Token Homophobic Jerk

The Token Homophobic Jerk, also known as Designated Homophobic Bastard, is the slash counterpart to the Designated Misogynistic Bastard : a canon character in a slashfic who has been twisted by the Suethor into rejecting the gay characters. The THJ's role is to make homophobic comments, attempt to exclude the characters, and in some cases attack the paired characters. Rather than reflecting cultural norms, religious beliefs, personal upbringing, the relationship itself, current legal codes, or other positions, this characterization overwhelmingly tends to be flat, exist solely to show Twu Wuv in the face of a half paragraph of adversity, and to make a disliked character look worse.

Unlike the Designated Misogynistic Bastard, Homophobic Jerks are not unheard of within canon, and many characters can be rather less than fond of the idea as such without necessarily contradicting their canon personality. THJs can, however, be easily diagnosed by having attitudes more common within the 21st century than their own time, unlikely speech patterns, character warping, and a fair share of character bashing. Severus Snape might well throw a number of insults toward a theoretical Remus J. Lupin and Sirius Black pairing, but given that the latter almost got him killed with the former, this should not be the only reason for dislike.

In many settings, this charge often coexists with Unrealistically Tolerant Pillocks: a bad slash Sherlock Holmes and John Watson might have little problems snogging on the streets, despite the laws of Britain during 1890-1914, except for the two or three Jerks that throw slurs or rocks rather than try the police.