Thank you so much for this very detailed and well thought out response! Honestly, I'm part of the LGBTQA community in more ways than one, and I have trouble figuring out where the lines are sometimes. In a lot of ways, I think it's like writing race in that it does flavor the character and their unique perspective on the world, but doesn't have to be their everything (i.e. Andre isn't just black, that isn't his end all and be all, he's a black man with a thousand other things going on). And simply looking at my own life, I'm not sure if it HAS to be a huge subplot, since in every day life it's not always that way. I've come out to friends on either coast, and in the midwest, and received very decently "okay, but stop changing the subject, what did you want on the pizza?" reactions. Depends on where you live and who you're around. Plus, I sincerely don't think having trans folk considered a normal aspect of society in the future (even dystopian future) is gonna give off the impression that you described. At this point we're heading right into a dystopian future, and trans folk are becoming more and more accepted for who they are.
The fact you do write horror and comedy centric fiction (amazing fiction, might I add), is why I would encourage you to include LGBTQA characters if you have any inclination! I think everyone is pretty much sick of tragic gay love stories where someone gets AIDs and their families/friends reject them and golly, isn't it just so sad? At this point, I'd take an over-the-top trans villain that is written as well and ridiculous as everyone else than no trans characters at all. One trans dude's opinions, though, people's mileage may vary.
Again, thank you so much for the thoughtful answer! And off topic, but I couldn't be more excited for JDATE3.
The fact you do write horror and comedy centric fiction (amazing fiction, might I add), is why I would encourage you to include LGBTQA characters if you have any inclination! I think everyone is pretty much sick of tragic gay love stories where someone gets AIDs and their families/friends reject them and golly, isn't it just so sad? At this point, I'd take an over-the-top trans villain that is written as well and ridiculous as everyone else than no trans characters at all. One trans dude's opinions, though, people's mileage may vary.
Again, thank you so much for the thoughtful answer! And off topic, but I couldn't be more excited for JDATE3.