The Portrayal of Gays & Lesbians in Young Adult Literature

1. The Portrayal of Gays & Lesbians in Young Adult Literature Annie on My Mind by Nancy Gardner Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez Self Assessment “I’ve thought sometimes, even before I knew you, I mean, that I might be gay.” -- Annie (94) “I was probably always gay-you know I never liked boys that way…” – Liza (222) Family “You’re my daughter. I love you. That’s the main thing, Liza, always.” – Liza’s father (190) Friends/Peers “How could you-with a girl? I just can’t believe…I mean, think if someone else had found out, someone outside. People should control themselves if they-if they feel that way-its so disgusting.” – Sally (193-194) “I want you to know I’m behind you all the way.” – Walt (217) Authority Figures “I do not understand the pull of “abnormal” sex.” – Mrs. Poindexter (183) “If you two remember nothing else from all of this, remember that. Please. Don’t-don’t punish yourselves for people’s ignorant reactions to what we all are.” – M.s Widmer (232) Self Assessment “I think maybe I’m gay.” – Kyle (74) “Let’s get this out. You know I’m queer, I know you’re queer. Get over it.” – Nelson (13) “I don’t know. I just have these feelings. I wish I didn’t, but I do.” – Jason (155) Family “Why can’t you just be normal?” – Nelson’s dad (221) “There have been days when I wished my son hadn’t been born gay.” – Nelson’s mom I don’ wan’ any faggots in my house,” – Jason’s dad (198) Friends/Peers “What are you? A fag lover?” – Jack (190) “I hate you. You deserve it, you…faggot.” – Debra (123) Authority Figures “Can’t you just act normal?” – Principal Mueller (37) Thesis: Annie on My Mind, 1982, by Nancy Garden, and Rainbow Boys, 2001, by Alex Sanchez, are prominent novels in gay and lesbian young adult literature, in which the characters try to define their sexual orientation. Although the later novel portrays more overall acceptance of homosexuality, the characters in both novels experience similar struggles with friends, family, and their inner selves, showing that many situations faced by homosexuals have changed little over 20-year period. The Heart Has Its Reasons by Michael Cart & Christine A. Jenkins “Even though there is clearly more visible support for GLBTQ teens in the twenty-first century than previously, discovering one’s sexual identity, agonizing over whether or not to come out and suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous homophobia remain as central to current YA fiction as they have been from the earliest days of the genre” (134).