Hidden Pages, Hidden Lives
How Book Bans Hurt LGBTQ+ Youth
I wrote this article for Banned Books Week, and wanted to share it with you.
My experience with two books underscores why banning books, especially those dealing with sexuality and LGBTQ+ themes, can be harmful to young people seeking information and representation.
The first was one I found in my father's bureau drawer, nestled between socks and undershirts. The 1969 copy of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Sex but Were Afraid to Ask by Dr. David Reuben shaped my understanding of who I was—for better and for worse.
I didn’t know the words for my feelings then. I just knew that my body reacted to the sight of naked boys and men. Reading this book, I put a name to what I felt: homosexuality. And the prospect of life in that disorder was terrifying.
I remember weekday afternoons when my parents were at work, reading pieces of the book over the phone to a male friend. We were titillated and horrified by the parts involving male-male sex. This was before the era of AIDS, but diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis which were spread between men could have horrifying outcomes, even death. Then there were the emergency room reports of doctors having to remove strange objects like light bulbs from male rectums.
I certainly didn’t want to end up like that. I haven’t read the 30th Anniversary edition, which came out in 1999, but I hope it has been updated to take away some of the fear I experienced.
It’s very important to have books about health available to teens. I didn’t have sex until I was already a college graduate, but talking to some high school classmates years later revealed guys who were having sex with each other under the radar. Those teens need to know about condom use (more than just preventing pregnancy), about treatments for diseases, and even about safe sex using toys.
It's funny that this book has never been banned, despite its graphic information about sex. Is that because of its focus on straight sex? It’s okay for them to read about “how 20 minutes of aerobic exercise enhances a woman's ability to reach orgasm” and “how the camera adds inches to penis size” (from the book’s description.) Probably because the book still retains the negative approach to gay sex that I remember as a teen.
In tenth grade my English class read A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Though the book has no mention of sex, the intimate relationship between Gene and Finny was exactly what I wanted. A best friend to share life with.
According to the Banned Book Project, A Separate Peace is “One of the ALA’s top 100 novels of the 20th century to be banned or challenged.” There’s no mention of sex that I recall, even though the book is about a group of young men isolated at a remote prep school.
Just as it’s important to provide health information to young men who are considering sex with other men, it's equally important to provide them with role models for successful same-sex relationships. According to statistics provided by The Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Books can prevent that by modeling a positive future, even if the present is grim.
In my own writing, I’ve tried to do that. My gay protagonists are strong yet flawed, eager to make personal and physical connections and bring justice to the world. Some books have explicit sex, but it’s nothing more than a kid can find through a quick internet search. If they can find pornographic films and stories about hookups, they deserve the chance to read about relationships based on love and connection.
A quick reminder that Bless Our Sleep is now available in print and e-book. You can order the print book from your local or chain bookseller, or directly from Ingram Source, a print book distributor. https://tinyurl.com/BlessPrint
I’m exploring options for audio, including using an AI service or recording it myself.
Are there any books currently banned, or in danger of being banned, that were meaningful to you? Share in the comments!
I hope your Thanksgiving finds you connected to friends and family, and grateful for all our blessings.
No comments:
Post a Comment