Slash as a writing style transcends any reductive definition that gets thrown at it. Some stories include very dark exploratory S&M, and the more dystopian adult Harry Potter fics need a large, strong scotch on hand while reading. The ‘good’ stuff never features so-called feminised men. (And you probably won’t find it on Fanfiction Net — It gets locked into LJ comms.)

What writers like to play with in slash (and I’m one of them) is a relationship that develops between people who cannot be set into a primary and secondary dynamic, ie. male vs female. There is something very freeing and inspiring in exploring an intimate relationship where both ‘players’ have equal authority as individuals. It allows one to concentrate on relational issues about power, autonomy, committment, and of course sex, without having to deal with the inherently predictable quality (and power imbalance) of a heterosexual pairing. I don’t mind straight romance as such, but that isn’t what I’m looking for when I read/write slash.

Oh, have you read the femmslash at all? I think maybe that would be more your cup of tea — that’s real hot. ;-)