This Book Is Gay
The US first edition cover
AuthorJuno Dawson
PublisherHot Key Books
Publication date
September 4, 2014
ISBN978-1-471-40395-8

This Book Is Gay is a nonfiction book written by Juno Dawson and illustrated by Spike Gerrell, first published in the United Kingdom in 2014 with subsequent publication in the US in June 2015.[1] The book is a "manual to all areas of life as an LGBT person"[2] and "is meant to serve as a guidebook for young people discovering their sexual identity and how to navigate those uncomfortable waters."[3]

This Book Is Gay has frequently been banned and challenged in the United States, according to the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom.[4]

Background

Prior to writing This Book Is Gay, Dawson had worked as a "sexual education and wellness teacher" for seven years.[5] In 2012, when her publisher requested she write This Book Is Gay, she was uncertain about undertaking "such a massive project."[5] However, she wanted to write a book she would have found beneficial to herself as a queer adolescent, as well as a book that could help protect young people in the age of the internet, where misinformation is rampant.[5]

Beyond discussing topics directly related to sexual intercourse, This Book Is Gay covers "the well-being and the relationship and the nurturing side" of sexual relationships, which Dawson states "was really important to [her], so that young queer people can picture a future for themselves as well-adjusted queer adults."[5]

Book summary

Each of the book's thirteen chapters concerns a different aspect of queer life. The book incorporates discussion of sex education, queer stereotypes, queer history, and many other topics. The introduction is by David Levithan.[6] The chapters are as follows:

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Members Club

This chapter opens with the statement of "There's a long-running joke that, on 'coming out' a young lesbian, gay guy, bisexual, or trans person should receive a membership card and instruction manual. This is that instruction manual." This serves as a general introduction to why this book may be needed. It encompasses the inclusion of different identities, as well as discusses statistics about how many people queer people live in the United States, comparing that number to other well-known statistics.

Chapter 2: The Name Game

This chapter outlines basic queer identities, and gives definitions for each one. Some of the identities also come with testimonials from people who identify with those labels.

Chapter 3: You Can't Mistake Our Biology

This chapter opens with discussion about the scientific studies performed and general scientific reasoning for the existence of gay people.

Chapter 4: Stereotypes are Poo

This chapter deals with a few of the stereotypes associated with the queer community. It lists a few common stereotypes, and disproves them both through theoretical examples and through testimony from queer people who submitted blurbs to the book. Then it goes on to talk about different labels within the queer community (bear, twink, butch, etc), as well as different aspects of queer culture, and how while there are some aspects that are true and important to queer culture, they are also stereotypes or the result of attempting to offset stereotypes. The chapter ends with encouraging people to just be themselves, regardless of whether or not they are conforming to stereotypes.

Chapter 5: The Fear

This chapter focused on homophobia, and how it makes being queer difficult for many people. It distinguishes between homophobia and transphobia on an individual level from the same kind of discrimination on an institutional level. It has a section focusing on HIV/AIDS, and its impact on the gay community. It gives people tools to push back against queerphobic language or policies, as well as help in identifying them.

Chapter 6: Haterz Gon’ Hate

This chapter focuses on the perspective of different cultures & religions, and their views on being queer. It provides a list of countries that have laws against same-sex sex between two men or two women, as well as countries that have similar or ambiguous laws. The list was up to date as of 2015. It also provides some charities people can donate to in order to help people in those countries and make it all more safe. It then looks at different religions, and takes their religious texts to demonstrate what their opinions of being queer may be, and then provides arguments against them, using those same source texts.

Chapter 7: Coming Out

This chapter focuses on the action of publicly or privately allowing your identity to be known, and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of coming out. It also gives step by step advice to people who want to come out, and includes some details about the difference between coming out relating to your sexuality vs coming out relating to your gender identity.

Chapter 8: Where to Meet People Like You

This chapter talks about concepts like gaydar, safe spaces (specifically the gay scene and what that might look like). It also talks about dating, and different places or ways to meet people, including Grindr and other dating apps.[7]

Chapter 9: The Ins and Outs of Gay Sex

This chapter serves as a comprehensive sex-ed piece, focusing both on safe sex but also the mechanics of sex between same-sex couples. It also has a portion discussing STIs, teaching people how to identify them and how they are spread, including a specific section on HIV.

Chapter 10: Nesting

Discussion of relationship commitments, both monogamous and polyamorous. It also discusses the different ways that same-sex couples can have children, such as through adoption, sperm donation, surrogacy, or other options.

Chapter 11: Hats

This chapter focuses on intersectionality and how being queer is not the only aspect of your identity.

Chapter 12: A Guide to Recognizing Your Gay Saints

This chapter provides an alphabetical list of ‘gay icons’, and then also reminds people of the importance of boycotting and/or blacklisting queerphobic people/companies.

Build A Bridge: Guidance for Parents and Carers of LGBT* Youth

This chapter is designed for the adults and role models in a queer child’s life.

The Cheat Sheet

List of Important queer terms and concepts, as seen throughout the book.

Helpful Numbers and Websites

Resource sheet for queer people[6]

Reception

Reviews

Booklist's Michael Cart offered This Book Is Gay a starred review, calling it "witty and wise and so packed with information it’s hard to imagine a reader who won’t learn something new."[8] Cart highlighted how the book is "often breezy in tone but always informative."[8]

Publishers Weekly called it "irreverent" and "informative", with "a humorous tone that should help set anxious readers at ease."[9] They also commented on the illustrations, saying, "Gerrell’s playful b&w cartoons help maintain an encouraging atmosphere, even when Dawson turns to homophobia/transphobia, anti-gay legislation, and STDs."[9]

In a mixed review, Kirkus Reviews noted that This Book Is Gay is "important for its frank sex talk but far less inclusive than it aims to be."[10] They explained by stating that many chapters "are helpfully matter-of-fact" and readers hear from a variety of perspectives.[10] However, "the book’s efforts to support transgender readers are undermined by persistent, thoughtless affirmations that biology really is destiny—for instance, when the author debunks the myth that 'gay men are ‘girls’ ” with a jokey 'Penis? Check! Yup, gay men are, in fact, male.'"[10]

Accolades

Booklist included This Book Is Gay on their 2015 "Top 10 LGBTQ for Youth" list,[11] and it was a 2015 Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth selection.[12]

Controversy and censorship in the United States

This Book Is Gay has faced controversy since its publication in the United States. In order to provide access to digital books to all teens and young adults in the US, the Brooklyn Public Library and Seattle Public Library unveiled a nationwide lending program called Books Unbanned. The controversy stems from the book's sex education content, such as mentioning the dating app Grindr, as well as oral and anal sex diagrams.[7]

In November of 2015, residents of Wasilla, Alaska petitioned to remove the book from a public library, with a number of residents objecting to profanity and sexually explicit content.[13] The following year, all nonfiction books in the young adult section of the Wasilla library were moved to the adult section due to parents' complaints about the book, and "the library director was branded as a pedophile in the highly controversial public debates ... for defending the sex education book for teens."[14] Dawson responded by saying the event highlighted how "there is still such small-mindedness and hatred left to contend with."[15]

In 2022, it tied for the tenth-most banned and challenged books in the United States that year, according to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom,[4] with challenges coming from numerous school districts. Vanderbilt University named it the ninth-most banned book in the country.[16]

In June, after a librarian in Campbell County, Wyoming shared books with LGBT+ themes for Pride Month, local residents "voiced their objections led by County Commissioner Del Shelstad who stated 'This is exactly the type of thing that I think is harmful in our community. I’m not asking you to have a straight Pride Month, I'm just asking you not to have a gay Pride month.'"[14] The librarian's decision led to conversations in the community that included suggestions to remove all books with LGBT themes from the library--even books intended for adult readers.[14] When library board members were asked about whether the book was appropriate for local youth, most refused to answer the question, stating they had not reviewed the book.[14] This Book Is Gay was the first book to be challenged in the community in several years but led to the library reconsidering the shelving of twelve books, including This Book Is Gay, as well as The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams and Heartstopper by Alice Oserman.[14]

In August, This Book Is Gay was listed among 52 books banned by the Alpine School District following the implementation of Utah law H.B. 374, "Sensitive Materials In Schools."[17]

Additionally, along with Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker, the book was specifically targeted for review in the Elmbrook School District.[14] Further, a parent at the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District read sections of This Book Is Gay, as well as five other LGBT+ books, and "called for audits, and threatened criminal charges for those responsible for providing 'evil, wicked' content in the school. The school board voted to retain all five challenged LGBTQIA+ titles."[14]

The following year, parents in Hilliard, Ohio met to discuss whether This Book Is Gay should be removed from the school library, claiming "it goes too far when discussing intimacy".[3] However, some parents noted the school "the district needs to make LGBTQ students feel safe."[3] Ultimately, parents were reminded that if they were "uncomfortable with their child reading [specific books]", they should "inform the library, where their student can be prohibited from checking the book out".[3] Shortly after, the Hillsborough County, Florida school district banned the book from middle school libraries,[16] and the Sioux City Community School District removed it from their high school after Libs of TikTok referred to the book as pornographic.[18] This Book Is Gay was also mentioned in one of two hoax bomb threats that were "part of a series of automated overseas emails" and sent to Hilton Central School District.[19][20] The school's superintendent stated, "Students of the district that belong to that community that they are welcome here at Hilton Central School District as students within our public schools... We love them as we love our other students. We are absolutely sorry that a debate around a piece of literature is making them feel as if they are not included or welcome."[19]

Fremont, Nebraska recently voted to keep the book on the shelves, stating "If I didn't want to read a book about suspension bridges, I wouldn't go pick up a book that said this book is about suspension bridges and read it. A public library has to have content for everybody, not just me. That was to service the entirety of the community," city council president Mark Jensen said." After a 3–2 vote, the book stayed on the shelves of the local library.[21]

Dawson has commented responding to the book's ongoing censorship. In an interview with Rolling Stone in April 2023, she explained that it is "not surprising" her book has frequently been targeted, though it is "disappointing".[5] "We're all very clear This Book is Gay is not for children," she said, before opining that "if we really wanted to keep kids in the United States safe, we wouldn't be talking about books. We would be talking about guns."[5]

References

  1. ↑ "This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson". Gay's The Word. Archived from the original on 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  2. ↑ Dawson, Juno (2014-09-04). "Why my book is gay: and I'm proud of it". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Hilliard parents debate banning book from school libraries". NBC4. 2023-03-14. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  4. 1 2 Albanese, Andrew (2023-04-24). "ALA Releases Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jones, C. T. (2023-04-05). "'This Book Is Gay' Author Says America's Teens Have Bigger Problems Than Her Book". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  6. 1 2 Dawson, Juno (2015). This Book is Gay. Sourcebooks. ISBN 978-1-4926-1783-9.
  7. 1 2 Liles, Jordan (2022-09-01). "Does a Tampa School Library Book Teach About Gay Intercourse?". Snopes. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  8. 1 2 Cart, Michael (2015-05-15). "This Book is Gay". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  9. 1 2 "This Book Is Gay by James Dawson". Publishers Weekly. 2015-06-22. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  10. 1 2 3 "This Book is Gay". Kirkus Reviews. 2015-04-01. Archived from the original on 2022-12-29. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  11. ↑ Cart, Michael (August 2015). "Top 10 LGBTQ for Youth: 2015". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  12. ↑ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2015". Booklist. 2016-01-01. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  13. ↑ Schaub, Michael (25 November 2015). "'This Book Is Gay', an LGBT sex ed book for teens, is challenged in Wasilla, Alaska". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Banned Books 2022 - This Book is Gay". Marshall Libraries. Marshall University. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  15. ↑ Flood, Alison (26 November 2015). "James Dawson criticises parents who attacked his LGBT guide for children". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  16. 1 2 Nelson, Joshua (2023-04-05). "Author of banned book 'This Book Is Gay' says book is 'definitely not pornographic'". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  17. ↑ "Ban on 52 Books in Largest Utah School District is a Worrisome Escalation of Censorship". PEN America. 2022-08-01. Archived from the original on 2022-08-05. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  18. ↑ Yamada, Caitlin (2023-03-21). "Sioux City district removes book featured on Libs of TikTok Twitter account". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  19. 1 2 Gandy, George (2023-03-24). "Hilton CSD receives second bomb threat in one week". RochesterFirst. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  20. ↑ Gandy, George (2023-03-30). "Hilton School District announces re-evaluation of 'This Book is Gay'". Rochester First. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  21. ↑ Petersen, Abbie (2023-05-10). "'This Book is Gay': Fremont City Council votes to keep contested LGBTQ+ book in library after hours of public comment". KETV. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
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