History Main / HaveYouTriedNotBeingAMonster

* William's parents in the novel ''Literature/ProudPinkSky'' – at first they work to reform his homosexuality, which starts him on the path to the world's first gay state.

** Rowling has said that werewolves and Lupin in particular were actually a metaphor for segregation in general, but more specifically as a FictionalDisability akin to HIV/AIDS. Lupin's lycanthropy forces him to need many special accommodations just to live day to day, such as a potion he has to take for the rest of his life, or the more elaborate quarantine Hogwarts had to set up for him as a child.

* ''TabletopGame/TrinityUniverse'' has hints of this with Magneto-like BigBad Divis Mal, who is gay; WordOfGod is that the title of ''Aberrant'' refers to him and that the metaphor for the response to his sexuality is deliberate.

* ComicBook/XMen, to the point of extreme LampshadeHanging, where people (like ComicBook/SpiderMan) in some issues get gays and mutants confused. Mutants who can pass for human are sometimes referred to being "in the closet". The biggest group of people rallying against mutants are ''[[AcceptableTargets evil conservative Christians]]'', who think their existence is a sin against God. There have been numerous attempts to "cure" mutants, as well as to kill them off as "abominations". Basically, after the racial civil rights of the '60s and '70s cooled down, the franchise was adapted to mirror the gay rights struggle, which it actually fits better in many respects (since mutants can be born to anyone, don't become [[PubertySuperpower different until puberty]] and you [[CampGay can]] [[ButchLesbian sometimes]] tell their condition by looking at them, but [[StraightGay not]] [[LipstickLesbian always]]).

** ''TabletopGame/BeastThePrimordial'' uses this trope heavily, associating Beasts with numerous marginalized groups, relying heavily on the ideas of found families (even among other supernaturals), coming into your own by embracing that which you fear or view as aberrant (recognizing the monster in your nightmares as the other half of your soul), and dealing with enemies who hate you because they see you as an abomination. This clashed... roughly with the idea of Beasts being nightmare monsters that survive by feeding on fears they inflict on mortals. In the draft given to Kickstarter backers, the UnfortunateImplications (and the fan reaction to them) were intense enough that the developers decided to revise it before the final publication (for instance, the coming-to-power narrative of Beasts got retconned away from ComingOutStory and more towards "you let the monster in your nightmares conquer you," but there was still room for the earlier interpretation).

* Perry from ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'' desperately wants his son to be "normal" and stop [[ISeeDeadPeople talking to ghosts]]. [[OpenMindedParent Sandra]] is quick to point out that most of his behavior is due to [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold fear of how others will treat his son]]. [[spoiler: At the end of the film, he even grudgingly tries to speak with his mother's ghost.]]

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'' [[spoiler:''Next'']] when heroes face the fact that a charming prankster they traveled with is millennia-old and extremely powerful [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Mazoku]]. [[LoveFreak Amelia]], [[LordErrorProne of course]], immediately and [[GenkiGirl passionately]] exhorted him to "become a real human". Even ''[[IdiotHero Gourry]]'' saw just how grotesque this was.

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': When Himiko Toga's Quirk first appeared when she was a little girl, [[BloodLust it had the side effect of making her attracted to blood]]. Her parents were disgusted, and demanded she suppress both her urges and her Quirk. The standard school psychiatrist recommended the same, which didn't help. She played the part for years, until eventually in middle school she snapped under the pressure, and murdered her crush to drink his blood. She's been a SerialKiller ever since, [[BlueAndOrangeMorality who just can't see how her actions are wrong]].

* ComicBook/XMen, to the point of extreme LampshadeHanging, where people (like ComicBook/SpiderMan) in some issues get gays and mutants confused. Mutants who can pass for human are sometimes referred to being "in the closet". The biggest group of people rallying against mutants are ''[[AcceptableTargets evil conservative Christians]]'', who think their existence is a sin against God. There have been numerous attempts to "cure" mutants, as well as to kill them off as "abominations". Basically, after the racial civil rights of the 60s and 70s cooled down, the franchise was adapted to mirror the gay rights struggle, which it actually fits better in many respects (since mutants can be born to anyone, don't become [[PubertySuperpower different until puberty]] and you [[CampGay can]] [[ButchLesbian sometimes]] tell their condition by looking at them, but [[StraightGay not]] [[LipstickLesbian always]]).

** Many real-life minority-rights groups are beginning to find the association a bit condescending, considering comics' ongoing problem with diversity, seeing it as the co-opting of a struggle for characters that are overwhelmingly straight and white. It also doesn't help the comics rarely reflect the real life progression these groups have had.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has Bobby Drake's mother be completely unable to accept that her little boy is anything more than an ordinary human, despite ample evidence to the contrary - and she's in complete denial about the way his brother treats him too. His father though is more accepting and frustrated by his wife's denial. The conversation, as ever, bears more than a little resemblance to parents finding out that their child is gay. It takes a gentle bit of {{Telepathy}} from Professor Xavier to clear out the reflex denial.
* ''Fanfic/CodexEquus'' deconstructs it with Phoenix King Naur. Since birth, Naur was constantly treated by [[AbusiveParents Irminsul and Arvan]] (and by extension, the [[JerkassGods Elternteil Deer Pantheon]]) as a disappointment because he was born embodying Fire, and was discouraged from using his Fire domain at all. This left Naur very miserable in his youth, and it later contributed to his nasty falling-out with his parents after he finally grew fed up with their abuse and toxic hypocrisy. Even after becoming a benevolent and successful Phoenix King of Caernar, Naur's abusive upbringing left him with serious issues like an inferiority complex and [[HairTriggerTemper a really bad temper]] that he tries his hardest to rein in. Fortunately, he has Mentálne, Amour-De-Soi, and various benevolent family members and allies to help him through it, but it's noted that Naur's recovery is still far from over.

* ''Fanfic/YouSeeThem'': Deconstructed with Ren Amamiya, who [[ISeeDeadPeople can see the ghosts of others]] but often faces yells and protests from his parents that he was hallucinating. This left him with plenty of self-confident issues and hesitation to use his powers, even when the ghosts of Futaba and Yusuke's mothers want him to help their children. [[spoiler:Then comes TheReveal that [[AbusiveParents his parents]] ''knew'' he could see the dead, but have been trying to {{Gaslight|ing}} him into thinking he doesn't have them [[IJustWantToBeNormal so they have a normal life]]. Ren and the other Phantom Thieves are enraged to hear that, and their confronting ends with Ren emancipating himself from his parents and staying with his family of choice]].

* The Blue Rajah, a cutlery throwing superhero from ''Film/MysteryMen'', is mortified to be caught by his mother rummaging through her cutlery drawers, and desperately tries to brazen it out by daring her to disapprove of his superhero lifestyle. She turns out to be far more supportive and loving than he expected.

* A mild version of this is in ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight'' series. In ''Marked'', when Zoey gets the [[PowerTattoo Mark]] of a vampyre, all she knows is that vampyres often disappear. She then discovers that there is a school for them (the titular "House of Night") and that many celebrities are vampyres. Being a vampyre is treated similar to being gay in this universe. Because of this, her [[TheFundamentalist strict Christian]] stepfather disowns her. Vampyres also have to cover up their Mark in public to avoid being harassed.
* In Robert Jordan's ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', male channelers are treated like this... at the very best. Justified, though, as they are doomed to go insane, which will have disastrous effects to anything and anyone in the vicinity, and at the end die a horrible death.

** While many viewers find that it fits the trope, the creators have outright denied that vampires are an allegory for homosexuals and Alan Ball calls this interpretation "lazy." If anything, the show, and the books, are preaching the opposite moral, targeting the "everyone should all just get along" and "society is victimizing me for being special" memes from the '90s and ripping them down mercilessly. After all, even in the case of "good" vampires, the people that treat their condition as an NotThatTheresAnythingWrongWithThat thing are dead wrong, often literally. Some have criticized the implied metaphor, pointing out that gays generally have neither the urge to rip people's throats open nor superpowers to allow them to do so with impunity -- although that doesn't stop it from being used to awesome effect.

** ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' pulls this a few times. First and foremost, Joyce's reaction to learning about Buffy and vampires in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E22BecomingPart2 Becoming Part 2]]" is, literally, "Have you tried... ''not'' being the Slayer?" She later describes herself as "marching in the Slayer Pride parade." To be fair, Joyce's reaction is a lot more understandable than most examples on this page, since her biggest concern is that Buffy could get seriously hurt or killed being the Slayer.

*** [[spoiler:When he accidentally become a bank robber, his father gave him his old Luger that he used to rob the post office with and offered him to come along to Denmark for a hit ("some pesky witness that needs shutting up"). Then there's the family tied up in the bathroom...]]

** [[spoiler: In the weirdest twist, this happens to ''[[TheHeavy Count Radiguet]]'' of all people. After his attempts to overthrow [[TheEmperor Empress Juza]] ended in him being banished to Earth and changed into a human, Radiguet actually began to undergo something of a decent, benevolent life, even saving the life of a terminally ill girl named [[MoralityPet Saki]] and becoming her boyfriend. He eventually regains his memories and returns to evil, [[TheStarscream killing Juza out of revenge.]] But shortly after his murder of Juza, Saki appears in front of Radiguet in his true form of a Vyram rather than the more handsome human he once was. Nevertheless, Saki still cares for him enough to stretch out to his feelings. She begs to know if Radiguet enjoyed being a human and could actually feel love. This gives Radiguet pause, as he actually seems to consider his options, and [[HopeSpot it looks as though he may actually have a little humanity in him...]] but in a horrific {{Fauxshadow}} moment, [[KickTheMoralityPet he vaporizes Saki in a fit of rage and disgust]], retorting that he has no such affinity for something as "meaningless" as love. This ultimately cements Radiguet as [[CompleteMonster the cruelest bastard in the entire show]], and making it evident that he is BeyondRedemption and [[RedemptionRejection will never accept that he could ever be a good person.]] It won't end well for anyone who suggests such a thing.]]

* This trope can apply to many a mental illness, disability [[note]](often known as an "invisible disability" in this case)[[/note]] and crippling condition that isn't immediately visible and apparent, especially if the condition, illness, or disability in question has ups and downs or largely functional good days and debilitating bad days. People who see the good days (or the up periods) may assume that the afflicted is able and ready to make every day a good day without realizing that those good days are often the result of preparation or sheer chance not entirely within the afflicted's control. Alternatively, the good days are followed by an unnoticed period of recovery from the strain and stress of the afflicted forcing oneself to act "normal" and cannot be done everyday without negatively impacting the person's mental and/or physical health.

* ''Literature/TheTwilightSaga'': In ''Literature/NewMoon'', Bella pulls this pretty much [[IncrediblyLamePun straight]] (in wording, at least) on [[spoiler:Jacob]] when confronting him after figuring out that he's [[spoiler:a werewolf]].

* ''Series/TrueBlood''

** While many viewers find that it fits the trope, the creators have outright denied that vampires are an allegory for homosexuals and Alan Ball calls this interpretation "lazy." If anything, the show, and the books, are preaching the opposite moral, targeting the "everyone should all just get along" and "society is victimizing me for being special" memes from the '90s and ripping them down mercilessly. After all, even in the case of "good" vampires, the people that treat their condition as an NTTAWWT thing are dead wrong, often literally. Some have criticized the implied metaphor, pointing out that gays generally have neither the urge to rip people's throats open nor superpowers to allow them to do so with impunity. Although that doesn't stop it from being used to awesome effect.
--->'''Protester:''' Hey Fang-Banger!
--->'''Hoyt:''' You better not be talking to me.
--->'''Protester:''' What if I was?
--->'''Hoyt:''' See that woman right there? Not ''that Devil'', but that ''Woman'', yeah, she got fangs. And yeah, you can bet your ass that we are doing it ''all the time'' because we are in love! And there is not one damn thing wrong with ''being in love!'' Now, how can you do this, and still call yourself a Christian?
--->'''Protester:''' I ''am'' a Christian, god damn it!
--->'''Hoyt:''' I am clearly more of a Christian than you. Because I got ''love'' in my heart. And you got nothing but hate.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' pulls this a few times. First and foremost, Joyce's reaction to learning about Buffy and vampires in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E22BecomingPart2 Becoming Part 2]]" was, literally, "Have you tried...''not'' being the Slayer?" She later describes herself as "marching in the Slayer Pride parade." To be fair, Joyce's reaction is a lot more understandable than most examples on this page, since her biggest concern is that Buffy could get seriously hurt or killed being the Slayer.
** Granted, from time to time, Buffy has [[RefusedTheCall tried to not be the Slayer]] ("[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E12ProphecyGirl Prophecy Girl]]", "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayer3E1Anne Anne]]") or been faced with the possibility that she's not even destined to be the Slayer, [[ThereIsAnother due to there being]] [[TheChosenMany others now]] ("What's My Line", "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E3FaithHopeAndTrick Faith, Hope, and Trick]]", "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayer7E22Chosen Chosen]]"), etc. The SlidingScaleOfFreeWillVsFate plays a pretty central role to Buffy's character arc throughout the franchise.
** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E15Phases Phases]]," Larry is suspected of being a werewolf, and Xander has a talk with him about having urges and desires he can't control...but it turns out Larry's not a werewolf, he's just gay.

-->'''Cordelia''': Harmony is a vampire? That's why she--oh, my god, I'm so embarrassed! All this time I thought she was a great big lesbo!...[[VerbalBackspace Oh, yeah? Really?]] [[NotThatTheresAnythingWrongWithThat Well, that's great! Good for you.]]

--> '''Anya:''' (about to do a spell with Willow) This isn't gonna get all sexy, is it?\\

** Subverted by Tara's family. The women in the Maclay family are raised believing they must always struggle not to become demonic monsters - which turns out to be a lie to keep the women subjugated. The allusions to a homophobic family are also strong in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E6Family Family]]".

* ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'' hilariously [[DiscussedTrope discusses]] and [[PlayingWithATrope plays]] with this trope upside down and sideways. Caroline, a young vampire, is seriously discriminated against and ''tortured'' by her father who is trying to cure her of her vampirism through punishment. Her mother's explanation for her father's behavior? Her parents were "raised a certain way to believe certain things" about vampires that aren't necessarily true. He even ''chooses to die'' instead of becoming a vampire because his beliefs are all he has. Irony of ironies? Her father ''is'' gay and left his wife because he could no longer live a lie. Needless to say, Damon points out the incredible...quirkiness of the situation.
* The live-action series ''Series/TheTick2001'' had an episode of this trope, centered around Arthur coming out as a superhero to his mom and sister. Tick is referred to as Arthur's "Partner" and "Special friend". In one scene the mom and sister, upon first entering the restaurant Arthur and Tick frequent, notice a superhero leaving and ask, "Is this one of '''those''' kind of places?"
** Creator Ben Edlund later regretted putting this in people's minds when they made the episode about the relationship between superhero and sidekick, which he described as "very marriage-like" in the commentary.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' invokes this trope when Odo tries his hardest to convince a found [[SuperSoldier Jem'Hadar]] to pursue interests other than killing or fighting.
** ''Deep Space Nine'' also invoked it with respect to Dr. Bashir's genetic enhancement. Bashir was outed as having a trait that is not only considered revolting and wrong by the general public but is also illegal and can lose his military job and even his citizenship, even though Bashir wasn't the one who chose the trait in the first place. That episode read as if it were a metaphor for the forced outing of gays. Though they kind of spoil the Aesop by having Julian be the only "augment" ever to appear in the show who's neither a wannabe Literature/{{Slan}} (Khan Noonein Singh, those kids created by Data's identical great-to-the-power-of-umpteen grandfather in ''Enterprise'') nor some more mundane shade of cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs like a RagTagBunchOfMisfits who show up in one episode of ''[=DS9=]'' and ultimately fail to be of any help whatsoever.
* ''{{Series/Dinosaurs}}'' has an episode where Robby suspects that he might be (GASP) an herbivore! Herbivores are treated the same way in dinosaurs society as gays are, complete with "herbivore bars" and being called "Vego" as a slur.
** FridgeLogic makes this ''weird'' once you realize that several of the dinosaurs characters, including Robby, are based on (B.P. Richfield's Triceratops comes to mind, although he did try to eat Robby once) ''are'' herbivores (in Robby's case, Hypsilophodon).