Good point actually it only sounds negative if you see two girls dating as a negative thing
No. Acknowledging that there is still prejudice against homosexuality and pointing that out does not make the one doing so also against homosexuality. Are there people that do so? Yes. But that can not be used as a blanket assumption. Context, personal responses, negative social conventions and etc. need to be taken into account.
The comments made by the background character's are negative, and pointing that out does not automatically make myself nor others that do against homosexuality. I'm accepting of and happy with my sexual orientation. But it can and does hurt to hear negative comments. Eri-chan and Momoko are not negatively impacted by the negative comments because they have a problem with being lesbian but because others do and are treating them poorly. And tragically some do develop feeling of and feelings similar to self-hate or negative self questioning because of the ways we can and are treated. And that's not our fault.
That was negative? All they did was say hey look it’s my first time seeing actual lesbians in public. It’s human nature to be curious about rare and unusual things. If they had said it was weird or gross it would one thing, but just acknowledging their existence isn’t particularly negative.
It is important to note the characters' reactions to what was said. Momoko became angry and stated that normally she'd confront people that make such comments. Eri-chan was nervous about holding hands and became scared, even was brought to tears, by the comments. Their responses show that the comments made were indeed negative.
Curiosity is one thing and not always negative, but mockery is another and is negative. The first background character asks "Are they holding hands?" while the second asks "Seriously? Are they lesbians?", and between the comments there is loud laughter as marked with an exclamation point. Either it was "Hahaha! Are they holding hands?", "Hahaha! Seriously, are they lesbians?", or both or all three mutually laughing at Eri-chan and Momoko. The "Seriously?" is not just a response but a crass questioning of two women holding hands followed with not a question of curiosity but an accusing question.
Finally, the third background character says "this is my first time seeing the real thing". We can question what they mean by "first time", but their statement, along with the other two open up disbelief of the relationship. In summary of their comments they're basically saying "Hahaha! Look! Real lesbians! We're seeing real live lesbians! They are real!". This is treating Momoko and Eri-chan as a spectacle to be laughed at and openly commented on.
The background characters are speaking loud enough that Eri-chan and Momoko are able to hear them from a distance. This also seems to be occurring at an open-air cafe therefore others are likely hearing these comments as well, bringing attention to themselves and unwanted attention to Eri-chan and Momoko.
Lesbianism also is not rare nor unusual as you put it. A major reason homosexuality appears rare in public is because society has been prone to treat us poorly, and that was part of Eri-chan's concern of holding hands. Curiosity is understandable when seeing something one may not see often or if ever before, but the background characters are not showing simple and respectful curiosity.
last edited at Jan 15, 2019 1:37AM
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