@tinysilverstar nope, they don't get paid because they're in training. Also maiko's training fees are super expensive! The house gives them monthly pocket money though.
@ShadowofOblivion I just find the "damaging tropes" you mentioned also exist in romance tag and don't understand why is it only BL that needs to be nitpicked that way.
@BestBoy Sorry, I might be getting too heated. But as an LGBT living in Japan this thread sounds HORRIBLY like some Westerners trying to push their views on Japanese media and it doesn't sit well at all with me.
@BestBoy "Anything that has seme/uke is not bara"
I would like to inform you that because it is not the norm where you live, doesn't mean Japanese LGBT are not using it.
Also bara is considered slur in Japanese.