Ok, so I know I haven't been the most up-to-date with my DA account. I am about 3,209 deviations behind to view and refuse to do much of it until I decide to renew my subscription. I have yet to do so since I've gotten so busy to nuture DA with my attention.

I do occassionally check DA because I do get notes from people asking questions. So today when I woke up this afternoon after a horrendous night of inking, I recieved 2 notes from DA staff saying that they have deleted one of my old deviations for "Prohibited Content".

First off, guys, I know not everyone understands the fasination with "yaoi/shounen-ai" themes. I completely respect that. And I also repect everyone by not flaunting it around everywhere I go because I know it makes people uneasy. Hell, I don't flaunt it around my gay friends unless they initiate it. But on rare occassions I do draw such content, BUT I do it tastefully. It's my art, and I'll do as I please.

That being said, a piece I did with a "yaoi theme" was deleted from DA. You can find the image in question here (WARNING: Again, this does have a very "yaoi" theme. I apologize, but for understanding the arguement at hand, please don't give me childish comments about it being "gross"): [link]

Yes it's old and horribly done, but it's mine. I love it just as much as all the other horrible pieces of art I did prior and after.

Now, DA accuses me of posting prohibited content. What is considered prohibited content? Let's take a look at what exactly DA states as prohibited content: [link]

When we mention 'ornographic content' in our policies we are specifically referring to specific subjects which we will clarify below.

We apologize if the descriptions below are slightly graphic.

The following contents are considered unacceptable for submission in either visual art or literature form and will be subjected to immediate removal without notice.

• Masturbation
Hands should not come into contact with genitalia in a manner which is clearly a display of fondling or masturbation.

• Sexual Intercourse.
Subjects should not be depicted in a clear display of sexual intercourse. This includes depictions of sexual penetration, oral to genital contact, genital to anal contact, and oral to anal contact without exception. Some depictions of same sex genital to genital contact and some depictions of oral to breast contact might qualify under this guideline as adjudicated by staff but not all will be considered an automatic violation of policy.

• Sexual body fluids (actual or simulated).
There should be no depiction of semen or vaginal lubricants.

• Erections.
Male subjects may not be depicted with an erection.

• Vaginal or Anal Spreading
Female subjects should not be depicted with their vaginal area manually spread open by hand or manipulated open by any other artificial means. Neither sex should show the anus manually opened in a similar fashion.

• Adult oriented (sexual) toys.
"Adult toys" consisting of dildos, strap-ons, vibrators, etc. are not allowed.


Where is the sexual intercourse? The masterbation? The bodily fluids? Erections? Vaginal/anal spreading? Sexual toys? In no way have I violated the rules.

And on closer inspection: Subjects should not be depicted in a clear display of sexual intercourse.

Let's be honest, there is NO clear display of sexual intercourse. The piece merely HINTS at the idea. I leave my viewer's minds to fill in the blanks. For all you know, the characters could be hermaphrodites. And for that matter, MAYBE THEY HAVE NO GENITAILA.

When I first displayed this image, it had an adult filter warning, a small preview image with a warning label, and a FULL warning to those who may or may not be offended by the image. So unless you ignored all the warning signs, it's your own damn fault you are offended by an image depicting a gay couple.

So unless there is a hidden rule somewhere on DA that I violated their policy for showing the upper torso of a male's body or questionable facial expressions, I stand corrected. I will probably be banned for posting this journal, but I will have my voice heard.

You want to take my image down, but you refuse to take down all the images of people who take photographs of REAL people with extreme close-up shots of a woman's vagina as she lies down in a sexual manner? I personally don't find it appealing, but I believe it is the artist's right to post their work online and I can simply click elsewhere.

DA this is getting ridiculous.

-Michelle