Bridgerton’s queer love story and homophobia

Bridgerton is adapted from a book to the screen [Image: Unsplash]

When Bridgerton first revealed that Francesca’s future husband Michael Striling had been gender-swapped to Michela Stirling, the queer community was ecstatic. Finally, a lesbian period love story that wouldn’t end in tragedy. But then of course, the heterosexual community had to make it about themselves.

There’s a depressing amount of negativity online. You only have to click on the comments of Michela and Franchesa clips from the official Bridgerton TikTok account to see it.

There’s a lot of arguments as to why Francesca Bridgerton shouldn’t be gay. And most of them are rather stupid.

One argument that keeps coming up is that it would have made more sense for headstrong and outspoken Eloise Bridgerton to be the gay sibling. It is understandable why some people might view it this way. Eloise has never had any interest in marriage and seems to be repulsed by most of the men who try and court her. There would be nothing wrong with making Eloise gay, but a lot of the online critics can only see Eloise as being gay because they’re unable to see gay woman as soft and feminine.

Francesa is pretty, incredibly lady-like and very softly spoken. This goes against the stereotype of what a lesbian is. Having the shy, pretty girl as the gay sibling sends a message to feminine queer people. It tells them that they can be who they are and still embrace their femininity.

Bridgerton season five confirmed to have the lesbian relationship [Image: Out.com]

A lot of so-called book purists have whined that Michael was their favourite romantic lead and that having a gender-bent version of him ruins the character. But there was nothing to ruin to begin with because Michael Stirling really sucks.

This quote from When He Was Wicked, the sixth book in the series, said it all:

“He advanced upon her. ‘Because I’ll do it,’ he warned. ‘I’ll take you right now, and then again tonight, and then three times tomorrow if that’s what is required.’”

For context, he’s talking about getting her pregnant. This is the “strapping” and “charming” man that book fans have been in the trenches for.

There has been one valid argument brought up by fans. They worry that making Francesa gay takes away from the love that she had for her first husband John. This is an area where their frustration is more understanding. In the books, Francesa was head over heels in love with John and his death shattered her. But Francesa can still love John, just in a different way. Platonic soulmates are a very real and very beautiful thing that should be portrayed in the media.

Bridgerton was never meant to be accurate and realistic. It’s basically Disney but with sex. The thing that’s so amusing about this whole discourse is that a queer love story is where fans have drawn the line.

String quartet versions of Pitbull songs and people of colour in high positions of power in Regency England is fine but having lesbians as the forefront of a future season is apparently taking things too far.

Luckily for queer fans of the show, it seems that the show's cast isn’t letting any of the backlash get to them. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar Australia, actress Hannah Dodd shared her excitement over Francesca’s future love story:

“I’m so proud to tell this story. It’s a show about people, and everyone deserves representation on screen. It’s amazing that my character can bring happiness to those who usually suffer. That makes me so happy.”

And she’s absolutely right. Having a beautiful love story set in a time where people couldn’t even comprehend that women could be attracted to one another will be spectacular to see.

It’s definitely upsetting to see so much hate towards something so beautiful, but if the Bridgerton universe has taught us anything it’s that love will prevail.