This Book is Gay Read Free Page A

time, the word ‘gay’ was also twisted to mean something that was weak, crap or rubbish. I don’t care what anyone says, this usage stems from homophobia, so don’t do it. YES, I KNOW IT’S IN THE TITLE, BUT THAT’S BECAUSE I’M MAKING A POINT – EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK IS ABOUT ACTUALLY BEING GAY (or lesbian or bi or trans or *, but that wouldn’t have been nearly as attention grabbing, would it?).
B IS FOR BISEXUAL
    This is nothing new. The people of ancient Greece and Rome were generally pansexual (people who are sexually attracted to people regardless of their gender or sexuality), and no one batted an eyelid. Sadly for us, we like things to be binary: black/ white, good/bad, male/female. And this isn’t great for anyone.
    Broadly speaking, a bisexual is someone who likes to have sex with both men and women. There are a plethora of misunderstandings about bisexuality, the most prevalent being the ‘bi now, gay later’ theory that all gay men and lesbians have a brief period in Bi-Town before catching the last train to Gayville. While this is the case for some actual gay men and women, there are plenty of people who have no intention of travelling all the way to the end of the line. AND THAT’S FINE.
    The idea that bisexual people ‘are kidding themselves’ or that they are ‘being selfish’ and/or ‘greedy’ is hurtful. Why is it so hard to accept that someone might be attracted to both sexes? If someone is willing to identify as bi, then surely they’d be just as happy to wear a ‘gay’ label. What would be the point in lying? Why do we so badly need people to be gay or straight? Bisexual people might be misunderstood, but they have the right to be PROUD of their identity and sexual preference.
    â€˜I identify as lesbian, because I don’t like to admit I’m bisexual.’
    Blaz, 34, Bristol.
    â€˜I identify as bisexual, though I rather like to describe it as “People are beautiful, people are hot, people are attractive, and if I fall in love, I fall in love.”’
    Mickey, 18, Michigan, USA.
    â€˜I tell people I’m bi because it’s easier to understand, but I think I’m pan – I’m concerned with personality not genitals.’
    Anon, 24, Brighton.
    â€˜[I say I’m] bisexual when asked. Varies depending on the day, who I’ve been around, what I’ve been reading and so on. A description I found on Tumblr that fits perfectly goes along the lines of “If you think of sexuality in terms of music, where the low notes represent being attracted to boys and high notes represent being attracted to girls, I am a Slayer guitar solo.”’
    Nina, 16, UK.
Q IS FOR QUEER
    â€˜Queer’ originally meant someone or something a little unusual or out of the ordinary. In the late twentieth century, it became a derogatory term or abuse word aimed at homosexuals.
    However, more recently, following the AIDS pandemic, the word was reclaimed (at first by the group Queer Nation) as a catch-all phrase to represent the full spectrum of sexuality and gender but later as more of a criticism of identity than an identity itself. Basically a label for people – gay or straight – who were sick of labels!
    Nonetheless, it is now used as an identity. In the broadest possible terms, as there are a number of groups under the ‘queer’ umbrella, being queer means not having to define your sexual identity or gender with just one label.
    In a world in which your sexuality and gender are open to change, it does sometimes seem silly to use labels. Even classing yourself as bisexual adds to the idea that there are only three choices, which clearly isn’t the case – nor should it be an automatic term for someone who is neither gay nor straight.
    Queer theory is a fascinating and expanding subject, and there are many, many books and theses written on it.
    â€˜Defining yourself