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GLBT media poll
Just curious. I used the word "book" in these questions, but if a TV show, movie or other kind of media comes to mind, please include that too. (I also used the word "gay," but just as shorthand for the range of preferences.)
1. What was the first book you read that had a gay character in it or talked about being gay? How old were you? Did you read it openly, or hide it in some way? Did you seek it out, or just come across it? Did you know that you were gay at the time?
2. What book has most contributed to your personal understanding and awareness of your own identity?
3. What book would you recommend to an adult just coming out of the closet or just starting to explore their own sexuality?
4. If you have contact with kids or will have kids and they ask for information about sexuality (either being gay, or sexuality in general), what book(s) would you want to provide to them? (Feel free to name different books for different age levels, if more than one comes to mind.)
5. What is your favorite piece of fiction centered around a gay character?
6. What is your favorite piece of biographical non-fiction about a gay person?
7. Anything else you'd like to share or recommend?
Re: GLBT media poll
1. What was the first book you read that had a gay character in it or talked about being gay? How old were you? Did you read it openly, or hide it in some way? Did you seek it out, or just come across it? Did you know that you were gay at the time? I read Anais Nin's Delta of Venus and Little Birds around age 12, 13. Stole it from my mom. Does Nancy Drew count? Cuz I loved George and Bess.
2. What book has most contributed to your personal understanding and awareness of your own identity? Probably Odd Girls and Twilight lovers. I loved it in college. The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez was also a fave from that time period.
3. What book would you recommend to an adult just coming out of the closet or just starting to explore their own sexuality? I love the novel Patience and Sarah b/c it has a happy ending but I usually just recommend reading the LGBT version of whatever type of books the person usually likes (nonfiction, romances, mystery, travelogue etc). I love Surpassing the Love of Men for dorky academics. A humorous book like Lesbianism Made Easy or the Bisexual Guide to the Universe would be good as a gentle reminder that this isn't as scary as it may feel right now.
4. If you have contact with kids or will have kids and they ask for information about sexuality (either being gay, or sexuality in general), what book(s) would you want to provide to them? (Feel free to name different books for different age levels, if more than one comes to mind.) Not sure. Our Bodies Ourselves is good for teens.
5. What is your favorite piece of fiction centered around a gay character? Maybe Virginia Woolf Orlando? It's hard to choose one. I just read Ammonite and loved it.
6. What is your favorite piece of biographical non-fiction about a gay person? Zami.
1. What was the first book you read that had a gay character in it or talked about being gay? How old were you? Did you read it openly, or hide it in some way? Did you seek it out, or just come across it? Did you know that you were gay at the time? i dont' know if it was the first, but I recall watching "Doing time on Maple Drive" my senior year of high school (1992.) I didn't know I was gay and I can't recall if I came across it or saw an ad for it on tv. I do remember thinking William McNamara was hot though. Then when I really started coming out, I checked out EVERY book in the Tampa library that had to do with being gay or gay characters. I hid them.
2. What book has most contributed to your personal understanding and awareness of your own identity? I remember when "If These Walls Could Talk 2" came out and seeing the Ellen/Sharon Stone part where they were trying to have a baby made me realize that I could have kids and a family. That is was possible.
3. What book would you recommend to an adult just coming out of the closet or just starting to explore their own sexuality? I have no idea. I am sure there are great books that have come out in the 15 years since I came out.
4. If you have contact with kids or will have kids and they ask for information about sexuality (either being gay, or sexuality in general), what book(s) would you want to provide to them? (Feel free to name different books for different age levels, if more than one comes to mind.) I am sure it'll involve an Amazon search. LOL.
5. What is your favorite piece of fiction centered around a gay character? I loved Queer as Folk.
6. What is your favorite piece of biographical non-fiction about a gay person? Can't recall...
7. Anything else you'd like to share or recommend? I wish they made better movies with glbt characters. Most gay themed movies are very poorly made.