Until recently, gay lerary characters had to hi their inti. But even now the closet — and the li and ncealment impli — remas a surprisgly potent metaphor.
Contents:
- INFLUENTIAL GAY CHARACTERS {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY ALEXANR STEVENSONSEPTEMBER 24, 2007/5:17 PMBY ALEXANR STEVENSONSEPTEMBER 24, 2007 / 5:17 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"INFLUENTIAL GAY CHARACTERS LERATURE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-09-24T21:17:04.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-09-24T21:17:04.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ALEXANR STEVENSON","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9173|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=MIDDLE|WIDTH=400|HEIGHT=194]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A HISTORIL SENSE, LERATURE AS WE UNRSTAND IS A FAIRLY NEW NOVATN, AND THE CURRENT NCEPT OF HOMOSEXUALY IS EVEN HER OM THE CULTURAL OVEN. IT'S NO GREAT SURPRISE, THEN, THAT GAY LERATURE — OR EVEN GAY CHARACTERS LERATURE — ARE SO RELATIVELY NEW AS TO STILL BE SHY. NOHELS, THERE ARE GAY CHARACTERS THAT BROKE BARRIERS AND BEME CULTURAL TOUCHSTON FOR GAY MEN. TO FD OUT WHICH CHARACTERS HAVE MOST RONATED, WE TURNED TO SOME OF OUR MOST WELL-KNOWN GAY THORS FOR THE BOOKS AND CHARACTERS THAT MOST FLUENCED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MATTHEW RETTENMUND, THOR OF THE NOVEL BOY CULTURE WHICH A MALE RT LEARNS TO ADOPT HIS NATURAL TAKE-CHARGE ABILI THE SERVICE OF CREATG A LTLE FAY FOR HIMSELF, OFFERED A THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS WHEN ASKED FOR HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE ARE SO MANY OBV CHOIC, AND THEY'RE OBV FOR GOOD REASON — THE BOY OF A BOY'S OWN STORY LEAPS TO MD. BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO GAY CHARACTERS WH FLAWS. I APPRECIATE POSIVE PORTRAYALS, BUT REALISTIC CHARACTERS WHO ILLTRATE SOME OF THE UNIQUE UPS AND DOWNS OF BEG GAY ARE THE ON CLOSER TO MY HEART. I REMEMBER HAVG A PARTICULAR AFFECTN FOR THE TULAR CHARACTER OM THE CONFSNS OF DANNY SLOCUM BY GEE WHMORE. FAR OM THE SEXUAL ATHLETE GAY MEN ARE OFTEN ENURAGED TO BE BY THE POPULAR CULTURE OF OUR OWN MAKG, DANNY'S SEXUALLY BROKEN AND THERE IS NO EASY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I ALSO REALLY LIKED EDDIE OM THE IRREVERSIBLE DECLE OF EDDIE SOCKETT FOR G ACROSS AS VERY REAL AND NOT OVERLY SENTIMENTALIZED," RETTENMUND ADD. "OTHER THAN THOSE THREE, NO GAY CHARACTERS REALLY MA AN IMPRSN ON ME. THE NARRATOR GVANNI'S ROOM IS ONE WHO IS OFTEN CED, BUT I DIDN'T RE FOR THAT BOOK AND ULDN'T REALLY RELATE TO HIM. STILL, I SUPPOSE HE WAS GROUNDBREAKG THE SENSE THAT WAS UNUAL TO HAVE A GAY CENTRAL CHARACTER AT THE TIME THE BOOK WAS WRTEN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9170|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=LEFT|WIDTH=150|HEIGHT=187]E. LYNN HARRIS INTIFIED JOHN GRIM, THE LEAD CHARACTER JAM BALDW'S GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTA, AS HIS PICK, "BEE THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BOOKS THAT I READ THAT RONATED WH ME WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG. HERE WAS THIS CHARACTER THAT WAS SO SENSIVE AND HAD AN ABIVE FATHER. I ME OM AN ABIVE RELATNSHIP WH A STEPFATHER. I JT SO INTIFIED WH HIM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HARRIS ADD, "ONE OF THE THGS I HAVE E TO REGNIZE WH GAY PEOPLE IS, THEY FEEL THE NEED TO BE OVERACHIEVERS. WHEN I WAS G UP, I WAS AN OVERACHIEVER WHEN ME TO SCHOOL AND ACTIVI; I WOULD DO ANYTHG TO GET NOTICED. I KNEW THEN THAT I WAS GAY AND I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT NCEL OUT EVERYTHG, SO I WAS EVERY ACTIVY [AND YET] I HAD NO IENDS, BEE I WAS AAID TO LET ANYONE KNOW ME. PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY KNEW ME, AND TURN I WON A LOT OF AWARDS, BEE I WAS ALWAYS DOG SOMETHG, I WAS ALWAYS KEEPG BY SO THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO AL WH MYSELF."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HARRIS OFFERED TWO OTHER SELECTNS AS GROUNDBREAKG GAY CHARACTERS. "NOT TO PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK, BUT I REALLY THK RAYMOND AND BASIL, TWO OF MY CHARACTERS [OM INVISIBLE LIFE] HAVE BEEN GROUNDBREAKG SO MANY RPECTS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INIALLY A SELF-PUBLISHED NOVEL, INVISIBLE LIFE WAS AN EARLY LERARY LOOK AT BISEXUALY THE BLACK MUNY, AND PROPHETIC ALG WH WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS GAY BLACK MEN GOG "ON THE DOWN LOW" TO FULFILL THEIR TE SEXUAL SIR. THE NOVEL WAS PICKED UP BY DOUBLEDAY, LNCHG HARRIS' REER AS A NOVELIST — A REER THAT CLUS HAVG BROUGHT TWO SEQUELS TO INVISIBLE LIFE TO PRT, TH PLETG A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT HIS CREATNS BROKE NEW GROUND BEME EVINT TO HARRIS OM THE REACTNS OF HIS REARS. "WHAT I HEARD OM SO MANY PEOPLE WAS, 'I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT; I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT GAY PEOPLE LOVED, AND LOVED EQUALLY, AND THAT THEY DIDN'T ACT STEREOTYPIL, THAT THEY WERE STILL OUR BROTHERS, OUR SONS, OUR NEPHEWS, OUR FATHERS, OUR IENDS.' THAT'S WHO I WANTED TO MAKE RAYMOND: I WANTED TO MAKE HIM ‘EVERYMAN’, [AND AT THE SAME TIME] I WANTED HIM TO BE TOUCH WH HIS EMOTNS AND FEELGS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9171|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=MIDDLE|WIDTH=390|HEIGHT=295]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DREW BANKS, THOR OF THE NOVEL ABLE WAS I, LISTED THE TLE CHARACTER OM OSR WIL'S NOVEL THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY AS HIS CHOICE FOR GROUNDBREAKG GAY CHARACTER, SAYG, "DORIAN GRAY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST A LONG LIST OF HEDONISTIC FELLOWS WHOSE HOMOSEXUAL TENNCI SECURED A TERRIBLE FATE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CONTUED BANKS, "BALDW'S GVANNI FARED ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER, TRADG HIS LIGO ROOM FOR THE GUILLOTE (DAVID, GVANNI'S ROOM'S PROTAGONIST, ONLY P BEE HIS HOMOSEXUAL URG WERE EXPERIMENTAL NATURE)."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, FOR BANKS, A MORE PERSONAL CHOICE WAS THE GAY ROLE MOL AND SPORTS FIGURE HERO OM PATRICIA NELL WARREN’S 1974 GAY SPORTS CLASSIC. SAID BANKS, "FOR ME, AS A GAY MAN G OUT THE ‘70S/'80S, THE FRONT RUNNER'S COACH HARLAN BROWN BROKE MY GROUND AS A GUILELS HOMO WHO LONGED FOR ROMANTIC LOVE THAT FULLY TEGRATED HOT SEX."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADD BANKS WRYLY, "OF URSE WAS WRTEN BY A WOMAN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STEVEN SAYLOR, THOR OF THE POPULAR "GORDIAN THE FR" MYSTERY SERI, WHICH IS SET ANCIENT ROME, AND WHOSE EARLY EROTIC WRGS (UNR THE NAME AARON TRAVIS) ARE CURRENTLY ENJOYG SOMETHG OF A RURGENCE WH LAST YEAR'S REPUBLITN OF THE NOVEL SLAV OF THE EMPIRE — SOMETHG OF A GROUNDBREAKG WORK S OWN RIGHT — NOMATED, "BAGOAS, THE NARRATOR OF MARY RENLT'S THE PERSIAN BOY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9174|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=MIDDLE|WIDTH=365|HEIGHT=239]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EXPLAED SAYLOR, "THAT BOOK WAS A HUGE TERNATNAL BTSELLER WHEN I WAS YOUNG, AND GAVE A TLY GAY ALEXANR THE GREAT, AS SEEN THROUGH THE EY OF HIS NUCH NSORT. RENLT SCED REARS AROUND THE WORLD TO INTIFYG WH A GAY PERSIAN NUCH BOTTOM . . . NOW THAT WAS A BREAKTHROUGH!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU MAY QUOTE ME," HE SAID, WH JOKG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}POET AND THOR OF GAY EROTIC FICTN JEFF MANN HAS WRTEN THE MOST TENR AND GENTLY PASSNATE OS TO NATURE AND TO MAN, AND HE'S ALSO WRTEN SOME OF THE BRAVT AND MOST BRACG BONDAGE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MANN INTIFIED MR. BENSON, JOHN PRTON'S NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME AS "A GROUNDBREAKG LEATHERMAN AND S/M TOP."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAILG OM THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAS, MANN ALSO INTIFIED A GROUNDBREAKG CREATN "HASSEL DAY, THE UNQUIET EARTH, DENISE GIARDA'S WONRFUL NOVEL ABOUT THE WT VIRGIA ALFIELDS… AN APPALACHIAN GAY CHARACTER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}POPULAR GAY WRER MICHAEL THOMAS FORD, THE THOR OF CRILLY ACCLAIMED NOVELS RANGG OM THE IC ROMP LAST SUMMER, TO THE PANORAMIC DRAMA FULL CIRCLE, TO THE JT-RELEASED GAY FAY NOVEL CHANGG TIS, ADMTED, "I WAS NEVER MUCH OF A GAY L REAR, WHICH IS PERHAPS A LTLE STRANGE NSIRG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, FORD DID NAME A FEW CHARACTERS THAT SEEMED TO F THE BILL. "THE ONLY ON I N REALLY THK OF ARE THE LTLE BOY TMAN CAPOTE'S SHORT STORY "DAZZLE," WHO WANTS TO BE A GIRL AND WHO MAK A AL WH A WOMAN HE THKS N WORK MAGIC FOR HIM, AND PERHAPS DILL OM TO KILL A MOCKGBIRD, WHO IRONILLY WAS BASED ON CAPOTE HIMSELF. HE WASN'T GAY THE BOOK, OF URSE, BUT AS A GAY REAR YOU N SENSE SOMETHG QUEER HIM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CONTUED FORD, "THE SAME GO FOR THE GIRL FRANKIE CARSON MCCULLERS'S THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GAY WRER ELT SCHREFER, WHOSE FIRST BOOK DREW PARISONS TO THE NANNY DIARI AND WHOSE SEND NOVEL, THE JT-RELEASED THE NEW KID, PARALLELS EPISOS OF ADOLCENT SAME-SEX EXPERIMENTATN WH AN OLR MAN'S PURSU OF TEENAGED BOYS, TOLD ME, "PL DAVID LEVHAN'S BOY MEETS BOY IS THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF A GAY PROTAGONIST A YOUNG ADULT BOOK FOR WHOM HOMOSEXUALY ISN'T 'THE PROBLEM.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9172|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=MIDDLE|WIDTH=400|HEIGHT=299]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SCHREFER SCRIBED THE BOOK, SAYG, "GAY TEENS WHO TURN TO THE BOOK FOR GUIDANCE AND SOLACE FD A FANTASIA ABOUT A HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THE QUARTERBACK IS ALSO THE HOMEG QUEEN, AND WHERE THE DRAMAS OF G OUT ARE SENDARY TO THE MORE MUNDANE DRAMAS OF LIVG AN ORDARY TEENAGE LIFE. AS A MOL FOR HOW EXISTENCE N BE A SCHOOL WH A BROAD SENSE OF ACCEPTANCE, 'S VALUABLE FOR SHOWG TEENAGE REARS WHAT TO STRIVE FOR."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADD SCHREFER, "I'VE FOUND WELL-LOVED PI ON PLENTY OF SHELV OF TWENTY-SOMETHGS NEW YORK, WHO STILL CLG TO THIS SWEET, SLIM BOOK ABOUT HOW LIFE ULD BE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CUBAN-AMERIN WRER JOHNNY DIAZ, WHO JT THIS YEAR SAW THE PUBLITN OF HIS BUT NOVEL BOSTON BOYS CLUB, CED THE CREATN OF ANOTHER MASSACHETTS-BASED WRER AS HIS IA OF A GROUNDBREAKG FIGURE OM GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THE ONE CHARACTER THAT TO MD GAY FICTN IS JEFF [OM] THE WILLIAM J. MANN TRILOGY THE MEN OM THE BOYS, WHERE THE BOYS ARE, AND MEN WHO LOVE MEN," DIAZ SAID. "THE CHARACTER EXPLORED SEX , AND OUTSI OF THE NF OF, A RELATNSHIP, AND WHAT MEANS TO SET BOUNDARI FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER. HE WAS BRAZEN AND BOLD ABOUT BEG PASSNATE WH HIS PARTNER — AND OTHERS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADD DIAZ, "I N'T THK OF ANY LATO GAY CHARACTERS THAT RONATE WH ME,” AND NFSED, "THAT'S WHY I WROTE BOSTON BOYS CLUB." DIAZ IS NOT SIMPLY BOASTG: S PICTN OF A GAY CUBAN AMERIN PROFSNAL LOOKG FOR LOVE A BIG CY DOMATED BY OTHER ETHNICI, BOSTON BOYS CLUB HAS CERTALY PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHERS TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR MANN, THE NOVEL'S CHARACTER BROUGHT A CERTA MEASURE OF MORAL THENTICY, BEG "AN EXAMPLE OF THE WORKG CLASS TEACHG THE PRIVILEGED CLASS ABOUT HONTY AND THENTICY — A B OF A STEREOTYPE NOW, BUT BACK THEN QUE EXTRAORDARY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOTED MANN, "OF URSE, SCE THE BOOK WAS ONLY PUBLISHED MANY YEARS LATER, SCUDR'S IMPACT ON GAY LERATURE WASN'T FELT UNTIL MORE RECENT S."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THE SPAN OF THOSE FEW S, A LERARY SEA CHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE. PERHAPS THE ONLY PREHENSIVE ANSWER TO THE QUTN OF WHICH GAY LERARY CREATNS HAVE BROKEN NEW GROUND IS TO POT TO THE FOMENTATN HAPPENG RIGHT NOW, KNOWG THAT ANY, OR ALL, OF THE STORI CURRENTLY BEG WRTEN AND PUBLISHED WILL NTUE TO EXPAND THE LERARY SPHERE OF THE GAY NOVEL — AND BUILD BRIDG BETWEEN THE GAY MUNY AND THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- ON WRG GAY CHARACTERS THRILLERS
- GAY LERATURE IS OUT OF THE CLOSET. SO WHY IS DECEPTN A BIG THEME?
INFLUENTIAL GAY CHARACTERS {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY ALEXANR STEVENSONSEPTEMBER 24, 2007/5:17 PMBY ALEXANR STEVENSONSEPTEMBER 24, 2007 / 5:17 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"INFLUENTIAL GAY CHARACTERS LERATURE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-09-24T21:17:04.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-09-24T21:17:04.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ALEXANR STEVENSON","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9173|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=MIDDLE|WIDTH=400|HEIGHT=194]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A HISTORIL SENSE, LERATURE AS WE UNRSTAND IS A FAIRLY NEW NOVATN, AND THE CURRENT NCEPT OF HOMOSEXUALY IS EVEN HER OM THE CULTURAL OVEN. IT'S NO GREAT SURPRISE, THEN, THAT GAY LERATURE — OR EVEN GAY CHARACTERS LERATURE — ARE SO RELATIVELY NEW AS TO STILL BE SHY. NOHELS, THERE ARE GAY CHARACTERS THAT BROKE BARRIERS AND BEME CULTURAL TOUCHSTON FOR GAY MEN. TO FD OUT WHICH CHARACTERS HAVE MOST RONATED, WE TURNED TO SOME OF OUR MOST WELL-KNOWN GAY THORS FOR THE BOOKS AND CHARACTERS THAT MOST FLUENCED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MATTHEW RETTENMUND, THOR OF THE NOVEL BOY CULTURE WHICH A MALE RT LEARNS TO ADOPT HIS NATURAL TAKE-CHARGE ABILI THE SERVICE OF CREATG A LTLE FAY FOR HIMSELF, OFFERED A THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS WHEN ASKED FOR HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE ARE SO MANY OBV CHOIC, AND THEY'RE OBV FOR GOOD REASON — THE BOY OF A BOY'S OWN STORY LEAPS TO MD. BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO GAY CHARACTERS WH FLAWS. I APPRECIATE POSIVE PORTRAYALS, BUT REALISTIC CHARACTERS WHO ILLTRATE SOME OF THE UNIQUE UPS AND DOWNS OF BEG GAY ARE THE ON CLOSER TO MY HEART. I REMEMBER HAVG A PARTICULAR AFFECTN FOR THE TULAR CHARACTER OM THE CONFSNS OF DANNY SLOCUM BY GEE WHMORE. FAR OM THE SEXUAL ATHLETE GAY MEN ARE OFTEN ENURAGED TO BE BY THE POPULAR CULTURE OF OUR OWN MAKG, DANNY'S SEXUALLY BROKEN AND THERE IS NO EASY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I ALSO REALLY LIKED EDDIE OM THE IRREVERSIBLE DECLE OF EDDIE SOCKETT FOR G ACROSS AS VERY REAL AND NOT OVERLY SENTIMENTALIZED," RETTENMUND ADD. "OTHER THAN THOSE THREE, NO GAY CHARACTERS REALLY MA AN IMPRSN ON ME. THE NARRATOR GVANNI'S ROOM IS ONE WHO IS OFTEN CED, BUT I DIDN'T RE FOR THAT BOOK AND ULDN'T REALLY RELATE TO HIM. STILL, I SUPPOSE HE WAS GROUNDBREAKG THE SENSE THAT WAS UNUAL TO HAVE A GAY CENTRAL CHARACTER AT THE TIME THE BOOK WAS WRTEN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9170|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=LEFT|WIDTH=150|HEIGHT=187]E. LYNN HARRIS INTIFIED JOHN GRIM, THE LEAD CHARACTER JAM BALDW'S GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTA, AS HIS PICK, "BEE THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BOOKS THAT I READ THAT RONATED WH ME WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG. HERE WAS THIS CHARACTER THAT WAS SO SENSIVE AND HAD AN ABIVE FATHER. I ME OM AN ABIVE RELATNSHIP WH A STEPFATHER. I JT SO INTIFIED WH HIM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HARRIS ADD, "ONE OF THE THGS I HAVE E TO REGNIZE WH GAY PEOPLE IS, THEY FEEL THE NEED TO BE OVERACHIEVERS. WHEN I WAS G UP, I WAS AN OVERACHIEVER WHEN ME TO SCHOOL AND ACTIVI; I WOULD DO ANYTHG TO GET NOTICED. I KNEW THEN THAT I WAS GAY AND I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT NCEL OUT EVERYTHG, SO I WAS EVERY ACTIVY [AND YET] I HAD NO IENDS, BEE I WAS AAID TO LET ANYONE KNOW ME. PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY KNEW ME, AND TURN I WON A LOT OF AWARDS, BEE I WAS ALWAYS DOG SOMETHG, I WAS ALWAYS KEEPG BY SO THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO AL WH MYSELF."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HARRIS OFFERED TWO OTHER SELECTNS AS GROUNDBREAKG GAY CHARACTERS. "NOT TO PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK, BUT I REALLY THK RAYMOND AND BASIL, TWO OF MY CHARACTERS [OM INVISIBLE LIFE] HAVE BEEN GROUNDBREAKG SO MANY RPECTS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INIALLY A SELF-PUBLISHED NOVEL, INVISIBLE LIFE WAS AN EARLY LERARY LOOK AT BISEXUALY THE BLACK MUNY, AND PROPHETIC ALG WH WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS GAY BLACK MEN GOG "ON THE DOWN LOW" TO FULFILL THEIR TE SEXUAL SIR. THE NOVEL WAS PICKED UP BY DOUBLEDAY, LNCHG HARRIS' REER AS A NOVELIST — A REER THAT CLUS HAVG BROUGHT TWO SEQUELS TO INVISIBLE LIFE TO PRT, TH PLETG A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT HIS CREATNS BROKE NEW GROUND BEME EVINT TO HARRIS OM THE REACTNS OF HIS REARS. "WHAT I HEARD OM SO MANY PEOPLE WAS, 'I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT; I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT GAY PEOPLE LOVED, AND LOVED EQUALLY, AND THAT THEY DIDN'T ACT STEREOTYPIL, THAT THEY WERE STILL OUR BROTHERS, OUR SONS, OUR NEPHEWS, OUR FATHERS, OUR IENDS.' THAT'S WHO I WANTED TO MAKE RAYMOND: I WANTED TO MAKE HIM ‘EVERYMAN’, [AND AT THE SAME TIME] I WANTED HIM TO BE TOUCH WH HIS EMOTNS AND FEELGS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9171|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=MIDDLE|WIDTH=390|HEIGHT=295]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DREW BANKS, THOR OF THE NOVEL ABLE WAS I, LISTED THE TLE CHARACTER OM OSR WIL'S NOVEL THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY AS HIS CHOICE FOR GROUNDBREAKG GAY CHARACTER, SAYG, "DORIAN GRAY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST A LONG LIST OF HEDONISTIC FELLOWS WHOSE HOMOSEXUAL TENNCI SECURED A TERRIBLE FATE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CONTUED BANKS, "BALDW'S GVANNI FARED ONLY SLIGHTLY BETTER, TRADG HIS LIGO ROOM FOR THE GUILLOTE (DAVID, GVANNI'S ROOM'S PROTAGONIST, ONLY P BEE HIS HOMOSEXUAL URG WERE EXPERIMENTAL NATURE)."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, FOR BANKS, A MORE PERSONAL CHOICE WAS THE GAY ROLE MOL AND SPORTS FIGURE HERO OM PATRICIA NELL WARREN’S 1974 GAY SPORTS CLASSIC. SAID BANKS, "FOR ME, AS A GAY MAN G OUT THE ‘70S/'80S, THE FRONT RUNNER'S COACH HARLAN BROWN BROKE MY GROUND AS A GUILELS HOMO WHO LONGED FOR ROMANTIC LOVE THAT FULLY TEGRATED HOT SEX."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADD BANKS WRYLY, "OF URSE WAS WRTEN BY A WOMAN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STEVEN SAYLOR, THOR OF THE POPULAR "GORDIAN THE FR" MYSTERY SERI, WHICH IS SET ANCIENT ROME, AND WHOSE EARLY EROTIC WRGS (UNR THE NAME AARON TRAVIS) ARE CURRENTLY ENJOYG SOMETHG OF A RURGENCE WH LAST YEAR'S REPUBLITN OF THE NOVEL SLAV OF THE EMPIRE — SOMETHG OF A GROUNDBREAKG WORK S OWN RIGHT — NOMATED, "BAGOAS, THE NARRATOR OF MARY RENLT'S THE PERSIAN BOY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9174|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=MIDDLE|WIDTH=365|HEIGHT=239]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EXPLAED SAYLOR, "THAT BOOK WAS A HUGE TERNATNAL BTSELLER WHEN I WAS YOUNG, AND GAVE A TLY GAY ALEXANR THE GREAT, AS SEEN THROUGH THE EY OF HIS NUCH NSORT. RENLT SCED REARS AROUND THE WORLD TO INTIFYG WH A GAY PERSIAN NUCH BOTTOM . . . NOW THAT WAS A BREAKTHROUGH!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU MAY QUOTE ME," HE SAID, WH JOKG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}POET AND THOR OF GAY EROTIC FICTN JEFF MANN HAS WRTEN THE MOST TENR AND GENTLY PASSNATE OS TO NATURE AND TO MAN, AND HE'S ALSO WRTEN SOME OF THE BRAVT AND MOST BRACG BONDAGE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MANN INTIFIED MR. BENSON, JOHN PRTON'S NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME AS "A GROUNDBREAKG LEATHERMAN AND S/M TOP."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAILG OM THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAS, MANN ALSO INTIFIED A GROUNDBREAKG CREATN "HASSEL DAY, THE UNQUIET EARTH, DENISE GIARDA'S WONRFUL NOVEL ABOUT THE WT VIRGIA ALFIELDS… AN APPALACHIAN GAY CHARACTER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}POPULAR GAY WRER MICHAEL THOMAS FORD, THE THOR OF CRILLY ACCLAIMED NOVELS RANGG OM THE IC ROMP LAST SUMMER, TO THE PANORAMIC DRAMA FULL CIRCLE, TO THE JT-RELEASED GAY FAY NOVEL CHANGG TIS, ADMTED, "I WAS NEVER MUCH OF A GAY L REAR, WHICH IS PERHAPS A LTLE STRANGE NSIRG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, FORD DID NAME A FEW CHARACTERS THAT SEEMED TO F THE BILL. "THE ONLY ON I N REALLY THK OF ARE THE LTLE BOY TMAN CAPOTE'S SHORT STORY "DAZZLE," WHO WANTS TO BE A GIRL AND WHO MAK A AL WH A WOMAN HE THKS N WORK MAGIC FOR HIM, AND PERHAPS DILL OM TO KILL A MOCKGBIRD, WHO IRONILLY WAS BASED ON CAPOTE HIMSELF. HE WASN'T GAY THE BOOK, OF URSE, BUT AS A GAY REAR YOU N SENSE SOMETHG QUEER HIM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CONTUED FORD, "THE SAME GO FOR THE GIRL FRANKIE CARSON MCCULLERS'S THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GAY WRER ELT SCHREFER, WHOSE FIRST BOOK DREW PARISONS TO THE NANNY DIARI AND WHOSE SEND NOVEL, THE JT-RELEASED THE NEW KID, PARALLELS EPISOS OF ADOLCENT SAME-SEX EXPERIMENTATN WH AN OLR MAN'S PURSU OF TEENAGED BOYS, TOLD ME, "PL DAVID LEVHAN'S BOY MEETS BOY IS THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF A GAY PROTAGONIST A YOUNG ADULT BOOK FOR WHOM HOMOSEXUALY ISN'T 'THE PROBLEM.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[IMG_ASSIST|NID=9172|TLE=|SC=|LK=NONE|ALIGN=MIDDLE|WIDTH=400|HEIGHT=299]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SCHREFER SCRIBED THE BOOK, SAYG, "GAY TEENS WHO TURN TO THE BOOK FOR GUIDANCE AND SOLACE FD A FANTASIA ABOUT A HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THE QUARTERBACK IS ALSO THE HOMEG QUEEN, AND WHERE THE DRAMAS OF G OUT ARE SENDARY TO THE MORE MUNDANE DRAMAS OF LIVG AN ORDARY TEENAGE LIFE. AS A MOL FOR HOW EXISTENCE N BE A SCHOOL WH A BROAD SENSE OF ACCEPTANCE, 'S VALUABLE FOR SHOWG TEENAGE REARS WHAT TO STRIVE FOR."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADD SCHREFER, "I'VE FOUND WELL-LOVED PI ON PLENTY OF SHELV OF TWENTY-SOMETHGS NEW YORK, WHO STILL CLG TO THIS SWEET, SLIM BOOK ABOUT HOW LIFE ULD BE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CUBAN-AMERIN WRER JOHNNY DIAZ, WHO JT THIS YEAR SAW THE PUBLITN OF HIS BUT NOVEL BOSTON BOYS CLUB, CED THE CREATN OF ANOTHER MASSACHETTS-BASED WRER AS HIS IA OF A GROUNDBREAKG FIGURE OM GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THE ONE CHARACTER THAT TO MD GAY FICTN IS JEFF [OM] THE WILLIAM J. MANN TRILOGY THE MEN OM THE BOYS, WHERE THE BOYS ARE, AND MEN WHO LOVE MEN," DIAZ SAID. "THE CHARACTER EXPLORED SEX , AND OUTSI OF THE NF OF, A RELATNSHIP, AND WHAT MEANS TO SET BOUNDARI FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER. HE WAS BRAZEN AND BOLD ABOUT BEG PASSNATE WH HIS PARTNER — AND OTHERS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADD DIAZ, "I N'T THK OF ANY LATO GAY CHARACTERS THAT RONATE WH ME,” AND NFSED, "THAT'S WHY I WROTE BOSTON BOYS CLUB." DIAZ IS NOT SIMPLY BOASTG: S PICTN OF A GAY CUBAN AMERIN PROFSNAL LOOKG FOR LOVE A BIG CY DOMATED BY OTHER ETHNICI, BOSTON BOYS CLUB HAS CERTALY PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHERS TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR MANN, THE NOVEL'S CHARACTER BROUGHT A CERTA MEASURE OF MORAL THENTICY, BEG "AN EXAMPLE OF THE WORKG CLASS TEACHG THE PRIVILEGED CLASS ABOUT HONTY AND THENTICY — A B OF A STEREOTYPE NOW, BUT BACK THEN QUE EXTRAORDARY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOTED MANN, "OF URSE, SCE THE BOOK WAS ONLY PUBLISHED MANY YEARS LATER, SCUDR'S IMPACT ON GAY LERATURE WASN'T FELT UNTIL MORE RECENT S."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THE SPAN OF THOSE FEW S, A LERARY SEA CHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE. PERHAPS THE ONLY PREHENSIVE ANSWER TO THE QUTN OF WHICH GAY LERARY CREATNS HAVE BROKEN NEW GROUND IS TO POT TO THE FOMENTATN HAPPENG RIGHT NOW, KNOWG THAT ANY, OR ALL, OF THE STORI CURRENTLY BEG WRTEN AND PUBLISHED WILL NTUE TO EXPAND THE LERARY SPHERE OF THE GAY NOVEL — AND BUILD BRIDG BETWEEN THE GAY MUNY AND THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
E. Lynn Harris and other renowned gay thors discs their favore queer characters and books. * gay literary characters *
SJ Sdu, thor of Marriage of a Thoand Li, lled , "One of the first Anglophone works to challenge the trope of the sad/suicidal gays who die at the end, this book gave a blueprt of what queer fictn uld look like. Forster (A Passage to India, A Room Wh a View, Howards End) wrote the benchmark gay novel Mrice cir 1913, was published posthumoly a lh tale of manners, posn, and sire, the tular character meets and falls for his classmate Clive while at Oxford.
ON WRG GAY CHARACTERS THRILLERS
I didn’t set out to wre thrillers wh gay characters. I see the world through a gay man’s eye, and there are tobgraphil elements all my work. * gay literary characters *
The pair embark on a two-year affair until Clive leav Mrice to marry a woman and live out his proscribed life as part of the land gentry, leavg Mrice shambl and seekg to cure his Forster's novel do not end gay tragedy. Alan Hollghurst famoly qutned the future of the gay novel this year, which is strikg sce he's often viewed as helpg make queer books accsible to a mastream dience. Hollghurst set his pen on the sexual hypocrisi of homophobic policians, many of whom had their own discretns behd closed doors.
GAY LERATURE IS OUT OF THE CLOSET. SO WHY IS DECEPTN A BIG THEME?
Celebrate wh the bt LGBTQ books and books wh gay characters or om LGBTQ thors. Empower yourself by addg the spirg books to your readg list. * gay literary characters *
The queer g-of-age novel about Jim Willard and his search for love was the first novel om a rpected wrer (Gore Vidal) to speak directly and sympathetilly about the gay experience an era when homosexualy was still very much taboo. The book is remembered today for this legacy as well as for var them -- Hollywood's glass closet, beg gay the ary, the poisono effects of homophobia on society -- that still reverberate today.
The only novel by the great Osr Wil may not be overtly gay, but there's plenty of gay subtext there for the reful rear - about as much gay subtext as a popular thor uld get away wh 's iends Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton exprs tense admiratn for his bety, and passag that show Basil's feelgs for Dorian as more clearly homoerotic were excised by an edor, acrdg to Nicholas Frankel, who eded an edn prentg Wil's origal text the text as origally published has referenc to Dorian's rptn of not only young women but young men: "There was that wretched boy the Guards who mted suici.