One of the most macho, straightest guys I know is gonna be reading a gay teen novel? - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

MusicIsLife · 4th Apr 2011, 08:59 PM

Perhaps I should explain.

I work at a bookstore and we do this...thing once a month called the Book Hookup. All those who want to participate have their names drawn in pairs at random and then we pick a book for our partner to read. It's a way to increase product knowledge and have people read something they wouldnt normally read.

Last time I got one of the managers, he made me read Slaughterhouse Five, and I made his read Deathnote.

At the end of that "round" I decided that if I get a girl next time I;d give her one of my favourite lesbian novels, and if I got a guy, one of my favourite gay novels.

I found out today that I got a guy, who's pretty macho, but no one there is closed minded. everyone knows im gay, and no one cares at all. I picked Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez for him to read. I felt bad for him before he even left the store.

He was teased by a bunch of the girls who work in the children's department, telling him that it's super graphic and full of gay sex. I felt sooo bad!

so much for open-mindedness.

I stopped him before he left the store, and I told him that i didnt give it to him cause I "suspected" or because I wanted to make him uncomfortable and I swore that there was NOTHING really graphic in the book. I feel kinda bad in hindsight, but I do hope that he learns something from it

Thats my story, i just wanted to share

I don't know what he's making me read yet but hes really into political science, so I'm expecting some very boring nonfiction book XD

4th Apr 2011, 09:52 PM

I don't know if you're looking for someone to tell you what you did was okay or wrong or somewhere in between, I am not that person.

I'm just really interested to see how it turns out, since I imagine his world will be turned upside down.

Payback is a...pain...though.

Kidd · 4th Apr 2011, 10:03 PM

Oh my gosh, I wish I worked at a bookstore. You're lucky. I think that sounds like so much fun. I would be all about it, legitimately.

I haven't read Rainbow Boys but I heard it's good. Maybe you should have given him something else though? The Vast Fields of Ordinary and What They Always Tell us are very good and less "in-your-face" gay, not that there's anything wrong with that...

I'm so curious to know how he reacts to it though.

adam88 · 5th Apr 2011, 05:37 AM

Wow, your bookstore has an LGBT section?!?

Good luck finding queer topics in most bookstores I go into... (I'm looking at you, Indigo.

)

Revan · 5th Apr 2011, 08:03 AM

Yeah to the Indigo. Chapters for me barely has anything but the Rainbow series and maybe one or two other novels. As for what you did, I frankly don't think you did anything wrong, however I don't think you needed to say "cause I 'suspected'" because no offense but it almost was saying "I suspected". But I think it's good you gave him the book because it might just open his eyes that jocks can be gay too or w/e. lol. I have no idea what I'm talking about.

MusicIsLife · 5th Apr 2011, 08:14 AM

Theres no actual LGBT/Queer section for fiction, but i do bug the managers to order lgbt novels, mostly so that I and can read them >.> but our gay and lesbian studies section is slowly getting bigger

Beachboi92 · 5th Apr 2011, 07:13 PM

nothing wrong with what you did if anything someone should tell those girls to stop being dumb bitches and get off his back...

4th Apr 2011, 08:59 PM	#1
MusicIsLife EC Addict Full Member Gender: Not even sure anymore. Something in between. Orientation: I like girls :) Out Status: Everyone on orientation 7 people on trans issue. Location: Montréal, QC Age: 23 Posts: 1,595 Join Date: Dec 2007	One of the most macho, straightest guys I know is gonna be reading a gay teen novel? Perhaps I should explain. I work at a bookstore and we do this...thing once a month called the Book Hookup. All those who want to participate have their names drawn in pairs at random and then we pick a book for our partner to read. It's a way to increase product knowledge and have people read something they wouldnt normally read. Last time I got one of the managers, he made me read Slaughterhouse Five, and I made his read Deathnote. At the end of that "round" I decided that if I get a girl next time I;d give her one of my favourite lesbian novels, and if I got a guy, one of my favourite gay novels. I found out today that I got a guy, who's pretty macho, but no one there is closed minded. everyone knows im gay, and no one cares at all. I picked Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez for him to read. I felt bad for him before he even left the store. He was teased by a bunch of the girls who work in the children's department, telling him that it's super graphic and full of gay sex. I felt sooo bad! so much for open-mindedness. I stopped him before he left the store, and I told him that i didnt give it to him cause I "suspected" or because I wanted to make him uncomfortable and I swore that there was NOTHING really graphic in the book. I feel kinda bad in hindsight, but I do hope that he learns something from it Thats my story, i just wanted to share I don't know what he's making me read yet but hes really into political science, so I'm expecting some very boring nonfiction book XD

4th Apr 2011, 09:52 PM	#2
Ciceron Guest Posts: n/a	Re: One of the most macho, straightest guys I know is gonna be reading a gay teen nov I don't know if you're looking for someone to tell you what you did was okay or wrong or somewhere in between, I am not that person. I'm just really interested to see how it turns out, since I imagine his world will be turned upside down. Payback is a...pain...though.

4th Apr 2011, 10:03 PM	#3
Kidd You'll love me! Full Member Gender: ♂ Orientation: ♂ ♥ ♂ Out Status: Out Location: N.W. Ohio Age: 21 Posts: 1,430 Join Date: Mar 2010	Re: One of the most macho, straightest guys I know is gonna be reading a gay teen nov Oh my gosh, I wish I worked at a bookstore. You're lucky. I think that sounds like so much fun. I would be all about it, legitimately. I haven't read Rainbow Boys but I heard it's good. Maybe you should have given him something else though? The Vast Fields of Ordinary and What They Always Tell us are very good and less "in-your-face" gay, not that there's anything wrong with that... I'm so curious to know how he reacts to it though.

5th Apr 2011, 05:37 AM	#4
adam88 EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Pansexual. Or bi. Same thing. Out Status: Yes. Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 30 Posts: 797 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: One of the most macho, straightest guys I know is gonna be reading a gay teen nov Wow, your bookstore has an LGBT section?!? Good luck finding queer topics in most bookstores I go into... (I'm looking at you, Indigo. ) __________________ --Brendan A coming out is never late, Frodo Baggins. Nor is it early. You come out precisely when you mean to. -not Gandalf

5th Apr 2011, 08:03 AM	#5
Revan EC Addict Full Member Gender: M for MEEP! Orientation: Mutant and Proud Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Windsor, Ontario Age: 24 Posts: 6,564 Join Date: Jun 2005	Re: One of the most macho, straightest guys I know is gonna be reading a gay teen nov Yeah to the Indigo. Chapters for me barely has anything but the Rainbow series and maybe one or two other novels. As for what you did, I frankly don't think you did anything wrong, however I don't think you needed to say "cause I 'suspected'" because no offense but it almost was saying "I suspected". But I think it's good you gave him the book because it might just open his eyes that jocks can be gay too or w/e. lol. I have no idea what I'm talking about. __________________ "Is there some reason my coffee isn't here? Has she died or something?" - Miranda Priestly. Strength is not defined by physical capacity, but by indomitable will. ~ Mahatma Gandhi Procrastination is like masturbation, in the end you just wind up screwing yourself.

5th Apr 2011, 08:14 AM	#6
MusicIsLife EC Addict Full Member Gender: Not even sure anymore. Something in between. Orientation: I like girls :) Out Status: Everyone on orientation 7 people on trans issue. Location: Montréal, QC Age: 23 Posts: 1,595 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: One of the most macho, straightest guys I know is gonna be reading a gay teen nov Theres no actual LGBT/Queer section for fiction, but i do bug the managers to order lgbt novels, mostly so that I and can read them >.> but our gay and lesbian studies section is slowly getting bigger

5th Apr 2011, 07:13 PM	#7
Beachboi92 Occasionally Caddy Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: queer Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Frederick Maryland Age: 19 Posts: 2,226 Join Date: Jul 2009	Re: One of the most macho, straightest guys I know is gonna be reading a gay teen nov nothing wrong with what you did if anything someone should tell those girls to stop being dumb bitches and get off his back... __________________ All men are created equal, it is only men themselves who place themselves above equality. David Allan Coe