Queer people share the weird, wonderful and wholesome ways they’re passing the time during self-isolation
The LGBT+ community is queering the quarantine. (Envato)
We’re constantly being told that quarantine and self-isolation during the coronavirus pandemic can be a time for self-care and learning new skills.
As entire countries face lockdown, and many more encourage social distancing, we’re all having to find things to keep us occupied.
But what are queer people actually doing with their unprecedented amount of spare time at home?
Writing gay fan fiction.
An entire Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson gay quarantine fan fiction writing festival has been created. Yes, really.
Rules state that the fan fic must include “nothing heterosexual, please” and be “respectful of the virus and its impact”.
Another Twitter user pointed out that while Shakespeare wrote King Lear while in self-quarantine, the King Lear of our times will “just be reams of gay fan fiction”.
Still supporting each other and fighting for LGBT+ rights, even in self-isolation!
While self-isolation might be stopping the LGBT+ community from getting together, it hasn’t meant that we’ve stopped supporting each other.
One university student took to social media to remind LGBT+ people about a student emergency fund for loss of income during the coronavirus pandemic.
https://twitter.com/SerenityCpt21/status/1239408339345342464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1239408339345342464&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D471565%26action%3Dedit
Another Twitter user gave a shout out to disabled queer people of colour leading the effort of chronically ill and disabled people to look out for each other.
Many queer people have been using social media to point out that a lack of blood donations during the COVID-19 pandemic could be helped by lifting archaic laws preventing gay and bisexual men from giving blood.
Dying, bleaching, cutting, or doing anything else to their hair to deal with the self-isolation stress.
We don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but leave your hair alone.
One person asked: “How soon until all the queers in quarantine start dying their hair and giving their roommates haircuts out of stress?”
And the answer is now.
As one person pointed out: “I promise there are better ways to handle this stress.”
Enjoying the company of cats, and no one else.
You’re never lonely in self-isolation with four-legged friend.
https://twitter.com/distriburritor/status/1239644956005773312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1239644956005773312&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinknews.co.uk%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php
By their fourth day at home, one lesbian announced on Twitter: “My cats have synchronised their bathroom breaks with me.”
Another combined crafts and a love of cats, by making blankets for her fur babies.
Wine.
This activity is certainly not exclusive to the LGBT+ community, but it’s worth noting that the purpose of self-isolation is to stay home and keep yourself and others safe.
There should be no pressure to learn new things or achieve more while in self-isolation if you just want to kick back with a glass of wine and watch Queer Eye.
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