In the LGBTQ Nation article “Mermaids, unicorns, vampires are an empowering part of our queer folk heritage,” author Daniel Villarreal interviews folklorist Sacha Coward about his book, Queer As Folklore. The basic idea is that LGBTQ+ people are not merely borrowing mythical symbols like unicorns or mermaids; rather, these figures are fundamental to a queer cultural lineage that has been sanitized over time.
Coward reveals that many iconic stories possess hidden queer origins. For instance, Hans Christian Andersen—who was bisexual—wrote the original Little Mermaid as a metaphor for his unrequited love for a man. In modern times, the character of Ursula was famously inspired by the drag queen Divine. Coward argues that Victorian and colonial retellings erased these subversive elements, creating the false impression that queerness is a “corruption” of traditional tales.
A significant theme is the “reclamation of the monstrous.” Historically, queer people have been vilified as demonic, wicked, perverse, or predatory. Coward suggests that instead of shunning these labels, queer individuals often find deep pathos and power in them. By identifying with the outsider—whether it be the vampire, the werewolf, or the witch—the community can subvert the fear-based rhetoric used by modern critics. Reclaiming these legends serves as an act of rebellion and a source of “supernatural” strength.
Coward also expands the definition of folklore to include modern pop culture, such as superheroes and aliens. He posits that because queer people have often existed outside traditional social structures, they are naturally the architects of creative, magical spaces. The piece encourages the LGBTQ+ community to recognize their heritage not as a deviation from the norm, but as an ancient, essential thread in the history of human storytelling.
