Queer Horror is a subgenreofhorror that focuses on characters relating to those that are gay, lesbian, bisexualortransgender. It may deal with characters who are coded as, or who are openly, GLBT, or it may deal with themes or plots that are specific to queer people. Depending on when it was made, it may contain open statements of sexuality, same-sex sexual imagery, or same-sex love or affection, or it may just include a sensibility or campiness that has special meeing to GLBT people, as well as key aspects of horror.
Overview
Queer Horror grew out of a combination of the horror fiction and romantic fiction. In turn, both of these areas developed from the Gothic Novel.
Many of the earliest examples of gothic literature were either created by queer authors or had same-sex attraction as subtext within them. One of the earliest works by Sheridan le Fanu is the vampirenovellaCarmilla printed in the collection In a Glass Darkly in 1872. However, the lesbian vampire in Carmilla was adapted from an even earlier narritive poem entitled ChristabelbySamuel Taylor Coleridge, in 1797 (and 1800).
The first gay vampire story was published by the first gay rights pioneers, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. In Matrosengeschichten (Sailor Stories) the story Manor describes a relationship between two young boys, one of which is a vampire.
Books were generally controlled by larger publishers and this made it very difficult for queers to get their message out. Queer Horror got a boost with the advent of the the pulp novel, a cheap way to manufacture paperback novels that became popularlized during WWII. The war also provided another unanticipated side effect, many gay or lesbian military personelle were discharged when their same-sex desires were discovered. They were dropped off in the nearest port, and generally chose to stay there rather than go back home. This gave rise to gay ghettos, where GLBT folks began to learn that they weren't alone and began to reach out. The pulp novel gave them a good way to start. Three on a Broomstick by Don Holliday is the earliest example of the gay horror pulp.
The advent of the movie provided a new way to start reaching out to people and exploring new subject matter, and brought forth another wave of queers making horror, such as F.W. Murnau, Ed Wood, Jr. and James Whale. Unfortunately, the fear of the times caused society to enforce morality and sensorship. In Hollywood this was seen with the start of the Production Code, which limited what was allowed to be seen onscreen. Amongst many 0ther things, this included onscreen portrayals of homosexuality. While this prevented overt displays of homosexuality from being shown, films like Dracula's Daughter and The Haunting pushed the envelope by showing what they could, coding it so that other gays and lesbians could see it, but those that wanted to ignore it still could.
But the gay community had started to find its voice, and in 1968, the Stonewall Riots occurred, forcing America to accept that the modern queer was visible, and was not going to be ignored. This change in morality, along with declining movie sales due to the popularization of the television, began to loosten the Production Code, allowing gays to be seen on screen and eventually to tell their stories.
The Queer Horror Awards were created to honor works that involve significant, and generally positive, portrayal of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender characters, issues or themes within the area of horror.
The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor works in science fiction, fantasy and horror which include positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered characters, themes, or issues.
Wavelengths Online - a review journal for science fiction, fantasy, and horror of special interest to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered people and their friends
