In 1983, across a table at a New York City sidewalk café, my friend Jody Thomas told me in hushed tones about the "gay plague." I'd never heard of it before.
I'd be curious to know why this particular topic resonates so strongly with YOU. I had a female friend who writes M/M fiction come out as "queer" because she writes that fiction, which I thought was a bit odd, but hey, it's all a rich tapestry. Anyway, just an idea for a future column. (You DO write very realistically, which I agree is unusual. And i'm curious to know why. LOL)
Brent, this is a great question, and I wish I had a succinct answer. I can say that after I moved to Manhattan years ago, loving the arts as I do put me in touch with several gay men. Some of them became close friends. At the time I didn’t realize just how much sh-t they’d had to face. That realization came later, and when it did it I felt the start of a slow-burning rage.
I had three brothers, and I was quite the tomboy for several of my formative years. My best friend and I would play in the woods; she was always Daniel Boone, and I was always Davy Crocket. I’ve heard that almost no one lands all the way at one end or the other of the gay/straight scale, and there’s probably something similar when it comes to gender identity. Individual humans are so very complex. So although I identify strongly as female and as straight, who knows where I fall on any scale?
A lesbian friend once asked me if I’d ever write a story with a lesbian protagonist. I told her then, and I would say this now: I’m not that great a writer. I know what it feels like to want a man.
I'd be curious to know why this particular topic resonates so strongly with YOU. I had a female friend who writes M/M fiction come out as "queer" because she writes that fiction, which I thought was a bit odd, but hey, it's all a rich tapestry. Anyway, just an idea for a future column. (You DO write very realistically, which I agree is unusual. And i'm curious to know why. LOL)
Brent, this is a great question, and I wish I had a succinct answer. I can say that after I moved to Manhattan years ago, loving the arts as I do put me in touch with several gay men. Some of them became close friends. At the time I didn’t realize just how much sh-t they’d had to face. That realization came later, and when it did it I felt the start of a slow-burning rage.
I had three brothers, and I was quite the tomboy for several of my formative years. My best friend and I would play in the woods; she was always Daniel Boone, and I was always Davy Crocket. I’ve heard that almost no one lands all the way at one end or the other of the gay/straight scale, and there’s probably something similar when it comes to gender identity. Individual humans are so very complex. So although I identify strongly as female and as straight, who knows where I fall on any scale?
A lesbian friend once asked me if I’d ever write a story with a lesbian protagonist. I told her then, and I would say this now: I’m not that great a writer. I know what it feels like to want a man.
Thanks for the question. And thanks for reading!
Interesting! you should consider turning this into a full essay.
I like the way you think.
I remember the 80s well. I remember the rage, the helplessness, but also the hope. The gay community is nothing if not resilient.