphemy, among others. It was against the code to portray a protagonist committing a crime or doing any sort of wrongdoing, unless they were subsequently punished for it. This code was technically optional, but if you wanted to be making movies in Hollywood, this code needed to be followed, otherwise no movie company would endorse it. Writers, directors, and producers would not want to sanction a film that would not be approved by the Hays Code, because they would loose money from it. By following the code, filmmakers created a way to get around censorship laws by using subtle hints or "coding" the characters to suggest to the audience something that cannot be stated explicitly, due to the Hays Code. This positive way of queer-coding is also seen in children's cartoons, where the writers want to endorse queerness, but due to censorship they are not able to explicitly have queer characters.
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| Ursula and Divine |
In practice, queer-coding uses attributes or behaviors that are usually stereotypically thought of as queer, such as a reversal of gender roles, like creating a male character with a feminine voice and mannerisms, or creating a female character who dresses masculine and who has short hair. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. For example, during the 1920s and 30s when the Hays Code was being enforced, filmmakers couldn't explicitly have queer characters, but they were able to queer-code characters who were meant to be explicitly queer, in order to still have the representation. However, by creating almost exclusively villains or antagonists with these attributes meant to be modeled after queer stereotypes, some argue that this is influencing the public to see real people who have these stereotypically queer attributes as inherently villainous or evil, for having those traits.
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| Dr. Drakken and Shego |
Disney is notorious for using queer-coding among their villains, intentionally or not. Some of the most recognizable queer-coding symbols are voice inflection, attire, sassiness, and exaggerated hand movements. These indications do not necessarily mean that the character is queer, nor does it mean that these attributes are exclusive to queer people. Some examples of queer-coded Disney villains are Ursula from The Little Mermaid, who is modelled after famous drag queen Divine; Dr. Drakken and Shego from Kim Possible, who both are sarcastic and vain, and Shego is depicted to be independent and “bossy”; Jafar from Aladdin, who wears makeup and talks in a seductive manner; and Hades from Hercules, who is obsessed with his hair & uses exaggerated hand movements.
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| HIM from The Powerpuff Girls |
Like it was stated previously, this is not always a bad thing. Some queer people actually aren’t mad about the queer-coded villains, because even though it’s not explicit representation, it’s still some representation, and most of these villains are pretty bad-ass. I think that many queer people who are aware of the queer-coding, in Disney particularly, don’t see the stereotypically queer attributes as inherently negative, even though the way they are portrayed is villainous. However, one would argue that it’s time to stop dancing around explicit queer representation in the media, because queer people exist in real life, and they should be accurately represented in movies and TV, as well.
In my opinion, queer people deserve to see themselves in pop culture as much as anyone else, and I would love to see more accurate and explicit queer characters in mainstream media, if not for me, for the sake of younger queer people who need to see that queer is real and okay.
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