20, SHE/HER, INDIA
I’ve learnt very very basic katakana, so if the guiding katakana is given in a BL comic, I am able to follow it, although it does take me some time to decipher it. —20, She/Her, India
documenting the BL fan experience
I’ve learnt very very basic katakana, so if the guiding katakana is given in a BL comic, I am able to follow it, although it does take me some time to decipher it. —20, She/Her, India
I’ll be frank. Illegally, BL is very easy to find. I’m not exactly a veteran, but neither am I a newbie, so I know what to search for and where to go when I need to find something online. However, in terms of hard copies…
When I first engaged with BL, I could only do so with a shared desktop and limited connectivity, so I never really had anybody to talk to regarding the manga and fanfiction I’ve read. It’s very, very different now. I have a lot of people who actively engage in BL, and there’s so many resources I can access for recommendations or reviews.
— 20, She/Her, India
My first experience with BL was a NaruSasu fanfic I stumbled across very accidentally when I clicked a link in the comments. There wasn’t any feeling of immediate disgust, because I just never had any experience with LGBTQ representation before this due to my parents…
This interview project started as a way to document the voices and experiences of Boys Love fans across the world. The original 2020 survey was circulated online for approximately six months, closing at 553 responses. Excerpts are shared here and full interviews are located on the official Patreon.
The 2021 survey is closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!
In 2022, the BL Fan Project will be expanding and growing into something new. Documenting fan experiences is our focus as we introduce more regular polling and surveys, in addition to a dedicated space for fans to interact with the BL Fan Project and each other. Look forward to our announcements and the growth of our community!
Join the mailling list to be notified of when a new survey is available for participants.