Worked like a debutante’s coming out used to… (incidentally the debutante’s coming out is where we get the terminology) and so being gay or trans or what have you meant getting presented to the reigning monarch.
“Your majesty, may I present… a gay”
I would love this as a story conceit? Like, an upper class who have to engineer elaborate confections to present the younger generation of queers in the Appropriate Manner for Social Advancement.
“Have you heard about Lady Hemington’s youngest? They’ll be coming out as genderqueer!”
“Oh, poor dear Lady Hemington – so hard on the heels of the first two. She can hardly arrange a come-out until the first two have had their chance to shine…”
“And the cost of another nonbinary ball – !”
“The costume changes alone will be terribly hard to bear. But, of course, one mustn’t skimp. Not when that wretched Lucrezia Netherbottom threw such a come-out for her first.”
“Oh, I know, my dear, I know. I’m so terribly grateful that my wife was able to present our boys at Court herself – I’d simply die if the Netherbottoms had an advantage in wooing the Prince, just because Lucrezia’s quite willing to spend thousands on a French cosmetic surgeon.”
“And you’ve got that dear little daughter who’s looking quite Hard Butch, isn’t she?”
“Oh yes, we do hope it isn’t just a phase; ‘twould be such a nice change to throw a proper Lumberjane Ball…”
#OKAY BUT IMAGINE THE AMAZING COD-REGENCY FIC YOU COULD GET #THE AMAZING DRESSES THE FEMME GIRLS AND BOYS COULD FLIRT IN #THE WONDERFUL QUEER WOOING THAT COULD BEGIN!!! (by @des-zimbits)
No seriously, I need a series of romance novels set in this universe.
I need a LIFE set in this universe.
Consider the nature of the Regency period, and consider the fact that you’re not guaranteed to end up an aristocrat.
I really wish this post hadn’t gone in the direction of valorizing aristocracy.
i once read a novel, i think it may have been georgette heyer, wherein one of the characters was constantly dodging his wine merchant because he (like much of the upperclass) was living so far beyond his means he literally couldnt pay for his booze. we all of us are more likely to be the wine merchant who keeps delivering their product to their social betters and not getting paid.
Or the maid who has to get up at bastard o’ clock in the morning to make them a damn fire and bring them breakfast and what have you, or the child laborer working in a dangerous textile mill..
Thoughts From The Peacock Angel 