every time I see someone recommending Benjanun Sriduangkaew in the name of supporting queer women and queer POC I’m always like. Yeah except for the ones she viciously harassed I guess. Maybe she turned over a new leaf and I’m being unfair by holding her old sins against her but I’ve never seen an apology or an acknowledgement from her that she did anything wrong.
And like. If you want to support queer Asian sff writers. I can name half a dozen off the top of my head who are amazing and creative and deserve more attention and have NOT spearheaded internet harassment campaigns against other writers. So.
Technically speaking, she did apologize at least once: In 2014. It comedically understated her actions and did fuck-all to change her behaviour.
Zen Cho is a Malaysian/British author of F/F and queer fiction, and her 2017 analysis of Sriduangkaew's presence in literary circles has always felt lucid and necessary to me.
I knew what sort of person RH was before Benjanun Sriduangkaew had ever published a story. When BS started befriending people in my social circles, I thought, well, live and let live. Everyone has the right to have that one jerk friend. And everyone deserves a second chance. I didn’t say anything.
It subsequently became apparent that I should’ve said something. So I’m telling you now. Be careful.