History of Boys Love (BL)
‘In recent decades, “Boys Love” (or simply BL) has emerged as a mainstream genre in manga, anime, and games for girls and young women. This genre was first developed in Japan in the early 1970s by a group of female artists who went on to establish themselves as major figures in Japan’s manga industry. By the late 1970s many amateur women fans were getting involved in the BL phenomenon by creating and self-publishing homoerotic parodies of established male manga characters and popular media figures. The popularity of these fan-made products, sold and circulated at huge conventions, has led to an increase in the number of commercial titles available. Today, a wide range of products produced both by professionals and amateurs are brought together under the general rubric of “boys love,” and are rapidly gaining an audience throughout Asia and globally.’
From the summary of Boys Love Manga and Beyond: History, Culture, and Community in Japan, edited by Mark McLelland, Kazumi Nagaike, Katsuhiko Suganuma, and James Welker, 2015.
BLs Around The World
Below is the list of countries that shared BL stories via series, full-length films and short films with short excerpts on how the BL world started in each country. (Click on image or name of country to see what series and/or movies are listed).
Belgium has some of the most progressive LGBTQIA+ rights in the world, having had gay marriage legalized since 2003. They also have extensive anti-discrimination laws in place. The major themes of their gay cinemas center around coming-of-age dramas focusing on first love and identity. It also explores intense queer relationships and the conflict between individual desires and societal expectations.
Cambodia’s introduction to BL is slowly emerging, it has a long way to go. While being gay is not illegal, same-sex relationships are not recognized. Some progress is being made. Perhaps the introduction of Cambodian BLs will help introduce their society to change.
Cambodia’s introduction to BL is slowly emerging, it has a long way to go. While being gay is not illegal, same-sex relationships are not recognized. Some progress is being made. Perhaps the introduction of Cambodian BLs will help introduce their society to change.
While a decade ago this genre was bubbling away in the quietest corners of the Chinese internet, a series of hit online and TV dramas mean BL is now big business. It’s a genre known as danmei (耽美 – indulging beauty) that’s still going strong.
Hong Kong’s coming out to its first BL series is the remake of a Japanese drama series called “Ossan’s Love”.
It’s no surprise that BL series/movies are becoming popular in India especially after the Supreme Court of India, a 5-judge constitutional bench, invalidated part of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, hence making homosexuality legal in the country.
Italy still is the only Wester European country that does not allow same-sex marriage. While it certainly makes gay films, it still has to be seen as peripheral. While gay life style is slowly being accepted, there is still not a lot of gay representation in films.
Yaoi (やおい), also known by the wasei eigo construction boys’ love (ボーイズ ラブ, bōizu rabu) and its abbreviation BL (ビーエル, bīeru), is a genre of fictional media originating in Japan in the 1970s that features homoerotic relationships between male characters.
The country has just released its first BL series this year (2021) called One Love: The Series, originally titled “Winter Flower.”
Gay characters have appeared in Mexican films since the 1930’s but became a bit more mainstream in the 70’s and 80’s. The great success of “Y Tu Mamá También” in the early 2000’a led to an increase in LGBTQ films in Mexico and other Latin America countries. Gay marriage has been legal throughout Mexico since 2022.
The first BL series in Myanmar is Tick Tick Again. It is an astonishing series given the repressive nature of Myanmar’s government is towards homosexuality. Beauty can be everywhere if we just allow it.
We are please to welcome Nigeria to the BL community despite its society’s repressive practices and its reprehensible government laws against homosexuality. Your entrance into our world is bold and beautiful. It shows real courage and commitment to produce, star, and distribute a BL in such a hostile environment. We commend your spirit and passion and honor your efforts.
Filipinos are huge fans of BL series. It’s no wonder that BL series is now exploding in the Philippines. Gameboys, the country’s first BL series, has captured many audiences and hearts since its first episode in late May 2020.
Inadvertently, Russia has entered into the BL world with the release of Here I Come. It was produced in the wake of Russia’s homophobic “anti-gay propaganda” law which prohibits any distribution to minors about ‘nontraditional sexual relations’.
There was not a single feature-length gay film made by Singaporeans in Singapore until “Solos” in 2007. BLs are beginning to burgeon with the release of Summerdaze, Getaway and other short recently short films.
South Korean soap operas has been popular in many Asian countries. It is no wonder that BL series became well-loved by many after the country’s first BL drama Where Your Eyes Linger (2020).
Spain has one of the richest traditions of incorporating LGBTQ themes and thinking into the mainstream films. More recently, Spain has introduced more gay-themed serials into the mainstream.
Funny Boy, a film released in 2020 and distributed by Netflix will most probably pave the way for Sri Lanka to enter the world of BL. Let us support their efforts.
Sweden’s history of voicing gay people begins in 1917 when it released its first film with a queer content – Mauritz Stiller’s Vingerne. With the passage of time and societal changes, the film industry has not only become more and more progressive, its representation of LGBTQ Swedes has also increased.
Taiwan’s venture to BL series started with HIStory. Each season presents stand-alone stories with different plots and main characters focusing on the theme of boys’ love. The first season premiered on February 14, 2017. The series has attracted a large international following.
Thailand’s first BL series Love Sick: The Series, adapted from the Thai BL novel, premiered its first season on July 6, 2014. But it was the popularity of the BL series 2gether that catapult the country to success in international audiences.
The first modern beguiling movie of romance with two males goes back to 1985 in My Beautiful Launderette. Arguably, there have been other ‘gay’ moves previously but mostly centered around the negative stereotypes of being gay.
While the USA is not known for its BLs, it has managed to sneak in a few BLs into the mainstream of American society. Many were enamored with Love Simon, a 2018 movie about the coming out of a teenage boy. So much so that there have been two sequels as TV series called Love Victor. Each series got bolder and more realistic in its approach to being gay in the United States.
Vietnam’s history with BL series is not new as many would think. Its first BL series called My Best Boyfriend was aired on September 24, 2019. Their emphasis are heartfelt and are relatable. A lot of emotional attachments to their series.