We've probably all seen it once--two characters of the same gender share a sultry and meaningful gaze on a show, or they seem to definitely have more than just platonic feelings for each other, and though these feelings seem to be talked about (more often than not, in a more "i love you so much, brah"), what seems to be obvious queer feelings are not realized in the show. You figure, "Okay, so it's gay subtext, I guess? Though they're making an awfully big deal out of it." Yeah, you're right! They are making a big deal out of this, though they're not openly admitting feelings or doing much more than holding each other's gaze. The writers and the directors of the show are flippant, coy, and so are the actors. They won't tell. Yet, the "subtext" is prominent, and relentless. No one's saying anything about any queer characters, yet there certainly seems to be more going on under the surface.

            This is called queerbaiting, and it's a way for shows to attract and appease an LGBT+ audience while not alienating their homo- and transphobic viewers as well. Writers use common struggles and feelings that can often be seen in the queer community in characters, knowing that members of the community will attach to them and call them their own, having shared a sort of kinship with the character. However, the writers very seldom make good on it, and the character never "comes out", so all of these feelings are under the guise of an otherwise straight, cisgender person. Even worse, when the phobic audience begin to suspect there might be a queer character in their midst, they throw in a scene to soothe those worries. Usually, it's a one-night stand with the opposite gender.

            And this sucks for queer people! Representation and viability is so low in media that we cling desperately to any scrap we can get. Things are slowly getting better (Thank you, Orange is the New Black!), but very seldom are there openly queer characters in mainstream media. This can crush the hopes of many members of the community.

            ... And, maybe embarrassingly enough, this is where fanfiction comes in.

            Fanfiction allows a safe outlet to write your favourite characters however you want--gay, trans, gender fluid, asexual, bisexual... Whatever you want. You can finally write Dean and Castiel together, since the writers seem to be too afraid of losing ratings should they do it themselves. Fanfiction allows queer consumers of media to voice different characters, and allow themselves to feel an even stronger kinship to that character. Not a fan of writing? You can read other pieces as well! You can read a whole network of stories where your favourite characters are members of the queer community, just like you.

            No more hanging onto breadcrumbs.

Resources

http://www.advocate.com/bisexuality/2014/07/17/fans-take-supernatural-task-queer-baiting

http://www.isis-mag.com/pop-culture-for-posts/queerbaiting-on-tv

http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/bbc-sherlock-watson-gay-club-scene-cut/