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May 2005
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Gay Literature

One of the biggest problems facing gay literature today is that much of it focuses on a few narrow themes:

1) Erotica: Not that this is bad, considering it’s Masturbation Month, but regardless of where I’ve looked-big chain stores in the USA, independent gay bookstores in the States and abroad-a large percentage of the material is slotted directly into erotica category. This is a far greater percentage of the overall gay material than of hetero-literature.

2) Coming Out Stories: I will readily admit that I once read these kinds of story with a great deal of eagerness-usually uplifting and inspirational, these stories provide a great deal of hope to people struggling with the closet.

3) HIV and AIDS: So at least in the States, HIV and AIDS are stereotyped to be gay diseases, and in the early years, more than half of the new infections were found in gay men (but not women). A huge body of literature exists with positive HIV+ stories: living with AIDS, beating AIDS, and helping friends with AIDS.

4) Famous People Stories: Whether autobiographical or biographical, these are sometimes interesting, but more often than not, readers discover that famous fags have/had the same problems they have.

Unfortunately, I find these boring. Erotica is only interesting for so long and after awhile it becomes tedious. Coming Out Stories, once you are flamingly out are less interesting. HIV+ stories, despite their often upbeat attitude, are depressing, and after awhile they start to sound alike. Famous People Stories are only interesting if you’re interested in the famous person in the first place-sharing the gay gene doesn’t automatically make somebody interesting.

Happily there appears to be a new emerging section of gay literature where people are gay and its not that dominate. Boy Meets Boy (David Levithan) is one of this new breed, and like all the examples I can currently think of, it isn’t meant for adults. I made an oblique reference to it in a recent entry that got no comments. (I just realized it was published in 2003 in the States, how did I overlook it before this spring when I found an article about it in Gay Times?)

What I find absolutely adorable about this book is that the main character is determined by his kindergarten teacher to be gay, and from that point forward, Paul knows it and acts accordingly. Not that he hadn’t acted gay before, but there was never any struggle to understand why he wasn’t attracted to girls and never any attempt to date girls: he is gay.

There are some elements of struggling with coming out and the Religious Right, but rather than being the central focus, it’s treated as if thinking this way is a bit weird: in other words, being tolerant of diversity trumps being bigoted.

Hello, Sailor (Ingrid Godon) is another book that I really like, although it is a picture book. In this one, there is no discussion whatsoever about being gay, but then again, this is aimed at much younger readers. Simply put the lighthouse keeper and the sailor are happier together than apart. Very sweet.

3 comments to Gay Literature

  • Adam,

    I’m reading a wonderful memoir, Luncheonette, by first-time author (and gay man) Steven Sorrentino. The book recounts the author’s journey to NYC from a small new jersey town in the 1970s to try to make it big in musical theatre. When his father falls ill, he has to return home to run the family business- a greasy luncheonette with sassy waitresses and unorthodox patrons. He also has to navigate the interpersonal dynamics of his large Sicilian family. Sorrentino’s memoir is really a first-person account of an ordinary- but interesting- life, and he never did become famous (unlike Sedaris!).

    Another book recently piqued my interest, but it’s by someone a bit more ‘famous’ than Sorrentino. “The Tricky Part”, by actor/writer Martin Moran, recounts the relationship he had with an older man at the ‘ripe’ age of 12 and its subsequent ramifications on his life. The author grew up in a Catholic household in Denver.

    On the “gay” fiction front, I plan to read “The Master”, Colm Toibin’s historical novel about Henry James’ experiences in Europe during the 1890s.

  • ChrisC

    I suppose, but then isn’t much of straight “sexual identity” lit run along the same line?

    I enjoyed a work called, “Men Together” which was about people who had formed lasting relationships. I actually applied to work for the guys that run the travel business in Montana. Both rather good looking men, but taken.

    I stopped giving it serious thought because I figured the gay dating scene in Red Lodge, MT would be extremely limited (putting it mildly).

  • Straight literature never has to deal with the presumption of being not-straight. So much of gay literature reolves around the disclousure (or not) of gayness. Eliminating this coming out segment of the story, by allowing people to be out comfortably, allows for the stories to focus on other themes.