tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post4309596245713971727..comments2024-03-28T08:02:30.691-04:00Comments on The League of Extraordinary Writers: Gay Teens in YA Science Fiction and FantasyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-55628987370109100122012-05-06T08:27:40.317-04:002012-05-06T08:27:40.317-04:00I loved Buffy. Every single thing about it. And I ...I loved Buffy. Every single thing about it. And I loved it even more because of its great depiction of gay characters.<br /><br />When I wrote my first novel, The Destiny of Ethan King, I decided early on that Ethan was going to be gay and that his sexuality would be incidental to the story line. I wanted to show that we can move beyond feeling that we should feature gay characters in order to make a clumsily righteous point that being gay is okay. Of course it is, so much so that a gay character and/or relationship can just exist without countless references to it being different.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06201261886021894683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-68266486283248460732011-05-16T07:58:22.277-04:002011-05-16T07:58:22.277-04:00My YA vampire series, The Wolf House, has a number...My YA vampire series, The Wolf House, has a number of gay and queer teen characters.Mary Borsellinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14722497161552485559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-5123957758374066072011-03-08T23:40:28.344-05:002011-03-08T23:40:28.344-05:00I think everyone has mentioned all of the novels t...I think everyone has mentioned all of the novels that I have read with LGBT characters!<br /><br />I just have one comment! I think I read a few times about Cassie Clare having two gay characters, Magnus & Alec, but Aline (from City of Glass) is also gay! :)<br /><br />Other than the three of them, I loveloveLOVE Jamie from Sarah Rees Brennan's Demon's Lexicon trilogy .. and I love Jenna from Rachel Hawkin's Hex Hall trilogy as well!Shauna Gallohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420942089821435215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-11244787483455674092011-02-27T12:04:05.102-05:002011-02-27T12:04:05.102-05:00My novel Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure inc...My novel Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure includes gay teens, though they use the term "same-gendered." Also, all the characters are people of color. I enjoyed your post and the responses. I'm linking to it in my blog, because I think my readers will also like it.Duanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16149436027119552764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-85744404283001452852011-02-04T06:32:11.802-05:002011-02-04T06:32:11.802-05:00Great to see that there are quite a few good gay r...Great to see that there are quite a few good gay related books out there. One problem I see is finding them. If you type on amazon "gay" you will only get serious new gay books (which is good, but I hop you see the point).<br /><br />I'm pretty sure Xena was gay, too. But here and with Dumbledore, there is another problem of hiding the gay themes. I hope the last few years have proven that the society can deal with open gayness now.<br /><br />To TC McKee, I think this might be slightly exaggerated. I don't think being gay is glamourized. And in the end, it's not really a choice either. Being straight might be normal, but it doesn't mean people will stop being it or wanting to be it. The extravagance with being gay is similar to being a witch or a vampire, but these are normal teen problems relating to self-definition and belonging. There are just other components teens think of nowadays.<br /><br />Thanks for the post, NahnoAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16548562702122142828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-49977099751339179452011-01-30T14:18:56.795-05:002011-01-30T14:18:56.795-05:00My bad, Malinda. *egg on face* I'm sorry about...My bad, Malinda. *egg on face* I'm sorry about that. I'll fix it in the post. And thanks for the rec's!Angie Smiberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12192071262364730432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-11731406322043629352011-01-29T13:47:46.594-05:002011-01-29T13:47:46.594-05:00Thanks so much for mentioning my first novel, ASH!...Thanks so much for mentioning my first novel, ASH! I hope you don't mind my noting that my last name is Lo, not Yao. :) My next book, HUNTRESS (April 2011), a YA fantasy, will also include lesbian main characters.<br /><br />Here's another rec: Just this month, Brent Hartinger's newest novel, SHADOW WALKERS, is being released by Flux, and it is a paranormal featuring gay boy characters. I'm really looking forward to reading it, as well as Scott Tracy's WITCH EYES. I think it's wonderful that there are more YA SFF titles that include LGBT characters!<br /><br />Malinda LoMalinda Lohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06125758561241843192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-30211287481771146482011-01-28T09:08:59.764-05:002011-01-28T09:08:59.764-05:00Thanks for all the great suggestions. I seriously ...Thanks for all the great suggestions. I seriously didn't think there were that many glbt sf / fantasy options for young adults.Angie Smiberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12192071262364730432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-58623509555986593672011-01-27T20:48:34.880-05:002011-01-27T20:48:34.880-05:00I haven't read any of her books yet but I'...I haven't read any of her books yet but I'm about to start one soon...anyway, author Hayden Thorne has some fantasy and even historical gay fiction.<br /><br />It's definitely more prevalent in contemporary fiction though.<br /><br />I'm actually working on a manuscript right now that I'd love to be the one that gets me published. It deals with two boys and their relationship...it has some struggles and upsets, but their sexuality isn't really part of that. They just like who they like for the most part.<br /><br />Oh, and I run a blog called Let's Get Beyond Tolerance that is LGBT entertainment for the YA set.<br /><br />www.letsgetbeyondtolerance.blogspot.com<br /><br />Nice post.<br /><br />LaurenShooting Stars Maghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16074581473656321052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-73023732732649590052011-01-27T17:28:30.440-05:002011-01-27T17:28:30.440-05:00Hmm...In Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic quart...Hmm...In Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic quartet Lark and Rosethorn are two women who are together and quite happy. Deja from that series was gay too but no one knew until The Will of the Empress. Oh, Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood from Cassie Clare's mortal instruments are gay too. Unless manga counts, can't really think of any others offhand though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-69703810154507492462011-01-27T15:05:28.814-05:002011-01-27T15:05:28.814-05:00I was also going to mention Holly Black's Vali...I was also going to mention Holly Black's Valiant and the Mortal Instrument series. <br /><br />Another character I haven't seen mentioned that I really enjoyed is Jenna from Hex Hall.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681972776455438121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-86315227410570427762011-01-27T12:27:58.422-05:002011-01-27T12:27:58.422-05:00Great post! I have Ash right now and need to find ...Great post! I have Ash right now and need to find time to read it, but I love the idea. <br /><br />I have a YA paranormal with 4 main characters, one of whom is a lesbian, so writing her was definitely challenging, but I heard her voice so clearly, and there was never a question in my mind that she was gay. <br /><br />It's good to see so many gay characters on television, but I agree, YA spec fic needs more Ricky! ;)Tere Kirklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-78805859736025545772011-01-27T12:24:49.621-05:002011-01-27T12:24:49.621-05:00Thank you for mentioning VINTAGE. I am flattered.
...Thank you for mentioning VINTAGE. I am flattered.<br /><br />It is true that there are very few spec fic books aimed at teens with GLBT <i>protagonists</i>. Too often<br />young adults have to hope for secondary characters (as many mentioned above) or reach for fantasy novels that were originally published for adults (such as the Nightrunner series or the wonderful SWORDSPOINT by Ellen Kushner).<br /><br />Tracey's WITCH EYES was just mentioned. I want to also recommend Kristopher Reisz's TRIPPING TO SOMEWHERE, which is a dark fantasy featuring the intense relationship between two girls. Brilliant work. <br /><br />I'll have a collection of GLBT-themed fantasy stories (some old and pubished in Datlow/Windling anthologies and some new) coming out later this year. And I hope to sell another gay YA book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-19548681242947872562011-01-27T12:15:37.572-05:002011-01-27T12:15:37.572-05:00Nice post and discussion! I'm looking forward ...Nice post and discussion! I'm looking forward to Scott Tracey's WITCH EYES, out with Flux this September. It's speculative (not sci fi) and is a gay Romeo and Juliet. :)Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-40487819399244884722011-01-27T11:17:57.774-05:002011-01-27T11:17:57.774-05:00Thanks Rick and Lindsay. Like I said, I hoped I ju...Thanks Rick and Lindsay. Like I said, I hoped I just missed a bunch of them. And it looks like I did! Yay!Angie Smiberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12192071262364730432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-47122254395975148482011-01-27T11:14:30.277-05:002011-01-27T11:14:30.277-05:00The Harry Potter Series: Dumbledore was gay, altho...The Harry Potter Series: Dumbledore was gay, although it isn't obvious in the books. <br /><br />The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare: Two gay characters.<br /><br />A Modern Faerie Tale Series by Holly Black: Has at least two gay characters that I know of at this point. <br /><br />Something I'd like to point out is that in all of these books the homosexual character is always a man. I don't think I've ever read a book that had a lesbian character, even as a side character.Lindsay, TheBookVloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03377372465164357865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-75842383499898294512011-01-27T11:14:25.777-05:002011-01-27T11:14:25.777-05:00I'll be the first one to say there's not a...I'll be the first one to say there's not a ton of LGBT characters in YA genre fiction, and that I'd love to see more - but you're missing a _ton_ from this list.<br /><br />Off the top of my head, Cornelius from Holly Black's Modern Faerie Tale series (Tithe and Ironside), Jamie from Sarah Rees Brennan's The Demon's Lexicon & The Demon's Covenant - two characters in Cassie Clare's book whose names I can't remember right now. <br /><br />There has been an explosion in the last three-to-four years. And like I said, it's still nowhere near enough, and we still have a long ways to go but - the genre has been performing, and opening up, and diversifying.<br /><br />So let's not sell it short.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08586071866045082842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-14109456531597405382011-01-27T10:11:19.577-05:002011-01-27T10:11:19.577-05:00The only ones I could think of have already been m...The only ones I could think of have already been mentioned. But I think we concentrate so much on the pros that we seem to overlook the cons of having gay characters all over TV, books, movies, or whatever. It's great for all of these things to exist so that our gay teens don't feel so ostracized, however unfortunate, that it is causing such confusion among our heterosexual teens. And it is. As a mother of two teenagers, and surrogate mother to so many of their friends. I cannot tell you the times I've held one of them while they cried just because they were no longer cool at school because they weren't gay or at least Bi. There is a line somewhere between acceptance and glamorization. There has to be. I want everyone to be who they are and be accepted for it, but now it looks as though the tables have turned and it's the straight teens who are feeling the blows also. I wonder what we can do about that. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. There has to be middle ground somewhere.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08798243128846248604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-30863289314057413582011-01-27T10:05:23.263-05:002011-01-27T10:05:23.263-05:00All - Thanks for the book titles. Haven't read...All - Thanks for the book titles. Haven't read Nightshade yet, but will put it on my tbr list. <br /><br />Zoe- Ditto. I'll put your books on my to read list, too. I meant to link to your post on diversity but flaked on it. So here it is: http://thezoe-trope.blogspot.com/2011/01/wake-up-and-smell-real-world-diversity.html<br /><br />oyinkro - You raise some good points. Yes, we don't have any control what agents, publishers, and the reading public do, but we can take responsibility for what we as writers do. If you don't write it, they can't buy it. <br /><br />Incidently, one of my main characters is gay, and the book just got selected for the Junior Library Guild selection--not in the YA category but in the advanced younger readers one. Also, a couple schools are using Memento Nora in the classroom this spring. One of them is a middle school.Angie Smiberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12192071262364730432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-11498417802793806412011-01-27T09:48:53.566-05:002011-01-27T09:48:53.566-05:00I just finished reading Nightshade by Andrea Creme...I just finished reading Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. It features at least 3 gay characters (that I can remember).Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03533445705486207095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-83666753136855771162011-01-27T09:19:55.336-05:002011-01-27T09:19:55.336-05:00Thank goodness. It's still not enough, but it&...Thank goodness. It's still not enough, but it's much better nowadays than when I was a kid.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-16412389278256338052011-01-27T09:10:11.899-05:002011-01-27T09:10:11.899-05:00I find it funny the way people keep saying we as w...I find it funny the way people keep saying we as writers need to do something. Sure, we do. But our hands are tied! Publishers, agents, book buyers are who need to do something. I know people who write fantastic Sci-fi with Gay leads but they cant get an agent. Why? Said Agent says there is no market for the book and publishers wont buy. And really I dont think the publishers are lying. People out there can be very close minded. Its the same story with seeing more black leads or people of color as leads in general in Sci-fi. <br />I think its going to be a very long time before we see a gay MC in middle grade fiction. As great as the American public is some of them are just not that comfortable with their kids being exposed to a different preference in sexuality at such a young age. It's their belief and they have a right to it whether I support it or not. Its also good to note that most writers want to make a living out of their craft. The people who rush out and buy the drivel YA flooding the market arent exactly going to jump up and down for books with gay or transgender MC. <br />Again, as with all things in life, there are exceptions. My main frustration is the book buying public. The power to change things fall in their hands. We writers only play a small part.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15118368919716300007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-9699738118970953922011-01-27T08:39:02.632-05:002011-01-27T08:39:02.632-05:00You probably heard of this one, but coming out soo...You probably heard of this one, but coming out soon (I think) is They Call Me J about a trans. (YA)<br /><br />I don't think I've ever seen a character that was outright gay in a middle grade novel. Sure, you'll see male best friends with no interest in girls, for example, but there isn't anything that a 7-10 year old would realize is off.<br />I guess it's because parents don't want their little kids exposed to so-called "unnatural things" like that. And that in and of itself is a problem.<br /><br />So that means that not the whole problem is what we write: it's what MG parents allow their kids to read. So:<br />Is it normal to want to protect your little child from these strange things, so they won't learn from them?<br />or<br />Is it wrong not to bring your child up fully tolerant?<br /><br />On another note, I'm a full-out Gleek and Rachel Berry's dads are gay, too.Riv Rehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09385226727864037794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-49373366659934547652011-01-27T08:19:31.783-05:002011-01-27T08:19:31.783-05:00Okay, well (deep breath) my upcoming Cinderella re...Okay, well (deep breath) my upcoming Cinderella retelling, which is set in faerytale historical Japan, has a transgender (MTF) character. That's coming out in the UK in July this year. July 2012 my fantasy FrostFire, which features a pair of girl warriors in love as the main characters and a pair of male lovers as secondaries, is due out in the UK. And the book I'm working on now, the main character's best friend is a gay female who falls in love during the course of the story. Oh, and these are all multicultural fantasies. So...I'm giving it my all over here. But some help would be much appreciated.Zoë Marriotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468546013884694910.post-90219531674085203202011-01-27T08:17:11.110-05:002011-01-27T08:17:11.110-05:00Don't get me wrong, LOVED the Willow/Tara stor...Don't get me wrong, LOVED the Willow/Tara storyline, but then it became sort of a "phase" for Willow and she kind of became a yestergay (IMO) and by the end of the show's run was with Spike.<br /><br />I never really thought about GLBT in science fiction or dystopian, but it probably is about time time to put some in there...gay aliens here I come!Maganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14045036129073244749noreply@blogger.com