via @philliporozcoillustration on InstagramArts+CultureNewsThe Babadook has become a gay iconBabayaassssShareLink copied ✔️June 9, 2017Arts+CultureNewsTextTrey Taylor Australian movie antagonist, the Babadook, who – let’s be clear – carried his self-titled cult horror to wide critical acclaim, has finally been recognized as a prominent figure of the LGBT community this past week. A creation of director Jennifer Kent, the Babadook is the top-hat sporting fictional ghoul who appears in the 2014 arthouse flick. He first arises in a bedtime pop-up book that the mother reads to her son following the father’s death. Many have pointed to the Babadook being a metaphor for grief. But we know the true tea, hunty. The Babadook is a fierce quehn. Although we’ve known he is openly gay for some time, the Babadook’s sexuality was up for debate even as early as February of this year: good morning the Babadook is openly gay— JuanPa (@jpbrammer) February 16, 2017 A Tumblr user Photoshopped The Babadook into the LGBT section of Netflix, spurring even more questions. Once it was cleared up that the Babadook was, in fact, out and proud, people still couldn’t baba-lieve it. However, the internet collectively began to celebrate the gay villain as a public fixture of the LGBT scene. (Still to be spoken for: Jafar, Ursula, Freddie Krueger…) As June is Pride month, it seemed pertinent to praise the Babadook for his contributions to the community. happy pride month from queer icon the babadook pic.twitter.com/f2JxwQbRDd— jacob (@jacobbullards) June 3, 2017my new favorite Tumblr meme is insisting that The Babadook is gay pic.twitter.com/Id1PJpkkgX— Ryan Broderick (@broderick) February 15, 2017 Now, some fans are riding the queer icon’s status right to the baba-bank, with fan-created merch including T-shirts, tanks and speedos ready for your Pride float. Director Jennifer Kent has yet to comment on the emergence of her character into the gay community. However, it’s left a vast majority of fans Babashook. Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREWhy did Satan start to possess girls on screen in the 70s?Learn the art of photo storytelling and zine making at Dazed+LabsAccorParcels’ Jules Crommelin: ‘This isn’t just a tour, it’s life’ 8 essential skate videos from the 90s and beyond with Glue SkateboardsThe unashamedly queer, feminist, and intersectional play you need to see InstagramHow to become a foodfluencer, according to Instagram Rings creatorsParis artists are pissed off with this ‘gift’ from Jeff KoonsA Seat at the TableVinca Petersen: Future FantasySnarkitecture’s guide on how to collide art and architectureBanksy has unveiled a new anti-weapon artworkVincent Gallo: mad, bad, and dangerous to know