Metal Meltdown: Celebrating Fandom

Pretty much everyone has a fandom. Whether yours is death metal, RuPaul’s Drag Race, the Marvel Multiverse, a Shonda Rhimes TV show, or a favorite football team, one of the great pleasures of life is finding a special form of escapism, a fun universe where you can be anything you want and forget about the world’s problems. 

Trust me, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. The world can be insanely stressful and depressing, and without interests like these, things can seem really mundane. Having some healthy fandom interests means you are plugged in and connected to your community, and it also means you have a good outlet for fantasy and escape. 

But there are times when fandoms can go too far. For example, even when J.K. Rowling came out as transphobic, many fans continued to support her and her stories and universe, despite her stance. The same thing happens in metal. Despite bands being known racists, sexists, or homophobes, people keep supporting them, claiming that the riffs and songwriting prowess make it worth it. 

While it makes sense that it’s upsetting when a fandom fails us in this way, it’s important to make sure that your passions and interests match your values. That way, you can feel good about everything you nerd out over and support, instead of having bad karma attached to your nerdy pleasures. 

It’s also equally as important to celebrate the fandoms that support queer folks, people of color, and other marginalized groups, When bands, sports figures, or other public creators go out of their way to acknowledge their privilege and alliances, it means a lot to the people who find comfort and entertainment in what they create. 

And it’s also important not to gatekeep your awesome fandoms from others who may wish to learn about them. Too often, queer people and other marginalized groups have trouble breaking into their nerdy area of choice or finding people like them who share their interests because of all the gatekeeping in fandoms across the board. If you find something that makes you feel special, whether it’s extreme metal or glitter makeup palettes, welcome new enthusiasts to the fold and help them learn about your favorite escapist universe. 

All in all, fandoms are things that should be celebrated, but make sure you’re aligning yourself with fandoms that also celebrate you and give you a sense of love and belonging.