What is queerbaiting? How does it work? Is it really so bad?

As the LGBTQIA community has gained a louder voice, queer fans have become more vocal about the need for queer characters in mainstream stories. Creators have taken notice. Unfortunately, in many cases, creators are more willing to treat the possibility of queer characters as a little inside joke with the fans than as a serious possibility. Queerbaiting — coding a character as queer or hinting at a possible queer relationship to capture fans with no intention of actually portraying it as such — is on the rise. And it’s hurting fans.

Queer stories aren’t a joke, and fans deserve better than to be teased with the possibility of seeing their lives represented.