I Was Prompted By A Gaynsty Fanart And A Friend To Write This Lol - Tumblr Posts
Gaynst (Gay Angst): Why does it hurt so good?
"Gaynst" is a term derived from TV Tropes referring to the misery and struggle faced by queer characters because of their gender and/or orientation, often reflecting similar struggles faced by queer people in reality.
Because of this historical stigma, queer individuals are more susceptible to mental health issues, harm (at the hands of others or themselves) and unhealthy coping mechanisms (e.g. alcoholism).
As many people do, fictional media can be utilised as an outlet and healthy method of coping with queerphobia in everyday life.
These can be seen in same-sex ships (whether canon or fan-made) often expressing loss (of other queer loved ones), the desire to conform and the misery of conforming to a cisgender heterosexual society and/or unrequited love ("the one who got away").
Not only do creators of these works find comfort and outlets in these activities, but other queer people as well.
Queer individuals often have to bottle up and repress these complicated feelings an situations, so when it is presented in media it can feel more intense than if it was covering the feelings of heterosexual characters.
More often than not, queer people find similarities to these situations and feelings, and find comfort in the solidarity, therefore feeling less isolated. This may explain why queer stories can often have great struggles and tragedies.
A popular example would be in regards to the relationship between Akemi Homura and Madoka Kaname from the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica. (Spoilers for the whole show incoming, under the cut).
Homura Akemi is shown to love Madoka Kaname so much that she confines herself to time-looping the same month for an equivalent of 27 years in an attempt to save her. With every time loop she learns more and more about Madoka and grows even fonder of her, but Madoka gets more distant due to being outside of these loops (and not retaining the knowledge and growth of their relationships like Homura). These feelings are implied to be requited, as it eventually leads to Madoka sacrificing her existence to prevent the despair from taking over all magical girls (with only Homura remembering her after the universe is rewritten), and that's not even mentioning the sequel movie, Rebellion.
Such determination and tenderness can be reflected in our reality, beyond the words "I love you". There are more ways to express love through and beyond our imaginations, and media focusing on queer characters often reveals that and inspires the audience.