Gay America

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By Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 11/12/2008 2:10:00 PM

In Gay America: Struggle for Equality (Abrams/Amulet, 2008)—the first comprehensive history on this subject for teens—Linas Alsenas chronicles how gay men and women have lived, worked, and loved for the past 125 years. Using archival images, illustrations, and full-color photos, Alsenas, a U.S. citizen who lives in Sweden with his partner, takes us from Colonial times to the present debate over gay marriage.

Why’d it take so long to come out with an historical book about gay men and women for the teen market? 
This is still a very controversial issue for a lot of people, the idea of young people learning about queer issues—that somehow they aren't old enough, that the material is inherently inappropriate. The irony, of course, is that questioning teens are the ones who need access to this information the most. Abrams/Amulet understood that need, and Howard Reeves, my editor, was very passionate about seeing this book happen. Gay characters and themes are increasingly commonplace in teen novels, and it took their success to show that there is a market for queer history among teens, as well.

What made you decide to use a light and fun writing style for such a serious subject? 
We knew from the start that there's a temptation to write a book that's a big downer—unfortunately, the experience of the gay and lesbian community in America has largely been one of persecution, heartbreak, and tragedy. But gay women and men have often responded effectively to their challenges with creativity and humor—ACT UP is an excellent example of that. Also, the difficulties are not the whole story, and it was important to include the lighter moments and the successes. 

Were you surprised by anything during your research for the book? 
Oh, tons of stuff surprised me! One example that immediately springs to mind is the tragedy of the UpStairs bar in New Orleans in the early 1970s, an event that few people have heard of. This arson case, with so many people killed, constituted a tragedy layered upon tragedies: one schoolteacher was fired in the hospital two weeks before he died, many of the dead men's families refused to accept their ashes, and area churches refused to allow the use of their spaces for a memorial service. However, not many people across the country understood that this was a hate crime because the media didn't report the known fact among New Orleans residents that UpStairs was a gay bar.


Was there a conscious decision not to describe anyone gay or lesbian unless someone was openly gay?
Actually, no. I certainly didn't "out" anybody for the first time, but I mention the outings of Oliver Sipple [who prevented an assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford] and Malcolm Forbes, for example, two people who did not want their sexual orientation to be public knowledge. Their outings had significance for the gay community, and I use that opportunity to discuss the complexities of outing as a political strategy.

In the earlier parts of the book, I tried to use labels that people would themselves recognize (the very words "gay" and "lesbian" would not be familiar to many of the people I write about in the 19th and early 20th centuries, before the meanings of the terms were commonly understood). I discuss the controversy among historians about whether it's appropriate to include people who wouldn't necessarily agree to their inclusion; readers can weigh the arguments and decide for themselves.

The book has amazing black-and-white and full-color photos. Did you have a say in the way the book looked?
My editor, Howard W. Reeves, who is the senior vice president at Abrams Books for Young Readers, and I always envisioned this book to be lavishly illustrated—a photo can tell you so much about a time period that I would never be able to articulate in words. I suggested most of the photos, but the final selection was the result of a talented intern, Katelyn Lahr, who painstakingly collected permissions and alternative images. Designer Maria Middleton pulled it all together in her gorgeous design for the book.

Do you think there's still a lot of censorship going on in schools and libraries when it comes to books that deal with homosexuality? 
Oh, sure! We always knew there would be people who would never buy the book because of its subject matter, and we didn't waste time and energy trying to change their minds. Instead, I'm more concerned about libraries that don't take the book because of a perceived controversy that may not even occur. The book's material itself isn't all that controversial—all the research is very transparent—just the idea that it involves LGBTQ issues. The whole topic has become politicized, but really, it's simply history about people. Then again, there are lots of other librarians who have embraced the book because in certain contexts, it can have political overtones. (At a recent library visit at a progressive school in California, I noticed that my book had been donated to the school "on behalf of Sarah Palin" soon after the Republican National Convention.)

Would it have helped you to have a book like this while you were growing up?
Totally! That was one of my guiding principles as I was writing. I didn't come out until I was in college, and I don't think this book would have speeded up the process much, but it would have certainly dispelled a lot of myths and misunderstandings about gay women and men. I went to a very conservative Catholic all-boys high school, and I think a book like this could have helped soften the pervasive homophobia there.

What are you hoping that kids will take away from this book?
I hope that they appreciate the many contributions of queers to American life, understand some of the ambiguities involved when discussing gender and sexuality, and are inspired to fight for greater equality for all Americans. I'm loving the opportunity to meet teens all across the country, hear their stories, and answer their questions.

Did writing this book change you in any way?
Definitely. Perhaps the biggest change for me has been a stronger sense of context. Fighting for equality for gays and lesbians is not a new thing, but that's all the more reason to step up our efforts—we owe it to those who came before us to honor their contributions and see our ideals realized.