Dear Followers,
So I'm always asked why I ship SwanQueen and honestly, it's a hard question to answer without offending anyone. Everyone always assumes that because it's a lesbian ship, it's gross, it can't be true love, but it's a lot more than that. I do not just ship Swanqueen for the sex appeal, I do not ship Swanqueen just for the simple reason that they share a son. I do not ship SwanQueen because of the looks they give each other. I ship Swanqueen because it has a much deeper meaning behind it.
From the very beginning, Once Upon a Time has been all about hope, and for many people, the show gives us hope, and like snow once said, "even the slightest bit of hope is a very powerful thing." And what better way to express our hope for the show than in SwanQueen. This ship isn't just for hoping that they will end up together, but it's also for the people who fought for SQ every day since day one. Many of us are part of the LGBT community ourselves, including me. SwanQueen gives us hope because if it actually does become canon, it will show us that if they can be accepted for being together on an international show, we can be accepted too. There aren't very many shows where there is an LGBT lead couple, and seeing SwanQueen come to life, means way more than just the family aspect of it. It shows that the writers respect and listen to their followers. It shows that it's okay to be who we are. It shows that love is not defined by your gender or sexual orientation, but is defined by who you love. When you truly love someone, nothing can take that away from you. We saw that countless times in the show already.
We have a lot of hope in this ship, heck, that's all this ship is and the little bit of hope that is reciprocated, is more powerful than anything. For some fans, it's what keeps us going. I know for me, an adopted teenager who has suffered from depression going on 8 years now, who has been bullied every day, both physically and emotionally, and living with abusive parents all because I like people of the same gender, it's more than just a show or a ship, fell in love with the idea of SwanQueen from the beginning. I almost gave up on life because I didn't feel accepted by anyone, but no matter how hard it gets, I always do my best. shortly after I discovered once, SwanQueen became an instant love for me since I can relate so closely to Emma and Regina, it made me find my true self. Even Jen said "the show is about hope and finding your true self." And that's what I did. Through SwanQueen I have been able to connect with so many other fans who are struggling in life just like me. For the first time in my life I actually feel like I belong, I feel accepted and safe within the community, and that's something I never thought I'd ever be able to say. It helps to know that someone understands what your going through, it helps to have just that little bit of hope to keep you going. SwanQueen has given me the hope that I can and one day will find true love. It has given me hope that it's okay to be who I am even though not everyone accepts it. It allowed me to find out new things about myself. It allowed me to meet new friends. It introduced me to the two, very real women who have literally changed my life for the better. Both Jen and Lana helped me see the light through my darkest days. The first thing I do in the morning is scroll through their Twitter accounts, seeing their faces and their tweets makes my day just a little bit better even when it seems like nothing else can. They have taught me to never give up and stay strong. Of course There are going to be haters out there, but as Lana once said, "you are where you need to be. Just take a deep breath." You are supposed to be here for a reason. Maybe you don't know what that reason is, I know I don't even know what it is. It's going to be hard, but just know, there's always someone who understands what your going through. Things will eventually get better. It will be worth it. It may be tough but You just have to push through the hate and fight for what you believe in, even if that's a ship that might never be canon.
like Emma said back in season one, "people are going to tell you who you are your whole life, and you just got to punch back and say 'no, this is who I am.' You want people to look at you differently? Make them. You want to change things? you're going to have to go out there and change them yourself, because there are no fairy godmothers in this world." You aren't always going to have someone there to hold your hand when things get tough and you have to learn to get through it. You will get through it because you are strong enough.
So the next time you think of telling someone SwanQueen won't be canon, just know, that for some people, that's all they have to hold onto. That's the one thing in their life that gives them hope. "Hope is a very powerful thing." And when you say things that are negative and against a ship, just know, it may be destroying someone's last hope because there is always a bigger reason for them falling in love with two characters with in the ship, then you may even realize. You may not realize it, but there are real people sitting behind their phones, people with feelings just like you and I. Everyone deserves to be treated respectfully, no matter who they are or who they ship because Words do hurt people, more than any physical injury any person can inflict on themselves. So just remember that. Just stay strong and you can get through anything. Remember that someone cares, remember that you matter. Stay hopeful, because it's extremely powerful and can help even the most lost souls find their way again.
SwanQueen is a story of hope, of love, of family, of acceptance, of happiness, of friendship, and of magic. It's a story of two strong women who used to hate each other but are now the closest friends imaginable. It's a story of a new beginning, a new chapter in future fairytales. It's a story of those looks that makes every SQ shippers heart melt. it's a story of a girl named Emma, who never thought she would be good enough for anyone, a girl who had lost hope, then found it again with Regina. It's a story about a girl named Regina, who had her heart broken too many times and fought her evil instincts for Emma. Its about Emma and Regina fighting for their son. It's about them working together as a team. It's about adventure. It's about new lands and fighting crazy villains. It's about Regina and Emma, constantly risking their own lives for each other, for their happiness. It's a story about two strong and powerful women who lovingly share a son, who loves them more than anything else in the world. It's a story for everyone who couldn't climb out of the darkness because of who they were labeled as. It's a story of hope for the future. It's a story of the years of fighting the writers to make it real and the thousands of fans who support each other and always encourage each other to do your best. Its the story that once began with "Once Upon a Time..." And ends in "and they all lived happily ever after." It's the story of Emma and Regina, the sheriff and the mayor, the student and the teacher (magic wise) , the savior and the villain, good and bad, friend and enemy. It's the story of the swan and her queen. That is why I ship Swanqueen.
~ Sara (Swanqueen.in.storybrooke)