History Main / GayRomanticPhase

* In the backstory of ''Manga/BloomIntoYou'', Sayaka Saeki was in one of these with an unnamed senpai, who broke it off because she thought they were outgrowing the whole "gay romance" phase. Subverted in that it wasn't a phase for Sayaka, who is a lesbian. When they run into each other in one of the manga's interlude chapters, said senpai apologizes for "corrupting" her into liking girls, much to Saeki's confusion and anger.

* ''Manga/{{Tsugumomo}}'': Kanaka (mother of protagonist Kazuya) started a three-way lesbian relationship with her [[LivingWeapon tsukumogami, Kiriha,]] and the local {{Physical God}}dess Kukuri, at first justifying it as {{skinship|Grope}} bonding. Both Kiriha and Kukuri were shocked and upset when Kanaka later married a man, had children, and ended all sexual contact with them, as neither were aware that Kanaka even ''liked'' men.

'''Roxy:''' Well, honey... ''({{KnuckleCracking cracks knuckles]])'' I'm a little bi-FURIOUS!

* ''Manga/{{Tsugumomo}}'': Kanaka (mother of protagonist Kazuya) started a three-way lesbian relationship with her [[LivingWeapon tsukumogami, Kiriha,]] and the local {{Physical God}}dess Kukuri, at first justifying it as {{skinship|Grope}} bonding. Both Kiriha and Kukuri were shocked and upset when Kanaka later married a man, had children and ended all sexual contact with them, as neither were aware that Kanaka even ''liked'' men.

* ''LightNovel/{{Tsugumomo'': Kanaka (mother of protagonist Kazuya) started a three-way lesbian relationship with her [[LivingWeapon tsukumogami, Kiriha,]] and the local {{Physical God}}dess Kukuri, at first justifying it as {{skinship|Grope}} bonding. Both Kiriha and Kukuri were shocked and upset when Kanaka later married a man, had children and ended all sexual contact with them, as neither were aware that Kanaka even ''liked'' men.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'': In one episode, Cleveland calls "lesbianism at women's college" a phase, which is presented as a sketch of a graduation at which all the girls (in the front row, at least) turn to each other and say "We Need To Talk.".

-->--''Film/{{Senseless}}''

An older and largely [[DiscreditedTrope discredited]] (but by no means dead) trope in which a same-sex romance among young(er) characters is portrayed as "just a phase", which will be set aside later for more serious heterosexual relationships. This is more common with female characters than males for several reasons, including the idea that GirlOnGirlIsHot and the fact that MostWritersAreMale. It is becoming less common and more commonly subverted these days, when compared to its heyday in decades past, as homo- and bisexuality have gained quite a bit more acceptance. If you see something like this in a newer work, expect one or both characters to say something along the lines of "It's not a phase. I really am gay/bi," and if two characters are in a same-sex relationship, and one ends it on these grounds, it's common for the other to actually be gay and deeply hurt about them breaking it off, especially if it happens in a character's backstory in [[YuriGenre Yuri]] and [[YaoiGenre Yaoi]] works.

* In the backstory of ''Manga/BloomIntoYou'', Sayaka Saeki was in a relationship with her unnamed old senpai, who broke it off because she thought they were outgrowing the whole "gay romance" phase. Subverted in that it wasn't a phase for Sayaka, who turns out to be an out-and-out lesbian. That said senpai apologizes for "corrupting" her into liking girls when they meet again pisses her off to no end.

* This is explained to be almost ubiquitous in the centaur herds of ''Fanfic/DailyEquestriaLifeWithMonsterGirl''. Given the nature of [[JerkJock centaur stallions]], no centaur filly would be interested in pursuing romantic relationships with colts, and so they seek romance from each other. However, homosexuality is strictly forbidden to the adult mares: given all the measures that have to be taken to allow reproduction and the limited gene pool, everytaur who ''can'' get pregnant is expected to do so. As Cerea puts it, adolescence is the time for love and adulthood the time for breeding.

* In ''Webcomic/RedString'', Fuuko finds love after she moves to Toyko, Hanae. When Hanae's mother discovers their relationship she [[http://www.redstring.strawberrycomics.com/?p=1025 chastises them]] telling that they need to grow out of it because it "Won't get them anywhere" (i.e. won't get them married), clearly disregarding their love as a "Class S" relationship.

* In the backstory of ''Manga/BloomIntoYou'', Sayaka Saeki was in a relationship with her unnamed old senpai, who broke it off because she thought they were outgrowing the whole "gay romance" phase. Subverted in that it wasn't a phase for Sayaka, who turns out to be an out and out lesbian. That said senpai apologizes for "corrupting" her into liking girls when they meet again pisses her off to no end.

* ''Literature/GodEmperorOfDune'': due to some values dissonance this is Moneo's (and presumably Leto's II also) opinion on lesbian relationships between Fish Speakers- something natural that they ususally grow out of. Moneo said this during an argument with Duncan Idaho, who coming from another era is revolted by allowance for such pratices.

* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', teenage novices in the White Tower often become "Pillow Friends", which can range from being close friends, to being in full-blown lesbian relationships. These relationships usually end when the novices become Aes Sedai, though some interactions later on indicate that they do sometimes continue; it seems to be a matter of personal taste. One woman haughtily dismisses the relationship as one for novices and not to be upheld by someone of higher achievement, whereas another thinks nothing of what she perceives as a sign that two women have been together for many years.

* In the first season of ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'', Syaoran got quite flustered whenever he was around Yukito. Eventually he realized that he wasn't really attracted to Yukito, [[spoiler:but rather his magical powers of the Moon from his true self, Yue, which Syaoran was drawn to whenever it clashed with his own powers. He then realizes that he's actually in love with Sakura.]]

* In the first season of ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'', Syaoran got quite flustered whenever he was around Yukito. Eventually he realized that it wasn't infatuation, the magic in the two of them were interacting in ways that were confusing him (it's a really long story). He then falls in love with Sakura.

* ''Literature/GodEmperorofDune'': due to some values dissonance this is Moneo's (and presumably Leto's II also) opinion on lesbian relationships between Fish Speakers- something natural that they ususally grow out of. Moneo said this during an argument with Duncan Idaho, who coming from another era is revolted by allowance for such pratices.

May be motivated by DatingWhatDaddyHates or trying for a ShockValueRelationship. Compare ExperimentedInCollege, (a similar concept, in which a heterosexual character experimented sexually with the same gender but said experiments weren't romantic in nature), RomanticTwoGirlFriendship (where they're not in a sexual or physically intimate relationship, but they are emotionally intimate and follow many of the same tropes, again with the expectation that this will be replaced by "real" (heterosexual) romance when they grow up), ButNotTooGay (where the romantic aspects of a gay relationship are played down) and BaitAndSwitchLesbians (where two characters of the same gender are presented as being in a romantic relationship, only to later reveal that they're not and are actually attracted to the opposite sex). See also IfItsYouItsOkay, where a character hooks up with someone of the gender they're not attracted to.

May be motivated by DatingWhatDaddyHates or trying for a ShockValueRelationship. Compare ExperimentedInCollege, a similar concept, in which a heterosexual character experimented sexually with the same gender but said experiments weren't romantic in nature, RomanticTwoGirlFriendship, where they're not in a sexual or physically intimate relationship, but they are emotionally intimate and follow many of the same tropes, again with the expectation that this will be replaced by "real" (heterosexual) romance when they grow up, ButNotTooGay where the romantic aspects of a gay relationship are played down and BaitAndSwitchLesbians where two characters of the same gender are presented as being in a romantic relationship, only to later reveal that they're not and are actually attracted to the opposite sex. See also IfItsYouItsOkay, where a character hooks up with someone of the gender they're not attracted to.

An older and largely [[DiscreditedTrope discredited]] (but by no means dead) trope in which a same-sex romance among young(er) characters is portrayed as "just a phase", which will be set aside later for more serious heterosexual relationships. This is more common with female characters then males for several reasons, including the idea that GirlOnGirlIsHot and the fact that MostWritersAreMale. It is becoming less common and more commonly subverted these days, when compared to its heyday in decades past, as homo- and bisexuality have gained quite a bit more acceptance. If you see something like this in a newer work, expect one or both characters to say something along the lines of "It's not a phase. I really am gay/bi," and if two characters are in a same-sex relationship, and one ends it on these grounds, it's common for the other to actually be gay and deeply hurt about them breaking it off, especially if it happens in a character's backstory in [[YuriGenre Yuri]] and [[YaoiGenre Yaoi]] works.

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[[AC:Film - Live-Action]]

* This trope was recognised by Creator/AgathaChristie in her novel ''Nemesis'':
-->"Verity had lost her real guardians, her parents, she had entered on her new life after their death, at an age when a schoolgirl arrives at having a "crush" on someone. An attractive mistress. Anything from the games mistress to the mathematics mistress, or a prefect or an older girl. A state that does not last for very long, is merely a natural part of life. Then from that you go on to the next stage when you realize that what you want in your life is what complements yourself. A relationship between a man and a woman... I think Verity adored Clotilde in an almost romantic way."
** Naturally, [[spoiler:Verity is murdered by Clotilde, a PsychoLesbian who couldn't handle Verity growing out of this phase and taking up with a local bad boy instead.]]

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* In''Series/Batwoman2019'', Sophie Moore admits to her husband Tyler that she had a lesbian relationship with Kate Kane in the military academy. Tyler demands to know how long this relationship lasted, and when told it lasted three years, he points out that's longer than any previous relationship he had before meeting Sophie.

-->'''Tara:''' "I trust you. I just... (looks down) I don't know where I'm gonna fit in... in your life when..."
-->'''Willow:''' "When... I change back? Yeah, this is a college thing, just a, a little experimentation before I get over the thrill and head back to boys' town. ''(pause)'' You think that?"
-->'''Tara:''' "Should I?"
-->'''Willow:''' "I'm really sorry that I didn't establish my lesbo street cred before I got into this relationship. You're the only woman I've ever fallen in love with, so... how on Earth could you ever take me seriously?"

[[AC:WebComics]]
* In ''Webcomic/RedString'', Fuuko finds love after she moves to Toyko, Hanae. When Hanae's mother discovers their relationship she [[http://www.redstring.strawberrycomics.com/?p=1025 chastises them]] telling that they need to grow out of it because it "Won't get them anywhere" (i.e. won't get them married) clearly disregarding their love as a "Class S" relationship.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'': In one episode, Cleveland calls "lesbianism at women's college" a phase, which is presented as a sketch of a graduation at which all the girls (in the front row, at least) turn to each other and say "We Need To Talk.".

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. In their first domestic squabble, Willow accuses Tara of assuming she's doing this.

'''Willow:''' "When... I change back? Yeah, this is a college thing, just a, a little experimentation before I get over the thrill and head back to boys' town. ''(pause)'' You think that?"
'''Tara:''' "Should I?"
'''Willow:''' "I'm really sorry that I didn't establish my lesbo street cred before I got into this relationship. You're the only woman I've ever fallen in love with, so... how on Earth could you ever take me seriously?"
* ''Series/DoctorWho''. In the episode "Asylum of the Daleks", Oswin tells Rory that her first crush had that name, then amends to say that actually, it was "Nina", and it was a phase. We later learn that Oswin is one of the splinters of Clara Oswald, who is a case of AmbiguouslyBi.

Naturally, [[spoiler:Verity is murdered by Clotilde, a PsychoLesbian who couldn't handle Verity growing out of this phase and taking up with a local bad boy instead.]]

* Going by the mental 'snapshots' of her former partners, Suzie of ''Comicbook/SexCriminals'' has had at least one lesbian relationship.

-->'''Valerie:''' I passed my eleven plus, and went to a girl's grammar. It was at school that I met my first girlfriend. Her name was Sarah. It was her wrists -- they were beautiful. I thought we would love each other forever.
I remember our teacher telling us that it was an adolescent phase that people outgrew.
Sarah did.
I didn't.

-->"Verity had lost her real guardians, her parents, she had entered on her new life after their death, at an age when a schoolgirl arrives at having a "crush" on someone. An attractive mistress. Anything from the games mistress to the mathematics mistress, or a prefect or an older girl. A state that does not last for very long, is merely a natural part of life. Then from that you go on to the next stage when you realize that what you want in your life is what complements yourself. A relationship between a man and a woman... I think Verity adored Clotilde in an almost romantic way." Naturally, [[spoiler:Verity is murdered by Clotilde, a PsychoLesbian who couldn't handle Verity growing out of this phase and taking up with a local bad boy instead.]]

-->"Verity had lost her real guardians, her parents, she had entered on her new life after their death, at an age when a schoolgirl arrives at having a "crush" on someone. An attractive mistress. Anything from the games mistress to the mathematics mistress, or a prefect or an older girl. A state that does not last for very long, is merely a natural part of life. Then from that you go on to the next stage when you realize that what you want in your life is what complements yourself. A relationship between a man and a woman... I think Verity adored Clotilde in an almost romantic way."
;; Naturally, [[spoiler:Verity is murdered by Clotilde, a PsychoLesbian who couldn't handle Verity growing out of this phase and taking up with a local bad boy instead.]]